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FamilySearch Catalog Surnames Search: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Catalog Surnames Search (view source)
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'''More than one surname per family history.''' Library catalogers usually add to the '''''Surname Search''''' about four surnames from families that marry into the main family for a typical family history. For example, <br> | '''More than one surname per family history.''' Library catalogers usually add to the '''''Surname Search''''' about four surnames from families that marry into the main family for a typical family history. For example, <br> | ||
[https:// | [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/163371?availability=Family%20History%20Library Blackburns Today and Yesterday]] is also listed under the following names: BARRON, BRIDGES, DAVIS, and FRAZIER. For longer family histories even more names would usually be listed. So it is normal to find a book via the '''''Surname Search''''' which is primarily about another family and only briefly mentions the surname you searched. | ||
'''If the results list has too few matches.''' The more of a surname you type as a search term, the smaller the results list will be. Since many surnames have [[Guessing a Name Variation|spelling variations]], you may want to broaden your search. To do this, you can type only part of the surname. (This is called truncating your search.) For example, if you type '''Newcombe''' as your search term, the computer will find only that spelling of the name. However, if you type '''Newcom''' as your search term, the computer will find any surname that begins with those letters, including Newcom, Newcomb, Newcome, Newcombe, and so forth. | '''If the results list has too few matches.''' The more of a surname you type as a search term, the smaller the results list will be. Since many surnames have [[Guessing a Name Variation|spelling variations]], you may want to broaden your search. To do this, you can type only part of the surname. (This is called truncating your search.) For example, if you type '''Newcombe''' as your search term, the computer will find only that spelling of the name. However, if you type '''Newcom''' as your search term, the computer will find any surname that begins with those letters, including Newcom, Newcomb, Newcome, Newcombe, and so forth. | ||
'''Switch to the ''Keyword Search'' to find a family in a specific place.''' If the results list has too many matches, it may help to | '''Switch to the ''Keyword Search'' to find a family in a specific place.''' If the results list has too many matches, it may help to switch to the Family History Library Catalog [[Family History Library Catalog Keyword Search|'''''Keyword Search''''']] and add a ''place'' (state or province) to the ''surname''. For example, a '''''Surname Search''''' for '''Frazier''' results in 177 matches, but a '''''Keyword Search''''' for '''Frazier Colorado''' results in only 21 matches. This strategy finds works that are cataloged under the surname '''Frazier''' and the place '''Colorado''' in the same cataloging entry, usually but not necessarily in connection with each other. States and provinces work best for this strategy. Towns and counties work poorly for this strategy. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||