STUCK? LET'S TAKE A FRESH LOOK
Genealogy Brick Wall
Research
Fresh eyes, careful evidence and a structured research plan for the family history problems
you can't move past.
If an ancestor has disappeared from the records, names don't quite match or you've searched
everywhere you can think of, I'll review what you've already found and look for another way forward.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Common Genealogy Brick Walls, I Can Help Investigate
If any of these sound like your research, brick wall help is designed for you.
An ancestor disappearing from census records
Unknown or unnamed parents
Illegitimacy or remarriage
A missing marriage you can't locate
People using middle names or nicknames
Surname spelling changes between records
Conflicting birth dates and ages
Migration between counties
Unidentified DNA matches
Inaccurate online family trees copied as fact
WHAT IS A GENEALOGY BRICK WALL?
A genealogy brick wall is the point in your family history research where the trail seems to stop. You may be unable to identify an ancestor's parents, find someone in a census, locate a marriage or explain why names, dates or places don't match.
Sometimes the record you want hasn't survived. But sometimes the information is there under a different spelling, in another location or within a record collection you haven't considered. The key is working out what the evidence actually tells us before deciding where to search next.
THE APPROACH
I Review What You Already Have
Before Starting New Research
Send me the research you've already completed, including records, notes, family trees and the theories you've considered. I'll review the evidence first, so time isn't wasted repeating searches you've already carried out.
From there, I can identify the most promising next steps and explain what further research may be worthwhile.
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE?
A Clear Way Forward With Your Research
Every researcher hits a wall eventually. The answer isn't to push harder in the same direction - it's to step back, review what you actually know, and look sideways.
I review what you've already found
I'll review your existing research, records and conclusions so we know exactly where the trail currently ends.
I re-examine the evidence
I'll check names, dates, places and relationships for overlooked clues, inconsistencies or assumptions that need testing.
I draw up a structured plan
I'll identify alternative records, people, places and research routes that could help move your investigation forward.
Further Research Options
If you'd like me to continue the investigation, we'll agree the scope and budget before any further research begins.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT GENEALOGY BRICK WALLS
What is a genealogy brick wall?
A genealogy brick wall is a point in your family history where you can't reliably trace a person or family line any further using the information you've found so far.
Can you guarantee you'll break through my brick wall?
No. Family history research depends on what records were created, what survives and whether enough evidence exists to establish the next connection. I'll explain what the evidence supports and where uncertainty remains.
What should I send you before you start?
Send whatever you already have relating to the problem, including your family tree, names, dates, places, records, certificates, notes and details of searches you've already tried.
What if I've already searched Ancestry or Findmypast?
That's fine. Brick wall research isn't simply about repeating the same searches. I'll review what you've already found and consider alternative records, spellings, locations, relatives and research routes.
Can DNA help solve a genealogy brick wall?
Sometimes. DNA matches can provide additional evidence where documentary research alone hasn't resolved a relationship. Whether DNA is useful depends on the particular question and the matches available.
What happens if the records no longer exist?
I'll explain what appears to be missing and look for alternative sources that might provide the same or related information. If the evidence isn't sufficient to reach a reliable conclusion, I'll say so rather than fill the gap with a guess.
READY TO BEGIN
Hit a wall you can't get past?
Share where you're stuck and what you've already tried. I'll review it and suggest
a way through - before any work begins.
RESEARCH SERVICES
Help at every stage of your
family history
From professional family tree research and DNA analysis to checking an existing online tree or photographing an ancestral home, choose the family history service that best fits what you're trying to discover.
Digital Family Tree Research
Verified family trees, GEDCOM files & organised record folders.
Genealogy Brickwall Research
Fresh eyes and a structured plan for research you're stuck on.
DNA Family History Research
Make sense of DNA matches and connect them to your tree.
Ancestor Location Photography
Photographs of the homes, graves and places your family knew.
Historical Record & Handwriting Help
Reading old handwriting and interpreting records you have.
Online Family Tree Review & Tidy-Up
Review and tidy your existing family tree, identify errors and improve its accuracy
Origin
Family History Research
Professional genealogy research from Lincolnshire, helping clients across the UK and overseas discover the stories hidden in their family's past.
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, United Kingdom
Ready to begin?
Tell me what you're trying to discover. I'll review the information and let you know what research is possible before any work begins.
© 2026 Origin Family History Research. All rights reserved.
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, United Kingdom. Digital family history research for clients across the UK and overseas.