Alternate names

Alternate names 150 150 Heredis Help Knowledgebase

Our ancestors may have had several first and last names. It is not uncommon to have a first or last name at birth that is different from the first or last name used.
Here are some examples of the reasons for this:

  • voluntary change of name on immigration
  • change of name on immigration to adapt to the new country
  • change of spelling because our ancestors relied solely on spoken language, i.e. with an accent, or if the priest was not from the region, there may have been differences in the way the name was written
  • the desire to change one’s name in the event of adoption or a change of sex
  • etc.

How do I enter other surnames/givennames?

Place the person concerned in the primary person.
Click on the Data tab > Personal Data.
Click on the Alternate names tab in the centre of the entry screen.
Click on the to add another name.
Enter the surname and givenname.
Select the type of other name. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, choose Other and change the type.
On Windows, replace Other with the name you want.
On a Mac, enter the other name type in the empty field provided.

(Windows) Alternate names

(Mac) Alternate names

When alternate name is entered, the tab is marked with a blue bullet.

Spelling changes

In the Alternate names field, indicate the different spellings of the name you have found and to which type of record. For example: Smith as a married name and Smit as a name at death.
This will allow you to see the spelling differences for a person. However, it is also useful to indicate in the Surnames index that this spelling is a variant of a main name. For example, Smith is a variant of Smit.

Indicate variant spellings in the names index.

Use the Surnames index to indicate spelling variants.

  • Open the Surnames index.
  • Select the main name.
  • Click on the pencil to edit the main name.
  • Click on the  in the variants area.
  • Select the spelling variant.

(Windows) Name variants

(Mac) Name variants

It is possible to have several spelling variants for the same name.
Indicating the variants will allow Heredis to include the spelling variants in the list of existing persons when you add new person. In this way, you can avoid entering a duplicate entry.

(Windows) Add a person

(Mac) Add a person

Deleting another name

To delete another name, select it from the list and click the button.
Note: in the index of surnames and givennames, you will not be able to delete these other surnames and givennames as long as they are used by a person in your genealogy.
The alternate names associated with the persons in your genealogy are automatically managed in the various import and export operations in GEDCOM or Heredis format, as well as in mergers.