What are some of the most common mistaken assumptions in genealogy?

Question:

What are some of the most common mistaken assumptions in genealogy?

I would assume two of the most common are assuming the wrong national origin of a surname and that a coat of arms applies to all members of one's family, if it applies at all to that family.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: As others have said, the biggest misconception is that all you need to do is turn on your computer and you'll find whatever you want. People seem to idolize Cyndis list, not realizing that she's only referring people to websites, but many records aren't on the internet and she doesn't point them to libraries, archives and townhalls. There are entire countries that have no mention on Cyndi's List because they have no records available online at all. Every time I read someone only referring others to Cyndi's List, I cringe. They're not doing anyone any good.

Then comes the "that's not our line, we've never spelled our name that way" myth. They'll totally disregard facts over their own preconceived notions.

That's followed by the serious reluctance to look at religious records by people who don't have the same religious beliefs as their ancestors (ie Evangelicals and SDAs who don't want to admit their ancestors were ever Roman Catholic). Good researchers go where the records are, regardless of who kept them.

The other misconception is that the research is already done and all we have to do is find the right person and we'll have everything done for us back to the beginning of time. OOPS...silly people!

Those of us who researched before the age of computers remember where to go for the answers. People who never researched without a computer are at a serious disadvantage and don't make very good researchers.

Oh yeah...let's not forget the biggest misconception of them all...that famous line "Our family name was changed at Ellis Island." 2/3rds of the people making that claim on here didn't even have ancestors coming through Ellis Island. Those who did come through Ellis Island didn't have their names changed by clerks...if there were spelling changes they came from the clerk on the ship who wrote out the paperwork in English for the passengers to hand over to the staff at Ellis Island. Illiterate immigrants from Europe who didn't speak a word of English couldn't have given their names to the clerks at Ellis Island...but they did give their exit visas to the passenger line before boarding and that's who really made the mistakes that changed names.