Another factor that may drive your decision is the capability of your genealogy software. I use The Master Genealogist (TMG) which allows you to store unlimited names for the same person. I therefore use the farm name as the surname (usually) and the given name and patronymic as the given name. If my ancestor had a permanent, fixed surname, however, I use that as the surname. In your Landgraff case, that's probably what I'd do. Peter J. Arnesen > How you choose to do this is a matter of personal preference, the important thing is that you remain consistent > with whatever way you choose to do this. > > I have chosen to list my ancestors with their given name and their patronymic (i.e. Olsen, Pedersen, etc.). The > farm name I include in the notes. I chose this method because many of my ancestors lived on several different > farms, which were to numerous to include all in the name field. > > Regards, > Garth > > > > Greenvale wrote: > > > Question: What is the appropriate way of showing the name of a person, > > i.e., should the farm name be treated as the middle name, or is the farm > > name simply placed in your notes. For example, my Landgraff family carried > > this name throughout the generations. Should my ancester be known as Otto > > Ferdinand Landgraff or Otto Ferdinand Hoff Landgraff, Hoff being the farm > > where he was born. > > > > Bill > >