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No middle names a pain in the proverbial

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TaniaNZ

TaniaNZ Report 22 Oct 2006 04:13

Am I searching incorrectly I realise you could never search with a middle name but usually when one had been provided you saw it in the search results which helped eliminate or match many relatives especially if it was an obscure one. Now I see when you get your results there isnt a middle name in sight. Is this yet another flaw in there fabulous new system(tongue firmly in cheek) Or am I doing it wrong

Moggie

Moggie Report 22 Oct 2006 09:04

Hi Tania. You are right second names are no longer included. I searced for a couple of people that I know were on there with two christian names and it came back with 'no matches'. In a branch of my family back in the 1780's a James Limmer married an Elizabeth Hovell and her surname has been used as a second name right down to the present day. These second names are crucial in linking people together. Do the GR team who make these changes have any interest in or knowledge of family history? Maureen

TaniaNZ

TaniaNZ Report 22 Oct 2006 10:49

Hi Maureen No I dont believe they do as this is probably one of the most fundamentally stupid things they have done with the site for genealogists but I guess if it means people have to join to go through the process of finding out if someone is related it lines there pockets considerably more. Regards Tania

An Olde Crone

An Olde Crone Report 22 Oct 2006 11:51

I have a William Wood in my tree - so does everybody else. But mine has the fabulous middle name of GOLDSTRAW - which he always used, on every occasion. Without that middle name, I am stuffed. OC

Margaret

Margaret Report 22 Oct 2006 12:55

Considering going into my tree and adding all the second christian names alongside the first christian name. I had some listed like that anyway and changed it - think I will change it back. It will take a while - but will keep me amused until they sort out the programming problems on the new search format, as searches are proving a complete nightmare. I often help other people with their research and was proud to recommend this site in the past, but not any more. Maggie

Peter

Peter Report 22 Oct 2006 14:16

In fact, the standard search form DID include a middle name field originally. It was 'improved' at the end of 2004. I complained at the time, because it became that much more difficult to find my Hall relatives who nearly all had the middle name Smith.