17 Ways to Find a Maiden Name

Mary Hannon on her wedding day.

I saw this on the Descendants of Nicholas Saum & Related Families site on MyFamily.com and thought the information would be helpful to lots of folks.


•If within the past 100 years - death certificates.
•If more than 100 years - all her children's death certificates.
•Newspaper obituaries.
•Her children's marriage certificates. (the application is probably a more likely source)
•Public Church Libraries.
•Unpublished records microfilmed at branch LDS libraries.
•International Genealogical Index (IGI) on microfiche at LDS libraries.
•Divorce papers from county courthouse where filed.
•Newspaper indices by Anita Cheek Milner for records from burned-out courthouses and churches no longer in existence, bibliographies in book form, such as N.Y. Genealogy and Biographical (at Sutro).
•Survey of American Genealogical Periodicals indices by Skip Perry; also state and local historical society quarterlies.
•Look for wills. Write local historical societies and ask for an index check.
•Send out queries to periodicals and quarterlies in the areas where your ancestors were.
•Deeds and other land records.
•Sometimes a census will mention a mother-in-law.
Naming Patterns in England, 1700-1875
•1st son -- father's father
•2nd son -- mother's father
•3rd son -- father
•4th son -- father's eldest brother
•1st daughter -- mother's mother
•2nd daughter -- father's mother
•3rd daughter -- mother
•4th daughter -- mother's eldest sister
Younger children would be named after earlier ancestors, but the pattern in their case was more varied.

One variation from the above was for the eldest son to be named after the mother's father and the eldest daughter after the father's mother. In this case the second son would be named after the father's father and the second daughter after the mother's mother. Occasionally the second son and daughter would be named after the father and mother instead of the third son and daughter. Another variation was to name the third daughter after one of the great-grandmothers instead of after the mother. In such a case, the fourth daughter would usually be named after the mother.

Seventeen Ways to Find a Maiden Name

German Names
In German society there was a first name and a calling name, so John Jacob would have that name on church records, deeds, etc., but for anything else, he would be known as Jacob.

There was a naming order for families. This was observed especially with the Mennonites. The first two sons were named after the child's Grandfathers. It was usually the father's side first honored unless the Mother's father had died before the Father's father and the Father's father was still living. The females were named in like order. They believed in honoring their fathers and mothers. This naming order started to go out in the 1840's.

Nicknames can also cause trouble. These are some among the Pennsylvania Germans. Anton (Anthony) was nicknamed Tunis. Barbara was Bevvy. Dietrich became Dieter. Elizabeth could be Eliz, Eliza, or Lis. Johannans was Hans or Hannes. Magdalena became Matti, Matta, Lena, or Molly. Maria was changed to Mary with the nickname of Polly or Molly. Nicholas (Nicholaus) was Nickel or Claus. Anna or Ann had the nickname of Nancy or Nan. Catharina was kate or Katie. Christoph (Christopher) was Stoffell and was confused with Christian whose nickname was Christ or Christli. Gottfried (Godfrey, Geofrey, English) was confused with Frederick with the nickname of Fritz. margretha was nicknamed peggy or Maggie. Valentin (Valentine) became Felty. Fronika became Fanny. Ludwig can be Luwick or Lewis. Bernhare, Bernd, and Barnet became Bernard.