Family History Terms

noun a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended

• It is important to study the history of our ancestors to understand our cultural heritage.
• My ancestors came from Italy and settled in this town many years ago.
• I heard my ancestors were real trailblazers back in the day.
• The decisions we make today will impact the lives of our descendants just as our ancestors' decisions impacted us.

noun Ancestry refers to a person's family or ethnic background, including their lineage or heritage.

• She traced her ancestry back to the early settlers of the region.
• I'm really interested in learning more about my ancestry.
• My ancestry is a mix of different backgrounds and cultures.
• The old mansion held secrets of its ancestry in the dusty attic.

noun a stone placed at the foot of a grave as a marker or memorial

• The footstone of the grave was engraved with the deceased's name and dates.
• I tripped over the footstone in the cemetery because I wasn't paying attention.
• I stubbed my toe on that dang footstone in the graveyard.
• The footstone of the project was the final presentation, marking its completion.

noun a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person

• The obituary detailed the life and accomplishments of the deceased.
• Did you see the obituary in the newspaper today?
• I heard they published his obit in the local paper.
• The closure of the factory was seen as the obituary for the town's economy.