When we look at a record, our first instinct is often to grab the facts — names, dates, and places. However, a small detail often gets overlooked: who gave the information? That person is called the informant, and knowing who they are can make a big difference in how we use and trust the record. The accuracy of our genealogy research depends on it.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what an informant is, where to find them in genealogy records, and how it can help your research.
What Is An Informant?
An informant is the person who provided the information on a record. In the photo above, a census enumerator is asking questions of this woman. Who is she… a wife, relative, or neighbor?
For other types of records, perhaps the informant was a doctor or even a funeral director. Depending on the record, the informant might have known the person very well or hardly at all.
Understanding who gave the information helps us figure out how accurate it might be.
Where to Find the Informant
Not every record names the informant. But many do. Here are a few common places you’ll see them:
Death certificates – These have at least two informants, one for the personal information and one for the cause of death. Here is a snippet of my 2x great-grandmother’s death certificate. The informant for Emma’s personal information was her son, Ralph R. Stabley. His relationship to the deceased isn’t stated, so you sometimes have to figure that out.
The informant for the medical information was the doctor. You may recognize this person or maybe not.
I wrote a blog post analyzing other parts of Emma’s death certificate. You can find that HERE.
Census records – Most census records don’t name the informant, but someone in the household (or even a neighbor) may have answered the questions.
The 1940 census, however, did let us know who provided the information by way of an X with a circle around it. Here, my grandmother, Lillian Stabley, has the symbol next to her name, so I know she was the informant.
Birth certificates – Often signed by the mother, father, or attending physician.
Marriage records – May list witnesses or officiants, which can give you clues about who was involved. Always research witnesses of marriage records, deeds, or probate records. Often, they were related or close.
Obituaries – Usually written by a close family member, though not always. You will likely never know who wrote your ancestor’s obituary.
When a record includes an informant, take a moment to notice who they are. Their relationship to the person can affect your genealogy research.
Why It Matters
Let’s say you’re looking at a death certificate. The informant listed is the decedent’s daughter. Seems trustworthy, right?
Well, maybe.
If she was close to her father and had a good memory, the information might be accurate. But if she wasn’t sure of her grandmother’s maiden name or guessed at her father’s birth year, that could lead you down the wrong path.
Informants make mistakes. Sometimes they misremember. Other times, they simply didn’t know.
Here’s why paying attention to the informant can help:
1. It Helps You Judge the Accuracy
A record might say that your ancestor was born in 1852. But who said that? Was it a child who never met their grandparents? Was it a spouse who only knew them for a few years?
The closer the relationship, the more reliable the info usually is, but not always. Age, memory, grief, or even family secrets can affect what’s shared.
If you know who the informant is, you can better decide whether to trust the details or treat them with caution.
Example: My mom was the informant on her mother’s death certificate. She listed her father as “John Donahoo,” a man she remembered as “Papa Donahoo.” But it turns out, he wasn’t my grandmother’s father; he was her grandfather. He stepped in to raise the family after her real father died when she was just 9 months old. My mom assumed the relationship of the people she’d heard about, but she was wrong.
2. It Can Point You to Other Family Members
Sometimes, the informant is a person you’ve never heard of. Maybe it’s a son-in-law. Or a second wife. Or a niece. That’s a clue!
You might discover a new branch of the family or confirm a relationship you’ve suspected.
Always research the informant if you don’t recognize their name. You might find a hidden connection.
3. It Explains Conflicting Information
Have you ever seen two records for the same person with different birth years? Or different spellings of a mother’s maiden name?
The informant may be the reason.
For example, a person’s death certificate says their mother was “Mary Smith,” but their marriage record says “Mary Johnson.” If the informant on the death certificate was a distant cousin, and the marriage record was filled out by the person, you likely trust the marriage record more.
Knowing who gave the information helps you weigh the evidence.
4. It Reveals Family Dynamics
Sometimes the informant tells a bigger story.
If a man’s death certificate lists his brother as the informant (and not his wife), it could hint at something. Were they separated? Was the wife already deceased? Or was the brother just closer?
If a child’s birth certificate lists only the mother and “father unknown,” but a later record has the father named by a grandparent, that tells you something too.
Every detail is a piece of the puzzle, including who was there to give the answers.
Case Study: One Death Record, Two Wives
Let me share an example.
I once helped a client research her great-grandfather, Norman. His death certificate said his parents were “Owen [surname omitted] and Elizabeth [surname omitted].” The informant was one of Norman’s sons, Harold.
It’s possible Harold didn’t know, but Elizabeth was Owen’s second wife. His first wife died when Harold was about nine years old. Perhaps Elizabeth was the only woman he knew, and he thought she was the mother of all the children.
Always think about the circumstances surrounding your informant and how they would know the information they are giving.
Tips for Using Informant Information in Your Genealogy Research
Now that you know how important this detail is, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Always look for the informant – Scan each record for a signature, relationship, or clue about who gave the information.
- Ask yourself how close they were to the subject – Did they likely know the facts firsthand?
- Compare with other records – Don’t rely on one source. See how the details line up across documents.
- Research unknown informants – If a name is unfamiliar, look into them. They may be related.
- Note the context – If someone gave information during a stressful time, like a death, they might have made mistakes.
Finally
Records don’t speak for themselves. people do. And the informants bring their memories, relationships, and flaws to the genealogy records we rely on.
When we take the time to notice who the informant is, we become better researchers. We spot errors more easily. We avoid false leads. And we may even uncover new family members we didn’t know existed.
So next time you find a birth, marriage, or death record, don’t just look at the names and dates. Look at who gave the information. It might just change the way you see the story.
Want to learn more about working with tricky records? You might enjoy my post on How to Overcome Inconsistent Information in Genealogy Research. It’s a great read if you’re trying to sort through confusing information.
Have you ever been led astray by a well-meaning informant? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your story.
Genealogy tip: If you want to know more about a record set, go to the FamilySearch Wiki and type in the topic. It’s also a great place to start if you’re starting research in a new location.
I can help you sift through the records you have or find new ones related to your ancestors. I’m taking clients now, so click below to schedule your free 30-minute, no obligation consultation today!
