Self Help

Searching for ancestors would be easier if the spelling of last names remained consistent throughout the centuries, but unfortunately that is not the case. Don’t despair, though, for this can be overcome. The first thing to do is to think of all the ways you can possibly spell your last name. For instance, if your last name is “Kane,” you might write “Cain,” “Cane,” “Caine,” “Kain,” “Kaine,” and “Kaines.” Sometimes, saying your name out loud a few times will help you think of other possibilities.

Try also to mispronounce your name to see whether that raises additional spellings. And remember to include the spellings and pronunciations that other people have mistakenly used during your lifetime. In cemeteries, you’ll often find the original, pre-immigration surname on the tombstone, as many of our ancestors chose to be buried with their original name as opposed to the one they either adopted or were forced to adopt upon landing in the United States.

Death certificates might also contain an ancestor’s original name. If you by chance come across several death certificates from members of one family, and one certificate contains a different spelling of - or even a completely different - last name, don’t dismiss it as a clerical error. That ancestor may have given you a valuable clue through his or her choice to be buried with his original name.