Which Name Fact to Use on Ancestry.com

[@Buzzygirl63]

This is good to know! My great-grandfather remained a brick wall mystery for 25 years until I discovered he had changed his name - twice. I added his "alternate" names to Ancestry and it's good to know they're searchable this way, and his "preferred" name on Ancestry is the one he died with. Amazing how much of a curve ball two name changes can make to trying to locate someone's whereabouts...

[@patriciajrs46]

Wow! Thank God my grandfather didn't do that! He just refused to tell my Dad anything about his childhood. He died one year after my parents were married, and 4 years before I was born.

[@MerryLucious]

I can't tell you how many hours I have spent making these corrections on Family Search when people include a nickname (in quote marks) as part of the primary name. I have probably fixed close to 1000 profiles there. Only to have some changed back. So many don't realize that this information should reflect how it would appear on legal documents for the search engines to be most effective. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

[@SparkeyCox]

I call those doing the changes back like that the Wanna be genelogist - I had a hard conversation through the FS site. A person kept trying to add a wife that was not correct to my dad. I finally wrote. If you have proof that he was married to this person. I want to see the documentation. I was there as a kid and he was actually married to "Jean" Solved the issue.

[@schoolingdiana9086]

Seriously. I’ve got an uncle who is white pretending and keeps changing our Native American ancestors (I have their tribal enrollment docs) so that they have random white parents that aren’t actually theirs. It’s beyond frustrating. Other people who have changed things, I’ve had to comment (when changing back) and include things like “this is my grandfather who raised me,” or “these are my dad’s grandparents and I remember when he attended their funerals in the 1970s so there’s no way they died in the 1950s; they lived until age 96 and 98.”

[@saraschneider6781]

"Bubba Sweety Goat"- Connie Best KZbin quote of the week.😂😂😂

[@robertlittle7314]

Heck with best of the week, it's the Greatest Of All Time!

[@GenealogyTV]

LOL... Goat... this was my father-in-laws nickname before Greatest of All Time was a thing. I have no idea where he got the name.

[@GenealogyTV]

Funny... thanks.

[@saraschneider6781]

@@GenealogyTV I seriously laughed SO hard.🤣🤣🤣

[@suedavis410]

Thank you for this information. I have 2 ancestors that play hide and seek using nicknames even on official records. I have always used "also known as" not realizing that the other option might be searchable. Again thank you for all you do. I have been dabbling in genealogy since before computers were a thing. I have learned so much from you and it has ignited the fire in me to get serious about it again.

[@GenealogyTV]

Fantastic

[@alycynde5237]

Perfect timing on this tidbit. I'd been noting a lot of name differences lately in the description of the facts but not duplicating it out in the name fact. Wasn't aware of that tie into searching. A bit more effort on my part can help others not leap to wrong conclusions. Thanks!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marierotundo9616]

Hi Miles! Yes you cleared up some issues for me, now I understand how to use “as known as “ correctly, thanks again!

[@GenealogyTV]

Miles said Hi.

[@nanasewdear]

Thank you! So handy. I've often wished that Ancestry would add a nickname column because I believe using quotation marks might skew the algorithm.

[@GenealogyTV]

Don't use quotes. It messes with the search.

[@KimberlyGreen]

Also to do ... properly link those alternate names to the facts that support them. And unlink the primary name if it's not actually on the evidence / record. If your ancestor is 'John Doe' on every census except the 1930 where it's 'Jonathan Doe', make the right cross-references. Remember ... the name of the game isn't just gathering records like a big ol' pile of leaves. It's putting those leaves in the right evidence bins that support your statements. Doing so can show how / when a name evolved, point to times & places to look for other records, etc.

[@MillicentAspinet]

Thank you, Kimberly. I just did what you suggested w/ my 2x GGF.

[@KimberlyGreen]

​@@MillicentAspinetExcellent. Your tree & evidence are stronger for it👍🏻

[@GenealogyTV]

YES!

[@SparkeyCox]

I do agree. Nothing like finding out there was an adoption of my grandmothers sister. Finally found out that fact. So I have her birth name and her adopted name listed in the record. End result - I have made a great friend of her g grand daughter. I keep wanting to make a trip to Kentucky. We all still want to get information on the adoption and the why. But we love that we all know that she had two last names and now two sets of parents.

[@skip2mylusstorytime]

Thank you so much for this, Connie! I have one relative on each my parents up line that have name issues - I fixed them but still could not see the alternate name info - I finally figured out that I had to go into the FILTERs and check Alternate Facts so they were visable to me! I hope this helps someone in the future. Have a great day everyone! :D 🤗

[@Lady_Susan_Wright]

My mom's first name was misspelled at the time of her birth. My grandmother told me that she intended for her name to be "Donna May" but they spelled it "Donna Mae". My grandmother told me she simply used the correct spelling instead and no one ever questioned it. Not even SSA.

[@saraschneider6781]

Intention means nothing. Legality does.

[@Lady_Susan_Wright]

I assumed it was legal as SSA put Donna May on her SS card. Her DL says Donna May and all of her 4 children have Donna May on their birth certs, etc. jmho@@saraschneider6781

[@MerryLucious]

Although, most of her documentation will be searched by "AI" (spiders, bots, etc) methods looking for the wrong spelling.

[@bridiesmith5110]

Will look and use that for those family members that changed their names for unknown reasons

[@ntl5983]

I usually put the name they used in their marriage record because that's the one they were most likely to use in daily life, if there is no marriage record I use their birth name. If the marriage name is very different than the birth name I write the birth name in the Birth fact section as a description. I also write the baptism name as a description in the Baptism fact. I've been doing it like that for years, the tree is too big to change now.

[@heather6668]

Hi Connie and thank you so much for the video explanation. I really appreciate the time you took to answer my question. It's good to know where to put the alternate name spellings. I will make sure to use the alternate name facts on ancestry to ensure they are searchable for documents. It's amazing what a difference one incorrect letter can make when trying to find information. My mother's name is Sarah but she was known as Sadie when she was younger, so she used to just put Sadie on documents and I guess it was acceptable and there wasn't the close scrutiny that things are subject to now. One time she went to renew her driving licence and she had to provide ID and she had all sorts of trouble because her licence had Sadie and her birth certificate showed her as Sarah. She's always use her correct name on everything since.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks for the compliments and the great question that others can learn from too.

[@carlaporath7076]

Great information...very helpful!!

[@richardhoover4471]

“Hi!” to Miles!🐈‍⬛

[@GenealogyTV]

Miles says hi back.

[@moderick]

Thank you for this.. Much clearer and less messy than the way some non preferred names are displayed.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cathyc6725]

I had no idea! Thank you! I need to go back in and make some changes.

[@bgrainger3477]

Thank you! Ive always wondered how to do this!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Happy to help!

[@L1...]

Hi Miles ! Good information this helps a lot.

[@GenealogyTV]

Miles said hi. He's sitting in my lap as I type. :)

[@L1...]

Oh, how sweet 😊

[@ElyssaAnna]

You’ve been so helpful on my genealogy journey thank you so much

[@GenealogyTV]

Happy to help!

[@suzannechalifoux8587]

Thank you so much for this information. I always wonder what to do when I have theses situations! And I didn’t know that there was a « also known as » fact that I could use! My goodness, we learned things everyday!! 😁

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danielledriscoll128]

Is this a newer feature? I don't remember being able to access this a few years ago. I will update my Grandmother and Greatgran, who alternate variants O of their names and also spell their surname slightly different My through the years.

[@1975DLR]

Great quick pro tip. I had no idea Thank you for sharing❤

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lady_Susan_Wright]

Thank you for this information. I have one AKA on a grandfather. I'll fix it. Again, thanks.

[@glenjones6980]

I know it's slightly off the topic and you've previously done a video about which name but I still find matches come up that have their entire tree recorded under one surname. Females have maiden names, yes there are examples of a Smith marrying a Smith but nobody has that happen on both sides of their tree for 10 consecutive generations as many of my matches trees claim.

[@jennichristie5264]

Sometimes I see a second name or initial pop up in records some time after baptism which often only refers to one name. Interesting how they accumulate second names along the way.

[@flov3110]

Thanks for this tip. I now need to go back and make some changes.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobzimmerman1282]

Thanks, Connie, for that tip. I have used the “also known as” option in the past without considering the effect on the search algorithms. Is there any facility for commenting on the non-preferred names to indicate how or why they appear in my tree? Examples: 1) I have a great grandfather who’s name was Orrin Oscar Hardgrove, though his name was mistranscribed in several records as “Ora Asker”. I have a great grandmother whose name was Margaret Leonhardt. She appears in some records as Gretchen, but I understand that to just be the German diminutive of Greta or Margaret, in that case more of a nickname than an actual mistake.

[@GenealogyTV]

Use the comment section. They are public. Notes are private.

[@vickihughes7044]

Thank you Connie I did not know that, looks like I have some editing to do❤❤

[@GenealogyTV]

It's an ongoing process. Just edit the ones you are working on currently. You can always clean up the others as you get back to them.

[@joelwolski]

This video is so timely. (how do you do that?) Just a couple days ago I sent a "suggestion" to Ancestry using the form they hide on their website (not sure if that even works, but I keep doing it) to provide a toggle or radio button that would allow a user to include "alternate" name facts in search queries. In my recent experience, I've had to add the alternate spellings manually into the search field in order for Ancestry to find spellings that are already in the "alternate" name facts of an individual.

[@GenealogyTV]

"How do you do that?" I'm a mind reader, LOL. Just kidding. Ancestry automatically uses spelling variations in their search as long as you don't click the "exact" box.

[@brucerider8361]

THANK YOU! I hope implementing this will help me break down one very pesky wall!

[@lindamcarthur7389]

WOW always learning something new from you. guess that's a good thing.

[@GenealogyTV]

I hope so!

[@firedoc5]

I've done something like, "Elisabeth / Elizabeth" if both spellings are used on records or documents. One thing I'm trying to work out is about my adopted son. He had been adopted once before and had name change. He was born Daniel Scott, but when he was first adopted it was changed to Thomas. So, he was Thomas when he came to us at 12 yrs. old. We were not able to find any original birth certificate with the name Daniel. So far, I've just let it go because he prefers Thomas much more.

[@CricketsBay]

It may be in the state office of the registrar in the state where he was born. For instance, in Iowa counties keep the original birth certificate unless the mother checked the box for unmarried. Then it's only available directly from the state office. You can send in the form and they will send it to you or tell you it doesn't exist or what county issued it.

[@firedoc5]

@@CricketsBay He was born in Louisiana. We even requested it from the state's adoption records and they were not able to obtain it themselves. Think that may be due to his being adopted once before he came to us fouled up the system some how. His birth parents were very heavy into drugs and illegal activities, so those records may still be sealed. He's 32 now.

[@GenealogyTV]

Don't use / or "" in a name field. It won't search properly. Search will automatically look for variations of spellings (unless you click the Exact box in the search). However, I would use another name fact for various spellings just in case.

[@firedoc5]

@@GenealogyTV I had thought about it messing with searches, but when I was first starting, I saw others doing it that way and thought it was the norm.

[@susanbodlak6769]

Ah! SUCH good information!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you think so!

[@hermelindaromero2485]

I wish ancestry would add a middle name to the name field.

[@bwintonc]

Apparently you have to check "Name and gender" in the Facts Filter or your preferred and alternate Name facts won't appear.

[@junebutka6571]

Hi Miles. I see you in the plant.

[@GenealogyTV]

Miles said Hi

[@aprilwicker6611]

Names are troublemakers. My grandmother hated her given name, Dulce, and resented the fact that her mother did not give her a middle name. However, she dutifully used her given name in all documents, but no one in the family ever called her that . . . except her little sister. She did use her maiden name, Terry, as a middle name once she married. When I found out Ancestry's algorithms only work on "name" facts I took out all the extraneous info from the "name" facts and use "_____" where the info is not known because of statements from Christa Cowan.

[@GenealogyTV]

Humm... Crista told me not to use quotes around names or any other characters because it messes with the search. For example. John "Bubba" Smith. I don't think this is a wise idea anyway. Also, don't add other things like a 1 or Jr. or "Rev War Soldier", in the name fields. I see this a lot. It does not help the search function. You can add stuff in the Suffix field. That is not searchable.

[@matttolmanaz]

Thank you. I learned something i should have known but didn't.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad to hear it!

[@MarkJT1000]

Ahh ! I've been doing it wrong all these years. AKA for nicknames etc and Alternative name for searchable names, yes that makes sense. So I've changed all my AKAs in Family Tree Maker and synched it with Ancestry but Ancestry doesn't show any of the alternative Names.

[@GenealogyTV]

Recently I’ve become concerned about FTM syncing. I’ve had issues even after they claimed to have fixed them all.

[@deanrowan9032]

My wife misspelled my son's middle name on the birth certificate form and I didn't realize it for 14 years, but that IS his name now, even tho unintended. Fridrick

[@ingletr]

I am having such a time with my French Canadian family. I even took my money and went to Quebec to try to find my 2nd great grandfather. My great grandfather took the name Henri or Henry in America but on the census with his brothers and sister and with his birthday it says "Here" I have a picture that has all five boys and says "Here (Henry) this is so weird. My own grandfather was born Joseph Eugene but he always went by Alfred Euguene. In 1955 there is delayed birth that his cousin said that he was actually Alfred Eugene and never went by Joseph. Why does the Catholics or French Canadians do this. My grandfather was born in Minnesota and my Henri (Here) was born in Quebec. It is so confusing

[@staceycoates1418]

I wonder where you would put stage names or pen names? Like for people who had another name that they used for professional purposes. And for the future, I wonder if we will track usernames of people currently living.

[@GenealogyTV]

If the name would ever show up in a document or a newspaper article (famous people) I would use the name fact.

[@michellebarlondsmith6243]

Help .. where is the name fact ????😮

[@MerryLucious]

@@michellebarlondsmith6243 If you click on the Add button (above their name in the list of Facts area of their profile. You have to select it from the drop-down menu. It's the same process as adding a birth, death, marriage date, or custom fact.

[@terrihutson8941]

My mother had 2 middle names. She was always known by her 2nd name (her 1st middle name). She never used her official 1st name) Her birth certificate, and her baptism certificate have her full name given at birth. Then I put that whole name on her death certificate. Her marriage certificate has her first name and her 1st middle name. Other documents have various versions of her name. Do I need to make several alternate names, or will the program figure it all out?

[@MerryLucious]

I would suggest that you add alternate names for each version she used. That way the "AI" (spiders, bots, etc.) used will locate all her documentation. Her primary name listed would be how it appears on her birth certificate (if one exists).

[@KimtheElder]

Hi Miles 😻

[@lewsherman835]

What is the preferred way to add a married name for women so that everything is searchable?

[@GenealogyTV]

Always use her maiden name as the preferred name, if you know it. If you know her husbands name and connect him to her profile as a husband, then you don't need to add a secondary married name. The system will figure that out.

[@maureentaphouse5206]

Taking this one step further how should I deal with my father's surname? He was illegitimate but his mother married another man 4 months before his birth( don't ask how that happened as I have never found an answer and nor would anyone ever talk about it). In error, the local Registrar in the UK registered his surname as James ( mother's married name) but he was brought , did his Uk National Service, married and lived under her maiden name _Lawrence - his whole life until about the age of late 50s . For some reason he discovered then that his birth certificate was different. At that point he called himself James-Lawrence and recorded that name on all official documents until he died some 30 years later. So I have Lawrence and James-Lawrence recorded for my father . Do I have to search every time under both names? My sister and I remained as Lawrence until we married.

[@KimberlyGreen]

Which surname do you feel will help the Ancestry algorithms find more new records for you? Which do you feel will promote the most clarity when looking at your tree? I would use whichever one best satisfy those (possibly-contradictory) critera as your "preferred". Then you can add other alternate permutations as well. My understanding is that the algorithms look at all the name fact values, so it probably just comes down to which one you prefer. For example, if you have most of the expected records for your father's early life and the later records as fewer, it might be helpful to use 'James-Lawrence' or 'Lawrence' (which would add clarity to why your maiden name was also 'Lawrence').

[@maureentaphouse5206]

I can see what you are saying as father was almost retired by the time of the change and as you'd expect I know exactly where they were and what they did. In fact at the end of my mother's life as an ex banker I had to step in re finances and fully managed them after her death. So I guess Lawrence is the one to prefer. Thanks for your help. It's the up to the end of WW2 is the main interest. Very helpful thanks @@KimberlyGreen

[@GenealogyTV]

I agree with @KimberlyGreen. I would set the name most often used as the preferred name so search works to your advantage and have all other possible spellings as alternate name facts. Consider using one without the - between names too.

[@ruthrobb4406]

My Uncle changed his spelling when became an adult but his parents remained at the old spelling. Would I treat as two different spellings?

[@GenealogyTV]

I would add a second name fact with the alternate spelling.

[@stevechrismillersarro5445]

I had something Similar. My Father said, that he was told, that his Father's Mother, was born the Surname Krause. I found out, My Great Grandmother, wasn't born Krause. She was born, the surname Krantz. First, My Great Grandmother, had Records, of Krantz. At first, I didn't know why, the records had, surname Krantz. So, I left the Surname blank. My Father, had Records, on a certain paper. That paper, was the same colors, of Money, White and Olive Green. That Record, had the surname Krantz, for my Great Grandmother. Also, Ancestry, is saying, that, the surname Krantz, is one of the Common, surnames, in the Family. After that, I put Krantz, for my Great Grandmother, on My Ancestry DNA Tree. My Father said, sometimes, they can get, the names wrong. I said no, because, the surname Krantz, was on, Ancestry DNA Records, for My Great Grandmother, and that Record paper, that we have, says Krantz. Plus, Ancestry DNA says, it's one of the Common Surnames, on My Father's Father side, of the Family

[@GenealogyTV]

Use both names. Do one name fact with Krantz and the other with Krause. Cite your source for each. This will let the search engine work for you looking for records under both spellings.

[@ChristineHayes-t1t]

I am really struggling with this. When I add an alternate name for someone in Ancestry, when I search using "Find in Tree", the person does not appear

[@GenealogyTV]

Humm… you can switch the alternate name to the preferred name. We typically like to use the name facts because Ancestry will search all name facts but not the Also Known As fact. I’ll investigate.

[@ChristineHayes-t1t]

@@GenealogyTV Yes I can switch it, but then the alternate name is not searchable

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting I was not aware of that.

[@ChristineHayes-t1t]

@@GenealogyTV I need the alternate names to be searchable. Same with most of the other comments in this thread.

[@lucielou7745]

Anyone else NOT have the “name” option on ancestry? I only can find “namesake”

[@GenealogyTV]

You should be able to add it in the profile view at the top of the Facts Column, click Add. You might need to turn on a filter, called Alternate Facts.

[@T2Monty]

Only available through browser. The app (at least Android version, Beta, for Canada if it matters) does not show the Name fact in dropdown list for existing profile that already has a name. So no alternative names can be manually added. They can be added indirectly from a source by selecting radio button for Alternative Name. However, you still won't be able to edit any alternative names, if selected the preferred name edit box will pop up. Longtime bug that I've reported. But Ancestry doesn't seem to be interested in fixing their numerous UI bugs.

[@exdus235]

👋😊😼