Best practices

Record full formal names, recording all persons with their birth surname.

• Some recommend listing surname first in capital letters.
• Use additional facts to record alternate names, e.g., married or adoptive names.

Record dates as day, month, four digit year (ex: 20 Feb 2019).

• Use “Abt.”, “Bef.”, “Aft.” or “Bet.” for estimated dates.

Record places as town, county, state, country (ex: Pittsboro, Chatham, North Carolina, United States). Use leading commas if town/county not known.

• Some researchers add County/ Township/ Village/ etc. in addition to place names.

Record place names as they were known on the date of the event.

• Example: Annapolis, Maryland, British North America.
• Changing county boundaries are a particular challenge. Use resources to ensure you record the place as it was on the date!