I use five underscores for the unknown name. For example: Smith, ___ or ___, Abigail or ___, ___. I like using the underscores because it stands out in reports.
I have not been consistent, but I should be putting an underscore because of how that positions the names in searches. I leave a blank now. Usually in my trees it is the woman's maiden name that I might not know. When I first started, I put the married name. This I do not do any longer. Maybe I should put one underscore for a male and 2 for a female or something like that. Then in the person list on FTM I would be able to know something about the person by sight.
It takes some time and playing around, and I DO suggest that you try several options, both in Data Entry and Reports and Charts to see how they look to YOU.
Remember that you may have Missing Firstnames and Surnames, especially Females. You may handle them the same way, or different ways.
I have been inconsistent. I can't leave a surname blank because many of the ways I look at the data make it look as if the first name is the surname. I've played around with the five underscores because I understand from Ancestry.com that it is the best for the way their search engines work. I now fairly consistently utilize the ___ for unknown first names. The ___ for surnames is complex for me in working with the database on Ancestry because if you want to add a mother to a child you've just added, for example, with a census that has attached the child to the current wife, how do I know which Mary ___ to select from the 17 Mary _____s I may have there?
In my database's index, I do not like looking at a couple of thousand surnames of ___ with nothing to identify them. My favorite choice, at least for database use, is the husband's surname but with an asterisk at the end to identify it as an unknown maiden name. That choice puts my index in the proper location to identify where that particular unknown surname might fit.
1) "Unknown" if I don't know a given name and birth surname 2) "Given" only if I only know a given name (e.g., Mary A.) 3) "Surname" if I know only the birth surname but no given name.
I use Legacy. For an unknown surname, I just use a period. I tried using "Unknown" but I didn't like the way charts and reports looked with all the Unknowns.
I use FTM2014 and substitute 5 underscores for all unknown given and family names. Individuals with both no known surname and no known given name float to the top of reports.
He recommends "Mary ?" for an unknown maiden or surname. And "? Seaver" for an unknown first name. He recommends no entry for a totally unknown name. I think I'd rather use ? ? for a person for whom no name is known just to get it into the index and be consistent with the above.
I like this better than underlines or "Unknown" or "Unk" or "LNU" It would put all of the ? surnames in some order in a listing.
Hi Kim Hanks....I use the 5 under scrores for all unknown names at this point. For the most part that has turned out to be mostly married women that I haven't id'd their maiden name yet.
Russ, I see where the Legacy help suggests a couple of items for unknowns, but I don't think it's standardized. Actually, Legacy seems fairly quiet on that front. Here's what I found:
"Blank records are often attached to a marriage to take the place of a missing spouse. By default, these records show with "Unknown" in the Name field. If you would like these names to appear blank, choose (Just leave it blank).
If you are entering something into either the given names field or the surname to indicate that the name is currently unknown, such as [--?--], NN, or ??? or something similar, these entries will normally cause a potential problems alert. If you would like to avoid the alerts on these name entries, you can do so by creating a file called UnknownName.txt in the [My Documents]\Legacy Family Tree\_AppData folder. The file should contain two strings consisting of one or more terms separated by space between each one. The first line is for unknown names that might be found in the Given Names field and the second line pertains to the Surname field. For example: Child ??? [--?--] NN ??? You can create this file using a text editor."
I actually got my idea for using a period from Geoff Rasmussen in his book Legacy Family Tree Unlocked, p. 183, but I like the idea of using brackets and underscores.
I use five underscores for the unknown name. For example: Smith, ___ or ___, Abigail or ___, ___. I like using the underscores because it stands out in reports.
ReplyDeleteI have not been consistent, but I should be putting an underscore because of how that positions the names in searches. I leave a blank now. Usually in my trees it is the woman's maiden name that I might not know. When I first started, I put the married name. This I do not do any longer. Maybe I should put one underscore for a male and 2 for a female or something like that. Then in the person list on FTM I would be able to know something about the person by sight.
ReplyDeleteI leave it blank also. Is there a standard?
ReplyDeleteShannon Thomas - Great answer.
ReplyDeleteI have forgotten, what program are you using?
I know of one of the programs that do not like that way of handling of this issue.
Thank you,
Russ
Kim Hanks
ReplyDeleteIt takes some time and playing around, and I DO suggest that you try several options, both in Data Entry and Reports and Charts to see how they look to YOU.
Remember that you may have Missing Firstnames and Surnames, especially Females. You may handle them the same way, or different ways.
But before you commit to one way, try them out.
Russ
Elizabeth McMurrey
ReplyDeleteNope. No Standard.
Thank you,
Russ
I use Legacy as my main database program but I have FTM as well.
ReplyDeleteI have been inconsistent. I can't leave a surname blank because many of the ways I look at the data make it look as if the first name is the surname. I've played around with the five underscores because I understand from Ancestry.com that it is the best for the way their search engines work. I now fairly consistently utilize the ___ for unknown first names. The ___ for surnames is complex for me in working with the database on Ancestry because if you want to add a mother to a child you've just added, for example, with a census that has attached the child to the current wife, how do I know which Mary ___ to select from the 17 Mary _____s I may have there?
ReplyDeleteIn my database's index, I do not like looking at a couple of thousand surnames of ___ with nothing to identify them. My favorite choice, at least for database use, is the husband's surname but with an asterisk at the end to identify it as an unknown maiden name. That choice puts my index in the proper location to identify where that particular unknown surname might fit.
Shannon Thomas Doesn't Legacy want you do use a different unknown name format?
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Russ
Donna Willis Brown
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Russ
I've usually done this:
ReplyDelete1) "Unknown" if I don't know a given name and birth surname
2) "Given" only if I only know a given name (e.g., Mary A.)
3) "Surname" if I know only the birth surname but no given name.
Randy Seaver
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Russ
I have stared using 5 underscores after hearing Christa Cowan say that this works in Ancestry.com. I use FTM 2014
ReplyDeleteDiane Minor
ReplyDeleteThat's what I use and it does work well between FTM2014 and Ancestry.com
Russ
I use Legacy. For an unknown surname, I just use a period. I tried using "Unknown" but I didn't like the way charts and reports looked with all the Unknowns.
ReplyDeleteI've only ever used the 5 underscores. I have not had any problems with Legacy. If there is a certain way in Legacy I do not know about it.
ReplyDeleteKarin Coppernoll +Karin Coppernoll
ReplyDeleteThank you.
I thought Legacy had their "recommended" way of handling Unknown Names.
I thought that Legacy wanted [--?--] for unknown names.
Russ
Diane Minor So do you use 5 underscores for every missing name regardless of male, female, surname, given name?
ReplyDeleteKim Hanks
ReplyDeleteI do.
I like it when I share a report or chart with someone who knows the answer and fills in the Blanks.
Searching from within FTM2014 with Ancestry works great.
Russ
I use FTM2014 and substitute 5 underscores for all unknown given and family names. Individuals with both no known surname and no known given name float to the top of reports.
ReplyDeleteI knew I'd seen an article by Gary Mokotoff on this topic - see http://iijg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/AVOTAYNU_XXIV_3.pdf
ReplyDeleteHe recommends "Mary ?" for an unknown maiden or surname. And "? Seaver" for an unknown first name. He recommends no entry for a totally unknown name. I think I'd rather use ? ? for a person for whom no name is known just to get it into the index and be consistent with the above.
I like this better than underlines or "Unknown" or "Unk" or "LNU" It would put all of the ? surnames in some order in a listing.
Geoff Mulholland -- Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRuss
Randy Seaver
ReplyDeleteThank you for that link. Interesting .....
How does your naming convention work with FamilySearch.org?
When you upload a GEDCOM to an Ancestry Member Tree, do you get good Hints?
Thank you,
Russ
+Russ Worthington
ReplyDeleteFamilySearch wants a wife with an unknown first name and last name to be Mrs. Smith. I don't recall the other situations.
I haven't looked at an AMT example - i'll go check soon.
Randy Seaver
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
I didn't check my Roots Magic, but what does Roots Magic want for Unknown Names.
Family Tree Maker doesn't care (will have to check the help section on that). The Barefoot Genealogist, Crista Cowan shows us the 5 underscores.
Legacy, in the Help suggests [--?--] that I posted earlier.
That PDF file tells a different story.
Thank you,
Russ
Hi Kim Hanks....I use the 5 under scrores for all unknown names at this point. For the most part that has turned out to be mostly married women that I haven't id'd their maiden name yet.
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying your summer!
Russ, I see where the Legacy help suggests a couple of items for unknowns, but I don't think it's standardized. Actually, Legacy seems fairly quiet on that front. Here's what I found:
ReplyDelete"Blank records are often attached to a marriage to take the place of a missing spouse. By default, these records show with "Unknown" in the Name field. If you would like these names to appear blank, choose (Just leave it blank).
If you are entering something into either the given names field or the surname to indicate that the name is currently unknown, such as [--?--], NN, or ??? or something similar, these entries will normally cause a potential problems alert. If you would like to avoid the alerts on these name entries, you can do so by creating a file called UnknownName.txt in the [My Documents]\Legacy Family Tree\_AppData folder. The file should contain two strings consisting of one or more terms separated by space between each one. The first line is for unknown names that might be found in the Given Names field and the second line pertains to the Surname field. For example:
Child ???
[--?--] NN ???
You can create this file using a text editor."
I actually got my idea for using a period from Geoff Rasmussen in his book Legacy Family Tree Unlocked, p. 183, but I like the idea of using brackets and underscores.
Karin Coppernoll yes, that is what I saw in the Help for Legacy
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Russ