Identify historic places and jurisdictions

The right repository depends on the place and authority at the event date. Municipality, parish and district can cover different areas. Identify the place before expanding surname searches.

The method, step by step

1. Transcribe the place name exactly with surrounding words. Note language, date, record and administrative qualifiers. Retain uncertain readings with the image before normalising.
2. List candidate places and compare parish, region, travel routes and other recorded locations. Use maps and institutional descriptions. Geographic proximity alone does not identify a place.
3. For the selected place, identify authorities producing the record type at that date. Locate the current repository and series. Where borders changed, search documented language variants.
4. Keep a place record with original name, standardised name, dated jurisdiction, identification source and repository. Link it without replacing the original wording. Revise it when new evidence conflicts.