False name on birth certificate

Question

I am using fake names for this question.

Jane Jones is the daughter of Julie ___ and Bob Smithers. Julie and Bob were not married. They lied, and Jane’s birth certificate says “Smith.” Jane later became known by her stepfather’s name, Jones.

With a source actually saying “Smith,” I wouldn’t want to ignore it, but would you put it in GEDCOM as a NAME (and if so, what TYPE), or would you put it as a NOTE on the BIRT or on the NAME /Smithers/? (Actually, I'd not put "Smithers" on her but it would certainly be on the biological father.)

I'm not aware of any living people with this issue, but my own grandmother did often get called by her step-father's name even though she was not officially adopted.

Answer 1

I would use the physical record that you have and record her name as what was written on the Birth Certificate and use that as her NAME in the gedcom. Any other names that she was known as can be added as NAME TYPE AKA with appropriate sources. Additional information can always be added as a NOTE to any of your sources.

This is what the Gedcom 5.5.1 standard has to say:

NAME_TYPE:= {Size=5:30} [ aka | birth | immigrant | maiden | married | ] Indicates the name type, for example the name issued or assumed as an immigrant.

aka = also known as, alias, etc.

birth = name given on birth certificate.

immigrant = name assumed at the time of immigration.

maiden = maiden name, name before first marriage.

married = name was persons previous married name.

user_defined= other text name that defines the name type.