What is the proper way to handle an adopted person's last name in the tree?
The existing entry for my husband's grandfather has his last name as his adopted name, not his birth name. We know for a fact what his birth name was. What is the correct way to address this in the tree? I want to edit the record but not sure of the proper way to do it.
Answers
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The more common advice is to record the birth name of individuals you add to Family Tree. However, I (and many others) either agree (or are equally happy) with the name being recorded as the one a male individual (or female if remaining unmarried) used throughout most of their life. So, when I have come across (say) an illegitimate child whose mother married soon after his birth, and the child is then found with the stepfather's surname throughout his life, I feel it most reasonable to record the stepfather's name as the main one, on the Person page. Whichever you choose, make sure the other name is recorded as an "Alternate Name" in the Other Information section.
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Hello @LoriHurford,
Here is some information on how to enter a person's name into the tree when it differs from the birth name:
In general, enter the birth name in the Vitals section of the Person page. Enter other names, such as nicknames, in the Other Information section. Legal name changes are an exception.
- For a legal name change, enter the most recent legal name in the Vitals section.
Best Wishes!
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This pertains to adoptions in the last 100 years or so. If the adoption and name change occurred as an infant, the use of the adopted (legal) name in Vitals is critical if you want to find any records of that person’s life. No one who knew that person would recognize the birth name. If the adoption occurred later, say the second husband adopted all the children born of the first husband, then you would probable still use the adopted name in vitals as it is the LEGAL name but include birth name as AKA. Making a proper tree would certainly clarify what the surname of the birth father is.
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Thank you all for your comments. These were helpful
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