Introduction

I have always wondered where the Emry ancestors came from. I have heard over the years that we are of Irish descent, although the name is not itself Irish sounding. I was curious, so I embarked on the difficult task of researching the family tree. A task that requires a fair amount of detective work, and lots of time.

I never expected much of what I have found about the Emry surname. What I did expect was that it would be easier than it was. I also expected that since the Emry surname is not very common that most of those with the Emry name were related.

I got most of my beginning information from my aunts and uncles. I then proceeded to search the census records in the National Archives and its branches. I found my great-grandfather in South Dakota, and before that in Iowa, just as I had expected. Then my troubles began. I searched state by state for my great-grandfather as a child in the census records. I search Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and other states as well. No luck. I had also been told that the Emry name was derived from another name or names making me wonder when and where the name had changed and if I was bumping up against that change. Finally, my brother Mark searched for Emrys in the phone directories in California and Iowa on one of the popular online computer services. It was then that I decided to simply write people with the Emry name. Since there were only 18 listed in California, I decided to start there. I knew one was myself and one was my uncle 7 miles away. I also expected that one or two would be my first cousins that I had not seen for several years. The others I had never heard of before. I was pleasantly surprised when most of those that I wrote responded.

This search had been interesting so far. Genealogy research is difficult and time consuming, but at the same time rewarding and educational. A lot of history can be learned from genealogy research.

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