WikiTree search bar on my profile (and other pages)

Question

My surname, Sheppard, has been spelled this way only since about the 1930s. Before that, Shepherd for generations. My spelling in my lines (direct and collateral) is rather unique, and so I know all of those who use this spelling, first cousins, etc.

Since the spelling I would normally search under is Shepherd, I wonder if  the search bar(s) at the top of my profile page and other pages could just be left blank. It always has Sheppard in the surname bar.

And, truly, all of us are searching miltiple lines and an untold number of surnames, including surnames of those we help out, whether privately or on G2G. I'd rather have it blank so that I'm not always having to erase my surname before searching. Does this make sense? Thanks!

If one of the G2G monitors sees I missed an important tag, please add it on. Thanks!

Comments

It's literally one extra mouse click to erase it. Instead of just clicking on the name and hitting the DEL button multiple times, double (left) mouse click on the name, which will highlight the whole name, then just start typing as usual; that will automatically delete it. 

---

I know, I know. I was just trying to save a second! My time is valuable! Plus, after this next generation, there will be no Sheppards left. All females.

I guess I didn’t like the assumption that of WT made that putting my surname in the search bar for me automatically meant that it was the search I was most interested in. Blah, blah. I really don’t have a dog 8n this fight. Just a thang, ya know?

---

Algorithms may be smart, but they lack imagination. WikiTree's algorithms think that everyone you want to search for is probably named Sheppard. And WikiTree gives me messages that suggest the possibility of discovering other people named Smith in WikiTree. (Who knew that there are other Smiths in the world?)

So you and I can get a laugh at the expense of the algorithm. Its feelings won't be hurt...

---

Pip, it makes it easier to have Sheppard auto-filled.  Just highlight the "pa" and replace it with "he" and you'll have Shepherd without having to type it all.  That should save you effort instead of costing effort.

---

Anyway, if you search for Sheppard, Wikitree name search will probably show you  results for several other spellings

Answer 1

If you just leave it blank, you will get 18 million results. 

You can always delete it and put in Shepherd, if you want.

Comments

Yes, I know I’m lazy, but this is the age of “speed by technology.” 

---

I just tried a blank search and received ZERO results, Ros - and a nice yellowish/orangish banner telling me "You must provide something to search with."

Guess our Cracker-Jaxx tech team was thinking ahead on that potential 18 million results catastrophe!

Answer 2

If you want to search for some other surname, you don't necessarily need to go to your own profile and use the pre-populated search box at the top.  You can always go to the site's home page instead and enter whatever you want in the blank search box there.