Did you know?
🌳 One of the most detailed genealogical trees in the world belongs to the Japanese imperial family, also considered one of the oldest. The historical records of Japan trace back to the reign of the twenty-ninth Emperor Kinmei, who ruled as early as the 6th century.
📚 In 2008, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged the world’s largest family tree, comprising 9,390 individuals, with its origins extending back 1,500 years. This extensive tree was meticulously assembled by English pensioner Roy Blackmore. Orphaned during World War II along with his siblings when their parents passed away, Roy dedicated 28 years of his life and £20,000 to uncover his origins.
🇮🇸 Every Icelandic citizen can access the Íslendingabók website, a genealogical database containing information on the relationships of all Icelanders dating back to the 18th century. The compilation of such a comprehensive database became possible due to Iceland’s relatively small population (just over 300,000) and the limited impact of emigration and immigration throughout its history. Many young people utilize this site to verify if their new partner is a distant cousin, aiming to eliminate any possibility of unintended consanguinity. Another common use of the site is to determine the extent of relationship with well-known personalities. For instance, every Icelander can ascertain how many generations connect them to Björk.
Posted Nov 1, 2023, 3:50 PM UTC