Advice for using an Every Name Index

Every name indexes for those large county histories written in the late 1800s are a wonderful genealogical tool. I know - I create them! They are usually one of the first resources many genealogists look for when beginning their family research. Indexing a big county history book is an enormous project that used to be done by hand. This is why most of the old county histories were published without an index.

Every name indexes are meant to assist researchers in quickly finding passages in the original text that pertain to their ancestors or surnames. A reference to your ancestor in an every name index should always be noted, but it is definitely not substitute for detailed information that may be found when viewing the original text or document. For instance, when consulting the text the only reference you may find is your ancestor’s name in a listed among the men from the county who served in the military. Finding this clue can lead to obtaining his pension, bounty land warrant, and military service records from the National Archives and a wealth of additional family data.

When using an every name index be sure to read the explanation of how it was compiled so you understand how to use the index. You should understand what information the index will and will not help you find. An index is prepared to be as complete and accurate as possible however as with any transcription project, it can be subject to human error. Keep in mind that the index may reflect what you think is a spelling error in your surname, but in actuality was indexed accurately showing exactly how the name was spelled in the original text.

Be aware that if your ancestor is not listed within an every name index, it does not necessarily mean they did not live in that county. A search of other documented sources may reveal in fact they were long time residents. Not being mentioned in an old county history may simply mean your ancestors were not prominent in the founding of the county or part of the more well known families who lived there.

Surnames can be spelled in a variety of ways or contain inadvertent spelling errors. Generations ago names spellings were not standardized. A person may have spelled or signed his own name several ways. In generations past, scores of adults were unable to write or had little or no formal education so they spelled their names phonetically, or simply used initials. They relied upon an individual such as a county clerk to record important documents for them and spell their names correctly while they signed with “their mark” or an “x”.

Accents can change the way a name sounds when pronounced and also how it was interpreted when recorded. Think of the many ways a name could be pronounced and then think of the various spellings that could be derived. If you need assistance consult the Soundex.

The Soundex is a coded surname index that was developed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration based on phonetics rather than the way a name is spelled. The Soundex system enabled the use of sounds in a surname to be used to classify and index heads of households in the census records. The Soundex system indexes names so they can be found no matter how they were spelled.

Immigrants who were not originally English speaking with hard to spell or difficult names to pronounce often took an Americanized variation of the name by dropping syllables or difficult letter combinations to create a simpler spelling. If the surname had a prefix such as Von, search for it with and without the prefix. There were no official rules governing names and often no official documentation to reflect a name change.

An ancestor's name in the old country may be spelled significantly different than the Americanized version a decendant may use after coming to the United States. Some immigrants changed their names because of prejudices and discrimination and wanted to blend into American society. Shortening their name to remove the ethnic aspect was one way to achieve that goal. Your family surname may have changed several times before it became the family name you know today.

Understanding naming patterns can assist you in adding more ancestors to your family tree. In genealogy research, the focus is usually on the surname or last name of the family however given names or first names should be looked at too. Finding a pattern of given names bestowed over and over could represent a tradition and possibly suggest the nationality or ethnic origin of your family. Naming patterns can also help in determining the birth order of children or indicate there may be additional older children you are not aware of.

Early settlers tended to name their children after other family members. For instance, it was a common naming practice in the 1800s to name the first son after his paternal grandfather and the second son after the maternal grandfather. The first daughter was often named after the maternal grandmother and the second daughter for the paternal grandmother.

The children in German families customarily had two given names. The first given name was a spiritual or religious name in honor of a favorite saint and the second was the name the individual was known by within their family and community. Naming a child after Saint John is the most common example for male children and Maria or Anna for female children. Typically all the boys in the family had the same first name, or variation of the same first name, such as Johann Robert and Johann August, but each was called by the second name. Girls too were often given the same first name such as Maria resulting daughters in the same family named Maria Catharine, Maria Elizabeth, but also called by their second name.

It is also possible for two children of the same family to have identical names. In some families, it was acceptable to name a child the same name in honor of an older sibling who died in infancy. A child’s name can also be bestowed again when a spouse died and the surviving spouse was remarried and had additional children.

Nicknames may be a substitute for or added to the given name and can make your research difficult if you are not aware they were often used in records and documents. Vital records usually record the proper given name but in others such as census records you may find individuals listed by their nicknames. If you cannot find a female ancestor, consider the name you know her by may actually be a nickname. For instance, Mae, May, Molly, Polly, and Minnie all can be nicknames for the given name Mary.

Looking at middle names can also lend clues in research. Both male and female children were often given the mother’s maiden name as their middle name to carry the family name to the next generation. If you have a marriage but do not know the wife’s maiden name, looking at the middle names of her children for possible clues. Your ancestor may have used a combination of first and middle names during his lifetime. He may be recorded using his middle name, particularly if there was a junior and senior in the family. When children were named for their parents or grandparents, they were often called by their middle names to avoid confusion within the family. A man may have been known by his middle name as a child until he became of age, and then switched to using his given name.

There are many resources available to family historians. Every name indexes are a favorite of most. To get the best result when using an every name index, keep in mind naming patterns and the possibilities that your surname has changed. If you search for only one spelling of your surname you will likely miss important information.