Evolving surnames - how to record them

[Hugo]

Is there an 'approved' way of recording the family surname?

My MRA came over from Derry in Ireland to the West coast of Scotland about 1840. He is recorded in the 1841 Census as DONAGHLLY but in 1851 as DONACHY. In later generations it became DONOCHY for one line and DONNACHIE for another.

Individuals can have the name change e.g. my grandfather starts as Donachy and finishes as Donnachie.

How do trained genealogists deal with this? It is a common situation.

Hugo

[Rockford]

Hi Hugo,

I'm far from a trained genealogist, but it's something I've come across in my own research. I have Sweenies from Donegal, who became Sweeney in Scotland, and Gilkersons, who switched to being Gilchrists in the early 1800s. The best ones are the Gwynnes, as I've had Gwyn, Quin, Gwine, Guin, Gwin.................

For the Sweenies, the family were at least consistent, as the father retained Sweenie and the children all used Sweeney. I've just recorded them under the name they used.

For the Gilchrists, I've recorded the one who changed as 'Gilkerson, later Gilchrist' in the software I use.

For the Gwynnes it has been a nightmare! What I've done is recorded them all as Gwynnes for consistency (and my sanity), but I've made notes on the PC, which appear in all the reports I print out. This is so that when I'm working on a particular family, I've got all the variations used or recorded by the varous family members.

It didn't help that my Gwynne 3 x great grandfather seems to have been illiterate until some of his children started school. He signed the early birth certificates with an 'X', but was able to sign his name (consistently) in the later ones

Does this help?

Best wishes

Brian

[Anne H]

Hi Hugo,

Like Brian, I'm far from being a "trained" genealogist. I use the most common name and record all other variations in the "alternate name" section of Legacy, this way, when I'm working on an individual, I can see at a glance that there are variations in the name and need to search on all.

Regards,
Anne H

[HeatherH]

I also use that method Anne. My Haldane's are under Haldane as its my family name and in the alternate spellings section in Legacy I list Holden/ Halden/ Holdan/ Haldan etc.
HeatherH

[Currie]

You’re lucky they’re not Welsh. My GGG Grandfather was Morris Williams, my GG Grandfather was William Morris, his eldest son was Morris Williams (Morris son of William, William son of Morris, Morris son of William etc) and so it would have gone on but for the gradual introduction of the English system.

I guess that means my GGGG Grandfather was William Something-or-other. During the transition some Parishes appear to have been a bit muddled as to how things actually worked and you would get mixes of the two systems. The mother’s name on a baptism could be her maiden name or it could be for example Sarah Williams (Sarah wife of William).

On top of that there were the usual OPR problems.

Alan

[David Lang]

My surname has changed many times down the years, i have recorded it as it spelt at the time, that way anyone who wishes to check the records can see

[StewL]

Like Anne I use the alternate names in Legacy, I do however record the name in the main record the way it is spelled in the document or record. for example Balks has a son as Baaks, or another child as Balks, there is even a Banks variation later in the line. but recording them how I find them in the record is the way I do it.

[Anne H]

Hi Stewie,

Good point! I should have mentioned that also...I too record the name as originally written on the certificate, etc. Best to keep the transcriptions as is.

Regards,
Anne H

[Hugo]

My thanks to everyone. As I suspected there does not seem to be a generally accepted 'right' way.

And Currie, you have cheered me up. I used to think I had problems!

Hugo