Too Many Search Results with the Same Name.
So you have too many search results with the same name!
How many times have you searched for an ancestor only to find the returned results contain an endless list of people with the same name? I am sure I would not be too far off the mark in saying too many and too often!
I know it happens to me all the time and it drives me absolutely nuts!
The worst thing about it is that you know your ancestor is there, but you’re not sure how to go about finding them.
Hopefully, I can assist you with ways to narrow down and eliminate those results that are not the ancestor you are looking for.
It might sound obvious, but the easiest way I have found to get around this situation is by using any and all extra information that I can get my hands on to help narrow down the list.
My Suggestions:
This information can include (but is not limited to) any of the following:
- Parents
- Children
- Siblings
- Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Baptisms
- Occupations
- Military Service
- Migration
- Addresses
- Towns/Cities
- Parishes
- Religion
The type of information you can use may vary depending on where you are searching but the principle is exactly the same:
- Place as much information as you can in the search criteria for that particular database and use it to narrow down the list.
I know sometimes you may feel that there is no extra information that you have that may help with this process but if you step back, make yourself a cup of coffee and think logically rather than emotionally, I am sure you can come up with something that can help.
Still, having issues?
Some Points to consider when you believe that you have no extra information available to you are:
1. How did you get to this point?
2. What info led you here?
3. What do I actually know?
4. How can what I actually know to help me look in other areas/databases that may lead to more specific information on the person?
By searching “around” your person you may find info that you can use to narrow the list as well.
a. Search other family members including their spouse or search newspapers of the time for obituaries and any other relevant information.
b. Think “outside the box” as they say, you may gain enough information to eliminate a lot of the “noise” in your search results and be able to narrow it down to where your ancestor just leaps out at you.
I hope this helps but if you feel I have missed anything that could be of value and narrow down the search results please let me know!
Happy Hunting!