given name or surname?

Megan Lingmann

I'm indexing VA marriage records. On the current image, there are columns for the husband's father and the "maiden name of mother." There are similar columns for the wife's parents as well. Usually, the recorder will write the father's full name in his column and the first name and maiden name of the mother in her column. This recorder wrote only the father's first name in his column, followed by an "and," which then flows into the mother's column, which gives her first name, a middle name, which I believe is actually her maiden name because they are all common last names, followed by the joint married name. For example, one entry might read, "Robert and Eleanor Adams Robertson," while most batches would read "Robert Robertson" and "Eleanor Adams." But some only give a middle initial for the wife, followed by the married name. Because the top of the column is labeled as "maiden name of mother," do I consider these middle names to be maiden names and index them in the "surname" box, or do I assume the recorder did not follow the instructions at all and record the middle names in the given names box? TIA

Here's the batch I'm working on: https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/batch/b6b8bfda-4508-4aca-87ca-8f2d2daa1d63

LindaCP

Thank you for your question Megan. This is an instance where we can use our Best Judgement. Clearly the person writing the record is listing the name of the husband and wife together rather than individually. Where there are 2 names which are surnames listed in the mother's column the first surname would be her maiden name and the second one her married name. Especially where we can see that the second surname is the same as the name of the child getting married.

Melissa S Himes

I agree, except for the indexing a mother's middle name as a maiden name. For instance, Sarah Carter Brown should be indexed as

Given Name: Sarah Carter

Surname: Brown

We have no way of knowing from these records if Carter is her maiden name or her given middle name at birth. When we don't know whether a name is a surname, it is indexed in the given name field.

LindaCP

It is true we do index names in the Given Names fields when we are not sure if it is a given or surname.

However, there are times when an indexer may use their Best Judgement. If we look at How to Index a Marriage Register, Example 2 we see that this form is different from the other forms. It is the same type of form used for batch M3WV-MVC. In the other 2 examples, there is no column for Maiden Name of Mother, but there is one on this form. This where your Best Judgement as an indexer comes into play; if you feel that the center name listed looks more like a maiden surname in the Maiden Name of Mother column, then you may index it as a surname. If you feel that the name looks more like a middle name, then you may index it as a middle name in the Given Name field.

If names such as Powell, Sandling, Carson, Kennedy, etc sound more like a given name then use your Best Judgement and enter them in the Given Names field. If they sound more like surnames, then index them in the Surname field.

In the Project Instructions, under What to Remember about This Project, bullet point 2 tells us:

• The completed index will be freely accessible online to the general public when the collection is published.

A researcher will be able to see this image and make their own determination as to the Maden Name of Mother.

Thank you for your willingness to index these records.