I'm starting to go through my local to connect all the Sr. and Jr. names and submit the names so that the automatic filter will add the comma to them (or add the comma as applicable to the credits of the film).

What should I do when I come across a Jr. or Sr. name, where the Jr. or Sr. name isn't the common name?

For example, I've already run across Harry Stradling. Cinematographer on such films as Pygmalion, Suspicion, A Streetcar Named Desire, My Fair Lady etc. etc.

He's in the system under three different variations currently.

Harry Stradling
Harry Stradling Sr.
Harry Stradling, Sr.

The common name by a clear mile is Harry Stradling.

Do we go against the common name just to distinguish him between Harry Stradling, Jr. and enter it as Harry Stradling, Sr. [Harry Stradling] even though Harry Stradling is the more common name?

(Don't know if this is the best example as Harry Stradling, Jr. is generally credited that way with a few exceptions, but those exceptions still exist and the two credits would still get mixed).

Any thoughts?

What you'll sometimes find is that the primary name is common for both, forcing us to use a BY.  I know it sounds dumb, but that's how our system is set up.  Locally, I've taken to using the sr/jr as the common name regardless of CLT to avoid the BY mess.  Your Stradling example is a good one, but you'll run into this again with the Roger Heman's and the Ben Nye's.

So really, it's still a matter of finding common name and submitting them that way even if the CLT results will be mixed in the case of a BY not being needed.

Fair enough.

That's totally what I had figured anyway, but have seen a bunch of Jr. and Sr. names being submitted with the lack of Jr. or Sr. name being used for the Credited As field, so just thought I'd ask.

I think I like the idea of having them separated in my local as Jr. and Sr. though, so will probably end up doing it that way (still submitting contributions to add the comma to the names missing them but only when necessary and going with common name) and locking the cast for the time being.

I have all the lists separated and saved on my 'puter at the moment anyway, so maybe one day I'll sit down and figure out the actual common name for the ones that need it. Too much for my brain to handle today though!