Family tree research, minimal information

[islaw3048unfln]

I'm trying to find out the names of some family members.

I want to find the brothers/sisters, and their children, of a known individual, let's say Sally Smith. I only know that name.... I know she has at least a sister and maybe more siblings, and that some of those siblings have children.

Has anyone had success tracing people with minimal information like this before?

Yes I use Free Bmd for such quests!

That's what I've been using, but I'm not sure which of all the people with the relevant surname, born in a certain time period, could be the siblings 😅

How far back? If within the time-frame of the released censuses or the 1939 pre-war register, hopefully you’ll find the family group together somewhere.

To check, find your known person's parents and cross-reference potential siblings to check they have the same parents. The more unusual the surname and smaller search area, the easier it is. Some families used regular naming patterns, e.g. eldest son named after paternal grandfather, but this easily gives cousins with the same name.

What time frame? Too recent for 1939 Register and 1921 census (assuming it is in England)? After 1912 freebmd searches can include mothers maiden name as well as family surname. Parents’ death certificates may include a child’s name as the person registering the death

@HephzibahRose It's actually very recent. The person was born in the 1960s, their parents born in the 1940s. Their siblings must have been born in the 1960s or 1970s.

I've been using Free BMD....does it have the features you describe?

@LIZS The person was born in the 1960s.

If they were born in the 1960s they are most likely still alive, in their 50s or 60s and working or active retired.
Assuming you know their name, I would try 192 search or on social media - Facebook, LinkedIn or a Google search for their name + rough location or occupation. If you know where they went to school, try the local newspaper website or Facebook site e.g. Spotted In … for that area - someone may well remember them. You are more likely to be successful if they have an uncommon name. Bear in mind that they may not wish to be “found”.

The FreeBMD Birth entries list the mother's maiden name but you can't search on that alone. I have an unusual birth surname and, searching for myself, I turned up dozens of results for the quarter I was born in, so you might struggle to find the correct record, based on surname alone.

If you use surname and mother's maiden name that would hopefully narrow it down. Were they born in the same place?

This is the thing, I don't know their first name. I just know their maiden name; it's a woman and she could be married. I'm not trying to contact her at this stage, just to see who it and what they're up to.

Thank you. What about if I added in place of birth (county or district)?

I think all of the siblings were born in the same county, yes...

I've never used FreeBMD but on Ancestry I would find Sally Smith's birth record and note the mother's maiden name (for argument's sake let's say it's Jones). Then I would search the birth records for everyone with surname Smith and Mother's surname Jones.

If the names were very common (like Smith and Jones) I would limit the search by place and date, but for less common names that probably isn't necessary.

Even searching Smith and Jones and say Birmingham between 1950 and 1980 - the list is manageable. Ancestry might give electrol register info too. @islaw3048unfln I am happy to try to help if you want to PM what info you have. My family tree is enormous!