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Guessing a Name Variation: Difference between revisions
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[[Image: | [[How to Guess Where to Start|How to Guess Where to Start]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Guessing_a_Name_Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]] <br> | ||
Just because an ancestor always spelled his name the same way, that does '''NOT GUARANTEE''' it was always spelled that way by a clerk or by an indexer. If your first search fails to find an ancestor, consider the possibility the name is spelled differently than you expect. In fact, experienced genealogists worry their skills are slipping if they are not finding several documents with unexpected spellings of the name. | [[Image:Question Dice.jpg|thumb|right]]Twenty ways to find an elusive name including using competing indexes, initials, abbreviations, middle names, nicknames, IGI standardized names, translations, letter substitutes, finding relatives, and searching the record without an index. <br><br> | ||
Just because an ancestor always spelled his name the same way, that does '''NOT GUARANTEE''' it was always spelled that way by a clerk or by an indexer. If your first search fails to find an ancestor, consider the possibility the name is spelled differently than you expect. In fact, experienced genealogists worry their skills are slipping if they are not finding several documents with unexpected spellings of the name. <br> | |||
Be prepared to hunt for elusive ancestors in a variety of ways and under a variety of name spellings. | Be prepared to hunt for elusive ancestors in a variety of ways and under a variety of name spellings. | ||
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== 20 ways to find an elusive name. == | == 20 ways to find an elusive name. == | ||
Here are some steps to help find names that seem to be missing from an index (or record):<ref>This List has been modified from G. David Dilts, “Guidelines for Finding Misplaced Names in Census Indexes” in the “Censuses and Tax Lists” chapter of Kory L. Meyerink, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38206986&amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Publish Genealogical Records''] (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998), 339. [FHL Book 016.9293 P96m].</ref> | Here are some steps to help find names that seem to be missing from an index (or record):<ref>This List has been modified from G. David Dilts, “Guidelines for Finding Misplaced Names in Census Indexes” in the “Censuses and Tax Lists” chapter of Kory L. Meyerink, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38206986&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Publish Genealogical Records''] (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998), 339. [FHL Book 016.9293 P96m].</ref> | ||
=== Competing indexes. === | === Competing indexes. === | ||
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=== International Genealogical Index (IGI) standardized surnames. === | === International Genealogical Index (IGI) standardized surnames. === | ||
Look for your ancestor in the[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index]. Notice the various "standardized" surname spellings grouped with your ancestor's surname to learn possible variations to use in '''''other''''' indexes and records. | Look for your ancestor in the[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index]. Notice the various "standardized" surname spellings grouped with your ancestor's surname to learn possible variations to use in '''''other''''' indexes and records. | ||
=== Translated immigrant surname. === | === Translated immigrant surname. === | ||
Some immigrants translate their surname into English. For example, ''Schneider'' means ''Tailor''. If your ancestor was born in a foreign-language speaking nation, look for him under '''''both''''' the English and foreign-language version of the surname. Use dictionaries (such as German-English) to find possible name translations. For lists of such dictionaries use the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog&catSearchType=subject Family History Library Catalog '''Subject Search''' for "language]." | Some immigrants translate their surname into English. For example, ''Schneider'' means ''Tailor''. If your ancestor was born in a foreign-language speaking nation, look for him under '''''both''''' the English and foreign-language version of the surname. Use dictionaries (such as German-English) to find possible name translations. For lists of such dictionaries use the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog&catSearchType=subject Family History Library Catalog '''Subject Search''' for "language]." | ||
=== Translated immigrant given name. === | === Translated immigrant given name. === | ||
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=== Misread letters. === | === Misread letters. === | ||
Use the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada|''Commonly Misread Letters Table'']]<ref>Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada</ref> to find letters which were possibly substituted in the spelling of the name. Using this table, the name CARTER might be under GARTER, EARTER, OARTER, CEARTER, CEIRTER, CAETER, CASTER and so forth. | Use the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada|''Commonly Misread Letters Table'']]<ref>Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada</ref> to find letters which were possibly substituted in the spelling of the name. Using this table, the name CARTER might be under GARTER, EARTER, OARTER, CEARTER, CEIRTER, CAETER, CASTER and so forth. | ||
=== Phonetic substitutes. === | === Phonetic substitutes. === | ||
Use the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada#Phonetic_Substitutes_Table|''Phonetic Substitutes Table'']]<ref>Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada</ref> to find ways the name may have been misspelled using letters which sound similar. Using the table, RADCLIFFE might be searched for under RHADCLIFFE, RATCLIFFE, RADDCLIFFE, RADKLIFFE, RADGLIFFE, RADCLIVE, or RADCLIPHE. | Use the [[Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada#Phonetic_Substitutes_Table|''Phonetic Substitutes Table'']]<ref>Spelling Substitution Tables for the United States and Canada</ref> to find ways the name may have been misspelled using letters which sound similar. Using the table, RADCLIFFE might be searched for under RHADCLIFFE, RATCLIFFE, RADDCLIFFE, RADKLIFFE, RADGLIFFE, RADCLIVE, or RADCLIPHE. | ||
=== First letter === | === First letter === | ||