Google Ancestor Map Records

How to Google map records for ancestry research.

Maps can be a precious tool in storytelling, history, and genealogy research. The following are a few ideas of how you can use maps to assist your research:

Determine Record Locations

By pinpointing where your ancestors lived, you can locate records that contain addresses— directories, vital records, court records, military and naturalization records. By plotting these addresses on a map, you can locate where records might be kept—such as in churches, civic districts, and so on—or where to look in the census, such as ward, township, and street.

Google Maps for Ancestor Research
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Identify Changing Boundaries

Maps help locate boundary changes that occur over the years that will put your ancestor in a different city, county, state, or country during a given period.

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Recognize Changes in Place-Names

It’s not uncommon for the places your ancestors lived to no longer exist, have name changes or be spelled differently in the country of origin. The following are examples of other significant cities whose English name does not match the native spelling:

Native Spelling English Spelling
Braunschweig Brunswick
Kobenahvn Copenhagen
Lisboa Lisbon
Munchen Munich
Napoli Naples
Praha Prague
S’Gravenhage The Hague
Warszawa Warsaw
Wien Vienna
Zaragoza Saragossa

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Topographical Features

You may find references to mountains, roads, rivers, or other topographical features in your records. You can use these features to help find the exact location of a city or town on a map when you have multiple options to choose from. Don’t be surprised to find the names of cities different at various times. Also, having some history of the area can help you understand what you see on the map and what parishes or districts the town belonged in.

Strategies for Using Maps in Historical Research-Part 1
Part 1 and 2 are an introduction to all different types of maps to support individual and family research. In Part 1, learn about how you use maps in research, avoid errors, find neighborhoods, churches, and more. In Part 2, learn about how you use county maps, find census districts, evaluate maps for research, longitude, and latitude, and find maps on the internet.

Strategies for Using Maps in Historical Research-Part 2
Part 1 and 2 are an introduction to all different types of maps to support individual and family research. In Part 2, learn about how you use county maps, find census districts, evaluate maps for research, longitude, and latitude, and find maps on the internet. In Part 1, learn about how you use maps in research, avoid errors, find neighborhoods, churches and more.

By studying the topographical features, you can see places your ancestors may have gone because they were easier to access. For example, I was able to find a wedding certificate in the state in which my ancestor lived. The couple lived on the border of the following state, but I found no records upon searching the town just across the border. After researching the topographical map, it became clear that while those towns were close, there was no practical access point when the family lived. I narrowed the search to two possible locations by following the roads, and the marriage record was found.

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Types of Maps to Use for Ancestry Research

The following are the types of maps that historians and genealogists use most often.

  • Atlases. There is a bound collection of tables, charts, plates, or maps on any subject.
  • Census maps. Defines census enumeration districts.
  • CIA maps. Non-copyrighted, generalized maps of every country in the world
  • City directory maps. Contains a street map providing details on area streets and significant topographical features (i.e., railroads, rivers)
  • County, parish, and province maps. Such maps show unnamed county roads, significant landmarks, and cemeteries. Usually available from the county or other government offices.
  • County highway maps. A county-wide map shows all of the roads except within city limits.
  • Fire insurance maps. Insurance companies use the risk factors in underwriting a business or home.
  • Land maps, surveys, and plat books. Land and property records provide a historical record of ownership.
  • Gazetteers. There are two main types of gazetteers: roadmap/travel guide, and it associates geographic names with longitude and latitude. Gazetteers rarely have graphic/map information, and they are almost exclusively text.
  • Historical maps. Generally, show the same features as general maps but were done later than the period covered on the map.
  • Land and plat maps. Often found at the county courthouse or a local historical society. Detailed maps indicate the owners of parcels of land.
  • Literary maps. A map that is based upon a book or many books. The places or events depicted may not be real
  • Maps accompanying books. Show where our ancestors might have gone and how they got there. Early migration trails were well-traveled routes through the harsh country.
  • Migration maps. Are the same as any other map, except add additional text.
  • Plats. Show the layout of cities or towns, generally showing streets, lots, blocks, and alleys.
  • Sanborn fire insurance maps. Created to help insurance companies establish premiums. Very detailed street-level maps may indicate building materials, dwelling use, street widths, address and plot lines, building height and several stories. The Sanborn Company mapped more than 12,000 American cities and towns between 1867-1961.
  • Street maps. Generally show streets, roads and highways, railroads, water features, parks and other recreational facilities, cemeteries, and subdivisions.
  • Topographic Maps. Focus on a region’s surface features is usually done by the U.S. Geologic Survey. Topographic or physical maps are most valuable when identifying migration trails because they show the lay of the land.

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How to Google Maps for Ancestry Research

The following are sample search queries for maps. Note singular forms of words (map vs. maps). Use quotation marks to define a phrase to be searched to guarantee more matches and require the term to be returned in a Google search.

General search: “map” “[place/area name]”

  • “map” “Kansas”

Refining search: “map” “place/area name]” +/-century

  •  “map” “Kansas” “century”
  • “map” “Kansas” –century
  • “map” “Kansas” “Clark County”

Refining the search to pick-up imprecise descriptions such as [18th] century or type of image format

  •  “map” “[place/area name]” +/-“18th century”
  • “map” “[place/area name]” “gif” OR “jpg” OR “tif”
  • “map” “Kansas” “18th century”
  • “map” “Kansas” “gif” OR “jpg” OR “tif”

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Online Map Collections

Do a Google search on the following online resources you can consult to find maps for research purposes:

County formation

  • Historical Atlases and Maps of U.S. and States
  • Newberry Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
  • Randy Majors.com

Map Collections

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Google 18 Types of Ancestor Records

The following is an overview of the common 18 types of ancestor records that I have found constantly valuable in my historical and genealogy research and hundreds of other resources I have learned to research and use through the years. When I mastered researching these resources, I could quickly expand my research to other records to help me connect the pieces of my genealogy puzzle.

Google Ancestor Records
Cemetery Records Census Records Church Records
Civil Vital Records Directory Records Family Histories
Histories and Biographies Land Records Maps
Message Boards, Mailing Lists, and Wiki’s Military Records Naturalization Records
Newspaper Records Photographs Probate Records
Publications and Periodicals Ship Passenger Lists Writings of Ancestors

In my profile of each resource, I have included what you will find, how to use the resource, and research insights for each resource. I would encourage you to use this section as a starting point from which you can search out and find other genealogical tutorials, and guides that help to provide deeper insights.  The common websites that researchers first think of are Ancestry, Archives, FamilySearch, FindMyPast and MyHeritage.

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Google Other Ancestor Records

The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you Google your ancestry.

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