I have made several similar corrections over the years. Another tip: when looking at a census record, if you find a transcription error, click on the small profile icon at the bottom of the census page. That opens a list of the names showing on the screen, along with all the other data for each person. Click on the incorrect entry and the same type of window will pop up where you can enter corrections and explanations for the corrections. When finished, the alternate data will appear on the hint page.
I always correct a transcription error or add information that was not transcribed. Sadly Ancestry does not always give us the tools to document every person in a document. Even spouses and informants on death certificates. But the problem I run into most is when someone has peppered several records with what is clearly the wrong names to try and force it to fit their family tree.
My father is listed in 1910 census with a mispelled name (Easy) and several people have used this to indicate a sibling who only shows up in that year because they do not compare census data from any other year(s) nor examine other records. This name is a misspelling of nickname for the American name assigned to him by a teacher. Thus unless you knew this he would appear as differnt people. Names: Yitzhok Leib, called Leible, changed by teacher to Isadore, called Izzy/Issie, (Isie on WWI draft card), adult Irving Louis.
I have one where the surname is totally different. Back in the 19th century before schooling became compulsory in the UK many people couldn't read or write. This introduced unusual problems for census takers in rural Wales where the poorer people only spoke Welsh most of the time. IF the census taker was an english speaker and not from the area he could mis-hear what being said and the speaker couldn't correct him as they were illiterate. That is why I believe I have one relative surname "Tudor" whose welsh accent would have caused the census taker to think he said "Tew" I had to ask my sister to say the name as it would be in Welsh and the reason became obvious. Phoebe would also be spoken as "Phebe" for the same reason. Phonetic spelling at its best in the Tew example.
Your chuckle for the day... I have aGrandfater, Father and brother all with the name Guy and I have got all kinds of versions, Gay, and Fay but lots of others as well.
Thanks Aimee. Just a suggestion for a future video. On Wikitree the standard for the profile is Last Name at Birth. Variations are noted but the final word is LNAB. Family Search has the individual’s profile page, and I am not as familiar with their standards. Perhaps you could get into the nitty gritty of the expected standard for the different sites. Names that are anglicized like Stieff to Steeves are frequently changed by people with good intentions. It’s more of a problem on the “one big shared tree” sites. Also related, how do you deal with an incorrect birth record document!
Great suggestions! I use the phrase maiden name for women but that’s a better way to put it. Thank you! I see trees, not only shared, but private Ancestry trees where they don’t use that standard. Good topic suggestions! Thanks!
Several times in the census some of my ancestors were listed by the wrong name. I had a great uncle whose name was Famous but was listed as Amous. Also my grandfather and uncle were named Maurice, but were listed in the census as Morris and Buddy.
You probably know this already but I’ll say it just in case. In German if a letter a, o or u has an umlaut above it so is ä, ö or ü it is acceptable to replace the umlaut with an e and write ae, oe or ue. This is usual in typing if you don’t have the umlaut available. So Kuenzli would be an acceptable alternative to Künzli.
I have found a page of the 1950 US Federal Census that has several transcription errors for several families on the page not just my relatives, how do I let Ancestry know that this page has so many issues or do I need to correct each item like Bill Thomas noted to use the profile icon on the bottom of the census page.
My great grandmother’s name is different on almost every single record. Growing up we called her “Mawmaw Rose”. When she passed, I kept hearing her called Zena. I asked and family explained that Rose was her middle name. First census record, she is Alexina. I’ve got her listed as Zina, Elzina, Elsena, Alxina, Zena and a few others. She also married 3 times, so 4 surnames. Thankfully she lived to 97, I’m able to know which records are indeed hers. A year before she passed, they recorded an interview of her telling her life story. Unfortunately, she had Alzheimer’s and her stories change. She listed 3 places she was born, claims she can’t speak French then is only speaking Cajun French when speaking on other family whose names are French. I promised myself to have lines that are hard like hers finished so that my kids have a verified tree to look to. If she had passed when I was a child, I don’t know if I’d be able to verify her information. I was over 30 years old when she got called home.
Good tips. A question you should have answered. Why should I spend time fixing a record when I've already added it to my tree and won't be the one who won't find it in a search. Who cares about everyone else. Answer: because your blood relatives (DNA) are searching. Their ability to find records directly impacts your ability to resolve common ancestors in Ancestry's ThruLines. Believe me. That's the most critically important thing to you when trying to get past that brick wall!!!!
Haha! Great explanation Rick! That’s terrific! True, but it can actually help you because it helps Ancestry’s AI in the effort to connect records to the correct people.
Rick! The initial winner of the free pass to Rootstech didn't reply and I have a pass to give away! Are you interested in attending Rootstech in Salt Lake City, Utah in a month, March 2-4? Please respond here by the end of the day February 6th yeah or nay - I'll need your email which you can provide through my website www.ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com.
Super! Send me your email through my website and I'll forward it to Rootstech. If you already had purchased a pass, they will refund your $$. Congratulations!!!
Thanks so much for this! I have a different problem. I accidentally accepted a hint in Ancestry that does not pertain to my person and I can’t figure out how to unaccept it. Can you help? This will affect others.
I can't remember for sure what video it's in - try this one: ruclips.net/video/rGEJxU_2zjw/видео.html You basically have to delete the fact and the source manually. It will still show up in your accepted hints though in the hints tab. That's really all you can do. Because it is in the accepted hints, Ancestry will drive you toward other records pertaining to that person, so you have to be careful.
@@AncestryAimee also some exciting news today I am supposed to be getting an AncestryDNA kit delivered and I know you have videos on this topic but have you done any about how to take one or about the new updates for dna?
@@dan56273 that's exciting! Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/-ga68dsgDl4/видео.html or you can visit this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLCOHvB5d5XvlfHJgL8v_5BLulpQ87O18Y
Thank you for this help. This is perhaps not a directly related question, but like a lot of families, mine uses certain names repeatedly, generation after generation, and didn't use Senior/Junior or numerals to distinguish sons from fathers or grandfathers or even uncles.... Since we're usually working backward from more recent generations through previous centuries, I can't call my great-grandfather "John Archibald II (or Jr.)" in my tree, because I don't know yet how many "John Archibalds" preceded him. (Yes, he has a grandson also named "John Archibald, but I know his middle name, Franklin. And his father's name, James Franklin Archibald. One document I own puts an F. in front of my great-grandfather's name, so temporarily that keeps him easy to find in my tree, but how do you deal with multiple generations of "William Archibald," for instance? I went down a trail of "William" fathers of "John" but realized I probably had the wrong family when I started thoroughly verifying sources and reading wills and comparing locations. In brief, is there a temporary marking system to use while you are working backward in time? One that won't screw up other people's searches? If there isn't a video on this, maybe you could consider one.... Thanks for your generosity in sharing your experience.
Great question! I should do a video on that. I will mark it Jr. or Sr. initially and then if I discover further generations, I amend it. That shouldn't affect searches. Just don't put that in the text box of the surname, put it in the suffix box.
How to correct 10000 RECORDS WITH THE SAME ERROR ? Do you have a suggestion ? My family on my father side have been living in this little village (St-Jean-de-Matha, Joliette, Quebec, Canada) since its fundation in 1855. Unfortunatly in Ancestry's collection (Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968) all the birth places, marriage places and burial places on ALL the records for that parish have been labeled "St-Jean-Chrysostome" instead of "St-Jean-de-Matha". Looking around I also found that 5 other villages have had the same faith (St-Jean-de-Cherbourg, St-Jean-de-Dieu, St-Jean-de-la-Lande, St-Jean-des-Piles and St-Jean-Port-Joly (this one for the period from 1800 to 1940). I have communicated the problem using "Add or update information" a few times over the last 2 years. This week I tried "Report a problem" to be answered that I have to use the "Add or update information". What a frustration !!!!
Great idea! Did you know studies show that teenagers who know more about their ancestors are emotionally healthier? You could touch base with a local genealogical society to help. You could also touch base with a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have people who help others with their genealogy free of charge and sometimes have genealogy libraries in their churches.
Ask around and see if any of the teachers are into it to sponsor the club. Let me know if you need help finding societies or Latter-day Saint churches.
Great question - you really need to search with both names. It's genealogy practice to list a woman in the tree by her maiden name as her surname. When you add her spouse and then do a search, Ancestry actually will look for both names (to a degree). Sometimes I do a separate search forcing one name or another.
I have been trying to correct one record for years now and they keep ignoring me. It doesn't allow me to make corrections, just Report a Problem. I've been ghosted.
@AncestryAimee Many times. I contacted them again today, we'll see what happens. If I can DM you, I'll show you the record I'm having issues with, but I don't want to post it here.
@@AncestryAimee I sent you a message with the link through your Contact page at your website. Thanks for your interest and just wish I knew what was causing this.
I haven't seen anything yet, but if you go to my website www.ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com you'll see a contact email on the home page or you can go to "Contact" and fill out that form.
I have made several similar corrections over the years. Another tip: when looking at a census record, if you find a transcription error, click on the small profile icon at the bottom of the census page. That opens a list of the names showing on the screen, along with all the other data for each person. Click on the incorrect entry and the same type of window will pop up where you can enter corrections and explanations for the corrections. When finished, the alternate data will appear on the hint page.
Great info Bill! Thank you!
This is how I generally do it as well.
I liked, subscribed and rang the bell for future notifications
Thank you!
I always correct a transcription error or add information that was not transcribed. Sadly Ancestry does not always give us the tools to document every person in a document. Even spouses and informants on death certificates. But the problem I run into most is when someone has peppered several records with what is clearly the wrong names to try and force it to fit their family tree.
Haha. Yeah. I agree with that gripe. I think it’s just a result of inexperience.
My father is listed in 1910 census with a mispelled name (Easy) and several people have used this to indicate a sibling who only shows up in that year because they do not compare census data from any other year(s) nor examine other records. This name is a misspelling of nickname for the American name assigned to him by a teacher. Thus unless you knew this he would appear as differnt people. Names: Yitzhok Leib, called Leible, changed by teacher to Isadore, called Izzy/Issie, (Isie on WWI draft card), adult Irving Louis.
Interesting! I’m glad Ancestry gives us the opportunity to note other names so other folks can find them.
Thanks for the info! My great grandmother’s first name is Alpha. Her name is spelled wrong on several documents thanks!
You’re welcome!
I have one where the surname is totally different. Back in the 19th century before schooling became compulsory in the UK many people couldn't read or write. This introduced unusual problems for census takers in rural Wales where the poorer people only spoke Welsh most of the time. IF the census taker was an english speaker and not from the area he could mis-hear what being said and the speaker couldn't correct him as they were illiterate. That is why I believe I have one relative surname "Tudor" whose welsh accent would have caused the census taker to think he said "Tew" I had to ask my sister to say the name as it would be in Welsh and the reason became obvious. Phoebe would also be spoken as "Phebe" for the same reason. Phonetic spelling at its best in the Tew example.
Such a terrific example!! Thank you for sharing it!
Your chuckle for the day... I have aGrandfater, Father and brother all with the name Guy and I have got all kinds of versions, Gay, and Fay but lots of others as well.
That is funny and I bet a headache keeping them straight!!
Thanks Aimee. Just a suggestion for a future video. On Wikitree the standard for the profile is Last Name at Birth. Variations are noted but the final word is LNAB. Family Search has the individual’s profile page, and I am not as familiar with their standards. Perhaps you could get into the nitty gritty of the expected standard for the different sites. Names that are anglicized like Stieff to Steeves are frequently changed by people with good intentions. It’s more of a problem on the “one big shared tree” sites. Also related, how do you deal with an incorrect birth record document!
Great suggestions! I use the phrase maiden name for women but that’s a better way to put it. Thank you! I see trees, not only shared, but private Ancestry trees where they don’t use that standard. Good topic suggestions! Thanks!
Several times in the census some of my ancestors were listed by the wrong name. I had a great uncle whose name was Famous but was listed as Amous. Also my grandfather and uncle were named Maurice, but were listed in the census as Morris and Buddy.
That is really common.
Good examples of common misses. Thanks!
You probably know this already but I’ll say it just in case. In German if a letter a, o or u has an umlaut above it so is ä, ö or ü it is acceptable to replace the umlaut with an e and write ae, oe or ue. This is usual in typing if you don’t have the umlaut available. So Kuenzli would be an acceptable alternative to Künzli.
Thanks Barry!
In the 1900 census, my grandfather, Ira, was indexed as “Ova”.
Not sure how someone thought an I was an O! :)
@@AncestryAimee Probably wrote the "I" in a circular loop like a J without the tail.
@@AncestryAimee I can sort of see it, and Ira is such a short name it would be easy to read wrong if it was not a name you knew.
True!
I have found a page of the 1950 US Federal Census that has several transcription errors for several families on the page not just my relatives, how do I let Ancestry know that this page has so many issues or do I need to correct each item like Bill Thomas noted to use the profile icon on the bottom of the census page.
I’m pretty sure you need to correct each item.
My great grandmother’s name is different on almost every single record. Growing up we called her “Mawmaw Rose”. When she passed, I kept hearing her called Zena. I asked and family explained that Rose was her middle name. First census record, she is Alexina. I’ve got her listed as Zina, Elzina, Elsena, Alxina, Zena and a few others. She also married 3 times, so 4 surnames. Thankfully she lived to 97, I’m able to know which records are indeed hers. A year before she passed, they recorded an interview of her telling her life story. Unfortunately, she had Alzheimer’s and her stories change. She listed 3 places she was born, claims she can’t speak French then is only speaking Cajun French when speaking on other family whose names are French. I promised myself to have lines that are hard like hers finished so that my kids have a verified tree to look to. If she had passed when I was a child, I don’t know if I’d be able to verify her information. I was over 30 years old when she got called home.
Wow! That's a story! So glad you got to have her in your life until you were 30.
Good tips. A question you should have answered. Why should I spend time fixing a record when I've already added it to my tree and won't be the one who won't find it in a search. Who cares about everyone else. Answer: because your blood relatives (DNA) are searching. Their ability to find records directly impacts your ability to resolve common ancestors in Ancestry's ThruLines. Believe me. That's the most critically important thing to you when trying to get past that brick wall!!!!
Haha! Great explanation Rick! That’s terrific! True, but it can actually help you because it helps Ancestry’s AI in the effort to connect records to the correct people.
Rick! The initial winner of the free pass to Rootstech didn't reply and I have a pass to give away! Are you interested in attending Rootstech in Salt Lake City, Utah in a month, March 2-4? Please respond here by the end of the day February 6th yeah or nay - I'll need your email which you can provide through my website www.ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com.
Sure!
Super! Send me your email through my website and I'll forward it to Rootstech. If you already had purchased a pass, they will refund your $$. Congratulations!!!
Thanks so much for this! I have a different problem. I accidentally accepted a hint in Ancestry that does not pertain to my person and I can’t figure out how to unaccept it. Can you help? This will affect others.
I can't remember for sure what video it's in - try this one: ruclips.net/video/rGEJxU_2zjw/видео.html
You basically have to delete the fact and the source manually. It will still show up in your accepted hints though in the hints tab. That's really all you can do. Because it is in the accepted hints, Ancestry will drive you toward other records pertaining to that person, so you have to be careful.
My last name, spelled Leite and pronounced like light e, was transcribed as Lute in an Ancestry record
I would have mispronounced it!
@@AncestryAimee also some exciting news today I am supposed to be getting an AncestryDNA kit delivered and I know you have videos on this topic but have you done any about how to take one or about the new updates for dna?
@@dan56273 that's exciting! Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/-ga68dsgDl4/видео.html or you can visit this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLCOHvB5d5XvlfHJgL8v_5BLulpQ87O18Y
@@AncestryAimee my kits here
Thank you for this help. This is perhaps not a directly related question, but like a lot of families, mine uses certain names repeatedly, generation after generation, and didn't use Senior/Junior or numerals to distinguish sons from fathers or grandfathers or even uncles.... Since we're usually working backward from more recent generations through previous centuries, I can't call my great-grandfather "John Archibald II (or Jr.)" in my tree, because I don't know yet how many "John Archibalds" preceded him. (Yes, he has a grandson also named "John Archibald, but I know his middle name, Franklin. And his father's name, James Franklin Archibald. One document I own puts an F. in front of my great-grandfather's name, so temporarily that keeps him easy to find in my tree, but how do you deal with multiple generations of "William Archibald," for instance? I went down a trail of "William" fathers of "John" but realized I probably had the wrong family when I started thoroughly verifying sources and reading wills and comparing locations. In brief, is there a temporary marking system to use while you are working backward in time? One that won't screw up other people's searches? If there isn't a video on this, maybe you could consider one.... Thanks for your generosity in sharing your experience.
Great question! I should do a video on that. I will mark it Jr. or Sr. initially and then if I discover further generations, I amend it. That shouldn't affect searches. Just don't put that in the text box of the surname, put it in the suffix box.
How to correct 10000 RECORDS WITH THE SAME ERROR ? Do you have a suggestion ?
My family on my father side have been living in this little village (St-Jean-de-Matha, Joliette, Quebec, Canada) since its fundation in 1855. Unfortunatly in Ancestry's collection (Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968) all the birth places, marriage places and burial places on ALL the records for that parish have been labeled "St-Jean-Chrysostome" instead of "St-Jean-de-Matha". Looking around I also found that 5 other villages have had the same faith (St-Jean-de-Cherbourg, St-Jean-de-Dieu, St-Jean-de-la-Lande, St-Jean-des-Piles and St-Jean-Port-Joly (this one for the period from 1800 to 1940).
I have communicated the problem using "Add or update information" a few times over the last 2 years. This week I tried "Report a problem" to be answered that I have to use the "Add or update information". What a frustration !!!!
That stinks! I think you should call them and ask to be sent to a supervisor.
I am thinking about starting a genealogy club at my high school. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Great idea! Did you know studies show that teenagers who know more about their ancestors are emotionally healthier? You could touch base with a local genealogical society to help. You could also touch base with a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have people who help others with their genealogy free of charge and sometimes have genealogy libraries in their churches.
Ask around and see if any of the teachers are into it to sponsor the club. Let me know if you need help finding societies or Latter-day Saint churches.
My mom was adopted will I get more information on her from the maiden name or her real family surname?
Great question - you really need to search with both names. It's genealogy practice to list a woman in the tree by her maiden name as her surname. When you add her spouse and then do a search, Ancestry actually will look for both names (to a degree). Sometimes I do a separate search forcing one name or another.
Thank you!! I greatly appreciate your help
@@AquariusNation777 no problem
I have been trying to correct one record for years now and they keep ignoring me. It doesn't allow me to make corrections, just Report a Problem. I've been ghosted.
I've never heard of that - that's interesting. I don't have an answer for that one. Have tried going through the help desk?
@AncestryAimee Many times. I contacted them again today, we'll see what happens. If I can DM you, I'll show you the record I'm having issues with, but I don't want to post it here.
@@dranet47 you can contact me through my website. I’d love to see it
@@AncestryAimee I sent you a message with the link through your Contact page at your website. Thanks for your interest and just wish I knew what was causing this.
Amy, I'm trying to reply to your email with the embedded link to this record. Let me know.
I haven't seen anything yet, but if you go to my website www.ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com you'll see a contact email on the home page or you can go to "Contact" and fill out that form.
@@AncestryAimee on the way....