Most people searching Google will have learned the usual basic search techniques such as:

• quotation marks ("  ") for phrases
• a minus sign (-) to exclude certain terms
• Using OR to specifically allow either one of several words
• wildcards (*) to 'fill in the blanks

Easy Google Genealogy Searcher goes one step further as the website explains you can:

Learn to do effective genealogy internet searches with the Easy Google Genealogy Searcher. Can't remember all the Google tricks you've heard for genealogy searching? Want to learn some things you probably had no idea Google could do? The Easy Genealogy Google Searcher puts advanced Google features on one page with suggested keywords and advice about how each feature is useful for genealogy searches.

The most interesting part I found was the Google search by family tree. Simply enter in the details of an individual, their spouse and parents and a choice of Google complex searches are automatically created for you.

Example:

I am searching fort more information on the Islay branch of my tree. I filled in the details as shown below:

Select the search that you wish, in this case I selected the first one:

Then your complex search is automatically generated. You are given a choice of three different saearches. In this case:

1. "Isabella McArthur" OR "Isabella * McArthur" OR "McArthur, Isabella" "Robert McWhinnie"  ~genealogy OR ~ancestry

2. "Isabella McArthur" OR "Isabella * McArthur" OR "McArthur, Isabella" "Robert * McWhinnie"  ~genealogy OR ~ancestry

3. "Isabella McArthur" OR "Isabella * McArthur" OR "McArthur, Isabella" "McWhinnie, Robert"  ~genealogy OR ~ancestry

Although there are only subtle differences between these search strategies it may well make the difference between finding that elusive information.

As you start researching your family tree and recording the results you become familiar with various technical words associated with it. The Ahnentafel numbering system is one that most are familair with.

What I have found fascinating as a Mathematics graduate who teaches Computing and is addicted to genealogy is the link between the binary Ahnentafel number and the ablilty to identify how the ancestor is related to the subject.

If you look at the table below the first column is the standard Ahnentafel number, the second is the binary equivalent and the third is the relationship to the subject.

Now for the interesting (geeky?) part. If you know the binary representation of the Ahnentafel number then you can work out the relationship tro the subject:

The first 1 indicates the subject

A 0 represents a father

A 1 represents a mother

Example

1011 represents: subject - father - mother - mother

So Ahnentafel number 1011 is my Father's mother's mother.

Is it just me or is that not just fantastic?