The All About Me activity on FamilySearch identifies the meaning of your last name. If your last name contains more than one word, the activity uses only the first word of it.
This happens because in some cultures people use multiple last names. Each one is distinct. Unfortunately, the experience cannot yet identify whether your last name is one last name with two words. For example, it cannot identify "Van Wagenen." This is true for two separate last names, as in "Martinez Lopez."
If your last name consists of two or more words, we suggest that you try the experience again, following the steps:
Steps
- If you are signed in to FamilySearch, sign out.
- At the top of the page, click Activities. (If you do not see Activities, please use the following link: https://www.familysearch.org/discovery/about. Then skip to step 4 below.)
- Click All About Me.
- Click Continue as guest.
- Enter your first name.
- Enter the version of your last name that you want to use:
- If you have one last name that has two words, spell it without a space between the two words. For example, enter VanWagenen instead of Van Wagenen.
- If you have multiple last names, enter the one part of your name whose meaning you want to see.
- Enter your birth year.
- Click Start.
All About Me uses the wrong version of my name
On the FamilySearch website, the All About Me activity shows the meaning of your first and last names. You can also see other facts about the year you were born. Sometimes the activity uses the wrong version of your name, such as a married name instead of a maiden name. A nickname could have been used.
If you signed in to FamilySearch
If you signed in to FamilySearch and you know that you have a record in Family Tree, then this error means that your record in Family Tree must be corrected. The All about Me experience uses the version of your name that is displayed in the Vitals section of your record.
In the Vitals section, enter your full legal name. Add nicknames and married names to the Other Information section as alternative names. If you want a quick way to see the meaning of your maiden name, click your father's entry in the list of relatives that appears at the bottom of the screen. Then click the button for the name.
If you participated in the activity as a guest
If you did not sign in to FamilySearch and participated in the activity as a guest instead, you likely entered your name incorrectly. Simply start the activity over again, and enter your name and birth year.
All about Me has the wrong meaning of my name.
In the All about Me activity, FamilySearch offers a possible meaning for your first and last name. These meanings have been provided to us by another organization. Unfortunately, we are unable to change this information.
If you find that the meaning the activity gives you is incorrect in your case, consider going to your person page in Family Tree and adding a story that tells how you got your name and what it means to you and your family.