Tuesday, April 13, 2010

How can I find out the meaning of my last name?

My last name isnt common, and Ive always wondered what it meant, Ive exhausted all the searches on the internet, and was just wondering if anyone knows of a site, or a way to find out!

How can I find out the meaning of my last name?
Not all names HAVE a meaning.


Since you say you have exhausted all the online sources, may I suggest that it being uncommon, there is a very good chance that it is a variation of something else.


One example from my own files is Fullingim. After working it back about 5 generations, I found records that the original name was Fillingham (and there are more variations than just the one I have). The best we have is that it comes from a small village in Lincolnshire, England.


For MANY names, none of this will be apparent, unless you actually take time to research the persons, and not the surname. Most of those variations are proven to be related, which does not make one spelling more "right" than another.


You will find numerous online sites with name meanings. To be honest, I am completely skeptical that most of them are reliable anyway.
Reply:Wendy has given you the best answer. Actually meaning and origin of names are not important to genealaogy.





Also see the links below for informational purposes





http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comconsumerp...





http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.ht...
Reply:you can try ancestry.com, look on the right hand side and then click on learn more though if its very unusaul you may find nothing at all and then there is this site also.





http://www.surnamedb.com/?gclid=COqrzv7i...





sometimes using the ancestry site you can use the top country and then search for surnames from that country.
Reply:My last name is also common, that makes it a little harder to trace ancestory, but I found the definition by typing in:


surname ______


(fill in the blank with the name you are looking for)





Hope you find the info you wanted.
Reply:http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx/...


http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/fact...
Reply:I used this site to find mine:


http://www.last-names.net/


No comments:

Post a Comment