Attention: This site does not support the current version of your web browser. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser
I've asked this question a few months ago but cannot find your answer. If the parents on a birth or death record say: John & Jane Smith - what is the surname name of the father and the mother.
@MaryAnneReynoldsSmith Can you please share a batch code? That way others can see the image and read the specific project instructions to find out how the record keepers would like the surname of parents indexed. Different projects and batches have different instructions.
Here are the steps to find the batch code:
Thank you so much for helping FamilySearch index historical records.
Well it says right there that the fathers name is John Smith, so Smith would be his surname. Now sometimes its fine to put the mothers surname as Smith as well because It would seem they are married and she carries his name. But some records need you to put the mothers maiden name. If it doesnt say specifically to use her maiden name, and it only provides her married name there, I would just index her surname as her married one. Hope this helps! :)
You have to type the batch code in with your question, or as a comment. Clicking on the icon doesn't send it. But, generally, in the scenario you provided, John & Jane Smith, both would have the surname of Smith, even if it said Jane & John Smith. If it said John Smith and Jane, or John Smith and his wife, Jane or Jane Smith and John, or Jane Smith and her husband, John, then the surname would only be indexed with the person to whom it is attached.
If you want to find questions and answers that your previously asked, click on the gray circle in the right corner, then click on My Discussions. There you will see everything you have asked. If you want to see all the comments you have made, click on your name in the box that pop ups and you will see every comment you have made too (at least since they converted to this platform - I'm not sure about the older stuff that is hidden since Indexing Chat was dissolved.)
Let me know if this helps and you can find your old posts! and... Happy Indexing!
@MaryAnneReynoldsSmith Thank you so much for sharing the batch code. That worked perfectly. I clicked on the Project Instructions and under "What To Index" there are pictures you can click that show you exactly what to Index, I find these very helpful. Click the link below and you will see that in this project the mother's surname would be the same as the father's.
The steps to find the Project Instructions are below. When you open a project for the first time, the project instructions display in a box with a purple header.
Thank you so much for helping to index historical records for FamilySearch. Enjoy your day.
Good work on sharing the Batch Code. If you ever want to look at a shared batched you can do it by clicking on the gear next to My Batches on your main page and putting the code in the box that appears. Or if you have a batch open, you can click on Help and then click Open Shared Batch and put the code in. Here is a batch code for a project I have if you want to try it! MSFT-8TP This can be a great way to learn from others questions and the answers. Sometimes people will just share their links and you can click on those too. Once they are submitted, you are no longer able to see them - so sometimes you have to be quick!
That is exactly how I would index the parents - giving each one the same surname.
That example needs some serious help on the Birthplace. I see why they have circled Princess Ann in the header, to show that Princess Ann can be expanded as a BIRTH PLACE, but, wow - that is really going to confuse a lot of people who don't read that last sentence. Sometimes too much information is just too much. "In this instance, the locality in the header was boxed only as a reference to explain how the abbreviation "Prs Anne" should be expanded to Princess Anne. Do not include "Virginia" as part of the birthplace." Oh.my.
It helps a lot if we can look at the batch to know what the instructions for that project are. You can find the shared batch code at the end of the project name. It will be in brackets and start with the letter 'M'. There will be seven letters and numbers.
I sent the batch code. I know not to assume names, but whose to say the father is not using the mother's surname. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous! just thinking
@@MaryAnneReynoldsSmith: I've asked this question a few months ago but cannot find your answer.
If you open your profile you would see under My discussions all the questions you posted and their answers.
The indexing of Names and surnames are very project specific , projects from US, from Europe, from South America they all have different ways of indexing surnames. This is the reason to post the Batch Code/ ID to help review the Project Instructions or Field help and come up with an accurate answer to your question.
I'm new at sharing batch codes. the batch is M39R 1B7 Virginia vital records 1715-1901 Your answer makes sense. After you look at the batch let me know if your advice was correct! Thanks
