What is Geneapedia?

The idea is to create a Wikipedia of genealogical information - a database where anyone can enter or modify information, but with a strong focus on sources and reliability. The ultimate goal for Geneapedia is to become the leading collection of genealogical lineage-linked information - and the natural starting point for doing your own research.

What is the difference between Geneapedia and other databases available on the Internet?

  • In Geneapedia no one "owns" the information. Anyone can change any data (login is required). Source information can be added to all details, not only on person level. Information without any source reference are marked as unreliable.
  • If the sources are in disagreement, you can easily add the conflicting information in Geneapedia. If new evidence turns up, you or other genealogists can review the information and hopefully solve the conflict.
  • Pdf reports are available. The reporting module is being developed and improved.
  • It is not possible to upload GEDCOM files. Although this may be frustrating for some, such uploading is causing several issues in other databases: Frequent duplicates, unreliable and undocumented material, and endless repetition of old mistakes, making it almost impossible to get rid of those old issues.

If you would like to participate in improving Geneapedia in any way, please send an email to contact@cosoft.org.

What does the database contain?

The database contain data from several countries, although more from Norway than other countries. Some highlights are:

  • Norway/Gjesdal: Most people living in the Gjesdal parish around 1600-1900.
  • Norway/Ryfylke: Some families from Ryfylke.
  • Norway/Bergen: Bryning, Danchertsen, von Erpecom, Faye, Friele, Gewerdt, Gram, Grieg, Heitmann, Hesselmann, Jordan, de Lange, Lexau, Martens, Meyer, Middelstorp, Nagel, Rulffs, Smiding, Stemann, Wallace, Weinwich, and many other families. Check out the list of burgess families of Bergen
  • Scotland: Nobility from the middle ages until around 1700. Bruce, Douglas, Erskine, Forbes, Fraser, Gordon, Hamilton, Kennedy, Kincaid, Ogilvy, Stewart, and many more.
  • Orkneys and Shetland (15-1600s): Bruce, Gifford, Mowat, Pitcairn, Sinclair, Strang.
  • Denmark: Nobility from 1600s and before.
  • Germany: Titled nobility mostly before 1800.

Featured person

Victoria (24 May 1819-22 January 1901), Queen of Great Britain and Ireland

Empress of India 1877-1901. [Proclaimed at Delhi 1 January 1877.] Queen of Great Britain and Ireland 1837-1901.Buried Frogmore, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Born 24 May 1819 Kensington Palace, Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London, England, United Kingdom. Other 28 June 1838. Died 22 January 1901 Osborne, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom.

Read more

Person groups

Anyone can now create person groups. A person group can be any kind of grouping of persons, ordered by date (like a list of kings) or unordered (like members of a specific family). You may also create categories, i.e. groups of other groups.

2023-03-04

Multiple updates

The family pedigree view has been enhanced and now includes parents. Navigation is much easier, and multiple spouses are handled better. For all pedigree views you may choose the lowest quality of information to be included in the view. Colour blind people may choose a grey scale view instead of colours to indicate quality. Feedback on this will be appreciated.

2023-03-01

A simple descendant report is now available

It is now also possible to select paper size and orientation for both the ancestor and the descendant reports. More reports are coming, as well as more common options like index and source register.

2021-05-16