Vitural Surname Wall FAQ's

1. What is a family name?

A family name, for this database, is a family surname and is based on the patronymic system of naming.

2. May I submit the full name of a person -- given name and family name?

While we have allowed a few of these, we discourage it.  We reserve the right to not post these entries because of space restrictions.

3. How many family surnames may I submit?

There are no restrictions on the number of family surnames you may enter.

4. How can I test what you have posted for me?
Go to "Search the Online Postings" and search all names with your Submitter ID attached.

5. How can I keep the same identity for all of my submissions?

Up to ten names can be submitted in one entry at a time as a group.  The group is given a distinct ID number.  If you would like all of your entries to carry the same ID number in the online database, please send the Surname Wall Coordinator an email so indicating at the time you submit the successor group of surnames.  The submission form has a spot for submitter comments.  You may wish to indicate your choice there as well. 

6. May I make corrections to my online surnames?

Absolutely.  Simply email the coordinator and request a correction.

7. May I remove my online surnames?

Absolutely.  Simply email the coordinator and request the removal.

8. I am having trouble showing the Geographic content for my line.  I want to submit information regarding a family some of whom moved to the USA and then on to various other places in the USA.  What is the best way to do that?

When a family splits, with one group going to one location and the others go elsewhere, it is best to submit two or more separate entries.  This would be shown by the following example:

The Schmidt family lived in Germany from 1800 to 1840.  In 1840 they immigrated to the USA.  They all started together in Pennsylvania beginning in 1840, but the single group separated, going in different directions.  Group one went from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1852 and are there to this date; group two went from Pennsylvania to Kentucky in 1889 and then to Chicago in 1922; group three went from Pennsylvania to the gold fields in California in 1850 and then to San Francisco in 1865, and disappeared around 1887. 

This kind of information is best displayed as three separate entries:

Entry one:
Dates: 1800 to present 
Path: Germany (1800 to 1840) > USA (1840) > Pennsylvania (1840) > Illinois (1852 to present)

Entry two:
Dates: 1800 to 1922
Path: Germany (1800 to 1840) > USA (1840) > Pennsylvania (1840) > Kentucky (1889) > Chicago, Cook Co., Illinis (1922)

Entry three:
Dates 1800 to 1887
Path: Germany (1800 to 1840) > USA (1840) > Pennsylvania (1840) > California gold fields (1850) > San Francisco, California (1865 to 1887) > unknown

9. When will you allow submitters to post directly to the Wall?

That is not planned at this time.

10. Why don't you post the email addresses or other contact information so that we may contact the submitter directly?

Two large benefits of our service are (1) security for email addresses from the general public (2) ability for a Submitter to filter responses.  We will continue to act as intermediary when we have been asked to not release any personal information to a requester.  We reply on the submitter of information to contact the requester as soon as is reasonable after we contact them regarding a request.

11. Do you have plans to post email addresses if submitters give you PERMISSION to do so?

We have no present plans to post email addresses.   Should we receive enough requests, we will reconsider.  However, it is important to emphasize that we will not release anyone's email address without specific permission -- either on the website or in our email reponses to requesters.