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UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello. Half the fun of looking for my ancestors in the UK has been reading the colorful and odd place names for towns etc.

Its bothersome to find a string of numbers where the actual place name would be.

I should think anyone outside the UK would have little appreciation for these numbers. I know there are directories that explain where the numbers refer to. Personally I would rather spend time accepting and reviewing hints than looking up those postcodes.

Thank you

K Sesma
Sesma family tree

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello,

Just a thought, on occasion I`ve seen place names on ancestry replaced by a string of numbers like you mentioned. I can`t off hand remember why this happened but it was something to do with ancestry. Hopefully others may have more input in this?

I only ask because UK postcodes are a combination of letters and numbers (not just numbers) and I`ve never seen a postcode connected with locations here?

Jacki

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 25 Sep 2014 12:21AM GMT
Classification: Query
"Its bothersome to find a string of numbers where the actual place name would be." Where are you seeing this?

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 25 Sep 2014 7:35PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 Sep 2014 7:36PM GMT
Typically under location for a birth or death, numbers followed by a county or country name.
It seems more common out in the 1300s - 1400s - and 1500s UK and I've now seen four digit Irish numbers as well.

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 25 Sep 2014 9:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 Sep 2014 9:40PM GMT
Obviously there were no post codes for the centuries mentioned. This seems most unusual. Are you seeing this on a web site? If so, which one? If you can attach an image, that would be very helpful. If you will provide more information I'm sure someone will be able to help.

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 26 Sep 2014 8:19AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi again

I found one and hope this upload goes well
Attachments:

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 26 Sep 2014 8:55AM GMT
Classification: Query
It would help if you said where that screenshot came from - what system/database are you accessing ?

It is obviously not a postcode which are a recent invention, and don't look anything like that so it may be a database reference or similar - but without knowing exactly where you are searching and seeing these numbers it is impossible to say.

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 26 Sep 2014 2:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
These may be numbers assigned in the old PAF (Personal Ancestral File) software. Google for genealogy numbering systems and you may be able to find more information.

Re: UK postcodes vs Actual Place Names

Posted: 26 Sep 2014 9:30PM GMT
Classification: Query
The only time I've seen anything like this is on other people's family trees which come up as hints on my tree here on Ancestry.

I think as has already been said that they must be something to do with the original software used for that family tree.

They definitely are NOT postcodes, or indeed any other form of official identification.
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