Alias names were used by some families in England (and sometimes other countries) in the period from about 1400 to about 1650. They often passed down through families for several generations. More information about them can be found in this article on FamilySearch. Over the years, there have been a number of queries about how these names should be entered in the various Wikitree name fields, without any firm conclusions. After reviewing existing Wikitree guidance, including the guidance provided by the Quebecois project for dit names (which are very similar to alias names in England), an approach has been suggested below. Feedback and suggestions for improvement are welcome. If agreed, it is suggested that this becomes guidance that is added to the English Profile Standards.
In this guidance, the full form of an alias name refers to the two individual surnames, separated by the word "alias". For example, if a person is recorded as "John Chapman alias Barker", then the first surname is "Chapman", the second surname is "Barker" and the full form is "Chapman alias Barker".
The Last Name at Birth (LNAB) for a child whose father uses the full form of an alias name should be the first surname of the father on the baptism (or other record closest in time to the child's birth). Thus if the father is recorded as "John Chapman alias Barker", then only "Chapman" should be entered in the LNAB field of the child. The Current Last Name (CLN) field should record the full form of the alias (ie Chapman alias Barker), if the child actually used this full form at the time of their death. Otherwise, this should be entered into the Other Last Name (OLN) field. The second surname (ie Barker) should also be entered as a separate name in the OLN field, for search purposes, and because some records may only show the second surname by itself.
If only a single surname appears on the baptism (ie "Barker" or "Chapman"), then that single surname is what is recorded in the LNAB field. The other surname and/or the full form of the alias name (ie Chapman alias Barker) should be added to the CLN or OLN fields as appropriate, if sources show that the person used these.
When entering the full form of the alias name, the word "alias" should always be written in full, even if abbreviated in the source (eg "Chapman alias Barker", NOT "Chapman als Barker").
Example 1: Person uses Chapman alias Barker throughout their life
Last Name at Birth: Chapman
Current Last Name: Chapman alias Barker
Other Last Name(s): Barker
Example 2: Person's father used Chapman alias Barker at their child's birth, but person is otherwise recorded as Barker
Last Name at Birth: Chapman
Current Last Name: Barker
Other Last Name(s): Chapman alias Barker
Example 3: Person's father used Chapman alias Barker at their child's birth, but person is recorded as Chapman at their death
Last Name at Birth: Chapman
Current Last Name: Chapman
Other Last Name(s): Chapman alias Barker, Barker
