Genealogy Dictionary
- gazetteer
- A book describing every place name within a given area. For example, a gazetteer of the State of New York would include a chapter about Chemung County. Within that chapter a description of the topography, minerals, farming, climate, etc. would be included for the entire county followed by a list of all towns, rivers, streams, mountains, hills, valleys, and other named things in the county. For each entry a description might explain its location and background. Gazetteers are extremely helpful in finding places that don't exist any more or learning how a place got its name.
- GEDCOM
- Genealogical Data Communications — a clearly defined standardized format for exchanging genealogy data between potentially dissimilar computer systems or programs.
- genealogy
- The study of one's ancestry. A summary history or table of a person's ancestry.
- genealogy etiquette
- Proper behavior and courtesy when dealing with others (researchers, librarians, or not) should be followed at all times. There are no specific rules but simply common courtesy. Treat others with respect and the realization that they may or may not be inclined to help or may not have the answers you seek. Badgering, demanding, or any other negative treatment is not allowed. Keep conversations in a library, for example, quiet and to a minimum. You don't need to explain your whole family tree to ask a question.
- genealogy ethics
- General Code of Ethics — To protect the integrity of public records and published materials:
1. I will be courteous and respectful to all record custodians, librarians, archivists, and others who serve the public.
2. I will handle carefully all books or records entrusted to me and return them to the designated space.
3. I will not tear, erase, mark, or remove any document, book, or film, nor will I mutilate, deface, destroy, or otherwise change any part of such document, book, or film.
4. I will present my genealogical findings with honesty and integrity, using permission when necessary and attributing work that is not my own to the proper entity.
- gentile
- A term used by those of the Jewish or Mormon (LDS) faith to describe someone not of their beliefs.
- Gentleman
- A member of the gentry, a descendent from an aristocratic family whose income came from the rental of his land. See Also: Freeman, Goodman.
- Godfather or Godmother
- A man or woman who sponsors a child or adult at baptism, also called a godparent.
- good brother
- Brother-in-law.
- good sister
- Sister-in-law.
- good son
- Son-in-law.
- Goodman
- A solid member of the community who ranked above a freeman but below a gentleman on the social scale.
- Goodwife
- A woman married to a gentleman. Often the title was shortened to Goody.
- Goody
- See Goodwife.
- grandam
- Grandmother.
- grant
- To transfer property by a deed. See Also: Patent.
- grantee
- The person receiving the property. See Also: Grant.
- Grantee Index
- An list or index of land deeded to grantees, usually recorded in a Deed Book. This list is usually organized by the grantee's last name. In the U.S. land is usually recorded at the county in which the land exists.
- grantor
- The person selling or providing the property being transferred.
- Grantor Index
- A list or index of land transfers by the seller. See Also Grantor, Grantee Index.
- gravestone
- A burial monument that usually contains an inscription about the person buried near or under the stone. Inscriptions vary from very little to poems. In general, the inscriptions on a gravestone may be accurate but tales of mistakes are heard often. Also, the stone does not have to be near the buried person; many stones were misplaced or never set near the grave.
- Gregorian Calendar
- The system of marking the passage of days, etc. in use throughout most of the world. This calendar came about as a replacement to fix errors in the Julian Calendar that had been used in Europe and other lands held by Christians. Pope Gregory XIII ordered the change to the new calendar in September 1582 but many non Roman Catholic countries, duchies, kingdoms, etc. did not comply immediately. England and her colonies, for example, did not change until 1752.
- guardian
- A person appointed by the court to care for the property and rights of a minor or someone incapable of handling his or her own affairs.