What's In A Name?
by Marvin Kusmierz
If you have been doing genealogy research, then you know how confusing it can be. This may be especially true with surnames that have changed with time.
When you have exhausted all possibilities with the present spelling of a surname, try sound a likes to expanded your search results. Then try to find associations. An example; is my present surname spelling of KUSMIERZ, an expanded surname search would be KUSNIERZ, the association might be a city, town or even parentage. In the example that I have just given from my personal experience, I found a birth certificate documented as KUSNIERZ who's father's last name was KUSMIERZ.
A simple error by the person who prepared the document can hide the valuable connection that your are looking for. Be persistent, open minded and creative in pushing your search to other possibilities.
|