Professional South African Genealogical Services
Welcome to Genea Nerd!
What do I get from a package?
All Packages:
• Come with a full report showing as much detail as possible about your ancestors. The report will also show all source information used.
• If during the course of your project, I find that continued research is not possible, I will inform you immediately and the cost of your project will be amended accordingly. Should that happen, a minimum charge of R250 would be retained from your deposit to cover the cost of the research already undertaken.
• Time taken very much depends on your chosen package & the starting information you provide, but I aim to complete a project in six weeks wherever possible. I would however send you a weekly update on progress.
What is a Brick-Wall?
Everyone hits a brick wall at some point. A 'brick wall is an ancestor who generally seems to have just appeared or disappeared, or even who seems to have never existed! We all have those and it can be very frustrating. Even the best professional genealogists have brick walls.
However, what could be blocking your backward march into your families’ pasts? Often these brick walls can be like hiking up a hill - once you get over it it's just smooth sailing - until the next hill.
My most challenging brick wall is my mother's paternal grandfather - John Thomas MacDonald, who only exists in a civil death record and a handful of photos. Some people make it their life mission to not be found... But I have faith!
However, perhaps your brick wall proves to be a genuine dead end. Realistically, every family tree reaches a point where you can go no further - otherwise, we’d all be connected to Adam and Eve, or at least to Cleopatra and Caesar!
How can you tell when you’ve truly hit the end of the road and it’s time to stop beating your head against a brick wall?
Just how far back do historical family records go, anyway?
The answers depend on the nature of your brick wall and why you can’t seem to make progress in this branch of your family tree.
Often, a fresh set of eyes and a different technique can help chip the last of that brick out of the wall.
It is important to note that genealogists are not miracle workers. We are professional family history researchers each with our own tactics and specialties - perhaps what one can't find, another can, but unfortunately for some cases, no amount of investment can make a record appear if it just doesn't exist. It is our passion that drives us to go to the ends of the earth to find the answers that our clients seek.
Check out the Brickwall Package and let's tackle this challenge together!
About Us
Hi! My name is Maria. I am Croatian-South African, born and raised in tranquil, rural Botswana, currently living in suburban Johannesburg.
I am a 20-something mum of one with far too many interests, ADHD, and a love-hate relationship with good coffee.
History has always been my favorite subject. I find it incredibly humbling. The world today is shaped by all the yesterdays we have experienced and those which our ancestors experienced.
I am fortunate enough to come from a family that highly values family history, thus the interest has been present from as far back as I can remember; My passion for genealogy developed from making my own findings in my personal genealogy over the last 15 years and solving mysteries. I do still have my own brick walls which I chip away at as often as possible.
I began assisting friends with their trees, or randomly doing impromptu research at get-togethers, purely for the interest, seeing people's reactions to discovering their own ancestors and witnessing their unexpected tears of joy. Over the years I have been encouraged to offer my skills as a service, and thus I have finally started Genea Nerd.
I am most experienced in South African genealogy, however, due to the nature of South African history, I have touched on research from many other countries such as The UK, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, The US, and more.
Contact Us
Please email me any details you have on the person or family line you are thinking of having me research. I will conduct a preliminary check free of charge, to establish the availability of records needed to continue your project.
As much information as you can give at this stage would be enormously helpful.
Should you choose to employ my services to research your project, following the results of the preliminary check, I may require more personal details but for the purposes of this assessment, the requirement is minimal and at your own discretion.
Package purchase payments can be made by EFT or direct bank deposits. Once we have both decided to go ahead with a package, I shall provide payment options.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get get in touch:
Contact info