[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Spelling of Names for Database

[Gary Warner]

Leo,

When names are submitted to me for merging with the Master Pedigree 
Database, there are two things that make names match up or not: 1.) the 
first six letters of the given name must be the same, and; 2.) the 
Soundex code must be the same for the surname 

Therefore, even though Schwarz and Czarnecki are the same name (the 
first in German and the second in Polish), they will not match up for a 
possible merge.   There are a lot of names that are spelled differently 
that will merge however, like Smith and Schmidt.  Check the Soundex of 
your surname with 
http://searches.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/Genea/soundex.sh

For Given names, I suggest that you look at 
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/ger.php and look at the German given 
names.   There will still be some issues about which name to pick when 
there is more than one German surname that is the same name- like Adolf 
and Adolph, both of which are German names.   For members of SGGEE, we 
will soon have a new list of given names posted on our website (members 
only area), and we will also email that list to all members that should 
solve that issue.

For surnames, my recommendation is that you look at our Substantiated 
Alternate Surnames list at 
http://www.sggee.org/AlternateSurnamesDatabaseSubstantiated.pdf to see 
if your name is one of those names that needs to be converted to the 
German version of the name, or at least the same Soundex code as a 
German surname.

Gary Warner
SGGEE 


Leo S wrote:
>
> I am preparing a  family gedcom for submission to the Society for entry 
> in the Pedigree Database. While editing the information before sending 
> it I have noticed some anomalies in the spelling of family names within 
> individual families. The differences are between the family name 
> recorded in Polish church records and the name as recorded by 
> immigration clerks on landing in North America. The altered names then 
> remained in use on all records and documents by those who immigrated and 
> all descendants born here carry the modified name.
> My question then is which spelling of the family name should be entered 
> in the gedcom - the Polish spelling, the North American spelling or both?
>
> Leo Sonnenberg
>
>
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