Genealogy Chat

I have had better luck searching the word shape rather than soundex sometimes.
The problem with a capital G is that it could look like a Q, ie. be all sitting on the writing guide line
or
It could be below that line eg.like a Y with a loop.

One of my best 'finds' had a surname transcribed starting Sch, whereas it should have started Bel.

You have to very open minded at times.

Gwyn

Soundex assumes the first letter is correct. If you search for a surname in the Canadian Census at:
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/index.html
then a soundex list of possibles, plus dubious transcriptions in that census shows up.

Don't forget a curly G could be mistaken for an S when being transcribed.

If you google soundex it will bring up the soundex alphabet on wikipedia. I've found it useful in the past.

Long shot but your Games aren't from Hertford are they? Its a relatively common name round here and if you're looking for them in 1891 half of Hertford is missing.

Great ideas - thanks for the suggestions. I`ll be able to be more inventive when I`m using search boxes now.

Jay

You can also do this on Familysearch site. There is a way of coming up with a list of possible variants:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp

The other thing to try is to vary the first vowel - so Gome etc. That sometimes comes up with other options.

Jill

Hi Jay, if you type Game into the quick search box above, look at the bottom left hand side of the page - it gives variants. Hope this helps.

Thanks Alan.
It`s variations on the surname Game that I`m looking for.

Jay

I cant answer your question but if you post the name, I'm sure members of this site will provide many options.

Is there a site giving possible surname variations which would help when searching?

Jay