Genealogy Chat

As I said, nightmare.

When I don’t know the parent I usually put Father Smith or just Father ( or mother if that is the case). So sometimes it looked as though there were 2 partners.

I expect in’the old days’ no one knew what had been going on. Then we had dna testing to upset the apple cart and now with have the situations like Gwyn mentioned…….aaagh!

Modern lifestyles bring many challenges, when it comes to recording, but is not yet something I have had to consider.

I know of a little girl, ( not family, so I don't have to record her) who has 2 daddies.
She was born of a surrogate mother, but is the natural child of one of the dads.
When she was born, she had to be registered by birth mum and as she was a married lady, the child had to be registered as the daughter of herself and her husband.

The natural dad and his partner had to adopt the little girl and have cared for her since birth.
I'm not sure if birth mum was the egg donor or if that was another person in this mix.

The person I'm thinking of has changed first, middle and last names, taking the mother's maiden surname rather than keeping the birth (father's) name.

Fortunately, the father seems to be OK about having his name rejected, and father and child are still on good terms.

I think the big problem is some seem to change their surname at the same time, which, to me, is denying their previous existence within a family.

Of course extra terrestrials wouldn’t want you to know that ;-) ;-) ;-) ( sorry, I spotted that Roswell on tv had been updated)

It will indeed make research much harder in future - added to the fact that people no longer stay in one place from birth to death.

On GR, for instance, one could put the new name in the "Known as" box, but a search by someone who didn't know the original name or gender wouldn't bring up any results.

Ah well - something to ponder!

The new name in brackets is a good idea, Names.

Not something I’ve had to contend with, but, in view of recent rulings I would say use biological gender as registered at birth as the main entry, with explanatory notes.

That is a question I have pondered on but haven’t needed to make that decision.

We add women with their birth or maiden name so I presume we would do the same. I think I would probably add the new name in brackets between the first and last names - or the other way round.
Or just John smith aka Mary Brown

Family history in the future is going to be a nightmare.

Added: I’ve just googled this and there is lots on line but no real definitive answer. Family Search says add the change as a custom life event.
Some FT software allow you to opt for a preferred name - usually so that you can show which of the multiple husbands/ wives is the important one on your tree.

How would you enter a trans person on a GR (or any other) tree?

I'm assuming entering them with their birth name and gender, and then adding a note with new details.
Any other ideas?