Why is “unknown” listed for some of the surnames or given names in the vital events indices?
Some registrations contained only one name for an individual, either the surname or given name. In such cases the word “unknown” has been inserted in the index for the missing given or surname. If you have trouble finding a record, try using each name that you know (surname or given name) in either the surname or given name field, alternating and leaving the other name field blank. You can restrict your search by confining it to a year, range of years, or a community name.
