If your immigrant ancestor has a “derivative” citizenship, then what likely happened is that they were a minor when their father naturalized or they became a citizen upon their marriage to a man who was already a citizen.
Naturalization law is complex and slightly confusing, but if your immigrant ancestor indicates in a census or other record that he was naturalized and you cannot find a record of his or her naturalization, consider the possibility that they obtained citizenship status through the father’s naturalization or their marriage.
And naturalization law and procedure has changed over time–make certain you know what the law and procedure was at the time your ancestor was alive and naturalized.
Of course, like everything else…there are exceptions.
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