The Problem of Names - By Any Other Name

What name should you look for - what did people call your ancestors?
This seems like a silly question but it is a profound one. Our ancestors often used various names.
Did they use different given names (first names) during their lifetime?
- Language variations: English, Gaelic, Latin
  - Latin: Gulielmus = William; Jacobus = Jacob or James
  - Gaelic: Diarmaid, Darby or Dermot = Jeremiah or Jerome
- Nicknames (Kate = Catherine, Con=Cornelius, Delia = Bridget, Sarah = Cecilia)
- Internet resource: http://www.sci.net.au/userpages/mgrogan/cork/jane_names.htm
- Commonly used naming patterns in families may be a clue
Did their surname change – name or spelling of it?
- Common variations
  - keeping or dropping the O’, Mc, Mac, Fitz
  - letter substitutions, like
    - A & E: McAvoy, McEvoy
    - C, K & G: Milligcan, Millikan, Milligan
    - P & W: Phelan, Whelan
  - Watch for all variations, like Hoy, Haughey, Hawkins, Haughin
  - Realize variations affect Soundex code
- Surname distribution can be helpful (look up in Griffith’s Householders Index)
- Origin of Irish surnames can help http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/magazine/surname/index.htm
Finding Maiden Names – Places to Look
- Marriage records
- Social Security application
- Death record
- Children's death records
- Obits: person, children, spouse, siblings
- Church records
- Divorce records
- Widow’s war pension
- Local histories
- “Missing Friends”
- Insurance records
- Genealogy of husband’s line
Finding where they came from in Ireland - key to successfully tracing your ancestor
- Look where they settled
- Best bets
  - Obituaries, death records, tombstones
  - Local histories, church records, marriage records, census
- Thoroughly search
  - All records from your ancestors life outside of Ireland
  - Look at all family members and neighbors

Research Quick Links
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Library Catalog

Surname List

Research Methods

Database Search

Maps

Intro to Research

Starting Your Irish Research

Records to Search at Home

Problem of Names

Irish Places and Irish History

Digging Deeper in Ireland

Irish Sources

Offsite Links

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