How would I go about finding out my grandmother's maiden name on the Internet?

Question

I have been trying to do a little lineage research. Also, my dad wants to know what it is. Never mind how sad it is that he doesn't know his mother maiden name. Is there any good sites that do this sort of thing. I realize that your mothers maiden name is asked for a lot during securer transactions and identity conformation, but does that mean that it is impossible to find out what it is?

Answer 1

Not impossible... but the source that is useful, depends on when grandma was born (died, if that is applicable), and where.  The US census records are open up to 1930 (on ancestry.com), but UK is only open to 1901.  If US.. the state is also a key piece of info, since SOME states have birth info online and others don't.

Aside from that, it normally will be on his birth certificate. If he does not have his handy.. are there siblings, who have theirs?

And, it might also have been one of those Light bulb moments.. does grandma have any brothers?  Sisters will have changed names by marriage, but brothers will usually have the birth name.  If they happen to be full brothers, it will work.. if they had different father, then it won't.

It usually is more difficult to find RECENT info, and info on living persons is also confidential.  Again.. the specifics are the key.

You can also email the info to me through my profile if it is a US birth, and I can do a lookup in ancestry for you.

Answer 2

there are several places you could try.

Familysearch.org

(free)

ancestry.com

The social security death index might have some information for you

Have you seen the headstone at her grave?  It will often be on there.  If you have not, or can't get to it, try googling her name or calling the cemetary where she is buried.  They might be able to help you.

Do you have a copy of her obituary?  Is it online?

Does your father have any relatives?  They might be able to help.

Once a person is deceased, it is usually much easier to access information about them.

Good luck

Answer 3

Ancestry.com is fantastic and they have a 14 day free trial to look at records.  I've been looking all week and am AMAZED at the info I've found about my family.  Try it!  They have marriage records, death records, birth records, etc.  Everything you can imagine.

Answer 4

Try searching for your grandfather. The records should show his marriage and possible the maiden name of his wife.

Answer 5

Ok first of all don't use ancestry. They are only good to find information a long ways back. Ok, it should be on his birth certficate, if he doesn't know where his birht certificate is he can contact the state of where he was born to get another copy. If your father has a credit card, it should be under that.

Answer 6

If it isn't on your Dad's birth certificate, you could find it on your grandparent's marriage certificate or by tracking down your Grandmother's birth or death certificate.  Depending on the location, it may be available on-line or you may have to request a copy from the government office where the event took place.  Church records, obituaries are also a resource you could look into.

If you edit your question with your grandparent's names and locations,  someone may be able to find he answer very quickly or at least provide links to the websites that will help you.

I'll check back to see if I can help.

Answer 7

USA Answer:

If she died in California 1940 - 1995, there's a 60% chance it will be on her record in the Roots Web California Death Index.

Some states have death certificates on-line for some years and some counties. Some states have marriage records or marriage indexes on-line for some years.

There isn't a world-wide death index or marriage index. What we suggest will depend on what country she lived in, what state she lived in and, in some cases, what county she died in or was married in; also when.

One out of 50 families in the census have a father-in-law living with them, which is almost always proof of the maiden name.

Other relatives may or may not help; a 12-year old sister-in-law may be a half-sister-in-law, for instance. Mary Jones is born to John and Jane Jones, John dies, Jane marries Samuel Smith, they have Susan Smith.

Mary marries Ralph Rogolinski, Samuel and Jane die, Susan moves in with her half sister, you see

Ralph R Head

Mary R Wife

Susan Smith, sister-in-law

you think Mary's maiden name is Smith and you are fooled.

A married or widowed sister-in-law can be the husband's brother's wife or the wife's sister. Brother-in-Law can be half brother in law as outlined above.