How do I chance a surname from Unknown to the correct surname?

Nancy Fischer_1

When I entered my great grandmother, no one knew her surname, so I entered her as Cornelia Unknown. This evening, I tried to change it to her real name as I now know what it is. The best I have been able to do is add it as an alternate name. She is even listed under her parents and siblings as Cornelia Unknown. Any suggestions?

Chas Howell

@Nancy Fischer_1, just a review of the previous instructions, from the Person Detail page under Vitals, click the Pencil Icon for the name entry, then "Edit', then Enter the correct Surname instead of Unknown, then click the "SAVE" button (lower right)

SAVE" button (lower right)

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Thanks for sharing the PID, @Nancy Fischer_1

I went ahead and edited it to show the name you wanted. Hope that is okay.
As Julian and Chas mentioned above, I only had to click on the pencil to edit the name.

Some other issues need to be checked and edited based on the Profile Quality Score and Research Helps.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGZ2-757

The No Couple Relationship is in conflict with the Lived Together fact. One or the other will need to be changed.

Re Searching

This seems strange, they're usually edittable. Can you let us know the PID of the person so we can see her record ?

JulianBrown38

There are some instructions on how to change profile information here in the help system. In your case, you would click the pencil icon next to the name. Other items can be changed similarly.

This is an example:

Áine Ní Donnghaile

For future reference, this article contains guidelines about entering names in the FamilySearch Family Tree if a surname is unknown: https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/enter-a-person-with-an-unknown-name

Nancy Fischer_1

I mis-typed. I entered the person as Cornelia Unknown. I am trying to change it to Cornelia Clark. It does not stay changed. I had already found that article. It does not help ad it is explaining how to enter a name the first time, not change it. Thank you, anyway, for answering.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

@Nancy Fischer_1 I did say for future reference.
As others have said, if you need us to help, we need the PID.

Are you on the Details page (where you can edit) or are you possibly on the About page (where you can only view)?

Nancy Fischer_1

I have tried to change this repeatedly, and clicked the save button. All I succeed in doing is adding "alternate name" or "birth name". Even under the list of her family members, she still appears as Cornelia Unknown. Her PID is KGZ2-757. Her correct name is Cornelia Arletta Clark, daughter of Isaac and Christiana (Cake) Clark.

Nancy Fischer_1

Thanks to all of you, I'm glad it finally changed.

Believe it or not, your instructions were exactly what I did. Multiple times. I was on the details page, and my screen looked exactly like the ones you were showing. I do not know why it would not change for me. I have never had this problem before. I did not want to add any more information about her until the name was correct.

Now that we have that problem solved… Is there a better way to add the fact that this couple was not married, other than the note I added?

Chas Howell

@Nancy Fischer_1 , on the person detail screen in the "Family Members" section, Click the pencil icon next to where the marriage shows, then click the pencil icon in the Events section by the marriage, then click the drop down arrow under the words "Couple Relationship", then choose the relationship type that best suits the situation. /Common Law/Lived Together etc

So I see you have already set the relationship type to Lived Together, I guess I misunderstood your question.