Tamil Genealogy Evidence Notes: Proving Relationships & Avoiding False Family Trees
The difference between a "nice-looking tree" and a reliable Tamil ancestry tree is simple: evidence notes. Evidence notes make your work auditable and protect you from false merges caused by initials and spelling drift.
Start with the hub: Tamil Ancestry.
What an evidence note must contain
For each claim (name, relationship, place), store:
- Claim: what you are asserting
- Person(s) involved
- Source(s): document name + date + where found
- Extract: the exact detail that supports the claim
- Anchors: place / relationship / timeline
- Confidence: Confirmed / Probable / Possible
- Conflicts: what disagrees (if any) and why
Evidence grading (use consistently)
Confirmed
Direct record proof of relationship or full name.
Probable
Two independent signals align (e.g., household + invitation) but no single direct relationship label.
Possible
Plausible but missing key anchors. Do not extend generations based on “possible.”
Conflict resolution rules
When two sources disagree:
- prioritize relationships and place anchors over spelling
- treat ages as approximate unless they break timeline plausibility
- do not merge across conflicting parent names without strong bridging evidence
Use: Avoid Duplicate Ancestors.
Templates (copy/paste)
Person identity note
- Person:
- Raw name variants:
- Initials seen:
- Anchor place(s):
- Key relationships:
- Timeline:
- Sources:
- Confidence:
- Notes:
Relationship proof note
- Relationship claim:
- Person A:
- Person B:
- Evidence source(s):
- Supporting detail:
- Place anchor:
- Timeline anchor:
- Confidence:
- Conflicts/risks:
Next steps
- If the problem is initials: Tamil Initials Decoder
- If the problem is place: Tamil Place Name Variants
- Return to hub: Main Tamil Ancestry Hub
Audit checklist before you merge
Before merging two people or extending a lineage, ask four questions. Did the evidence come from more than one source? Do the place, relationship, and timeline anchors agree? Is any conflict written down rather than ignored? Would another relative understand why you made the link? If any answer is weak, keep the claim provisional and add the next source you need.
