Need help with DBE 511 unique name for preferred name.

Question

According to the sources, all the first, middle and last names are okay except for the name designated the preferred first name, Jenneva.  I'm guessing that this is the name that triggered the dbe 511.  Unfortunately, the only source listed for it is an Ancestry tree that is no longer there.  All the other sources have Geneva or misspelled versions of Geneva.  To me, this is a no-brainer, I would just delete all reference to Jenneva with a research note explaining why.  However, this is Data Doctor and there are 3 PMs.  Do I send a private msg to each and make a note to myself to check back in a month?  Do I make the change and then send a note giving them a heads up so they can change it back if they want?  I'm just trying to define for myself where the line is between showing proper respect to the PMs and using my common sense.

Comments

Just want to say, Marcie, that you are a wonderful Wikitreer. I love how you are trying to show respect for the PMs as you edit. Whatever you decide, thank you for being a great WTer and keep up the great work! 

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Aw, you make me  !!

Answer 1

The long-gone Ancestry source for the preferred name is evidently the census listing that Eva found. But I'm with Marcie and Barry on this one. Too often we see a misspelled name on a document and assume it's "official." I usually go with how they signed their name, if that's possible. If not, go with the name used on most of the records, spelled correctly in their language (google it). If you're changing the name in the data field, leave a good note of explanation on the profile--either as a comment or a research note in the bio. They can easily change it back if they disagree, but your note may make the difference.

Comments

When a person's first name is spelled several different ways in the records or other sources, it's best to record all of the spellings somewhere in the name fields. (You can list multiple variant spellings in "Other NIcknames" -- just separate the different names with commas.) If you only list the spelling(s) that you think are correct, the profile won't  show up in the search results when someone runs a WikiTree name search using a variant name that you decided to omit.

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Ellen makes an important point. And thanks, Marcie!

Answer 2

You can just mark it false error if that is the correct preferred name - that is what it is right? then just in comments click on hide forever - simple and done - I do not think you have to pm the DDs

Answer 3

There is at least one census where she has that spelling

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6FM-1PH : 14 August 2017), Jenneva B Bushong in entry for Wm Bushong, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 109, sheet 539C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0707; FHL microfilm 1,254,707.

There's a digitized image, but the parents are at the bottom of one page so you have to go to next page for the kids.

False Error it is.

Comments

I don't see how this is an automatic false error if it is only used once and she appears to have used Geneva for almost everything else.  Maybe I'm just used to Hispanic names with at least two first names.  I  use the whole "first name" for the preferred name unless they are favoring one name in particular on their records.  Maria Estefana might use Maria most of the time, or Estefana, or Estefanita or she might just stick with Maria Estefana.  With all the church records, you can usually see one stand out.

I don't see enough proof that she preferred Jenneva over Geneva.  If it is because it is the oldest proof of her name, why aren't we using it for the birth name?

Sheryl, if I am making a mountain out of a mole hill, can you please email me so we can discuss??

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Perhaps it is not sitting in the correct name field - I cannot judge that. But there's a source for it, so it should be mentioned in one name field, I believe. And whichever field it's in it's going to be flagged as a Unique Name, unless it is marked as False Error.

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The census taker would sometimes makeup whatever spelling sounded right. Or the neighbor could have been the contact and given an incorrect spelling. I wouldn't call a single spelling in the census evidence that Geneva ever spelled her name Jenneva or even told someone to use that spelling.  IMO this rises to the level of a tiny research note in the profile, not mention in a name field.

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Well, I just wanted to tell the original poster that there was a source with digitized image to be found for the Jenneva name, since in the question it was said that the only source for that spelling was a disappeared Ancestry tree.

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Honestly, I'm embarrassed I missed that one.

Answer 4

I place nearly all documented given name spelling variations in the Other Nicknames field. Then I mark any suggestions as False suggestion.

I do the same with alternate surname spellings, placing them in the Other Last Name(s) field.

The reason I include these names is to let other researchers know they exist, so they can find the relevant records.

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If I were Data Doctoring this profile, I would follow my procedure and move the spelling variation to the Other Nicknames field and place the standard spelling in the Preferred Name field.

Of course, I would explain my changes, "moved spelling variation to nickname field; not proven as preferred name" - something like that (feel free to copy!).

And when the new suggestion for unique nicknames appeared, I'd mark it false.

Answer 5

This particular db error was created to help people find data-entry errors (i.e., typos) that may have crept into the name fields. For example, if a name is entered as Tiimothy or Radhel, there's a decent chance that it's a typo for Timothy or Rachel.

However, the algorithms that create this error code aren't experts on names. They are set up to flag names that are unique (or nearly so) in the WikiTree database. As a result, this error code gets applied to plenty of valid names that are simply unusual. If the name is simply an unusual one or an unusual spelling (such as Jenneva), just mark it as a "False suggestion" and move on to something else.