maiden names of females

How to find the maiden names of females in historical and ancestry research.

It’s not uncommon for immigrants to marry outside of their culture. In my case, I have Great-Great-Grandmother Dahle, a Norwegian, marrying into my German Schreiber line. In these situations, the key is locating the female’s maiden name to expand your research into that family line.

In my research, I have found that female maiden names are not included in the records of our males. For example, Females were not allowed to vote until the twentieth century and seldom owned land. Even in church records, we often find the full name of the husband or father, but then only the first name is listed for the female.

Where to Find Maiden Names of Females

When I am faced with the need to find the maiden name of an individual, I will search the following record types:

Marriage records

I find marriage records the best place to find a maiden name. Marriage records refer to a group of records created at the time of marriage. Types of marriage records include a marriage license, marriage certificate, marriage announcements, marriage banns and bonds. To secure a marriage certificate, you will need to know the following:

  • Full name of the groom
  • First name of the bride
  • Approximate date of the marriage
  • State or county of where the marriage took place

Church records

Church records usually include recordings of church marriages, baptism or christening. You will need to know the following:

  • Individual name
  • Church where ceremony or ordinance was performed
  • Name of clergy that appears on the certificate

Newspapers

The most shared articles that yield maiden names are wedding announcements or obituaries. You will need to know the following:

  • Approximate date of event
  • Name of the groom for the wedding announcement
  • Full name of the deceased person
  • State and city where the event occurred

When I can’t find the obituary of a female, I will look for obituaries of their siblings and other family members, which usually provides clues I can follow in the census and other records.

Land records

I have found a few land records that were transferred from father to daughter. Examine deeds for the female or her husband, which include the Latin phrases “et ux.” (and wife) and “et al.” (and others). Land records may include the names of family members. Make sure you check who was selling land to the person you are researching. It was common for these persons to be related to the family. If the parents of a female are the sellers, you may find her maiden name.

Bible records

If you suspect there was a family bible, but it’s no longer in the family’s possession, you can sometimes find them through message boards or database searches. Many bibles have been digitized and are searchable on the Internet. You will need to know the following information:

  • Woman’s full married name
  • State and county in which she lived

Death records

If a person died within the last century, chances are there is a death certificate. The certificates often list a maiden name. You will need to know the following:

  • Woman’s full name
  • State and county in which she lived
  • Approximate date of death

Death certificates can often include inaccurate information. Make sure you review who provided the information and the relationship to assess the potential for accuracy.

Military pension records

If the husband of the female I am researching was in the military, there is a good chance there is a pension record. You will need to know the following:

  • Veteran’s name
  • Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps)
  • State where the veteran enlisted
  • War in which the veteran served. (Note: If service was after 1916, you must also know entry and release dates, military I.D. number, Social Security number, whether an officer or enlisted, and date of birth.)

Cemetery records

Tombstones may reveal a female’s maiden name through

  •  The inscription: “wife of so and so.”
  • The inscription: Maiden name as a middle name or initial
  • Checking nearby plots for possible family members
  • Census records. Follow individuals through the census. Consider the following:
  • Young couples may be found living with the wife’s parents
  • An elderly parent may have been added to the household
  • Brothers, sisters, or other family members may be found living with the individuals’ family
  • Clues may also be found in the names of families living nearby

Probate records and wills

If I know who the parents might be, I will check the probate records and wills for the children’s names. To find the maiden name in probate records, you will need to know:

  • Woman’s full name at the time of death
  • Approximate date of her death
  • County or town in which she lived at the time of her death

Ancestry Research and Historical Records

Where can I learn more about how to trace ancestry?

The following is a list of articles on BeginMyStory.com that go into greater depth about different historical records, what you will find, and how you can use the information for ancestry research.