Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about names:

• Where can I research my family's history?
• How is this name pronounced?
• What does my first name mean?
• How do I legally change my name?
• When is it appropriate to use Junior versus 'II'?

There is a separate FAQ for questions specifically about this website.

Here are some websites that offer genealogy research.

• Ancestry.com Subscription required for some services.
• Genealogy Home Page Links to resources.

Here are some web guides you can use if you know what language the name is from:

• Czech pronunciation
• Danish pronunciation
• Finnish pronunciation
• French pronunciation
• Gaelic pronunciation
• German pronunciation
• Italian pronunciation
• Polish pronunciation
• Spanish pronunciation
• Swedish pronunciation
• Welsh pronunciation
• Pronunciation of eastern Asian Names

Please go to www.behindthename.com to get the meaning of your first name.

Here are some websites that offer advice on changing your name.

• Australia
• Canada - Alberta
• Canada - Ontario
• Canada - Nova Scotia
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States
• United States

Junior is used to distinguish a son with the same name as his father. The following conditions apply:

1. The Junior must be a son of the father, not a grandson.
2. The names must be exactly the same, including the middle name.
3. The father must still be living.

'II' is used whenever any close relative, including for example a grandfather or a great-uncle, shares the same name as the child.