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As we celebrate today, it’s worth looking at the "umbilical line" of our family trees. Historically, because of coverture, our female ancestors often "vanished" from the records once they married.

If you're stuck on a maternal line, here are a few tips to help find that missing maiden name:

• Check the Dower Releases: Sometimes the only time a wife is mentioned in land records is when she is releasing her dower rights.
• Look for the Bondsman: In marriage bonds, look for the person putting up the money—it was often a brother or uncle.
• Utilize mtDNA: Mitochondrial DNA passes from mother to child relatively unchanged, helping you verify lines back thousands of years.

Let’s honor them today by putting a name back on the tree. Check out the full breakdown over at Genealogist Services by Jessica's Genealogy Research