Family Historian User Group

Is there a way to use a woman's actual primary surname as recorded in FH rather than the last married surname for censuses?

I prefer to use the surname as recorded rather than the married surname in the auto text. I have been in the habit of manually changing this when creating new censuses. The option to use the actual surname would make it easier. If there is a preference to change this, I have not been able to find it.

I am using generic sources if it makes any difference.

Thanks,
Bill

So if someone is born Sarah Smith but is Sarah Jones in the census you transcribe the entry with Sarah Smith as the name, even though it says Jones? No AS doesn't have any options to not try to predict what their name was. All my assumptions were that someone would want to accurately transcribe the name as it appears on the census form in source text and the auto-text tries to help with this. I don't think I've ever had anyone ask about this before!

I think I'd suggest you'd transcribe with the name as given on the census. If you use AS auto links feature, then it is easy to click the entry in FH to get to the individual with their maiden name. It's why I just converted all my census transcriptions to linked individuals.

You may have a good reason for why you do what you do, but it is unusual.

Would it help to use the Individual record link feature of FH V7?
Then the entry in the grid would be as recorded in the Census with the married surname, but the link would open that women's Property Box with her birth surname.

[My post was simultaneous with Chris.]

tatewise wrote: ↑

19 Nov 2022 13:11

Would it help to use the Individual record link feature of FH V7?

Bill does use this.

I guess what what I do isn't what the majority of people do. However, I find it works best for me. I have too many married names that are the same. It really helps me to see the actual birth surname rather than the maiden name. I've been doing it this way for over 10 years so don't think I want to change at this late date. I can continue to modify the text after it is created. I just thought maybe I was missing something in the preferences. I include the actual names, as given in the census, in the notes including all misspellings, incorrect names, etc. for all members of the family.

I just started using the individual links after Nick so kindly added the conversion function to AS. I do like this, but find the birth name in the text is also helpful.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Bll

As you do use the link feature, after the source is saved, go back into the text in FH and edit each link and change it to auto. Then the link will show the same as whatever is the name in the focus/ Record window.

John,

Thanks for the tip. That is faster than retyping the name.

Thanks,
Bill