How to list part of my family who had changed their surname

[SpyderMama]

Hello, I need help to clarify how to list family that has 2 different surnames.  The history-  My great grandmother changed her married name (and those of her children) some time after her and my grandfather were no longer together. Changed the name from Schmidt to Smith. So......there are many records available (census, birth records) that list their last name as Schmidt. How do I list them on various genealogy sites?  With the last name of Schmidt or Smith.  My Grandmother and her siblings were all going by Smith by the time they were 18.  Another side note, a local paper has a lot of references to my family in the social pages, and articles listed both she and my grandfather as either Schmidt or Smith (using Smith years before it showed on any census).  My mother had said her grandfather changed the family name from Schmidt to Smith due to the war and prejudices- but the records dont show that per birth records and census records much later with the smith surname)

[Rosinish]

What about recording them as you have on here 'Schmidt or Smith' & you can add notes as to when the name changed & start the name Smith from the generation who were actually born Smith with a note saying previous generations were known as both between xxxx & yyyy & prior to that as Schmidt?

It would make no difference as it's your tree but for the sake of possible connections having both names visible may attract more interest as people can relate to both?

Annie

[StevieSteve]

Standard is to list her birth name so Schmidt

Ancestry gives the option of adding an alternative name so that's where you could add Smith

Another way would be to list her as Sarah Schmidt aka Smith.

[jim1]

Agree you need to list them under their birth names but add a explanatory note referring to the name change.