Last names on Sierra Leone indexing

HendersonPaula

In some of records I'm trying to index from Sierra Leone, the first name of the father is listed as the last name of the mother. For example the mother is listed as "Musukula Vandy" and the father is listed as "Vandy Koi" Is this African custom? Should I index the names in the order they are listed?

Mirevo

@ HendersonPaula,

Thank you for sharing the batch code.

Certainly we noticed the father's first name as the child and mother surnames.

We suggest you to use your best Judgement. In each of these entries we have indexed the first name written for the father as his Surname. 

It would make sense for this to be the family Surname; and for some reason the recorder listed it first in the father's box.

Hope this helps.

LarryClark43

Hi,

I lived in Papua New Guinea for many years. It is the custom there to use the father's first name for the wife and children's last name. This does make family research a bit of a nightmare!!!

Mirevo

Thank you for asking. Please post the batch code with your question.

HendersonPaula

Image Name105776727_00520Batch IDM367-9QD

HendersonPaula

Thank you so much! I appreciate the clarification.

annewandering

In the end if you cannot determine if a name is a surname or a given name please use this instruction.

"If you cannot determine whether a name is a given name or a surname, type it in the Given Names field."

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-index-given-names

Rayleen H Barnes

Thanks a bunch for all of your comments. They have helped me out a lot.