I have written a lot previously about One-Name Studies (If you are new here, welcome! – you can read all the posts about researching surnames HERE).
Firstly, if you are completely new to the concept of a One-Name Study, a little background. It is essentially a project whereby someone attempts to record, track and reconstruct families of the same surname, where ever they may geographically appear and across all time frames. In the United States these are frequently referred to single surname studies.
A couple of months ago did a short series on Citations and Sources which you can find HERE. Like anything, quality research is only as good as the methods used, knowledge held and the ability to document where the material can be found. A one-name study is no different. I would rather opt for a simple citation than none.
It is very important to be able to show a pathway of information, so that someone walking behind you in the future, or indeed yourself can find the information that you have stated. I gave an example in the original series that even primary source material can be incorrect. My christening for example appears in the parish records of the church where the event took place. My late Mum was given a certificate as a commemorative of that event, although sadly the incorrect middle name is cited on the certificate. I have the original certificate now, I also have my birth certificate which is correct, I appear in the General Registration Office indexes with the correct name, but the certificate of my Christening is incorrect. On my own record in my database I have noted that error, so that someone in the future will know that I am aware of the error and my thoughts on how the error occurred.
Quality research is important to other own research and to our studies. A citation can be complex or can be simple as this – a birth of John Bloggs occurred in this place and at this time. It enables others to then work back through the information so they too can identify the record and then concur with the initial research. Now if they disagree, they can too show why they disagree in their database.
More of this will be covered on the Pharos Introduction course to One-Name Studies.
Julie Goucher ~ Anglers Rest 
I find citations help me as I move around in my research too. I am not as organized as I wish I were.
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After decades of research, I find I need the citations for my own purposes to tell me how I came to a conclusion or I know that this is so. Also useful to have the citations so as to be able to revisit and reexamine conclusions when other information comes to light.
Regards Anne
Following along from A to Z
https://ayfamilyhistory.com/2019/04/03/c-is-for-copper-milling-at-st-erth/
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When my mother was in her 80’s I was helping her sort out boxes of old papers and I happened to run across her birth certificate. I was shocked (as were my sisters) that her middle name was actually Katherine, a name that I think is very nice, while all these years she had said her middle name was Kaye. She was visibly upset and annoyed by my discovery as she told me she always hated the name Katherine and not to tell anyone what I had found. I thought it was kind of strange, but I’m glad I made this discovery even though I had thought her middle name was Kaye in all of my 60+ years.
Origins of names are interesting. Funny, I was just thinking about this a couple days ago.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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