Dave, even if there were a prevalent convention for such notations in the time and place you need (and you do not specify, so we can only speculate), There is no way to know for sure that the person who recorded the name followed the convention faithfully. Israel Pickholtz Jerusalem (blogging weekly at http://allmyforeparents.blogspot.com ) On 30 Dec 2012 at 1:01, transitional-genealogists-forum- request@roTRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM Digest, Vol 6, Is wrote: > Hello, > I found this while doing some research: > Jabez and Margaret (Hockett) Smith VanDoren > > Is Margaret's maiden name Smith or Hockett? > > Thanks, > Dave