Places feel permanent, but their boundaries rarely are. Counties are created, borders shift, jurisdictions split, and names change—sometimes multiple times within a single lifetime.
This page explains how geography is treated on this site and why a location may appear to “move” even when a family did not.
Places Are Administrative Decisions
Most geographic labels in historical records reflect administrative authority, not physical relocation. A person may appear in different counties, states, or regions while living on the same land.
When a boundary changes, the record changes with it.
Counties, Parishes, and Districts
Local jurisdictions are especially fluid. Counties may be formed from older ones, renamed, divided, or absorbed. Parishes, townships, and districts often shift even more frequently.
As a result, records for the same family may appear under different place names across time—even without migration.
States, Nations, and Borders
Larger political changes also affect how places are recorded. Territories become states. Colonies become nations. Borders move due to treaties, wars, or administrative reform.
A person may be recorded as living in different countries across their lifetime without ever crossing a border themselves.
How Places Are Named on This Site
This project generally names places as they were known at the time of the event being described. This preserves historical accuracy and explains why different labels may appear for the same location.
When clarity requires it, modern equivalents or explanatory notes may be added.
Migration vs. Reclassification
Not every geographic change represents movement. One of the goals of this site is to distinguish between true migration and administrative reclassification.
Context—such as land records, repeated census appearances, and family continuity—is used to determine whether a family moved or the map changed.
Why This Matters
Misunderstanding geography can lead to false assumptions: imagined migrations, merged identities, or misplaced ancestors.
By treating geography as historical rather than static, this project keeps families grounded in place without forcing the map to behave unrealistically.
A Closing Thought
People are more stable than borders. When locations appear to shift, it is often the paperwork—not the family—that moved. Reading geography historically keeps lineage accurate and humane.