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Searching by maiden names

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Richard

Richard Report 3 Jun 2008 18:24

I'm new to this site so was looking for some answers.

If I enter a female into my tree, how can I enter her maiden name? When it performs searches, if her parents are entered, is the search also performed on her maiden name, if different from current surname?

Also, if I do not have parents entered, is it possible to enter both her married name and her maiden name, without entering the parents?

Many thanks! :)

Thelma

Thelma Report 3 Jun 2008 18:34

Richard
All entries in you tree should be by birth name.
So Bill Bloggs Married Mary Smith. she should never be recorded as Mary Bloggs.

Merlin38

Merlin38 Report 3 Jun 2008 19:29

Richard

Don't try the bright idea I came up with. If I didn't know a woman's maiden name, I entered it as Dunno ('cos I dunno her name). Lost count of the number of Hot Matches that came through!!

Reckon Mick has the best idea.

David

Researching:
Barratt, Brownhill - Nottinghamshire Brittain - Massachusetts and NY State

Richard

Richard Report 3 Jun 2008 21:50

Thanks very much, appreciated! :)

So always go by birth name, and if I don't know it, put the maiden name in brackets. Seems logical!

If I know both, or if someone has had more than 2 surnames, should I include them to help with searching? And if so, where?

Heather

Heather Report 3 Jun 2008 21:56

Richard, the birth name and maiden name is usually the same!

Always use the maiden name of a lady before she was married. When you say someone has had more than two surnames, I assume you mean a lady who has married twice? You still keep her maiden name (unmarried name) but you will enter two spouses (husbands) for her on the tree.

For example Mary Smith marries John Brown - but Mary will remain listed as Mary Smith. If John Brown dies and she marries Bill Green, Mary will still be Mary Smith but you will have an additional spouse for her.

Sam

Sam Report 3 Jun 2008 21:57

Richard,

I'm a bit confused by your last post - a birth name IS a maiden name.

Always enter a woman by her maiden name, no matter how many times she has married or how many different names she has had.

E.g. A female born as Jane Smith married a Mr Jones, he dies and she remarries Mr Brown. They later divorce and she remarried Mr Thomas. She should be entered in your tree as Jane SMITH.

Sam x

Heather

Heather Report 3 Jun 2008 21:58

LOL Sam - snaperooni

Richard

Richard Report 3 Jun 2008 23:59

Whoops! Sorry for the confusion...I meant to type married name in the last post, not maiden name! =/

OK, I understand how it should work now though. Thanks for all the help! =D

Heather

Heather Report 4 Jun 2008 00:17

Richard, Ill bump up the tips for newbies thread for you :)