Marriage Certificates – A marriage certificate is the best place to find a woman’s maiden name. Marriage certificates are available from either the county or the state where the marriage took place, depending on the year of the marriage.

Church Records –Baptism and christening records often record the maiden name of a child’s mother. So, if you know the child’s name and can locate the child’s record, you may be able to find the maiden name you are looking for.

First and Middle Names – Look at the first and middle names of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Families often honored their loved ones by naming their children after relatives. Are their any names that might look like a surname? Does that name fit anywhere else in your family tree already? Try temporarily ‘pretending’ that this is the woman’s maiden name and do some new searches for her. –Aimee McDaniel