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If you’ve spent time building your family tree on FamilySearch, you may have noticed a frustrating trend: profiles labeled “Unknown” or “UNK” where ancestors’ real names should be. While this seems like a harmless placeholder, it can lead to confusion and clutter up your research. Let’s dive into why creating "Unknown" profiles is a mistake and explore the right way to manage missing names on FamilySearch.
Why You Shouldn’t Use “Unknown” Profiles
Imagine this: you’re researching your ancestor James M. Searcy, and you see his wife listed with the name “Unknown.” This isn't helpful information, and it can mislead others who might stumble across this profile. Worse yet, if you later discover her name, moving the children or other connections to their correct spots will be a hassle, leaving that “Unknown” profile cluttering your tree.
By creating an “Unknown” profile, you’re essentially adding a “fake” person to the family tree—someone who didn’t actually exist with that name. These placeholder profiles make your tree messier, create duplicate profiles, and make it challenging for FamilySearch to maintain accurate records. Removing or modifying these profiles is also tricky since FamilySearch discourages unnecessary deletions.
In this video, a young genealogist explains why it's frustrating to have Unknown profiles in the family tree.
So, what's the right way to handle unknown names on FamilySearch? Let's break it down.
Here’s How to Correctly Record Unknown Family Members to FamilySearch
FamilySearch has a built-in solution for this exact situation: the “Add Child with an Unknown Mother/Father” button. Instead of creating a full profile with a name like “Unknown,” you can add a child without attaching a specific name to the mother or father.
When you do find the real parent’s name, it’s easy to update and attach them to the correct person without leaving a fake “Unknown” profile behind.
Go to your ancestor's profile page.
Select Add Child with an Unknown Mother (or Father).
This keeps the placeholder manageable and doesn’t clutter your tree with unnecessary profiles. When you find the missing parent's real name, it’s simple to update.
By using this tool, FamilySearch will still record that the individual has an unknown parent, but without creating a fake “Unknown” profile that will be difficult to remove or merge later.
What If You Already Have “Unknown” Profiles in Your FamilySearch Family Tree?
Perhaps you’ve already used “Unknown” as a placeholder, or maybe you’ve come across these profiles created by others. Is there a way to clean them up? The video on How to Delete a Person on FamilySearch explains the steps.
If you were the only one to edit a profile, you can delete it fairly easily. However, if others have contributed to it, deleting gets more complicated. Here’s a quick summary:
Delete as a Last Resort: Only delete if you’re the sole contributor, and make sure to leave a reason.
Unlink the Profile: Disconnect all relationships tied to the “Unknown” profile.
Change the Name: FamilySearch requires certain fields to stay filled, so update the name to something unsearchable, like "ZZZ," if needed.
For a complete guide, check out our full video, How to Delete a Person on FamilySearch, to avoid headaches with these profiles.
The “UNK” Myth: Is Your Ancestor’s Surname Really “UNK”?
In another funny twist, some people assume “UNK” (short for unknown) is an actual surname! One of our "team members", Phil, recently did a lighthearted dive into this topic. In the video Nutty Researcher Thinks His Grandmother's Name is UNK, he humorously explains how this mistake has spread across family trees everywhere.
If you’ve found “UNK” profiles in your own family tree, you’re definitely not alone!
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Tips to Keep Your FamilySearch Tree Clean
Let’s work together to make FamilySearch a cleaner, more accurate place for everyone’s family history research! Next time you see “UNK” or “Unknown,” remember the better options you have to keep your tree tidy.
Avoid Placeholders: Skip creating profiles with placeholder names like “Unknown” or “UNK.”
Use FamilySearch Tools: Use “Add Child with an Unknown Parent” instead.
Organize with Real Data: Wait until you find the real name to add a profile.
Watch our How-To Videos: From fixing “Unknown” profiles to merging duplicates, our Family History Fanatics YouTube Channel has plenty of helpful tips.
