There are a variety of lineage membership groups, created in honor of a specific event or heritage of a group of people. Acceptance to these groups is based on your proven ancestry, according to the standards and rules of each specific group. For example, in order to belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution, you must be a female and prove you are a direct descendant of a Revolutionary War Patriot (among other specifics, such as paying an application fee).
There are many reasons to join a lineage membership group, including:
Creating proof of your family lineage
Preservation of your family line and history
Access to additional resources for resources
Prestige of being a member, certificate of membership
Social opportunities for members to attend meetings and social gatherings
Volunteer opportunities to provide service in communities
Scholarships for education
Ease for descendants to join the same group
Each lineage membership group has their own application process, and the applications are not interchangeable. For example, you cannot use a Sons of the American Revolution application to apply for the Daughters of the American Revolution. However, you can use some of the same research!
All lineage membership groups have application fees and annual (or lifetime) membership dues. If you are interested in joining, contact your local chapter and someone will assist you with their membership requirements and application process.
Some of the more popular lineage membership groups include:
The General Society of Mayflower Descendants - themayflowersociety.org
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - dar.org
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) - sar.org
The United States Daughters of the War of 1812 - usdaughters1812.org
Other interesting groups and part of their membership requirements*:
Associated Daughters of Early American Witches - “A woman must be at least 16 years of age and able to prove direct lineal descent from an ancestor who was officially (by authority, government, or church) accused OR tried OR convicted/executed for the practice of witchcraft or wizardry in Colonial America prior to 31 December 1699..” - adeaw.us
Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence - show you are a bloodline descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. - www.dsdi1776.com
National Society of New England Women - “Membership in NSNEW is open to women who can prove lineal descent from a man or woman born in New England prior to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1789, or in Nassau or Suffolk County, Long Island prior to 1700.” - newenglanwomen.org
Presidential Families of America (PFA) - “…prove either direct descent from a President or collateral descent from an ancestral line held in common with a President” - presidentialfamilies.org
Society of California Pioneers - “Membership is open to direct descendants of pioneers who arrived in California prior to January 1st, 1850.” - californiapioneers.org
United Daughters of the Confederacy - “Those eligible for membership are women at least 16 years of age who are lineal or collateral blood descendants of men and women who served honorably in the Army, Navy, or Civil Service of the Confederate States of America, or who gave Material Aid to the Cause…” - hqudc.org
For a full list of over 200 active lineage societies, see the List of Lineage Societies from the Lineage Society of America.
(*Please note these requirements are taken from their respective websites, subject to further requirements for membership, including fees, and may change)