At a basic level, it’s easy to enter names, dates and places in genealogy software. But how should you record name changes, approximate dates, and places that no longer exist? Genealogy software can handle just about any variations—if you know where they should go and how to enter them.
Here are some power-user tips for entering data into your genealogy software, regardless of what program you’re using. Throughout, we’ll use the most-popular programs (Ancestral Quest <www.ancquest.com>, Family Tree Builder <www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder>, Family Tree Maker <www.mackiev.com/ftm>, Legacy Family Tree <www.legacyfamilytree.com> and RootsMagic <www.rootsmagic.com>) as examples.
ENTERING NAMES
Most genealogy software has a field for Given (first) Names and another one for Surname (last name). But it’s not always as simple as entering John in the former and Smith in the latter. You might also want to record titles, nicknames, alternate spellings and name changes, plus surnames made up of multiple words.
Keep these points in mind when entering people’s names in your genealogy software.
Maiden names
Standard practice is to enter a woman’s maiden name
