How do I get FamilySearch to remove an incorrect Surname meaning?

Jeff Porter_1

The GLASSETT Surname meaning offered on the GLASSETT Family History page is completely wrong!

Firstly, it refers to the GASSETT NOT GLASSETT surname. There is absolutely no evidence that GLASSETTs were Huguenots. Most GLASSETTs were Irish Roman Catholics from the northern boarders of County Cork, Ireland NOT French protestants.

Secondly, GLASSETT is not a known/listed variant of the GASSETT surname or vice versa.

Thirdly, there is currently NO agreed meaning for the GLASSETT surname.

I understand the this your published Surname meaning is sourced from the 'Dictionary of American Family Names by Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006'. This meaning may be correct to "GASSETT" but is definitely NOT true for Irish GLASSETTs. I note that there appears to be no explicit list of GLASSETT in this dictionary and there appears to be an assertion that GLASSETT is an 'Altered form of French Gachet' without evidence or proof offered.

Please can you remove this erroneous entry.

Thank you

Jeff Porter

Registrar of the GLASSETT One-Name Study

(Guild of One-Name Studies)

Paul W

You will see at the bottom of the page (link provided above):

"Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006."

This is the source that FamilySearch uses for its "Surname meaning" campaigns - which are basically used as a method of attracting newcomers to family history. I choose to not subscribe to receiving such email notifications, as any such detail is subject to debate and can even prove upsetting to the reader, as you have found. A respected genealogist here in England once commented to the effect that much of the content of surname dictionaries has to be taken with a large pinch of salt. In many cases the definitions are produced without any foundation, though there are also many that do appear to be pretty plausible.

Unfortunately, and especially as this material is not even FamilySearch copyright, this information will not be removed / amended on the website - in the same way that it will probably remain forever unchanged in the original publication.

Jeff Porter_1

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your prompt and realistic response which I really appreciate.

I fully understand FamilySearch laudable ambition to attract newcomers to our wonderful endeavours however information they publish must be accurate and/or caveated with warnings.

Clearly, FamilySearch can decide whether or not to use this specific surname dictionary entry. BUT if they continue to publish this inaccurate third party information following notification then it will be doing an mis-service to both 'newcomers' and serious genealogists and historians.

Kind regards - Jeff