Genealogical Searches Of Surnames

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In our modern world, almost everyone has some form of surnames, commonly referred to as last name or family name. Even Cher and Madonna, who have both chosen to drop their surname, have a surname - they just don't use it. Some cultures reverse the placement of surnames, indicating it before the person's given name (or first name), but it is rare to find individuals in America without any use of surnames.

While surnames are now taken for granted, there was a time when they were not common. In some more remote areas, they're still not. People were identified from those who shared the given name by housing location, occupation, physical characteristics or other criteria. It is believed that these descriptions gave rise to the first surnames.

Surnames have evolved and changed over the centuries. When researching your family genealogy, it is important to consider ways in which the surnames you are studying might have changed. Spelling is one of the most common changes. If your last name is 'Smith' it might at one time have been 'Smyth' or even 'Smythe'.

Many families changed their surname completely, dropping the one they used to replace it with something else that is very different. One example of changed surnames occurs with persecuted people in hiding. Making up a new surname is one way for a family to blend in to the new culture or location.

Many websites and books can help those building a family genealogy to research their surnames. Keep in mind that most of these sources give general information about the name that may or may not directly apply to your particular genealogical research. Document your sources carefully in case you need to revisit them or change items. Some sources are also available to help you determine spelling and other variants that may affect your family genealogy.

Of special genealogical research interest are maiden names. Finding the original surnames of your female ancestors can be especially tricky. Female names were commonly dropped or never recorded because women were considered the property of their fathers and husbands.

When researching female names, keeping in mind a few tips may aid in your genealogical research. The best place to seek female names is in marriage records. Not all marriages were recorded, but marriage records should provide the full names of both partners. In addition, check cemetery records, as your female ancestor might never have married. Finally, look at divorce decrees. While divorces were difficult and expensive for women to obtain, many more women filed than actually received the divorce. Nonetheless, the record of filing may exist.

The genealogical search involved in your family surname can be an interesting one. There may be dead ends from time to time, but you may be able to follow your surname through time and changes to solve the mystery of the origins of your family surname began. Surnames are a link to the past that can be the best way to research genealogy.

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