What is Nepali genealogy?
Nepali genealogy is the study and documentation of family lineages across generations — mapping ancestors, tracing migration from hill districts and the Terai, and preserving the cultural identities that define Nepali clans. It encompasses the vamsavali (वंशावली) lineage record, the gotra (clan name), ancestral village (thau), and the chain of generations (पुस्ता) that links a living family back to its earliest known roots.
For Nepali families in the diaspora — spread from Kathmandu to Sydney, London and New York — genealogy research is also an act of identity. It is the answer to 'where do we come from?' that grandchildren will one day ask.
How to start researching your Nepali family history
Genealogy research starts with what you already know, then works outwards. The most valuable source is always the eldest living relatives — grandparents and great-uncles who hold names, villages and stories that exist nowhere else.
- Begin with yourself and work backwards: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents.
- Record both Devanagari and romanized spellings of each name — spellings vary across documents.
- Note each person's ancestral village (thau), district and gotra.
- Scan or photograph old documents, ration cards and certificates before they fade.
- Invite relatives by link so they can contribute the details only they remember.
Record gotra, ancestral village and Devanagari names
Nepali genealogy has details that most Western tools ignore entirely: gotra (clan lineage inherited patrilineally), ancestral village (often different from the place a family moved to generations ago), and names written in Devanagari script. MyPusta is designed to hold all of this — Devanagari and romanized names side by side, village and district fields, and a generation-by-generation view that mirrors the traditional vamsavali format.
Why preserve your family history now
Every elder who passes takes decades of memory with them. Names, migration stories, the reasons a family moved from a mountain village to Kathmandu — this knowledge is fragile and almost never written down. MyPusta turns that fragile oral history into a permanent digital archive that your grandchildren can open in any browser, anywhere in the world.
Your tree is private by default. You control exactly who can view or contribute.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Nepali ancestors?
Start by interviewing the oldest living relatives — they are your most valuable source. Record every name, village and date they remember in MyPusta, then invite other relatives to fill in the gaps. Old government documents, temple records and kin associations (guthi) can also hold ancestral data.
What is gotra in Nepali genealogy?
Gotra is a patrilineal clan name inherited from an ancient sage (rishi) ancestor. It is used across Brahmin and Chhetri communities to indicate clan identity and is traditionally recited during religious ceremonies. In MyPusta you can record gotra alongside each ancestor's name.
Is MyPusta free for genealogy research?
Yes — MyPusta is completely free during our beta. You can build your full family tree, record gotra and ancestral villages, and invite all branches of the family at no cost.
Can I write ancestor names in Nepali script?
Yes. MyPusta supports both Devanagari (Nepali script) and romanized names for every person in the tree, so names are recorded exactly as the family knows them.
What is the difference between genealogy and a vamsavali?
Genealogy is the broader field of tracing family descent. A vamsavali (वंशावली) is the traditional Nepali form of a genealogical record — a documented chain of ancestors, typically including gotra and village. MyPusta helps you build both: a full genealogy tree and the underlying vamsavali record.