Birthdates

When Did You Fall From the Tree?
Some genealogical records actually state that a person "fell from a tree"! It is a way to identify a date of birth or a span of days during which a birth occurred. The record will mention that the person whose birth is noted "fell from the _______ tree," with the identity of the particular type of tree mentioned where the blank line is located in the quoted phrase. Traditionally, the mention of a particular type of tree signals either a specific date on which, or more commonly a span of days during which, the birth occurred. The alphabetical and chronological lists (presented below following the one example taken from an Italian record) correlate the dates with the specific trees and vice versa.

Example (from an Italian record)


In the above death record, the deceased is referred to as "Ferrera Andrea fu Gio: Batta" (Andrew Ferrera [son of the late] Gio Batta." Immediately following his name there is added the phrase (highlighted in the image) "Caduto da un albero di Castagno" (in English: "fell from the Chestnut tree"). This means that, as shown from the tables below, he was born either between May 15 and May 24 or between November 12 and November 21. Note that each figurative tree accounts for two spans of dates (in opposite seasons of the year), except in the case of the Oak and Olive trees, which each are used to refer to one specific date. This information sometimes is helpful in identifying a perons' correct birth record.

Alphabetical Listing of Trees
Apple tree Jun 25 to Jul 04 Apple tree Dec 23 to Jan 01 Ash tree May 25 to Jun 03 Ash tree Nov 22 to Dec 01 Beech tree Dec 22 (Only) Birch tree Jun 24 (Only) Cedar tree Aug 14 to Aug 23 Cedar tree Feb 09 to Feb 18 Chestnut tree Nov 12 to Nov 21 Chestnut tree May 15 to May 24 Cypress tree Jan 25 to Feb 03 Cypress tree Jul 26 to Aug 04 Elm tree Jan 12 to Jan 24 Elm tree Jul 15 to Jul 25 Fig tree Dec 12 to Dec 21 Fig tree Jun 14 to Jun 23 Fir tree Jul 05 to Jul 14 Fir tree Jan 01 to Jan 11 Hazelnut tree Mar 22 to Mar 31 Hazelnut tree Sep 24 to Oct 03 Hornbeam tree Jun 04 to Jun 13 Hornbeam tree Dec 02 to Dec 11 Lime tree Mar11 to Mar 20 Lime tree Sep 13 to Sep 22 Maple tree Oct 14 to Oct 23 Maple tree Apr 11 to Apr 20 Oak tree Mar 21 (Only) Olive tree Sep 23 (Only) Pine tree Feb 19 to Feb 28 Pine tree Aug 24 to Sep 02 Poplar tree Feb 04 to Feb 08 Poplar tree Aug 05 to Aug 13 Poplar tree May 01 to May 14 Rowan tree Apr 01 to Apr 10 Rowan tree Oct 04 to Oct 13 Walnut tree Apr 21 to Apr 30 Walnut tree Oct 24 to Nov 11 Weeping Willow tree Mar 01 to Mar 10 Weeping Willow tree Sep 03 to Sep 12

Chronological Listing of Dates
Dec 23 to Jan 01 Apple tree Jan 01 to Jan 11 Fir tree Jan 12 to Jan 24 Elm tree Jan 25 to Feb 03 Cypress tree Feb 04 to Feb 08 Poplar tree Feb 09 to Feb 18 Cedar tree Feb 19 to Feb 28 Pine tree Mar 01 to Mar 10 Weeping Willow tree Mar11 to Mar 20 Lime tree Mar 21 (Only) Oak tree Mar 22 to Mar 31 Hazelnut tree Apr 01 to Apr 10 Rowan tree Apr 11 to Apr 20 Maple tree Apr 21 to Apr 30 Walnut tree May 01 to May 14 Poplar tree May 15 to May 24 Chestnut tree May 25 to Jun 03 Ash tree Jun 04 to Jun 13 Hornbeam tree Jun 14 to Jun 23 Fig tree Jun 24 (Only) Birch tree Jun 25 to Jul 04 Apple tree Jul 05 to Jul 14 Fir tree Jul 15 to Jul 25 Elm tree Jul 26 to Aug 04 Cypress tree Aug 05 to Aug 13 Poplar tree Aug 14 to Aug 23 Cedar tree Aug 24 to Sep 02 Pine tree Sep 03 to Sep 12 Weeping Willow tree Sep 13 to Sep 22 Lime tree Sep 23 (Only) Olive tree Sep 24 to Oct 03 Hazelnut tree Oct 04 to Oct 13 Rowan tree Oct 14 to Oct 23 Maple tree Oct 24 to Nov 11 Walnut tree Nov 12 to Nov 21 Chestnut tree Nov 22 to Dec 01 Ash tree Dec 02 to Dec 11 Hornbeam tree Dec 12 to Dec 21 Fig tree Dec 22 (Only) Beech tree