Re: Surname spelling

Lesley Robertson wrote:
"Noreen" <noreen@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:sLqdnUgoSN5ewyjRnZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I use Family Tree Maker to store my 'family' details and am in a quandary as to how to present surnames. My main interest is in the Playdon name and, of course, over the years it has changed from Pladen/Pladon in Chipping Campden and sometimes Pleaden/Pleadon and so on until the spelling that my relatives use. My question is: Should I show their names as the incumbent wrote it at the time of the child's christening or use the surname as it is shown in later censuses? I do realise that many people had no idea how to spell their names but when the names change through various generations it is hard to keep trace of them via the computer programme. Any suggestions, please?

Noreen

For the main entry (the one used on the family page) I use the version that the person used as an adult (this will then cover most entries). A second one (eg the baptismal one) goes into the aka box with its source - that way they both show up in the index. Any addition spellings go into the notes section, again with their source.

Even better, put the complete text of the source into the notes.

Ideally the structures would be:

Text and/or image of source
|
|
Names *as written* and roles
|
|
Link
|
|
Person record

This would allow one to trace back from the person to all the spellings and the source. If the name is spelled differently in different places on the same document a Name record can be provided for each variation. But the key think here is the Link which has a number of interesting properties.

For one thing there's no concept of "merging" and that makes it easy to change one's mind. If it transpires that that particular record doesn't belong to that particular person all that has to be done is to remove the link and the Name/role record(s) and Person record remain intact.

Another is that the link can carry an indication of the confidence placed in the association between the name in the record and the person in the genealogy.

Following on from this it's possible to make tentative links - is this or that baptism "our" John Smith? - is this or that John Smith the one being baptised here?

--
Ian

The Hotmail address is my spam-bin. Real mail address is iang
at austonley org uk
.

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