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Algorithm Reboot for Non-Western names

David Benjamin Maielua
David Benjamin Maielua ✭
November 9, 2022 in Suggest an Idea

Just wanted you to know that the section for "Name Meaning" in the new pages doesn't quite cut it when it comes to non-Western names (i.e. Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese). Why? The algorithm is using a phonetic approach to find the closest meaning. Yep, it doesn't work that way, and it really gives no meaning to the individual person's page at all.

As a person of Hawaiian ancestry married to a person who also has Hawaiian, Chinese and Japanese ancestry, the "name meaning" section really has no meaning for us. Is there a way we can remove that section from our family members' pages?

Johnette Maielua, Hawaii Kai Ward

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Active · Last Updated November 9, 2022

Comments

  • Paul W
    Paul W ✭✭✭✭✭
    November 9, 2022 edited November 9, 2022

    This applies to name meanings provided for surnames throughout the world. A few days ago someone with a Dutch name complained that the name meaning provided suggested a Vietnamese connection! So, nothing specific to "non-Western" names.

    FamilySearch uses a particular source here and, combined with the algorithm applied, means this issue arises all the time. There are some quite respected dictionaries of surnames available, but the ones I have consulted often rely on pure guesswork in providing definitions. As has been stated here on many occasions, there is rarely just one meaning / origin to a particular surname (even "western" ones), so I'd just take such details with a pinch of salt - or completely ignore them!

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