General Surname Sites and Resources

• ABCgenealogy: Surnames 
• About.com: Genealogy - Glossary of Last Name Meanings & Origins 
  Find meanings, origins, and related genealogy resources for hundreds of surnames from around the world.
• Absolutely Family! - A Guide to Editing and Publishing a Family Newsletter 
  A book by Jeanne Rundquist Nelson.
• Acadian/French-Canadian SURNAME Researchers 
  From the Acadian Genealogy Homepage.
• Acadian Genealogy Homepage - List of Surnames on the Acadian CD 
• Advice from the Experts: Running a Family Association 
• All Irish Clans and Names 
  Find out about Clans dealing with your Irish Surname.
• Alternative Surnames & Surname Variations 
  A table of common surname variations & surname misspellings.
  • Surnames beginning A-B 
  • Surnames beginning C 
  • Surnames beginning D-E 
  • Surnames beginning F-G 
  • Surnames beginning H-J 
  • Surnames beginning K-L 
  • Surnames beginning M 
  • Surnames beginning N-Q 
  • Surnames beginning R-S 
  • Surnames beginning T-Z 
• Ancestor Guide: Genealogy and Surname Search 
  Simply browse through the listing of over 47,000 surname categories or find it fast with our surname search engine.
• Ancestor Search Quick Search - Free Genealogy and Free Family Tree Surname Search Engine 
• AncestralFindings.com - Post Your Hard To Find Surnames Here ! 
• Ancestry Connections Surname Registry 
  Surname Registry for submitting and researching surnames.
• Ancestry.com - Message Boards - Surnames 
• British Surname Studies 
• Calabria Surnames 
  Submit or look up your Calabrian surnames.
• Changing Immigrant Names 
  From the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Includes a list of reasons for name changes and links to stories about how names were changed.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Chinese Surnames 
• Common Threads 
  A searchable database with e-mail addresses for submitters
• Council of Scottish Clans and Associations' (COSCA) 
• Creating Your Family Newsletter 
  Barbara Krasner-Khait.
• Family Name 
  Definitions & world-wide naming customs from Wikpedia.
• Family Newsletters List 
  List of genealogy newsletters available for specific surnames.
• Family Newsletter News 
  Perk up your family newsletter by learning from other family newsletter publishers' experiences and ideas. This newsletter, for and about family newsletters (and their publishers) was established to encourage family connections through the family newsletter. It is for genealogists, family historians, and folks who want to keep their families in touch. Includes publishing pointers and highlight actual family newsletters as examples.
• Family Newsletter Registry and Surname Search 
  A searchable database of family newsletters and the surnames associated with them from around the world.
• Family Tree Circles 
  Join this genealogy community, store and share your family tree information and searches, and find others researching the same information as you.
• Family Workings Links by Surname 
• Family History Library Catalog 
  Search this online version of the catalog for the LDS collection in Salt Lake City.
  • Surname Search 
• Find Ancestral Photographs And Family History At Dead Fred - Genealogy Photo Archive - Surname Search 
  A searchable database with thousands of identified photos and mystery photos.
• Genealogy.com: Family Associations 101 
• The Genealogy Forum: Surname Center 
  • GEDCOM File Library 
• Genealogy Newsletter Editor's Corner 
  A gathering place for editors of genealogy and family history newsletters.
• Genealogy Surnames - Genealogy Search Engine - Add Your Url On Genlink Genealogy Index 
  Genlink is a genealogy search engine, capable of indexing all the surnames on your genealogy surnames page in one go if you are using Ged2www, Gedpage, Ged2HTML, Gedbrowser or Ged4Web.
• GenealogyTODAY.com - Family Album Index - Surname Information 
  Surnames referenced in the databases, transcriptions and articles hosted at Genealogy Today.
• Genealogy > USA > Surname Links 
  Links sorted by alphabetically by surname.
• GeneaNet - Genealogical Database Network 
  A surname database with web site or e-mail references for more than 10 million surnames. French or English versions available.
• GENUKI Surname Lists 
  Lists for each county in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• GENS 
  U.S. surname maps.
• German Names 
  An online article in three parts on German names.
• Global Genealogy - Family Histories & Genealogies 
• Google Web Directory .... Genealogy > Surnames 
• Great Family Newsletters 
  Tutorials and how-to information.
• Guild of One-Name Studies  ~ United Kingdom
• Life Span Genealogy 
  Surname registry & tutorials.
• The most frequent Hungarian surnames 
• National Indexes for One-Name Studies 
• Open Directory - Society: Genealogy: Surnames 
• Origin Search - The Genealogy Search Engine for Family History Research 
  Surname searches from millions of genealogy web sites.
• The Origins of Family Names 
• Quintin Publications | Catalog of Family Genealogies 
  Over 10,000 family genealogies written in Canada and the US over the past 150 years. Available on CD or book.
• The relevance of surnames in genealogy 
  From the Society of Genealogists (UK). Explains the history behind the taking of surnames and the difficulty of reliance on surnames in modern genealogy.
• The Researchers Hotlist 
  Surname listings of family history researchers from all over the world.
• RootsWeb: Genealogy Mailing Lists 
• RootsWeb Surname List -- Interactive Search 
  An easily searchable database maintained by volunteer Karen Isaacson. The RSL contains more than 750,000 surnames, submitted by nearly 75,000 genealogists.
  • Country Abbreviations from the RSL  ~ Listed by Country
  • Country Abbreviations from the RSL  ~ Listed by Abbreviation
  • Overview of the RootsWeb Surname List (RSL) 
• Surname Directory | Index of Independent Surname Websites 
  Index of independent surname websites & other surname resources. Surname origins, meanings & history around the world.
• Surname Interests Registry 
  View surnames being researched and post your surnames to connect with others researching your line.
• Surname Origins Index 
  A list of surnames with definitions, country of origin, family legend and corresponding links.
• Surname Resources at RootsWeb 
• Surname Websites Located on RootsWeb 
• Stone Soup for Genealogists (Publishing a One-family Periodical) 
• Surname Database Cross-Index 
  FEEFHS Cross Index of 27 Surname databases.
• Surname Helper Search for a Surname 
• Surname Navigator 
• Surname Search Utility 
  A search tool that indexes hundreds of thousands of surnames from surname pages across the web.
• Surname Springboard 
  Dedicated to internet researchers who have indexed their GEDCOM data & converted it to HTML pages
• The SurnameWeb 
  The Surname Genealogy Web Project
• Surnames By Town 
  Surnames, classified by town, appear as e-mail links to the submitter researching them under that town. Argentina, Cape Verde/Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic/República Dominicana, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estados Unidos de América/United States of America, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland/Irlandia, Italy/Italia, México, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Uruguay, Venezuela.
• SWINX ® Zoeklijst Nederlandse Familienamen  ~ Netherlands
  SWINX = Surname Website INdeX
• USGenWeb Lineage Researcher Pages 
• US English Pronunciation of Proper Names 
  Allows you to type in your name and produces the pronunciation for it according to our pronunciation models.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  WebWide Surname Locator 
  Indexes ONLY surname pages from across the web.
• Why U Can't Find Your Ancestors Misspeld Knames — A Commun Probblem for Reeserchors  
  From RootsWeb's Guide To Tracing Family Trees.

Locality Specific

• 18th Century PA German Name Spelling Idiosyncrasies 
• 18th Century PA German Naming Customs 
• 18th Century PA German Nicknames 
• American Names / Declaring Independence 
  Discusses "name changes at Ellis Island". From the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.
• BBC - History - What's In a Name Your Link to the Past 
• British Surnames: First-names, Localities, Occupations, Nicknames 
• British Surname Studies 
• Cornish Surnames 
  Names starting with these old Celtic Cornish words.
• A Dictionary of Period Russian Names 
• English and Welsh Surname Dictionary 
  Describes the origin of each surname, indicating from where and from what the surname is derived. It also provides information on variant spellings, pronunciations, and other related names. Available by subscription.
• Foreign Name Cross Reference 
  Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Slovak, Russian or Yiddish given first names with their English equivalents.
• German Names 
  An online article in three parts on German names.
• An Irishman and His Name 
• Medieval Names Archive 
• Lancashire Family Names Their Meanings & Origins 
• New Zealand Surname Interest List 
• Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames 
  This glossary contains roots and meanings of over 250 Russian Molokan surnames in America.
• Origin of Chinese Surnames 
• Roman Nomenclature 
  Guide as to how Roman names were derived.
• Scandinavian Names 
  From the Medieval Names Archive.
• Scottish Names Resources 
• Society of Genealogists - Index To The Surname Document Collection  ~ United Kingdom
• Surnames in Italy / L'Italia dei cognomi 
  By entering a surname and pressing the red arrow, a distribution map of Italy is generated showing the concentrations of that particular surname in Italy.
• United Kingdom and Ireland Names, Personal 
  Links to various resources within and outside of GENUKI.
• Welsh Surnames 
• www.Irish Surnames.info 
  Information on seven hundred of the most numerous surnames in Ireland. Gaelic form, English variants, septs and branches, territory of origin, distribution and estimated number of bearers in Ireland, frequency in British Isles and in the United States.

Mailing Lists, Newsgroups & Chat

• AUS-NSW-SURNAMES Mailing List 
  Provides a connection point for people researching specific surnames in New South Wales, Australia.
• BRIT-SURNAMES Mailing List 
  For anyone researching British surnames.
• GEN-EDITOR Mailing List 
  For editors/publishers of genealogical, surname and family newsletters to have a place to discuss and share ideas and tips
• GEN-Surnames-Origins Mailing List 
  For the discussion and sharing of information the meaning and origins of surnames in Britain including patronymics.
• GOONS-L Mailing List 
  For members of the Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS) to promote discussion of matters concerned with One-Name Studies and the Guild
• ROLL-CALL Mailing List 
  For the posting of "roll calls" (lists) of the surnames you are researching so that others can determine if there is a common interest
• RSL-UPDATE Mailing List 
  The Roots Surname List database monthly update of new surnames
• SCANDINAVIAN-SURNAMES Mailing List 
  For the discussion and sharing of information regarding Scandinavian surnames and given names. Archives: browse or search.
• Scottish Clans Mailing Lists 
• soc.genealogy.surnames.* / SURNAMES-* FAQ files  
• Surname Mailing Lists - Genealogy Resources on the Internet 
  See the alphabetical listing at the bottom of the main index
• SURNAME-ORIGINS Mailing List 
  For the discussion of the etymology (word origin) of surnames, as well as the geographic origins of surnames.
• SURNAME-QUERY Mailing List 
  For users to send queries on specific surname searches
• SURNAMES Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.global newsgroup
  Surname queries central database
• SURNAMES-BRITAIN Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.britain newsgroup
  For surname queries related to Great Britain
• SURNAMES-CANADA Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.canada newsgroup
  For surname queries related to Canada
• SURNAMES-GERMAN Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.german newsgroup
  For surname queries related to German speaking countries
• SURNAMES-IRELAND Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.ireland newsgroup
  For surname queries related to Ireland and Northern Ireland
• SURNAMES-MISC Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.misc newsgroup
  For surname queries for regions not addressed elsewhere in the soc.genealogy.surnames.* hierarchy
• Surname Search Daily 
  General surname message board.
• SURNAMES-USA Mailing List  gatewayed with the soc.genealogy.surnames.usa newsgroup
  For surname queries related to the United States
• WGW-SURNAMES-SCOTLAND Mailing List 
  For the discussion and sharing of information regarding surnames originating in Scotland. A companion to the SCOTLAND-GENWEB list.
• Yahoo! Groups : Surname Forum 

Publications, Software & Supplies

• Amazon.com Genealogy Bookstore - Surnames 
  The following are individual book titles of interest for this topic. The book links below point to the Amazon.com bookstore online where you may purchase the book if you wish. These links are provided to bring these published resources to your attention as an aid to your research. Follow the links to books of interest to make note of their title, author, publisher, and ISBN. You might then use this information to obtain the book from your local library or your favorite corner book shop.
  • Absolutely Family! A Guide to Editing and Publishing a Family Newsletter 
    A book by Jeanne Rundquist Nelson.
  • Creating Family Newsletters: 123 Ideas for Sharing Memorable Moments With Family and Friends 
    A book by Elaine Floyd.
  • Family Names and Family History 
    A book by David Hey.
  • Scottish Surnames 
    A book by Donald Whyte.
• Ancestor Publishers Microfiche - Family Histories 
• Books We Own - Family History by Surname 
  Find a book from which you would like a lookup and click on the submitter's code at the end of the entry. Once you find the contact information for the submitter, write them a polite request for a lookup. Be sure to follow the guidelines given on the main index page under: Tips for submitting requests . See also the Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright page and please also consider reading through: How to Contribute to Books We Own
• Boyd Publishing Company - Family Histories 
• Family Forest Descendant Series eBooks 
  Download these eBooks of your ancestors and their descendants published by Millisecond Publishing Company, Inc. John ALDEN, Mayflower Pilgrim; Elder William BREWSTER, Mayflower Pilgrim; Richard WARREN, Mayflower Pilgrim; Governor William BRADFORD, Mayflower Pilgrim. Other surnames include: ADAM, SMITH, SHATTUCK, HARRISON, HAYNES, WARNER, DELANO, and more.
• Genealogical.com - General Reference 
  The online store of Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. & Clearfield Company.
  • Directory of Family Associations 
    A book by Elizabeth Petty Bentley.
• Heritage Books: Genealogies 
• Heritage Books: Surnames 
• Higginson Book Company - Surname Books 
• One Name Publications 
  One-name studies and manuscripts for publishing family histories for the following surnames: PLUNKETT, BERRY, CRAFT, REEDER, SKINNER, BOATNER, KENDALL, REEVES, HARRELL, REYNOLDS, ALMOND, HOLLAND, ROSS, IRELAND, TRIGG, DAVID, SMITH, TOLER, STAFFORD, WOODIEL.
• Yahoo!...Genealogy: Publications: Individual Family Histories 

Surname Maps

• GENS-US Surname Map 
  Search your surname's distribution in the USA.
• RootsMap Surname Distribution Maps 
  Surname distribution maps for the UK and Ireland to help in the search for a particular surname. Maps produced and published by RootsMap can either be downloaded and printed by you immediately after payment, or we can dispatch your map to you by 1st class post. Maps of surnames may be produced based on the 1881 Census or the IGI and can show surname distribution across the entire nation or within a chosen county.
• Surname Distribution Analysis and Mapping 
  A useful tool for those engaged in a One-name Study or more general genealogical research. While this analysis can be done non-graphically, a graphical analysis has much more visual impact, and spatial relationships are more readily discerned. This site permits genealogists to upload data extracted from the LDS Census CDs or other sources and to generate distribution density maps for the UK or the USA.
• Surnames in Italy / L'Italia dei cognomi 
  By entering a surname and pressing the red arrow, a distribution map of Italy is generated showing the concentrations of that particular surname in Italy.
• U.S. Surname Distribution Maps 
  Generates online maps of the United States showing the distribution of people with this surname within the 50 United States. The source of this data is the 1850 Census, 1880 Census, 1920 Census, and 1990s phone books. Note that the Census data is a sampling of 1 in 100 names, so the 1990 data is the most accurate

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