How do I take my Connecticut immigrant ancestor back to Europe?

This is one of the more common Connecticut research questions. A simplified version might be “I know my family is Irish (Italian, Polish, German, French, etc.). How do I learn more about where they’re from in Europe.” The short answer: you need a European point of origin.

Expecting to find an ancestor in Europe when you know only the country is akin to trying to find an ancestor in the United States and only knowing they’re American. It isn’t really feasible. Instead, it’s worth trying to find a county or even a town.

If your ancestor arrived in the late 19th or early 20th century, these are the records that commonly include a point of origin:

1. Vital records: If they married or died in Connecticut, their marriage or death records might include a birthplace in Europe. Be aware this is hit or miss: a significant portion contain only the country.
2. Obituaries: Some families chose to list a European point of origin in an obituary. If there’s not one listed in your ancestor’s obituary but that obituary names siblings, be sure to look for the sibling’s obituary as well. They seem to appear more commonly in the obituaries of males.
3. Naturalization records: If your ancestor became a citizen after 1906, their forms may include a European point of origin.

The records less commonly contain that information but may still do so:

1. Draft registration: If your ancestor registered for the draft, their European birth place may be listed.
2. Church records: Catholic Church records did not consistently reference prior records until the mid-20th century, but some early attempts exist.
3. Gravestones: Mid-to-late 19th century gravestones in Irish communities may list a point of origin in Ireland.

Happy hunting!