Searching for an Ancestor’s Maiden Name? Try These Top 7 Resources!
Heart of the Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Programs and other affiliate services. This means that thefamilyheart.com receives a small commission by linking to Amazon.com and other sites at no cost to the readers.
Discovering the maiden name of a female ancestor can be a time-consuming and difficult task.
Below are seven of the best places to begin your search. Hopefully, one of these records will lead you straight to your female ancestor’s maiden name!
The Complex Search for Maiden Names
Why is it so hard to research our female ancestors?
Part of the challenge comes from the fact that when a woman married, she gave up her maiden name to take her husband’s surname. If she married more than once, multiple surnames must be researched in order to get back to her maiden name.
As if that weren’t enough, early laws prevented women from owning land and property, so the majority of our female ancestors created far fewer records than their male counterparts.
Where should you begin when you’re starting from scratch? There are different philosophies when it comes to researching women, but this is my process:
I start by taking a look at the records my female ancestors would have generated themselves during their lifetimes. These could include marriage, census, death, and burial records. Then I branch out to records that would have been generated by her husband, children, and other family members, such as land, military, and probate records.
Sources for Researching Women
The following are a few of my favorite record sets for researching the maiden names of ancestors.
Marriage Records
The best – and most obvious – place to look for a female ancestor’s maiden name is her marriage record. Marriage records include licenses, registers, banns, and certificates, and are often more widely available than other types of vital records, especially before states began requiring birth and death registrations.
Both the bride and groom listed their names and places of residence, and often the parents will also be listed. If either party was below the legal age to marry, a parent or guardian would sign a notice giving parental consent to the marriage.
Keep in mind that the bride could have had a previously unknown marriage and may not be using her maiden name on the record you are examining. If the parents are not listed on the marriage record, check the surnames of witnesses as they could be siblings or another relative of the bride.
Don’t forget to check your female ancestor’s children’s marriage records, as well. You may get lucky and find her mother listed by her maiden name.
Another consideration: did your ancestor get a divorce? In some cases – especially if she had no children – your ancestor may have elected to have her maiden name restored. In that case, her maiden name should be stated in the divorce paperwork, so be sure to obtain a copy to find out.
Here are a few places to find marriage records online:
Need Help Finding Marriage Records?
Marriage Records: What They Are and 7 Resources to Help You Find Them
Death Records
If your female ancestor died after death registrations were required in her state, you should be able to find a death certificate for her.
Assuming that the informant (the person who provided information for the death certificate) knew the names of your ancestor’s parents, you may be able to find the name of her father listed on the certificate. In most cases, the father’s surname will be your ancestor’s maiden name.
Speaking of the informant, be sure to investigate that individual to determine what his/her relationship was to your female ancestor. Information is usually (but not always) more accurate when provided by a close family member rather than the funeral director or another stranger to the family.
If the informant shares a surname with your ancestor, s/he could be the ancestor’s sibling, child, or another relative, providing yet another clue as to your ancestor’s maiden name. This is particularly helpful when the parent’s names are not listed on the death certificate.
Once you determine the names of your female ancestor’s children, you will want to obtain copies of their death certificates, as well. This is especially helpful if your ancestor died before death registrations were required in her state.
Keep in mind that you will always need to verify the accuracy of the information on a death certificate. I can tell you from first-hand experience that grief makes it difficult for even the most hardcore genealogist to remember simple family history details. When my mother passed, I was so overcome that I had trouble remembering her parents’ names and even her birth date. Thankfully, I had my genealogy database to rely on, but informants of the past will not have had an assist from technology!
No Death Certificate?
10 Resources for Finding an Ancestor’s Death Date
Cemetery & Burial Records
If a woman’s maiden name is not listed on her death certificate, you may be able to find it in cemetery and burial records.
Though it doesn’t seem to be a common practice, some grave markers do list a woman’s maiden name in addition to her married name. You may even get lucky enough to find one like this for your female ancestor!
Don’t forget to take a look at the surrounding grave markers. Your ancestor’s parents or siblings may be buried in nearby plots, so be sure to note the names of the “neighbors.”
Also, if the cemetery has a church or office, ask to see the burial records for your ancestor. Depending on the time period, there may be a wealth of family history information in those records. Ask to view the written grave books, plot books, maps, and any other records that the office will allow you to see.
The cemetery records may have noted the name of the funeral home that handled your ancestor’s burial. If the company is still in business today, contact the funeral home to find out if they have any additional information.
Funeral home records typically include much of the same information that is found on death certificates, such as the deceased’s date and place of birth and death, current residence, spouse’s name, parents’ names, and the informant’s name. These records may also include the cost and description of the casket and other details of the funeral, as well as the name of the newspaper that published the obituary.
Newspapers
Newspapers are a wonderful resource for researching a female ancestor’s maiden name. Items to look for include articles about engagements, marriages, anniversaries, divorces, illnesses, obituaries, and death. You may also want to comb through the social columns to see who came to visit, or whom your ancestor visited.
Search for engagement announcements a few weeks or months before the date of the wedding. Look for marriage and wedding announcements up to several weeks following the marriage.
Your female ancestor’s obituary may include her maiden name, her parents’ names, and the names of surviving siblings. If the siblings are females listed by their married names, start researching their marriages to see if you can find a maiden name. Your ancestor’s spouse’s obituary may also include information about their marriage.
A few places to search for newspapers:
Military Pension Records
Did your female ancestor’s spouse serve in the military? If so, you’ll want to find out if a pension was requested. Veterans, as well as their widows, parents, and minor dependents, were eligible to apply for pensions under certain conditions, and each was required to file a detailed application.
Widows needed to supply proof of their marriage to the veteran, so you should be able to find a marriage certificate, notarized statement from the court, or testimony from one or more witnesses to the marriage included in a widow’s file.
A minor’s pension application may also contain information about the parents’ marriage. While it is unlikely that a marriage certificate will be found, the parents’ names, including the mother’s maiden name, might be mentioned in order to prove the parentage of the children.
Search for military records at Fold3.com.
Land & Probate Records
If you’ve identified any potential candidates to be your female ancestor’s parents, check to see if they left any land or probate records. Towards the end of their lives, they may have started dividing up the family property and might have left something to your ancestor. Take a look at deed indexes for the area where you think your ancestor grew up (if known) to see if you recognize any names.
When property was left to a married woman, she was typically named in the manner of “Susan, wife of John Williams” (different names, obviously). Since you already know her married surname, this will help you to know if you’ve found the right person.
Land deeds that were transferred to a wife after the death of her husband sometimes included her maiden name, so be sure to look for those, as well.
Census Records
You may also be able to find clues to your female ancestor’s maiden name in census records.
Censuses from 1850 to 1870 list the names of every member of the household. Is there an older member of the household with a different surname? That person could potentially be the wife’s parent. Younger family members with different surnames might be the wife’s siblings.
Censuses from 1880 forward list each family member’s relationship to the head of household. Anyone in the household listed as an in-law would likely be the wife’s parent, sibling, or another relative (assuming her husband is the head of household).
Keep in mind that a female parent living in the household may have remarried and might not be using the surname that would be your ancestor’s maiden name. You’ll need to research that individual to rule out any additional marriages.
Finally, who are the neighbors? Is anyone of the right age to be your ancestor’s parent(s)? Do you see any surnames that match one of her children’s middle names? Your female ancestor may not have moved far from the area where she grew up and could have been living right next door to (or across the farm from) her parents!
Take note of any possible relatives of your female ancestor found in census records and do some investigating to confirm the relationship.
Wrap-Up
A woman’s name change(s) after marriage, and a lack of records generated by her during her lifetime, can make the search for a female ancestor’s maiden name a complicated task.
Examining the records she generated, as well as looking at records left by her husband and other family members, can sometimes reveal not only her maiden name but a brand-new branch to add to your family tree!
What are YOUR favorite places to search for a female ancestor’s maiden name? Leave us a note in the comments!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase, but it does not add anything extra to the price you pay. For more, please read my full Disclosure Statement. I appreciate your support!
These are great suggestions. I have found female ancestors’ maiden names in all of these sources. Sometimes, if a first name is unusual, it’s possible to do a first-name-only search in a census or other index in the town where she lived — especially if she remained there her entire life — and come up with some leads to follow.
That’s true, Molly. I’ve had some good results with unusual first-name searches, as well. Unfortunately, most of my ancestors were named “Mary” or “Sarah” so I can’t use that trick very often! 🙂
I’ve been amazed that more than a few obits and gravestones list maiden names, even in first half of 20th century. Lots of great ideas here. TY for sharing!
Great tips. Court records are another place I’ve had some success. Family squabbles, witnesses, etc. might all be people related to the female.
Oooh, yes, Linda! Those family squabbles make the best records!
As always, excellent ideas! I’ve had some success using all of the sources you mentioned.
Thank you, Marian! 🙂