Which One Are You?

I recently posted a question online that had been on my mind for a while:

“What do we call ourselves when talking about our hobby? Are you a Genealogist, a Family Historian, or something else entirely?”

Is there really a difference—and in the end, does it even matter?

Personally, I’ve always referred to myself as an “Enthusiastic Amateur.” I use it both playfully and semi-seriously to acknowledge that I’m not a professional researcher. For me, it says: “What I lack in expertise, I make up for with enthusiasm.” It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it sets the tone that I’m not offering professional services. That said, I know many amateurs who are just as skilled as professionals. So to me, being an “amateur” isn’t a negative label—it simply distinguishes someone who pursues family history out of passion rather than as a paid profession. Of course, I recognise that many people bridge that gap, but this simple distinction helps me make sense of where I stand.

I was amazed by the response to my question—the replies came flooding in. It really made me reflect on my own views and realize that how we describe ourselves may be more meaningful than I first thought. If you’re making a living from Family History and are already considered a professional, then naturally you’ll want to present yourself with a certain level of professionalism. For the rest of us—hobbyists, enthusiasts, dabblers—the labels feel more flexible. Like chameleons, we can adapt our “title” depending on the context.

The issue I have with labels—whether we assign them to ourselves or they’re given to us—is that they can sometimes be misleading. When I first started this post, I jokingly referred to myself as an "Enthusiastic Amateur." While it was meant in good humour, I've come to realise that such a title might unintentionally influence how others perceive me. The term "amateur" often carries connotations of inexperience or lack of expertise, and it can even suggest subpar quality. I'm sure many of us who identify as amateurs, myself included, might feel unfairly judged by that perception. This highlights how the names or labels we choose for ourselves can carry more weight than we might initially expect.

In my view, a ‘Family Historian’ is someone that researches people, places, cultures, heritage and the context of where and when our ancestors lived. Whereas a Genealogist implies somebody who just researches pedigree’s (family tree’s), of course, I am sure that some of you will disagree with this.

Has my perspective changed since I first started out?

I’d say yes, somewhat. I’m still just as enthusiastic as ever, and I certainly wouldn’t call myself a professional. But I’ve recently decided to adopt the title “Storyteller”—it feels like the most accurate reflection of what I aim to do. That said, “Family Historian” still fits quite well too.

Does the label really matter? Maybe not so much if, like me, you’re in this as a passionate hobbyist. But if you’re hoping to turn genealogy or family history into a profession, then yes, it might carry more weight.

I’d genuinely love to hear how you see yourself—maybe you’ve come up with a completely different title. Over the years, I’ve also jokingly referred to myself as “The Happy Reaper,” thanks to my fascination with tracking down the final resting places of as many ancestors as I can. But that’s a story for another day.

Just for fun, I have created a few new titles for you all to enjoy. Maybe you fit into one of these categories instead?

Tree Harvester – Someone who collects and ‘hoovers up’ trees and people from anyone’s tree they find on our favourite Genealogy website, probably has a tree that contains over 50,000 names on it.

Cut and Paste King – Somebody that is quite happy to cut and paste any relative facts from someone else’s tree and thinks that as far as verifying the details are concerned, they are happy that “it must be a fact, because I saw it online”.

The Magpie – Who hasn’t been attracted by that ‘Bright Shiny Genealogical Object’? We all have to a certain degree, but it takes strong willpower and discipline not to spend all day, every day, chasing ‘Fools Gold’.

The Ethnicity Expert – Takes a DNA test purely for the Ethnicity Estimate and frustratingly for you and me, has no interest in Family History or building a family tree. Never replies to a DNA message.

The Surfer – Spends many days aimlessly flitting around our favourite websites with no structure or method and repeats the same searches again and again and again……

The Archiphobe – Someone that thinks that all records are online and has never left the comfort of their armchair, very dismissive of others who suggest that there are ‘other records available’.

The Finisher – Someone who has obviously ‘finished’ their family tree and cannot understand why the rest of us are lagging behind.

So which one are you?………………