How to Locate Maiden Names for your Genealogy Search by
Paul Duxbury and Kevin Cook
When working on your genealogy, sometimes
the most difficult obstacle to overcome is that of finding the maiden names
of female ancestors. However, by finding this information you can be lead to
an entirely new branch of your family tree and a whole new set of
information and history to explore.
When working on your genealogy, sometimes
the most difficult obstacle to overcome is that of finding the maiden names
of female ancestors. However, by finding this information you can be lead to
an entirely new branch of your family tree and a whole new set of
information and history to explore. To get to that point, though, you do
have to find the maiden names in the first place. How do you do it? Here are
eight tips on where to look for such information in your genealogy quest.
First of all, as obvious as it may seem, check with marriage records. The
bride's maiden name is always listed on her marriage record. If you can't
find a license, look for marriage certificates, announcements, bonds, or
anything else that may have been used to mark the occasion at the time. You
will be surprised at what you might find if you are creative.
Secondly, you can check out cemetery records. It may seem morbid, but
especially in the past, the only proof you may find that a female ancestor
even had a maiden name may be on her tombstone. Many of them will list a
woman under her maiden name with her married name listed in terms of
"married to" inscriptions.
Third, you can check census records. If you go back far enough you will see
the maiden name of your ancestor shown by looking at the records of who
lived in the household. You may see that a young couple lived with the
wife's parents, or that other relatives moved into the home that may give
away the maiden name.
Fourth, check land records. Land records are a great resource any time you
are working in genealogy, and for seeking a maiden name they can be as well.
Many times in the past, land was passed from father to daughter. If you look
at your family's deeds you may find the names of females or of children of
owners that can give away the maiden name to you as you search. If you see a
man or couple sold land to someone for a dollar or other small amount, it is
often a relative, so use that as well.
Fifth, it may seem unusual, but churches can be a great resource for maiden
names. The birth and christening records in many cases will have the names
of both parents on them. The mother's name, in most cases, will be listed
under her maiden name. Churches may also have marriage information,
including maiden names, since there were times when civil registration was
not in effect in certain areas.
Sixth, try probate records and even the wills themselves. If you find that
you may have found a set of parents to go with the mystery relative, check
their will or probate. They often listed the surnames of female children
separately from those of their spouses. This information can be valuable in
tracking down a maiden name.
Seventh, check the newspaper. That's right; the newspaper can be a great
resource. If you look in the area where your relative lived or was married,
you may be able to find announcements or obituaries, which like the
tombstones, will often times include the maiden name of the deceased.
Finally, check out death records. If the ancestor you are searching for died
recently enough that there is a death certificate, it may be one of the only
places her maiden name will be listed. You should also read the certificate
carefully, though, since the information on old death certificates can be
inaccurate. If you look you will be able to find out who the informant is.
The closer the relationship between the deceased and the informant, the more
accurate the information often will be.
There are a number of things you can run into with genealogy that can be
frustrating. One of the most common obstacles, though, is maiden names.
Often times there just were not kept track of with any sort of regularity so
it becomes a real challenge to find out which way that branch of your family
tree goes. However, there are some things you can do to track down maiden
names. The eight tips above should get you a good start on tracking down who
married whom so that you can extend that family tree to include new and
exciting branches.
About the Authors
Paul Duxbury and Kevin Cook own http://www.amateur-genealogist.com and
http://www.our-family-trees.co.uk two of the leading Genealogy Websites. In
addition Paul owns a wide range of exciting websites which can be viewed at
http://www.our-family-trees.co.uk