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Basic Indexing Guidelines - surname instructions

Richard L Hall
Richard L Hall ✭
October 27, 2021 in Indexing

It says "do not assume the surname of an individual based on the surname of someone else, such as a parent or spouse" Then it says " However, if a surname was not given for an individual and a surname was given in the same document for a family member, you can type a surname for the individual based on the family member's surname."

Can someone give me an example of how the two differ, please? The latter comment seems to contradict the first instruction.

Thank you

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Best Answer

  • John Empoliti
    John Empoliti ✭✭✭✭✭
    October 27, 2021 edited October 27, 2021 Answer ✓

    Hi Richard.

    Yes, that was the Basic Indexing Guidelines (BIG) guidance on Surnames, but here is the latest general advice from the General Indexing Guidelines (GIG). "General" in this context means absent specific Project Instructions or Field Helps to the contrary. The GIG has replaced the BIG. The GIG is the last section of every set of Project Instructions.

    How do I index last names (surnames)?

    Article Id: 938

    April 20, 2020

    Enter the surname as you see it printed on the historical document that you are indexing. 

    • Do not assume the surname of an individual based on the surname of someone else, such as a parent or a spouse, unless directed otherwise in the project instructions.
    • Type the maiden name before the current surname. Often the term "née," "geb," or "geboren" was written with a surname to indicate a maiden name.


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Answers

  • Melissa S Himes
    Melissa S Himes ✭✭✭✭✭
    October 27, 2021

    The General Indexing Guideline says

     Do not assume the surname of an individual based on the surname of someone else, such as a parent or a spouse, unless directed otherwise in the project instructions.

    So apparently in your project there is a further instruction to use a family surname when it was used in a document. One project I can think of would be a census where the surname might be mentioned for the head of household and could be transferred to the remainder of the family.

    It would be most helpful if you could share a batch from the project you are working on for a more accurate answer.

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