I’m Vicki Albu, and I’ve been chasing ancestors for most of my adult life. At this point I genuinely can’t remember a time when I wasn’t curious about where my family came from — which means I’ve accumulated a lot of research, a lot of documents, and a lot of unanswered questions. This site is where I share what I find.
What I Research
My personal research spans several distinct family threads:
Virginia colonial ancestors — My primary brick wall is Samuel Young, who appears in Amelia County, Virginia records beginning in 1738 and left a 1777 will naming his children. I’m working to push his origins further back and to establish that Capt. Stephen Young of the 14th Virginia Regiment is his son and my direct ancestor. Descendants of this family spread into Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and beyond.
Romanian heritage — I research the Moisescu family and other Romanian immigrant lines, tracing families from their origins in Romania to their new communities in Minnesota and the Midwest.
Norwegian ancestry — I follow the Hagen and Dybdal families from the Toten region of Norway to their lives in America.
Minnesota families and other lines — Including the Curry and Derr families and various other threads I’ve picked up along the way.
Are You a Cousin?
If you share any of these family lines — or if you’ve run into the name Young in Amelia County, Virginia, a Moisescu anywhere in the U.S., or a Hagen or Dybdal from Toten — I want to hear from you. Genealogy is collaborative at its best, and I’ve found some of my most important breakthroughs through connections with people I didn’t know existed before we both went looking. Please use the Contact page to reach out.
Professional Background
In addition to my personal research, I work professionally as an oral historian, public historian, and genealogical researcher. I am a co-founder of the Dakota County Genealogical Society (1987) and the Romanian Genealogy Society (2012), and have served in leadership roles in both. I have particular expertise in early Romanian immigration research in the United States, with a focus on Minnesota and the Midwest — an area where good resources are hard to find and experienced guides are few. If you are interested in hiring me for historical or genealogical research, you can learn more at vickialbu.com.
History Sifter 