Genealogy Clips #44 | Finding Female Ancestors | Examine the Names of Her Children

Even though women lost their maiden names through marriage, they often tried to preserve them in the names of their children. It was usually through a middle name, but sometimes a woman’s maiden name was given as a first name. Sons were the most common recipients of maiden names, though daughters could occasionally be given them.

Look at the first and middle names of all of the children. If any of them seems unusual like it could be a surname, follow-up on it. Look at the census records of the area to see if you can find anyone with that name as a surname. If you find one or more families with that name as a surname, research them and any records associated with them to see if you can find a mention of your female ancestor being attached to them. You will be surprised at how often the names of the children reveal the origins of their mother.

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