Over the years I have tried different methods in entering names into Genealogy programs. A major consideration in entering names from Portugal and the Acores, is the naming traditions make it very confusing and the fact that names are sorted there by first name. Thrown into this mix is the “de, da, do, dos” used in names.
With this consideration I enter names this way: I enter the “de, da, do, dos” at the end of the first name. Example Manuel da Costa is entered: first name “Manuel da” last name “Costa”. Manuel de Sousa da Costa is entered: first name “Manuel de” last name “Sousa da Costa” Names like Manuel Furtado are entered: first name “Manuel” last name “Furtado” Many woman used religious names Such as “Maria de Jesus” and no last name is given. In this case I enter the first name as “Maria de Jesus” and no last name is used. I have some times found that woman later pick up or use their family name. In this case I simply add that name as a last name. Thus her full name becomes first name “Maria de Jesus de” last name “Sousa” In cases where woman use a family name and no religious name I simply use the parameters as I outline for men. One more consideration is that children did not use family names and as such were only referred to by their name given at birth. When they reached their majority they were then referred to by a full name. Because of the naming traditions I do not arbitrarily assign them a family name. I also found that the genealogy program you use should be able to sort names by first name or last name and when entering names allow separate entry of first and last name. Rick Richard Francis Pimentel Epping, NH From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mary Pimentel Wheeler Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2015 6:07 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Question about preferred method for entering last names in Ancestry.com or other databases I have have lots of ancestors with do/da/de in their names (as do we all...). I have a question about the preferred method of entering their names in a database. 1) I've been putting the do/da/de in the first/middle name field - following the middle name, so it doesn't alphabetize by the do's and da's. Should I be doing that, or just leaving the do/da/de out completely? 2) Also, I have some with compound names. Let's use "Maria do Rosario da Silva" as an example. Would I enter her last name as "Rosario da Silva", or "Rosario Silva" or just "Silva" (and leave Rosario as her middle name)? Any advice on the preferred method would be appreciated! Thanks, Mary -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores. -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores.
