[Genealogy] Full Text Search at FamilySearch--Common Name Approach Released

[Michael John Neill]

*Overwhelmed by common names like Smith or Jones in your family tree? This
presentation offers advanced strategies and techniques to help you
effectively use FamilySearch's full-text search and find those elusive
ancestors. Pre-orders have been sent--email me if you did not receive. *

Download immediately before midnight 24 November (Pacific Time) for $25.
<https://michael-john-neill.dpdcart.com/cart/add?product_id=247700&method_id=270565>
After that, $40.

*Full-Texting the Smiths and Jones:*

*Strategies for Common Names*

Using FamilySearch’s Full-Text search is easier when the name is relatively
uncommon. It’s more of a challenge when the last name is Smith, Jones,
Brown, or something similarly common. In this presentation, we will look at
approaches to maximize the chance you find that common-named person. No
approach is full-proof and we will not be so brazen to guarantee success.
No genealogist should ever do that.

What we will do is help give you some ideas and techniques to give you a
better shot at finding your commonly named person. We can lead you through
some examples and give you some ideas to modify to search for your own
people. *We will assume you’ve got an understanding of how full-text search
works*. This presentation will not cover the basics of using the full-text
search functionality of FamilySearch (you can watch our first presentation
for that—nearly two hours and an extensive handout
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2025/09/05/fully-utilizing-full-text-search/>
).

The Smith-Jones presentation will cover:

*Identifying all the key elements* that distinguish your ancestor from
others. Your ancestor is more than a name. Crafting as detailed an
ancestral profile as possible facilitates the construction of effective
searches and we will see how to elicit as many of those details as possible
from records you already have.

*Organizing a search strategy.* Making certain all relevant search
combinations have been searched is key to maximizing the chance you find
your commonly named ancestor. We will see how to create your own forms and
outlines to do just that.

*Tracking Results to Problem-Solve.* Searching for common names requires
the researcher to be as methodological as possible to make certain all
options have been considered. It is impossible to determine if all
effective means of search were used if negative results tracking is not
done.

*The Name’s the Thing.* Last names such as Bird, Lake, and Farmer have
their own issues as well. We will see some approaches that can help locate
these names.

*Case Studies*. We will look at sample case studies common-named persons.

*Please note*: *We can’t guarantee success*. What we can do is help to give
you tools to increase your chances of success with common names.

 Order for immediate download at $25
<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HQM8799ZLWSQS>.
Regular price after 24 November will be $40.
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Michael John Neill
Genealogy Tip of the Day
http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com
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