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Sometimes an ancestor changed his name. Genealogy tips for dealing with name changes in your family tree and finding that ancestor.
When researching your family history, it’s not uncommon to hit a brick wall because an ancestor may have changed their name. Whether the change was for cultural, personal, or legal reasons, this can be a daunting challenge for genealogists.
But don’t worry—there are strategies you can use to overcome this obstacle.
Table of Contents
Why Would an Ancestor Change Their Name?
It happens. Ancestors DID change their names sometimes, and before diving into research, it’s helpful to understand why your ancestor might have changed their name.
Common reasons include:
- Immigration: Many immigrants altered their names to better fit into their new country.
- Avoidance of Debt or Legal Trouble: Some changed names to escape financial or legal issues.
- Personal Choice: A desire for a fresh start or to break away from family could lead to a name change. Another personal choice could be they did not like their name. (That was my ancestor!)
- Cultural Adaptation: Names might be changed to align with local customs or language.
Of course, maybe they wanted to just confuse future researchers! 🤭
Whatever the reason, changing a family surname from the early 1900’s back was really quite simple. One just started using their new name of choice. Researchers are not likely to find a formal record for that name change. It just wasn’t needed.
When this happens, researching ancestry by a last name becomes, well, complicated. What can you as a genealogy researcher do?!
You have some options. Just be prepared this is not a quick process and you will stretch your research muscles. That’s a good thing!
How can I tell if my ancestor changed their name?
Detecting whether your ancestor changed their name can be challenging, but there are several indicators that might suggest a name change has occurred. Here are some clues to watch for:
- Inconsistencies in Census Records: When reviewing census data across different years, pay attention to variations in your ancestor’s name, age, birthplace, or the names of family members. A sudden change in any of these details could indicate a name change.
- Variations in Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates are crucial documents in genealogy research. If you notice discrepancies in your ancestor’s name across these records, it could be a sign of a name change. For example, a birth certificate might list one name, while a marriage certificate might show a different name.
- Discrepancies in Legal Documents: Legal records, such as wills, land deeds, or court documents, may show different names for the same individual. If your ancestor appears under different names in various legal contexts, it’s worth investigating further.
- Missing Records for Known Events: If you know a particular event occurred, like a marriage or immigration, but cannot find the corresponding record under your ancestor’s known name, it may be due to a name change. Searching for variations or different names might uncover the missing documentation.
- Family Stories or Oral Histories: Sometimes, family lore can hint at a name change. If stories have been passed down about an ancestor changing their name, even if they seem vague or uncertain, it’s worth considering as a potential lead.
- Unusual Gaps in the Timeline: If there’s a gap in your ancestor’s timeline where they seemingly disappear from the records, they may have changed their name around that time. Investigating where they were living or significant events during that period might provide clues.
By carefully analyzing the records you have and looking for these types of inconsistencies, you can begin to piece together whether your ancestor may have changed their name and start exploring alternative names or spellings in your search.
3 Genealogy Research Strategies To Try If You Suspect Your Ancestor Changed His Name
Let’s take a close up look at William Henry Haley of Charlotte County, VA – my ancestor who changed his name.
(This is based on the research report I completed as part of the ProGen Study Group 11.)
Were William Henry Haley and George W. Haley the same man?
William Haley “disappeared” from the records prior to 1883. Despite hours of research, no evidence of William’s existence prior to 1833 could be found. Obviously, he was somewhere! Oral history and William’s earliest known record of existence were the starting point to re-construct William’s early life. [Note: William H Haley was my Great Great Grandfather.]
1.Oral History Can Hold Clues To An Ancestor Name Change
Oral history for William’s life after his 1883 marriage and until his death in the 1940’s is strong and abundant. At the time of this research project, many of William’s grandchildren were still living and passing on their knowledge of his life. Unfortunately, those mentioned in this post have since passed away.
Anita Carr Talbott and Percy Owen (grandchildren of William Haley) provided much of the oral history of William Haley. Both grandchildren knew William Haley personally well into their early adult years. Interestingly, neither knew with certainty the name of his parents. Percy reported that the Tribble family was “somehow related”, but he was unsure of the exact relationship.
Both descendants reported William (known as Will to family and friends) Haley lived all his life in Halifax and Charlotte Counties, VA. As a young man William worked on the Clarkton Plantation as a laborer and even married the overseer’s daughter Clara Holt. William went on to become the overseer of Clarkton Plantation after the death of his father-in-law Branch W. Holt. Both Haley grandchildren also reported that the Haley surname at times was spelled Hailey.
One last clue in the family’s oral history came from Dorothy Adams Haley, wife of William’s son Clyde. Dorothy reported that William Haley’s father was “Cas” (pronounced with a short “a” sound as in “cat”). Beyond that tiny clue, Dorothy did not know if Cas was a nickname or any more about him.
That’s okay. I’d take any clue and all clues!
2. Take the Genealogy Research Back to the Traditional Genealogy Records.
Seek out all sources of genealogy information. Do not skip any steps here. Always view the original document when possible. The extra effort is crucial. For example, you may already know your ancestor’s death date and location from another source, but get that death certificate anyway!
DEATH CERTIFICATE
William Haley died 4 March 1948 in Charlotte County, VA. From family present at his death and newspaper articles about his death, I knew his date of death and the circumstances surrounding his death. His death certificate was still sought!
That death certificate reveals his full name to be William Henry Haley and his birth date was 22 Dec 1861. His father is listed as Kays Haley and his mother as Ann Triple. Both were born in Halifax County, VA. The informant on the death certificate was George Nichols, son-in-law of William Haley. [George Nichols was the husband of William’s daughter Daisy Haley.]
Hmmm…. Kays Haley and Ann Triple. Yes, these are important clues! Keep reading.
One thing that is important to consider it the death certificate is considered a secondary resource. Was the informant someone who knew the deceased well? Would he have had accurate information on William’s parents? Use the information on death certificates as clues if the informant would not have had first hand knowledge of all generations.
THE MARRIAGE RECORD
An 1883 marriage registration record shows William H. Haley married Clara Holt in Halifax County, VA. This information would have been provided by William and Clara and is considered a strong source. The marriage registration record for this couple names William’s parents as S. C. and M. A. Haley. All parties were from Halifax County, VA. The discrepancy between William’s father name of Kays on the death certificate versus S. C. in the marriage registration continued to cause confusion.
Confirmation of William’s parents was needed to determine if George Haley and William Haley are indeed the same person.
CENSUS RECORDS
William was not born at the time of the 1860 census. No S.C. Haley is found in census for this time. There is a Stephen Hailey (age 21) living in the home of Jesse Hailey in the Northern District of Halifax County, VA. He was working as a farm laborer and is listed as being born in VA. No Triple family was found in the 1860 census record for this area. There is a Mary A [Ann] Tribble age 21 living in the home of Matthew and Mary Tribble in the Northern District of Halifax County.
Remember that Percy Haley stated the Tribble family was somehow related to the Haleys. I was on the trail!
In the 1870 census William Haley would have been 9 years old. No William Haley is found in the 1870 federal census matching the William Haley in question. There is a George Haley (Hailey) age 9 in the household of Stephen (age 28) and Mary (age 28) Hailey in Staunton Township of Halifax County, VA. Stephen and Mary are living next door to Matthew and Mary Tribble. This is the same Haley family enumerated in 1880 as the S. C. Haley family based on consistent neighbors in both census records. Neighbors in 1880 also included Mary Tribble, mother-in-law to Stephen Haley.
S. C. Haley is now determined to be Stephen C. Haley.
I was getting closer, but not there yet…..
William Haley (approximately age 18 or 19) is not found on the 1880 federal census of any state. George W Haley (age 18) is found to be living in the household of James F Guthrie in the Staunton District of Halifax County, VA. George W Haley is listed as a farm laborer on the Guthrie farm. The Guthrie household is number 31. The household of Stephen C. Haley is 194 in the same district. Neighbors of the Haleys again included Mary Tribble, mother of Mary A Haley. This is the first record to show Stephen or S. C. Haley as being Stephen C. Haley.
This 1880 census shows George Haley living out of the household of Stephen C. Hailey and working as a farm laborer on another farm. This census also gives George’s middle initial as W. Could George’s middle name have been William? George is also listed as the same age as William would be. Interestingly, both S. C. and M. A. Haley went by their middle names as did several of their children.
Could they have continued the tradition with their son George?
By the 1900 census George Haley no longer shows up in the census records. William Haley (age 38) is living in the Staunton District of Halifax County, VA with his wife Clara [Holt] Haley and 5 children. William’s age and occupation as farm laborer continue to match what George’s age and occupation would have been. Steven C Hailey and wife Mary A (both age 62) are living in the Staunton District as well.
This was still not enough to definitively state George Haley and William Haley were the same man, but I was on the way.
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3. Use County Heritage Books For Local Family Knowledge
Halifax County Virginia Heritage 1752-2007 lists Stephen C. Haley’s full name as being Stephen Caswell Haley. His nickname is listed as Kas or Cas. Stephen Caswell Haley was known as Cas, and Cas was the father of William Haley.
[The genealogy “happy dance” may have ensued at this revelation!]
This information was submitted by Haley family descendants of Stephen C. Haley through his son Robert Alexander Haley. While the entry provides no formal source citations for the facts stated, a note was added that records from the Halifax County courthouse and family stories were used. The family stories are secondary sources in nature and yet support the limited oral tradition from William Haley’s descendants regarding William’s father.
Were William H. Haley and George W. Haley the same person?
When traditional records are placed alongside the Haley family’s strong oral history, the evidence supports that they were. The “why” and “how” George became William may never be fully known. A legal proceeding was not required for a name change during that time period. Regardless of which name he chose to go by, William Haley and his wife Clara left a rich legacy of strong family bonds that continue among their many descendants today.
Your Take Away for Researching Ancestors Who Changed a Name
When you research your ancestors, keep these ideas in mind:
- Research into brick wall ancestors is not quick. There is usually no one record that will provide the answer you are seeking.
- When you exhaust traditional records, think outside of the box. What other types of information and records can you find and use. These include people, written histories, personal papers, etc.
- Never trust just one source of information.
Do you suspect an ancestor changed his name? Let me know in the comments!
I know that more or less my father’s entire family, in the United Kingdom of GB, changed their surname from Fernandez to Henshaw up to 1940. I have documents for most of this. What I however don’t know is why. It was all kept strictly secret from me and all subsequent family. And I don’t know why that was either. So the facts I know, but where can I find out why? It was kept a shameful secret. Why?
In 1914 my grandfather named Clayton Godfrey left his wife and child in Oklahoma and went to sea. He married my grandmother and joined the army in 1917 in Brooklyn, NY as Clinton Hayes. We figured this out through DNA testing. I have a picture taken in 1917; my second cousin has a picture taken about 1913; they are obviously of the same man. What I can’t discover is why. He just disappeared in 1914 and was never heard from again. The stories he told of his youth are often true, just the names were changed. The cousin had often heard the story of his disappearance but had never heard a reason. There is no evidence of his being wanted by the law or that his marriage had soured. I keep looking. Any suggestions?
My maternal grandfather changed his name in the 1920’s to 1930. Family lore is that he was an outrider for Pancho Villa and that he changed his name after that. I have a letter that my grandmother, his wife, wrote to his brothers and sisters after his death. His death and funeral was announced with his new name. His siblings were upset that his original name was not used. She writes in the letter that he said he would tell the children, (my mother, an aunt and uncle) after they were grown. They were all grown at the time of his death, yet he had not told them the reason. They are all deceased now. My uncle only told me that my grandfather was a mean man. This same uncle also cleaned out and burnt the contents of my grandfather’s safety deposit box upon his death.
My GG Grandfather changed his surname three times sometime between 1900 and 1910. There’s two stories behind the changes. The first is since he came from a strick German Catholic family, he disgraced the family somehow and changed the surname. The second change was basically a spelling error that stuck with the family to this day.
When James Mawdesley was born on May 24, 1858, in Crossens, Lancashire, England, his father, Nicholas, was 26 and his mother, Ellen, was 23. In 1871, when James was 13, he was a servant living on Lord Street in Southport. At age 18, he married Ann Cadwell in October 1876 in Wigan, Lancashire, England. They had five children in 10 years. James is listed as a Journeyman Stone Mason on his wife’s death certificate issued from the Ormskirk Union Workhouse, Lancashire, England. In the early 1890’s, James left his Mawdesley family and assued the new name of James Thomas Sturdy. James married Elizabeth Abbott on 2 February 1898 in Neath Wales…while he was still married to Ann. Ann died in the Ormskirk Union Workhouse in 1899. James and Elizabeth Sturdy were married for 30 years and had 9 children. James traveled and worked as a successful Stone Mason and builder. He died on 21 January 1929 at age 70 in Coventry Warwickshire, England from Stonemasons pithitis, a lung disease and fibrositis and bronchitis. He is buried at St Michael’s of Coventry with his second wife, Elizabeth under the name of James Sturdy. A DNA match from descendant of James and Ann Mawdesley match to two distant half cousins from the James Sturdy lineage. This revelation was quite shocking for both family lines!
My great grandfather passed away in 1910 in Fayette County, WVa. His name Joseph F Comer. His headstone reads Joseph F. Comer, May 28 1877, Feb 19 1910. He married Margaret “Maggie” L. Pettry in 1897. The marriage certificate names his mother as Lucinda. The only Lucinda I can find is married to Levi Comer. They had a son, David M Comer, born on May 28, 1877. The 1880 census list David M Comer as 3 yrs. old son of Lucinda and Levi Comer. I can not find any other records for this son David M. Comer. I have been unable to locate a birth certificate for Joseph. I had read a story at one time that Levi and Lucinda Comer had suffered a tragic accident. Their home had burned down in the mid 1870’s and they had lost several children. I can not find this story in my files, so am wondering if I had dreamed it. But if the story is true, then it could be possible that David had been born at an earlier date and perished in the fire, then the distraught parents had registered the deceased sons name as been born on that said date that Joseph was born and forgot to register the death of David. Or renamed the new son after his deceased brother and he changed his name.
I suspect my ggm changed her maiden name, but after marriage (huh…why?). Her marriage certificate gives her last name as French, also the death certificate of her first child. But every other of the ten childrens’ death certificates say Dickson (or Dixon) as their mother’s maiden name. But the first name didn’t change, and the parents were married for 45 years, so it’s not as if there was a second marriage and a different mother. And the census data lists the children in the same family. I’ve hit a brick wall with her. One person suggested she may have been a foster child at one point, and had taken their name while living with them. I’ve looked for her both as French and Dickson (and Dixon) and don’t find her anywhere. Aargh! This is a frustrating one for me since I’m stuck so early on this tree branch!
My grandfather came to england sometime in the late 1880s or early 1900s from Russia. He was called Andre Toni, but strongly suspect that he fled Russia as he was Jewish, hence the name change. I have tried for over 40 years to find out anything about him other than his war record, and that was not much. I hired a genealogist, who also came up with almost nothing.
Can you advise me where to go from here please?
I’ve had a brick wall for the past 12 years or so to do with a James McCabe whose wife was my 3-gr grandmother, Elizabeth Helps. But recently I came across a last Will and Testament on Ancestry which says “I James Cape otherwise known as James McCabe…” This will be tremendously helpful because up until now there are no records of James McCabe except on the birth Certs of her first two children who kept his name, and in a few obituaries. And because we can’t find their marriage certificate, we are not sure of her maiden name. Her marriage certificate to my 3-gt grandfather simply says she was a widower named Elizabeth McCabe. We have much oral history about her, including in obituaries but much of that info has not panned out.
The problem I’m now having is deciphering the Will. I’ve gotten pretty good at reading handwriting and even guessing the era based on the style, but this one has defeated me. I can only read about every 3rd word and that hasn’t told me anything so far.
The other thing that has me worried about the accuracy of my research is that all the subsequent children born to my 3-gt grandfather were baptised on the same day, but it appears that a few were born before the marriage of the parents. Now this, despite him being well known as a very pious man, which is confirmed in letters he wrote to his children, is an alarm bell that the birth Certs might be incorrect.
Anyway, checking for a Will might be an idea for researchers who hit a brick wall.
I am convince that my last name was changed. From what some of my elders they say it was either Repeto or Repetto. Changed to Respeto. Any help of advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
It’s certainly possible! Sometimes the name spelling changes over time and we really don’t know the reason. Confirming an individual’s details such as birth dates, marriage dates and another facts placed alongside the various name spellings can help confirm it. Depending on the time period, it likely did not have a formal name change record.