Family Tree Templates - How to Use Family Tree Templates For Your Genealogy Research

It isn't enough to understand the different typeslast names in order of marriage. If you have her
of family tree templates commonly used inmiddle name, enter it also. Let's say your
genealogic research. It is even more important toancestor Isabel Jane Brown was first married to
know how to enter the information you collectedJames Smith and later married your ancestor
in the charts.William Blair. Here's how you would enter her
We are fortunate that a standardized method ofinformation: Isabel Jane (Brown) SMITH; or Isabel
using family tree templates was developed. ItJane (Brown) BLAIR
makes it easy for anyone who is reading it toInclude nicknames - If you found the nickname of
understand and provides you with a means toyour ancestor during your research, don't forget
verify you have all the data.to add it to the chart. Use quotes " " not
There are three key elements to documentingparentheses to note nicknames. Remember
your findings:parentheses are used to show maiden names.
1. How to record namesYou don't want to cause any confusion in the
2. How to record placesway your chart is read. Here is what the entry
3. How to record datesshould look like on your family tree template: Alice
How to record NamesMargaret "Madge" JOHNSON
Writing the full name - Standard genealogicalWhat if there are multiple names - Your ancestor
method is to write the names in the conventionalmay show up in your research with different last
way. First Name, Middle, last name (surname).names for a number of reasons, by means of
Write the full names of each person. Here is whatadoption or a simple name change. Write the
the entry should look like on your family treename and then note the second name in
chart: Charles Napier BELLparentheses and use the following abbreviation,
Writing the last name (surname) - Last names area.k.a.- also known as; Here is what the entry
always written in capital letters (upper case). Thisshould look like on your family tree chart:
makes it easier to find the names in the charts. ItAlexander Thomas BROWN (a.k.a. Alexander
is also a way to differentiate the last name fromThomas WILSON)
the other given names. Here is what the entryWhat to do when the spelling is different? - In
should look like on your family tree template:your research, you might find different spellings of
Charles Napier BELLyour ancestral last name. This could be the result
Writing Women's Names - When recordingof:
information for women, the convention is to use- phonetically spelling,
their maiden names instead of their married- immigration to a different country
names. If you are not able to find her maiden- a spelling error on the birth certificate
name, write her first name and follow it withWhen writing the names in your chart, it is
empty parentheses ( ). Sometimes the woman'simportant to note the earliest usage of the name
married name is added to the chart. Here is whatfirst, followed by the later usage. Here is what the
the entry should look like on your familyentry should look like in your family tree template:
tree:Margaret Ann ( ) or Margaret Ann ( )David JOHNSON/JONSON/JONSSON
BENNETTYou can always use the "note" field on your chart
And if she was married more than once? - In thisto enter any information you want to clarify.
case you would enter her first and middle names,Remember you want your family tree chart to
her maiden name in parentheses ( ) then list herbe preserved and to be read by other people.