Can I change things?

Yes you can. All information on the family tree is changeable by any family member however…

If you spot what you think is a mistake do check that its not you that’s got it wrong before you change things. Most information on the site has been double checked by others and usually has an official proof e.g. a birth certificate, etc.

Sometimes there are different names inside a family, e.g. Jack for John, or someone used a different name (ie Michael McLachlan called himself Malcolm Broadfoot for most of his life). To keep the facts consistent we need to use the official names (ie names on BC, DC or MC etc). If you want to indicate a name change there is a way of doing that as an AKA (Also known as) or as a nickname or as a note on the person’s page. In family history women’s surnames remain their birth surname after marriage.

Sometimes individuals got their birth date wrong, or even their birth year. Check against the birth certificate if you can before changing something. I am guessing where a date is recorded as circa e.g. c 1978 means I am not sure. If you know better, change it.

Our site is UK based so we use Patronymic naming. A child’s surname is always the way it is on their BC. Some families who move around have children with different surnames because of the local custom where they were born – again we record what was on their BC.

With these provisos do add your own information, particularly for new members of your family that others won’t know about – we don’t all live in a few streets in Pollokshaws anymore.