1/64th Foote

There are a lot of things I enjoy about being a Foote. I love my family and I'm proud when someone asks "are you related to so-and-so", and it ends up being my uncle or cousin or Grandpa.
With four older siblings that happened all through high School with teachers knowing my older siblings.
Again, I felt proud.





I lived in El Salvador for two years, where people have not one last name, but two.
The first last name is the father's family name and the second last name is the mother's family name, or mother's maiden name.
I have often wondered with a sort of sadness how many people might know my family on my mother's side but never asked because they only hear the last name Foote.



I am fascinated by family history and genealogy. I suppose it's in my blood. For generations my family on both sides have been very interested in learning about their ancestors. I believe a large part of that is because my ancestors for several generations on both sides have been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been taught and understood the importance of learning about our ancestors and helping them.
The Book of Malachi in the Old Testament talks about Elijah coming to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children. I believe that Elijah has come, and that this "Spirit of Elijah" - this interest in learning about our ancestors - is growing, not only within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but in people of all faiths and belief systems throughout the world.
As I look back on these ancestors, I have a striking thought. It was this thought that made me decide to write this blog entry.

source:https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/printing-fan-chart/

As I shared in my anecdote at the beginning, I'm very proud to be a Foote, and have always identified with that name.
But I am just as much a - should I tell you my mother's maiden name? I don't want you answering security questions for my bank! Anyway, I have just as much of my mother's DNA as my father's DNA. Exactly as much!
In fact, I have just as much of each of my four grandparents' DNA, and each of my eight great-grandparents' DNA, and so on.
I have 64 great-great-great-great grandparents. Only one of them is a Foote.
While I sadly don't know as much about them or relate as much to them, I am just as much a Dial and a Heaton and a Beckstrand and a Hatton as I am a Foote.

I'm really only 1/64th Foote - less if you go back past the 6th generation!




This thought has made me want to learn more about and identify myself more with all of my ancestors, and not just those wonderful Foote ancestors who share my last name.


If you haven't yet caught the spirit of Elijah, you're missing out! Come help put together the Wikipedia of family trees and find your place in it by creating a free account at www.familysearch.org
There are millions (billions?) of records you can search for free. It is the most fascinating, challenging puzzle you'll ever work on.





Thanks for reading. Please share any thoughts or questions below.