The variability in the format of names creates havoc
when trying to enter data in your genealogy program. How
do you retain consistency? I have tried to follow these
1. All rabbinic entries are prefaced by the title
R. or Rabbi as my recognition of their sacred role in
the Jewish community.
2. Depending upon the data available, the entries
could look like this:
Given Name Surname
Given Name of XXXX, where XXXX could be a town or
Given Name ben XXXX, where XXXX is the name of the
Given Name the XXXX, where XXXX is some descriptor.
3. If the surname spelling varies, then one has a
choice of standardizing on one format or one can adopt
all of the formats. It is best to adopt one format and
include the variation in spelling or form within
parentheses as for example:
R. Saul (Wahl, Juditch) Katzenelenbogen.
4. If the family chain of rabbis begins with a
patronymic form and later adopts a surname we have
another entry issue. In order to retain alphabetic
order when perusing the index of entries it is
necessary to append the later surname to the earlier
named individuals. One way of achieving this is to use
some designator that shows the later connection as
R. Shmuel ben Yitzchak: Katzenelenbogen
This technique would be useful in further appending
a family name to the forms shown in (2) above.