Genealogists may have a reputation for being too serious in their search for family history, but truth told, genealogy and family relationships can be downright funny! Yes, genealogy research can uncover the rich tapestry of our family history, but it can also reveal a fair share of quirky relatives and weird family behaviors. From crazy uncles to overprotective mothers, the dynamics within a family are often a source of endless entertainment. Join us in celebrating the joys and idiosyncrasies of genealogy research, history, and family life with this collection of jokes, sayings, and quotes.
Genealogists Funnies
Genealogists spend hours piecing together family trees, navigating branches, and discovering distant relatives. These jokes and sayings capture the lighter side of the intricate world of genealogy.
“Genealogy: where you confuse the dead and irritate the living.”
“Genealogy: it’s all fun and games until you discover you’re related to your crazy neighbor.”
“Genealogists don’t get Alzheimer’s; they just lose their census.”
“If you think your family is normal, you probably aren’t a genealogist!”
Relatives with Attitude
Every family tree has its fair share of interesting characters. From black sheep to eccentric relatives, genealogists often encounter colorful individuals in their research. Here are some jokes that embrace the quirkier members of the family tree.
“My family coat of arms ties at the back…is that normal?”
“Friends come and go, but relatives tend to accumulate.”
“If you don’t know who the family black sheep is, it’s probably you.”
“Can a first cousin once removed be returned?”
“In my family, crazy doesn’t skip a generation.”
“My family is temperamental. Half temper, half mental.
“Our family is just one tent away from a full-blown circus.”
“In our family we don’t hide crazy, we put it on the porch and give it a cocktail.”
Hysterical, Historical Humor
History and genealogy go hand in hand. These jokes and quotes highlight the inseparable, and hilarious, connection between the two.
“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” —Mark Twain
“History is just genealogy with the boring bits left out.” – Julian Barnes
“Theory of relativity: If you go back far enough, we’re all related.”
“We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don’t know.” W. H. Auden
“Well, that’s history for you, folks. Unfair, untrue and for the most part written by folk who weren’t even there.” ― Joanne Harris
“We spend a great deal of time studying history, which, let’s face it, is mostly the history of stupidity.” ― Stephen Hawking
“There’s an old saying about those who forget history. I don’t remember it, but it’s good.” ― Stephen Colbert
“We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience.” ― George Bernard Shaw
Jokes About Family Life, Parents, Children, & Siblings
The ins and outs of family relationships can be tricky and oh so comical! From the generational disconnects between parent and child to the shenanigans between siblings, family ties can be pretty amusing.
“Children aren’t happy without something to ignore, and that’s what parents were invented for.” – Ogden Wash
“Teaching my parents how to use technology is like trying to explain the Internet to a goldfish.”
“Behind every great child is a mom who’s pretty sure she’s screwing it all up.”
“Family: a social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space.”
“I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage.” – Erma Bombeck
“Blood is thicker than water, but maple syrup is thicker than blood, so technically pancakes are more important than family.”
“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” – George Burns
“Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat back word for word what you shouldn’t have said.”
“The advantage of only having one child is that you always know who did it.” – Erma Bombeck
“Having children is like living in a frat house – nobody sleeps, everything’s broken, and there’s a lot of throwing up.” – Ray Romano
“Siblings: the only people who will pick on you for their own entertainment and beat up anyone else who tries.”
“Siblings that say they never fight are most likely hiding something.” – Lemony Snicket
Wealth of Humor in the Family Tree
Genealogists may be on a meticulous journey of historical documents, stories, and family collections, but amid the seriousness, most will say there is a ton of humor. Relatives and family relationships are always a blend of emotions, quirks, and eccentricities! We hope this collection of jokes, sayings, and anecdotes made you chuckle and reminded you that even in the world of genealogy, there’s always something to smile (or shake your head) about!
Want more family-related humor? Check out these posts about finding humor after a loved one dies.
Mourning a Difficult Family Member – Dark Humor
Finding Humor in Grief
Funny Obituaries – Grieving Those Hard-to-Love Relatives
Quote Sources:
lifefamilyfun.com
blog.genealogybank.com
