Keep notes of any potential future queries about your information. For instance, if you have a female ancestor whose birth last name was the same as her husband’s last name, make a note of it so that it is not thought in the future that you entered it inaccurately.
- Names should be recorded in their natural order – first, middle, and last name. If possible, use entire names. If you don’t know the middle name, you can use an initial instead.
- Surnames should be printed in capital letters. This allows for easier scanning on pedigree charts and family group sheets, as well as distinguishing the surname from the first and middle names.
- Enter women using their maiden name (surname at birth) instead of their husband’s surname. When you don’t know a woman’s maiden name, just put her first name in the chart, followed by empty parenthesis ().
- Include a nickname in quotes following the first name if it was commonly used by an ancestor. It should not be used in place of a given name and it should not be enclosed in parenthesis. It is not essential to enter a common nickname.
- If a person was known by more than one name or used an alias, insert the alternate name or names in parenthesis after the surname, preceded by a.k.a. (also known as).
- Include alternate spellings of your ancestor’s last name if it changed throughout time or from record to record. The earliest spelling should be recorded first, followed by later ones.
- Keep notes of any potential future queries about your information. For instance, if you have a female ancestor whose birth last name was the same as her husband’s last name, make a note of it so that it is not thought in the future that you entered it inaccurately.