When you first begin genealogy research, you may notice many inconsistencies. This might worry you, making you think you don’t have the right person or record. But understanding why these inconsistencies happened in the first place and knowing how to handle them will make you more confident in your research going forward.
In this blog post you’ll learn about the most common types of inconsistencies and what you can do to make your genealogy research as accurate as possible.
Genealogy research can be fun, but it can also be confusing…sometimes. What do we do with names that have a hundred different spellings, birthplaces that don’t match between records, and birthdates that aren’t consistent.
These are all good questions. Let’s take a look.
Why Do Inconsistencies Occur?
Inconsistencies occur mainly because we are all human. All the records we research were made by people – those who gave the information and those who received and recorded it.
Plus, we don’t always know who gave the information, the informant. Were they knowledgeable on the questions being asked or were they a neighbor or a child who had no clue as to what information they provided.
And now we are a third party looking at those records trying to decide what it is we see. It can make things interesting, to say the least.
Causes of Inconsistencies
There are many causes of inconsistencies in genealogical records. Let’s look at some of the most common ones:
- Transcription Errors: When records are transcribed, errors can creep in. This is especially true for handwritten documents that have been digitized.
- Example: A handwritten “6” might be misread as “8” in a digitized record.
- Phonetic Spelling: Names and places were often recorded phonetically, leading to multiple spellings for the same word.
- Example: “Müller” could appear as “Mueller,” “Muller,” or “Miller.”
- Language Barriers: Immigrants sometimes had their names changed or misspelled due to language differences and misunderstandings.
- Example: Think of a German speaking enumerator gathering census information from an Italian speaking person.
- Illiteracy: In the past, many people were illiterate, which meant they couldn’t verify the accuracy of their names or details.
- Example: A person’s name might be spelled differently in each record because they couldn’t correct the spelling.
- Borders Changing Over Time: Sometimes, the names of places changed because of political events, like wars or new borders.
- Example: Maine didn’t become a state until 1820. Up until then any records would be associated with Massachusetts.
- Personal Reasons: Individuals might have changed their information for personal reasons.
- Example: A man might list a younger age on a marriage record to appear closer in age to his bride. Or, a man may have lied about his age to join the military.
Impact Of Inconsistencies
Because of these differences, there can be an impact on your genealogy research, such as:
- Confusion: Multiple spellings of names or varying dates can make it difficult to determine if records refer to the same person.
- Missed Connections: Discrepancies might cause you to overlook important records or connections.
- Research Gaps: Inconsistent information can create gaps in your family tree, making it harder to be accurate.
- Frustration: Conflicting information can be frustrating and may slow down your research progress.
Common Types Of Inconsistencies
The three main types of inconsistencies are name variations, date discrepancies, and place differences.
Name Variations
Names can vary due to phonetic spellings, literacy levels, or changes over time.
An example from my family tree is the Donahoo surname. It has been spelled Donahoo, Donnahoo, Dunahoo, Dunnahoo, Donahov, Donahoe, Danahoe, Donahue…and the list goes on.
Just because there are many different ways to spell this surname, doesn’t mean you’re not talking about the correct ancestor. Look at all the corresponding information in the record to decide if you have the right ancestor or if it’s someone with a like sounding name. Correlation is the key!
I wrote a blog post about my 3x great-grandfather, William Dunahoo. He was my immigrant ancestor. You can read more about him here.
Date Discrepancies
Birthdates might differ due to calendar changes (Julian to Gregorian), incorrect reporting, or even changes made deliberately.
For instance, an ancestor might have reported a different age on a census to appear older or younger. Doesn’t everyone have one ancestor that gets younger with each census?
Birthdates might be recorded differently in church records, civil records, and family bibles. Cross-referencing multiple sources can help give you the most accurate date.
Place Differences
Location names might change due to wars or local preferences. Many towns and cities in Europe changed names and even countries as new leadership developed over time.
You might also have boundary changes. A person may have lived in the same place their entire life, but the boundaries around them changed.
The place to go see this type of change is this website: https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/index.html. Use the interactive map to see if the area your ancestor lived could have changed county lines or state lines.
Strategies For Dealing With Inconsistencies
Cross-Referencing Sources
Always compare multiple records to verify information. For instance, if a census record lists a different birth year than a baptism record, look for additional documents like marriage or death certificates to narrow down the date. Cross-referencing helps confirm details and highlights consistent information across various sources.
Understanding Context
Research the historical and cultural context of your ancestors’ time. For example, understanding that “Smith” could have been “Smyth” in certain regions can clarify spelling variations. Historical events, such as wars or migrations, can also impact the records and their accuracy.
Recording All Variations
Keep detailed notes of every variation you find. Documenting the source helps track inconsistencies making it easier to revisit and verify details later.
Using Technology
Use genealogy software like Family Tree Maker or online tools such as MyHeritage to manage and track discrepancies. These tools can help spot inconsistencies. They also offer features to attach sources and notes, making sure that all variations are documented.
Finally
Navigating inconsistencies in genealogical records can be challenging, but with careful research and cross-referencing, you can uncover the true stories of your ancestors. Each inconsistency is a clue waiting to be solved. As genealogists, we love the nature of the hunt. Explore all the records you can to verify you have the right person before adding them to your family tree.
Genealogy tip: Keep a Word document, spreadsheet or Airtable base to keep track of all the variations you find. This will be a helpful reference tool for all future genealogy research on each ancestor.
Sometimes, inconsistencies are so confusing that it takes a professional eye to help sort them out. I’d love to talk to you about your latest project. Click below to get started.
