Family Genealogy | Genealogy Chart

Tracing Your Family History
A Step by Step Guide

Full Birth Names - should always be listed starting with first, middle and then last name. Use only full birth names i.e. Katherine Mary O’Hara not Katie or Kathy M. O’Hara. If you can’t find a relative’s middle name, it is acceptable to use a middle initial if it is known.

Last Names – should always be recorded in capital letters. This makes transmission into lineal charts easier and also makes distinguishing the family name from the middle name simple i.e. David Andrew CLARKE

Maiden Names – female relatives should be recorded using their maiden names (if they are married) instead of their married names. If you can’t find a female relative’s birth name, place the woman’s first name on the chart and then put two parenthesis () after it or you can add the husband’s surname as well followed by the parenthesis i.e. Louise () or Louise () PAULSEN.

Multiple Marriages - a female relative who has married more than once would be recorded with her first name (middle name can be added as well) followed by her maiden name in parenthesis and then the names of each of her husbands in successive order. For example, Diane MARSHALL was first married to Bernard GARRETT followed by a second marriage to Walter ANDERSON. Therefore, her name would be recorded as Diane (Marshall) GARRETT or Diane (Marshall) GARRETT ANDERSON.

<<< Previous Page • Research Your Genealogy - Home Page • Next Page >>>