Change of birth name

+4 votes
349 views
Corwin was my birth name but my father was adopted.  His and therefore my birthname would be Peterson.  How should I deal with this?  My DNA is it seems comparing to people with Corwin as a surname.  My Peterson surname is a patronymic so in a way the surname doesn't mean to much for comparing.
WikiTree profile: Patricia Corwin
in Genealogy Help by Patricia Corwin G2G Crew (620 points)
If your last name on the earliest documents was Corwin, then that is your Last Name at Birth.  It doesn't matter what your biological father's name was, or should have been.  Your last name at birth is what it was at YOUR birth.  HIS last name at birth, if it was so recorded, would be Peterson.
Thank you for your recommendation.

2 Answers

+6 votes
Make sure to read through our help page. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Adoptions_and_Multiple_Parents

I have a similar situation with my husband and I have used the biological relationships in my tree.   The names are as Melanie says....what documentation indicates, doesn't matter what the name is, WikiTree is looking at the relationships you have input.
by Robin Lee G2G6 Pilot (852k points)
+2 votes
I have a similar issue.  My dad was adopted by his stepfather.  His LNAB was Fischer, which mine should be.  But since his stepfather adopted him and my father never changed it back to his birth name, I have "Blevins" as my LNAB, which I have *no* blood connection to the name.  WikiTree presents me with ways to research Blevins but I'm not interested in that name, especially since that stepfather was abusive and he died before I was born.  I have put in (tagged) the other surnames I'm interested in, but WT does still suggest how I can find more about "Blevins."  I find it annoying but just try to ignore it.
by Lynnette Hettrick G2G6 Mach 5 (55.5k points)
Not sure if it helps to look at my father's profile: Fischer-5398

Related questions

+2 votes
1 answer
108 views asked Jan 16, 2020 in Genealogy Help by Keri Jackson G2G Crew (370 points)
0 votes
1 answer
+3 votes
1 answer
105 views asked Nov 27, 2017 in WikiTree Help by Gene Adams G2G2 (2.5k points)
+2 votes
0 answers
129 views asked Nov 10, 2016 in Genealogy Help by Jennifer Lapham G2G6 Mach 1 (16.4k points)
+3 votes
0 answers
336 views asked Sep 12, 2013 in Genealogy Help by anonymous
+2 votes
1 answer
+3 votes
1 answer
+4 votes
3 answers
+4 votes
1 answer
287 views asked Mar 22, 2022 in Genealogy Help by Cleola Wright-Griffis G2G Rookie (250 points)
+4 votes
1 answer
153 views asked Sep 9, 2021 in Genealogy Help by MaryAnn Whitbeck G2G Rookie (280 points)

WikiTree  ~  About  ~  Help Help  ~  Search Person Search  ~  Surname:

disclaimer - terms - copyright

...