Some of you are too young to remember when a married woman was known as Mrs. Husband’s Last Name, as in Mrs. Smith, or Mrs. Husband’s Name, as in Mrs. John Smith. This was common practice and continued well into the 1980s. These practices are dead. I have never written my name that way, but we receive labels addressed as Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Johnson throughout the year, and sometimes I use them on Christmas cards. Our names are on our checks, and companies have taken the liberty to combine our names as Mr. and Mrs. Husband’s Name.
Many of our female ancestors did not leave records of themselves. They have been primarily silent companions. It is a man’s world. Men purchased the land, served in the military, were taken to court, paid taxes, and left wills, and therefore, they left records. Our women ancestors have been overlooked in our history and genealogies. Here are some strategies to help you find the maiden names of your female ancestors.
Locating maiden names
Children’s Birth Records – A child’s birth record will provide the father’s name and the mother’s maiden name, depending on the time and place.
Delayed Birth Records – My father was born at home in New Orleans on July 29, 1920. His birth was registered at the Health Department on August 20, 1920. His mother’s maiden name is on his delayed birth certificate.
Marriage Records – Marriage licenses and certificates include maiden names and information about the couple. In Louisiana in the 1890s, marriage bonds were required before marriage. My paternal great-grandfather filed a $500 marriage bond to affirm his intention to marry my great-grandmother and that there was no legal impediment to the marriage, like being underage or a previous marriage but not divorced.
Death Certificates – If the informant knows her mother’s and father’s names (thus her maiden name), her death certificate might include them. However, the details that are not about the death are notoriously incorrect. Consider who the informant is and how they would know the information provided.
Mothers’ maiden names are included on the death certificates of her children. My brother, born in 1949, died in 2009. Our mother’s maiden name is on his death certificate. On their death certificates, I found maiden names for my paternal grandmother (1889 – 1959) and my paternal grandfather’s (1887 – 1957) mother.
Birth Family Obituaries – Published newspaper obituaries are an excellent source for finding maiden names. The obituary for her father, brother, or unmarried sister will provide the maiden name of your female ancestor. Funeral programs are another good source for finding maiden names. My mother’s funeral program included her mother’s maiden name and her father’s name, (thus her maiden name), her brother’s name, her unmarried sister’s maiden name, and the names of two male cousins.
Church Records – A church record may be the only record you will find. Baptismal records have the mother’s maiden name, the female godparent’s maiden name, and the birth record.
Newspapers – The local newspaper lists the names of couples who apply for a marriage license, including the female applicant’s maiden name. Marriage or engagement notices are good sources for maiden names. Some newspapers have gossip columns, which may list who is visiting and the visitor’s maiden name.
Social Security Applications – The Social Security application for your deceased female ancestor can be requested from the Social Security Administration. The application provides the individual’s name at birth, the mother’s maiden name, and the father’s name … and it is in her handwriting! The photocopy of the original application fee is $27. A certified copy is provided for an additional fee of $10.
While searching for the maiden names of African American female ancestors is fraught with challenges, the rewards of uncovering them are immense. Leave no stone unturned. Researching everyone associated with your female ancestors will lead you to that elusive maiden name.