Guessing a Name Variation: Difference between revisions

# <span>'''''Competing indexes.''''' Look for the elusive name in a competing index by another company, if one is available. For example, many United States federal censuses have more than one index. A list of online U.S. census indexes is on the Internet at [http://www.warnes.net/Teslacorp/GenealogyLinks/index_html?Tab=4-US%20Census Census Genealogy Links] at <span></span>http://www.warnes.net/Teslacorp/GenealogyLinks/index_html?Tab=4-US%20Census</span>

# <span>'''''Neighboring entries''''' in book indexes. Find the place in a book index where the name should be, and search at least one index page preceding and one index page following that place for similar names. Look for slightly different spellings of the name.</span>

# <span>'''''Initials or abbreviations.''''' Look for the surname with the given or middle names as initials or [[Abbreviations Lists for Personal Names (English)|abbreviations]]. For example, look for the name Green, James William, under such variations as Green, J; Green, J. W.; Green, Jas W.: Green Jas. Wm.; or Green, James W.</span>

# <span>'''''Middle name.''''' Look for the middle instead of the given name. For example, instead of the name Walker, George Herbert, try Walker, Herbert.</span>

# <span>'''''Nicknames.''''' Look for the ancestor by any known or guessed nickname. For example, look for William under Bill. For ideas see [[Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents - A Wiki List|''Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents – A Wiki List'']].</span>

# <span>'''''Soundex vs. exact spelling search.''''' Some computer indexes such as Ancestry.com allow a Soundex spelling search. Switch to this option to find names with similar but slightly different spellings.</span>

# <span>'''''Surname only search''''' in computer indexes. Sometimes it pays to search for the family surname in a specified state or county without a given name. Browse through the results list looking for your ancestor with an unexpected given name variation. Pay special attention to the shape of the name if letters are above or below the line but indexed incorrectly. For example, a capital B and R or lower case g and y could be misread. See the misread names chart below.</span>

# <span>'''''Given name only search''''' in computer indexes. In a specified state or county, search for your ancestor’s given name without a surname. Browse through the results list looking for your ancestor with an unexpected surname variation.</span>

# <span>'''''Unusual occupation search.''''' A few computer indexes (usually CDs) allow a search for occupations. If a hard-to-find ancestor has an unusual occupation, search the index for the occupation without a surname or given name. Browse through the results list for your ancestor.</span>

# <span>'''''International Genealogical Index (IGI) standardized surnames.''''' Look for your ancestor in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&clear_form=true 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.<span></span></span>

# <span>'''''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 [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=subjecthitlist&columns=*,0,0&subject=language&presubject=language Family History Library Catalog '''Subject Search''' for "language]."</span>

# <span>'''''Translated immigrant given name.''''' Look for '''''both''''' foreign language and English versions of given names, for example, ''Andrew''&nbsp;<nowiki>=</nowiki> ''Andreas''. Get help from the given name dictionary in 25 languages: Wanda Janowowa, et. al.,</span>''<span>[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=103656&disp=Słownik+imion&columns=*,0,0 Słownik Imion]</span>'' (Wrocław [Poland]: Narodowy Imienia Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo, 1975.) [FHL INTL Reference 940 D4si; Fiche 6000839]<span></span>

# <span>'''''Vowels.''''' Look for the name spelled with different vowels. For example, look for GILLESPIE under GALLESPIE.</span>