For questions about common methods for recording and interpreting names of people or places.
Questions tagged [naming-convention]
45 questions
23
votes
8 answers
How should I distinguish siblings named identically?
At times when infant mortality was high, families might give a child the same name as a deceased brother or sister.
For example Aurelius and Ann MEDWELL had two daughters named Cornelia. They were born April 1850 and June 1851 and died May 1850 and…
Fortiter
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21
votes
15 answers
How should I record women with unknown maiden name?
When I find a woman's married name and have not yet found her maiden name what is the best way to record her name? If I put nothing, I end up with many Jane or Mary names in my list and have no easy way to tell them apart. Should I put their…
Jeni
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8
votes
4 answers
Is it OK to use the word "County" in an American place-name?
My standard for American place-names is "settlement, county, state, USA". I have been entering the county names with the word "County" or "Co" appended, e.g. "San Rafael, Marin Co, California, USA". I notice, however, that James Tanner omitted the…
AdrianB38
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7
votes
1 answer
Is it proper to record the place name "United States of America" or "USA" as part of a historical event that pre-dates 1776?
Possible Duplicate:
Should I use the modern (what it is called now) or historical (what it was called) place name?
I use Family Tree Maker which always tries to get me to accept "USA" in a place name regardless of the time of the event. Why would…
Hilltownroots
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4
votes
2 answers
A standard for names
My name is William George Dunbar.
Do I record it like that in a Family History data base or use any of the following formats
William George DUNBAR
or
william george dunbar
Is there an internationally recognised standard, and if not, why not?
2
votes
5 answers
What is the proper way to denote that a person is known by his/her middle name?
For people who are known by a name which isn't their first name, it is common to write that name in quotes preceding the surname, such as Thomas "Tom" Fudd, or Guy Thomas "Toddy" Nichols.
What is the convention when a person goes by their middle…
user3570515
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