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eLearning Series: Geneology
My Family Tree is Important to Me
( 50 articles in this series )
Genealogical
Clue: Handed Down Family Names
Two types of names are handed down from generation
to generation: surnames and given names. Surnames have obvious
genealogical links that can indicate country of origin, ethnicity,
and even religion, and genealogists must be aware of the difficulties
of surname research. Given names, however, can also provide
clues to family history. Both types of names, therefore, should
be studied in order for genealogists to understand better their
ancestral origins.
Nearly everyone has been asked at some point what
their first name means and why their parents gave them the name that they
did, which indicates that parents often bestow upon their children
given names with a history or a purpose behind them. Whether
you were named after Aunt Gladys or Grandpa Fred, given names
often represent a family legacy. In some cultures, for example,
families name their eldest son after his father’s father and
their eldest daughter after her mother’s mother. In other cultures,
children are given the same name as a recently deceased relative
in order to carry on that relative’s memory, or younger siblings
receive the same name as a deceased sibling. Obviously, fathers
and mothers often name children after themselves, either with
a first name or middle name, and women sometimes use their
own maiden names for their children’s middle names. Also, some
siblings may have the exact same first names but be referred
to by their middle names. Finally, don’t be fooled by nicknames.
Grandpa Bert’s real name may not have been Albert but Gilbert,
Robert, Cuthbert, Herbert, Osbert, or a number of other variations.
Doing research to discover what the nicknames of the day typically
referred to can be helpful.
When it comes to surnames, most can be traced back to the
naming patterns of men in the Middle Ages and typically fall
into four broad categories: patronymic or matronymic names,
names derived from geographical locations, names based on physical
or personal characteristics, and finally occupational
names.
Patronymic and matronymic surnames use prefixes or suffixes
to indicate that someone is the “son of” or “daughter of” someone
else. A few patronymic prefixes and suffixes are “O,” “Ab or
Ap,” “Mac or Mc,” “Fitz,” “ich,” “itch,” “ev,” “off,” and “ssen
or son,” and a few matronymic prefixes are “datter” or “feu.”
Place names could indicate geographical locations (i.e. Parris),
geographic features (i.e. Brooks), or compass directions (i.e.
Eastman). Descriptive names could indicate a physical characteristic
(i.e. Broadhead) or a personal characteristic (i.e. Goodman).
Finally, occupational names are based on occupation (i.e. Tailor
or Miller).
A glance at modern surnames, particularly in America, would
lead one to believe that not all surnames fall into these four
categories; this variety, however, is based on phonetic variations
and human error, which can often make genealogists shake their
head in frustration as they struggle to trace their family
tree. For example, Fitzgerald can be FitzGerold, Fich Gerrel,
or Fitzjairald, depending on the census takes, transcribers,
and a number of other factors involved in human error. Phonetic
variations often occurred as a result of many ancestors being
illiterate and knowing only how their name sounded, not how
it was spelled. In addition, some foreign names have varying
letter sounds when translated into English, such as Wagner
and Vagner or Freer and Veer. Sometimes prefixes or suffixes
were dropped (i.e. Van Horn to Horn). Old-fashioned handwriting
can also cause modern-day transcribing errors. Indexers may
mistake a “g” for an “s” or an “i” for a “j,” and your Singer
ancestor could be indexed under “g” for Ginger. When searching
indexes and other documents for your ancestor, be creative
and try all of the possible variations for the name or, if
possible, use a “soundex,” which will provide you with results
that include all of the phonetic possibilities based on the
surname you type in. Finally, be aware that different records
or even the same record may spell the same person’s surname
differently.
At times, surnames may have been purposely changed by immigrants
in an effort to sound more American. Ancestors may have anglicized
their names by choosing similar American names (Savitch to
Savage), translating their names into English (Bleu to Blue),
or changing their name entirely and adopting a wife’s name
or an alias. As a result of these surname variations, both
purposeful and accidental, immediate relatives or direct descendents
may have completely different surnames. Also, sons or daughter
were sometimes given their mother’s maiden name as a result
of divorce or in a desire to carry on the mother’s family name.
Finally, sometimes even an exact match of both given name
and surname in an index can still cause a genealogist difficulty.
Different people can have the same full name and birthdate
and live near each other. Also, keep in mind that no matter
how strange or unique a name may seem to modern ears, it could
actually have been quite common in your ancestor’s generation.
It’s best to double check all of your search findings with
corresponding facts and information.
In the end, genealogists must use their knowledge of naming
patterns and all of its immense variations and difficulties
in order to successfully fill in the blanks of their family
tree.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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