I have a question ... I have several individuals that have been adopted but the biological parents are known. As far as DNA, I know the biological parents should be primary for DNA line, but what about the adoptive parents? This pops up its head with Orphan Train children As far as names, I use the primary name as the name at the time of birth. Then if I know the adoption date, I record the adopted name with that date. Sample: Name: Jane Biological surname: Doe Adoptive surname: Smith Married surname: Jones Primary name: Jane Doe Adopted name: Jane Smith or Jane Doe Smith ?? Married name: Mrs. Jane (Doe-Smith) Jones ?? Another issue is more current . children born without parents being married. I take the child's name on the birth certificate as primary. Normally, it is the mother's maiden [or current] name but DNA wise, the father's surname should be noted. What I have been doing is use the child's birth name and if the father is known, I add him as the father. If the census shows the child listed with the father's surname, then I add an alternative name showing the child with both surnames . the mother's in the middle. Since I know the name is not 'legal' my question is how to record both surnames of the parents when parents are not married? Bonita \\\|/// \\ ~ ~ // ( @ @ ) ----oOOo-(_)-oOOo---- Just Looking for clues ... Lady Bonita Nevada, USA High Desert Embroidery <http://www.highdesertemb.com> http://www.highdesertemb.com <mailto:highdesertembroidery@gmail.com> highdesertembroidery@gmail.com Wells Surname DNA Study Merge <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hillmer/DNA/index.htm> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hillmer/DNA/index.htm Hillmer Surname Database <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hillmer/index.htm> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hillmer/index.htm