Genealogy Chat

hi, Many thanks to Jonathon for telling us ancestry now had Yorkshire, i now have my OZYER records confirming bits i already knew. BUT when i looked up my OZYER family why does it say next to their name (on Ancestry) UNKNOWN. Help please . What was unknown? Thanks, Joan

This is something I'd like to know too, Joan. I've seen it a few times on Ancestry, and can't make out what it means. Kath. x

hi, Jim in Soton, Do i take this to mean that the enumerator(?) had simply never heard of the name, What index is it not in? Ozyers have been on most census returns upto then but not in Leeds area. Thanks Joan

I've had this several times with mine and the explanation I was given is that the Unknown means that the enumerator didn't know whether that was how the name was spelt or whether the name had been understand and written down correctly Lou

I think you will find the large number of Unknowns is Ancestry's invention. If the surname doesn't match with surnames they have in their database, Ancestry seem to mark it as unknown - it's absolutely nothing to do with what's on the image or what the enumerator wrote 9 times out of 10.

I think it is just an error by the indexer. Presumably when indexing they enter stuff into a spreadsheet/database with spaces for: First name Middle name Last name Age Married state etc With the name John Smith, if John is entered in the "First name" box, Smith into "Middle name" box and nothing in the "Surname" box it just appears as "Unknown" as a surname. It obviously has nothing whatsoever to do with what is shown on the census sheet which represents the only "truth" that can be gleaned. It's just something thrown up by the indexing system and human error. If it doesn't say "unknown" on the census page, it can only have appeared during indexing.

Hi, I also have 'unknown' next some family members. Their family name was BAUERKELLER, I assumed 'unknown' meant that the enumerator was unsure whether the name was right as it was unusual!?! Cate :)

Well Joan I said it was an interesting question. How can i ever thank you. I have just found 6 names in 1871 that i would never have found without UNKNOWN. I entered unknown bristol,then waded through until i reached the w's,about 3 pages and there they were!!!!!

The following is actually transcribed on the census: John (n k jone & no meani of known) (Unknown) If you look at the original page it says: John (N K gone & no means of knowing) Now we know whay we have to search so hard!!

my tyrer's are down as Tuyprer(Unknown) but if you look at the census it's written as Tyrer - but could look like a Tuprer