Uncovering what’s in a name
In the previous post, I discussed why names might have different spellings in historical records. In this post, I’d like to discuss how to overcome this challenge and make progress even when names vary. This is especially important for anyone trying to build their family tree, as it can be all too easy to miss crucial records due to spelling differences.
When researching my maternal ancestor Thomas Mazlin (aka Maslin, Marslin, Mwesling Mesling, Messling), I encountered multiple versions of his name and it took some persistence to gather all the relevant information. Here are the strategies that worked for me:
1. Cast a Wide Net: Use Wildcards and Broader Searches
Many genealogy search engines and databases allow you to use “wildcards” to help find name variations. A wildcard is often represented by a symbol like an asterisk () or a question mark (?) and stands in for unknown letters. For instance, searching for “Ms*n” could bring up Maslin, Meslin, Mweslin, and so on. This method is useful when you have a sense of what the name might be but want to account for various spellings.
2. Consider Phonetic Matches
Some databases offer a “Soundex” search option, which finds records based on how a name sounds rather than how it is spelled. This is helpful when regional accents might have led to different spellings, such as “Maslin” becoming “Mazlin.” Using a phonetic search can help you find records that you might miss if you rely solely on exact matches.
3. Check All Possible Record Types
Different records may have different versions of a name, especially if they were recorded at different times or by different officials. In my research, I found that transportation records spelled Thomas’s name differently from the prison or other convict records. Checking multiple types of records—from census to parish registers—can provide a fuller picture and help verify which version of a name belongs to your ancestor.
4. Create a List of Possible Spellings
When you come across a new variation of an ancestor’s name, write it down. As you progress, you’ll create a list of potential spellings to check for in future searches. In my case, I noted all the variations I found for Thomas Maslin, which helped me cross-reference records and ensure I wasn’t missing anything important.
5. Be Open to Mistakes and Misinterpretations
It’s important to remember that people make mistakes in their writing or interpretation. Records were often created in difficult conditions and could contain errors, so be prepared for inconsistencies. The key is to remain open-minded, especially if other evidence points to a record about your ancestor, even if the name isn’t spelled as you expected.
6. Check and Check Again
I have learnt many inaccuracies about the family trees in Ancestry and other similar sites. You always need to go back to the original source documents and cross-check with another document until you have confidence in the study you uncover.
Reflections on the Challenges of Name Variations
Dealing with name variations can be one of the most frustrating aspects of family history research. It requires patience and creativity, as you’ll need to think about how a name might have been spelled or misheard. Every variation you uncover tells you something about the time and place where that record was created—the literacy levels of the people involved, the accents they spoke with, and the errors they made.
In the case of my ancestor Thomas, uncovering these different versions of his name made me think more deeply about his life. What must it have been like to live in a time when even your name wasn’t fixed, and your identity could change based on the understanding of the person writing it down?
