Hi Reader,

It happens! My great grandfather changed his name sometime in the years before he married. While we don't know why he changed it, that name change has caused errors in many researchers' family trees.

This type of genealogy brick wall is one I hear about from readers and viewers. Your ancestor seems to have disappeared from the records, only to reappear with a completely different name. You know there's a connection, but proving it feels impossible to completely sure.

The good news? Name change research follows predictable patterns once you know what to look for.

The challenge isn't just finding the records - it's building a solid case that connects both identities to the same person. Most researchers jump straight into searching for the "new" name without documenting enough evidence about the "old" one first.

🎬 FEATURED BLOG POST & VIDEO

MORE THAN ONE NAME?!

When researching your family history, it’s not uncommon to hit a brick wall because an ancestor may have changed their name. Whether the change was for cultural, personal, or legal reasons, this can be a daunting challenge for genealogists.

This is one of those research challenges that stumps even experienced genealogists, but with the right approach, you can often solve these mysteries faster than you'd expect.

📝 Read: You Suspect Your Ancestor Changed His Name – Now What?​

🎬 Watch: Did Your Ancestor Change His Name?!​

📅COMING IN OCTOBER!

31 Days of Family History Discovery

Family History Month is coming up fast, and this year I'm doing something different. Instead of the usual "organize everything perfectly" advice, we're focusing on discovery - finding the gems hiding in plain sight in your existing research, photos, and family stories.

Starting October 1st, I'll be sending you guided exploration emails twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) to help you uncover what you already have before searching for new records. I'll share the specific tools and strategies I use daily - from photo analysis techniques to research breakthrough methods to preservation solutions that actually work.

Because honestly? Most of us have more family information than we realize.

Your regular Tuesday newsletters will continue as usual - this is just bonus content for Family History Month. More details coming next week!

💡 QUICK WIN OF THE WEEK

The 5-Minute Name Variation Check

Before you assume your ancestor changed their name completely, spend 5 minutes checking for common variations:

• Spelling variations - Wilhelm/William, Giuseppe/Joseph, Stanisław/Stanley
• Nickname usage - Look for both formal and informal versions in different records
• Phonetic spellings - How census takers might have written what they heard
• Cultural translations - German Schmidt to English Smith, Italian Rossi to English Ross

Sometimes what looks like a name change is just inconsistent record-keeping. Start here before diving into deeper research.

📸 THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RESOURCE

MyHeritageDNA for Name Change Mysteries

Traditional records can be frustratingly incomplete when ancestors changed names, but their DNA connections remain constant. MyHeritageDNA helps you identify family relationships that clarifies name variations - connecting you with cousins who might have researched the "other side" of your ancestor's identity.

Why this works for name change research:

• DNA matches often have family trees with the "original" name you're missing
• Shared matches can confirm relationships across different surnames
• Many matches are eager to share family information - they might already know the story behind your ancestor's name change

Perfect for: Researchers who've hit walls with traditional record searches and need a different angle to solve that family mystery.

​Get started discovering your DNA matches on MyHeritage.​

🔍 GENEALOGY TIP

Document the Dead Ends

When researching potential name changes, keep detailed notes about what you DON'T find. "No William Schmidt in 1920 census for Cook County" is valuable research data.

These "negative results" often become crucial clues when you discover the name was actually William Smith in that location and time period. Your dead ends might be pointing you toward the answer.

📚 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

From the Archives: Name Change After Marriage

Our female ancestors often vanish from records due to name changes after marriage making them some of the hardest relatives to trace. Don’t give up just yet!

Beyond birth, marriage, and death records, three overlooked resources may hold the key to unlocking her identity. If you’ve hit a brick wall in your research, it’s time to look where others haven’t.

​In this post, we'll dive into three surprising places that just might reveal your ancestor’s lost maiden name.

🛠️ HOW TO WORK WITH ME

VIP Genealogy Research Day

Stuck on a name change mystery that's been frustrating you for months? My VIP Research Day intensive is designed exactly for challenges like this. We'll spend a focused day breaking through your brick wall using advanced research strategies and professional database access.

👉Learn more about VIP Research Day​

Keep me posted on your research wins this week - name change breakthroughs are some of my favorite success stories to hear about.

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Lisa
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Lisa Lisson Genealogy Researcher, Author & Speaker