Genealogy

Science of pedigrees, or tabulating the ramifications of family descent. Purity of lineage has always been of importance on account of the privileges awaiting those who can prove their aristocracy. Hebrew genealogies are tribal and ethnological rather than personal. The Greeks and Romans also liked to trace their descent from gods and heroes. Genealogy maintained its importance in Rome until the time of Const an tine, when the dignity of patrician ceased to be hereditary. In modern Europe surnames were not used till ab. 1100, and were confined to the great nobles till the 13th century; so that all pedigrees of high antiquity are spurious. The rise of the rich commoners in the 15th and 16th centuries gave.the science its great impetus.