Make the most of your research time, by knowing exactly what surnames to research and where. This Webinar Short introduces a spreadsheet tool to help you keep track of surnames.
Make the most of your research time, by knowing exactly what surnames to research and where. This Webinar Short introduces a spreadsheet tool to help you keep track of surnames.
Why can’t I find it? Locating surnames in online databases
Have you ever failed to find a surname in an online database search? Or have you been frustrated at having to undertake multiple searches to find surname variants, and have wondered why such obvious variants are not “grouped” together? Or perhaps you’ve wondered if you’ve missed entries because you don’t understand how these search engines do in fact “group” surnames. Surnames are like the other half of the DNA double helix. It’s all very well if we discover a DNA connection, but if we can’t link the two families together because we can’t find the relevant entries for our ancestors, much of our time and money is wasted. This webinar explains how online databases approach surname spellings, allowing us to maximise our use of their powerful search engines.
Have you ever failed to find a surname in an online database search? Or have you been frustrated at having to undertake multiple searches to find surname variants, and have wondered why such obvious variants are not “grouped” together? Or perhaps you’ve wondered if you’ve missed entries because you don’t understand how these search engines do in fact “group” surnames. Surnames are like the other half of the DNA double helix. It’s all very well if we discover a DNA connection, but if we can’t link the two families together because we can’t find the relevant entries for our ancestors, much of our time and money is wasted. This webinar explains how online databases approach surname spellings, allowing us to maximise our use of their powerful search engines.
The use of surnames dates back only to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. Almost all 9th and 10th century records show only one name for individuals. A pattern began to emerge in the late 12th century with regard to references to manors, estates and monasteries. This presentation will show, through examples from many types of documents produced during the medieval period, how the Little Ice Age climatic downturn impacted living conditions and imposed what would have been a major impetus to identify people. The use of a surname became the favoured and logical method to do so.
The use of surnames dates back only to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. Almost all 9th and 10th century records show only one name for individuals. A pattern began to emerge in the late 12th century with regard to references to manors, estates and monasteries. This presentation will show, through examples from many types of documents produced during the medieval period, how the Little Ice Age climatic downturn impacted living conditions and imposed what would have been a major impetus to identify people. The use of a surname became the favoured and logical method to do so.
What’s That Name? Tips for Finding Nicknames, Spelling Variants and Mangled Surnames
Names are a genealogist’s bread and butter. But how do you find your ancestors when they didn’t “go by” their proper names, or clerks mangled their names in the records or the transcriber couldn’t read the enumerator’s handwriting? These tips might help!
Names are a genealogist’s bread and butter. But how do you find your ancestors when they didn’t “go by” their proper names, or clerks mangled their names in the records or the transcriber couldn’t read the enumerator’s handwriting? These tips might help!
If you have already worked out that ‘Mc’ and ‘Mac’ surnames are the most complicated British surnames, you must listen to this webinar. And if you haven’t already worked this out, you must absolutely listen to this webinar. ‘Mc’ surnames are double the trouble because they can suffer distortions at the beginning, middle and end of the ‘Mc’ prefix as well as at the beginning, middle and end of the rest of the surname, the root word. Sound glides are a particular problem, in which the ‘k’ sound at the end of the ‘Mc’ prefix distorts the first letter of the root word (e.g. McCue/McKew/McHugh, McLachlan/McGloughlan). Transcription errors can also produce a non-‘Mc’ surname (e.g. Mackever/Markever) which can prove a trap for the unwary. This seminar will help you keep you sane when you encounter the complexities of these mad Scottish-origin surnames.
If you have already worked out that ‘Mc’ and ‘Mac’ surnames are the most complicated British surnames, you must listen to this webinar. And if you haven’t already worked this out, you must absolutely listen to this webinar. ‘Mc’ surnames are double the trouble because they can suffer distortions at the beginning, middle and end of the ‘Mc’ prefix as well as at the beginning, middle and end of the rest of the surname, the root word. Sound glides are a particular problem, in which the ‘k’ sound at the end of the ‘Mc’ prefix distorts the first letter of the root word (e.g. McCue/McKew/McHugh, McLachlan/McGloughlan). Transcription errors can also produce a non-‘Mc’ surname (e.g. Mackever/Markever) which can prove a trap for the unwary. This seminar will help you keep you sane when you encounter the complexities of these mad Scottish-origin surnames.
Lesser Known Sources for Surname Searching in Australia
This webinar was presented live during the 2022 Surname Society annual conference.
This presentation looks at genealogy indexes created by societies and other volunteers in all the Australian states and territories. The focus will be online indexes searchable by non-members. While useful information may be hidden behind society paywalls, there are still many sites that can be searched for surname references.
This webinar was presented live during the 2022 Surname Society annual conference.
This presentation looks at genealogy indexes created by societies and other volunteers in all the Australian states and territories. The focus will be online indexes searchable by non-members. While useful information may be hidden behind society paywalls, there are still many sites that can be searched for surname references.
Should I worry if I don't see my surname listed in my DNA matches?
If you've taken a Y-DNA test you'll be looking closely at the surnames in your DNA match list. What if the surname matches don't match your own surname? Diahan Southard explains why that happens and suggests three steps you should take.
If you've taken a Y-DNA test you'll be looking closely at the surnames in your DNA match list. What if the surname matches don't match your own surname? Diahan Southard explains why that happens and suggests three steps you should take.
It is a truth universally acknowledgement that if we can't find our ancestor's surname, our chances of tracing that ancestral line are pretty much zip, zero, zilch. But a known surname can also prove elusive because it is recorded in such a way that we cannot locate it. This too…
It is a truth universally acknowledgement that if we can't find our ancestor's surname, our chances of tracing that ancestral line are pretty much zip, zero, zilch. But a known surname can also prove elusive because it is recorded in such a way that we cannot locate it. This too…
This presentation will demonstrate how to do surname searches effectively in the various Australian state and territory archives as well as the National Archives of Australia.
This presentation will demonstrate how to do surname searches effectively in the various Australian state and territory archives as well as the National Archives of Australia.
Why create a surname project or name study? Whether it’s to help you solve a family mystery or just to answer the questions of how, we will look at how surname projects and DNA projects can be worked to answer most of your genealogy questions. From discovering NPE’s (non-parental events)…
Why create a surname project or name study? Whether it’s to help you solve a family mystery or just to answer the questions of how, we will look at how surname projects and DNA projects can be worked to answer most of your genealogy questions. From discovering NPE’s (non-parental events)…
What's in a Surname: The History of Surnames and How They Help in Family History Research
Discover the top 10 surnames, their meaning, idiomatic structure, cognates, and geographical frequency. The list comprises the following surnames: Smith, Jones, Williams, Taylor, Davies, Brown, Wilson, Evans, Thomas, and Johnson.
Discover the top 10 surnames, their meaning, idiomatic structure, cognates, and geographical frequency. The list comprises the following surnames: Smith, Jones, Williams, Taylor, Davies, Brown, Wilson, Evans, Thomas, and Johnson.
Invaded! The Fenian Raids and the Canadian Response
Wed, April 30 2025: 18:00 UTC
Between 1866 and 1871, Irish-American veterans invaded Canada, attempting to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. Gain an understanding of the historical context, significant battles, and the lasting impact on Canadian military and national identity. Determine your ancestor’s role in these events and where to find the records.
Between 1866 and 1871, Irish-American veterans invaded Canada, attempting to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. Gain an understanding of the historical context, significant battles, and the lasting impact on Canadian military and national identity. Determine your ancestor’s role in these events and where to find the records.
Germans have been migrating to Canada since the 18th Century, and have played major roles in the development of the nation. Early arrivals came from German territory, while more recent arrivals came from countries such as Poland, the Soviet Union or Brazil. Germans appear in a variety of Canadian records, including some that do not have Canadians of British descent. This session included basic history of Germans in Canada as well as a guide to useful sources.
Germans have been migrating to Canada since the 18th Century, and have played major roles in the development of the nation. Early arrivals came from German territory, while more recent arrivals came from countries such as Poland, the Soviet Union or Brazil. Germans appear in a variety of Canadian records, including some that do not have Canadians of British descent. This session included basic history of Germans in Canada as well as a guide to useful sources.
The #1 genealogy software is probably…Google Chrome! Statistically, Chrome is the #1 browser, and so much genealogy research happens in a browser. Learn 7 ways to make your genealogy research more productive while using Google Chrome.
The #1 genealogy software is probably…Google Chrome! Statistically, Chrome is the #1 browser, and so much genealogy research happens in a browser. Learn 7 ways to make your genealogy research more productive while using Google Chrome.
Unscrambling Haplogroups: A Beginners Guide to DNA Haplogroups
Wed, May 7 2025: 18:00 UTC
To introduce the concept of haplogroups to beginners, explaining what they are, how they are inherited, and what they reveal about ancient ancestry and human migration patterns. The session aims to demystify the complex terminology and provide practical insights into how haplogroups can be used in genetic genealogy and guide participants to find their own haplogroup.
To introduce the concept of haplogroups to beginners, explaining what they are, how they are inherited, and what they reveal about ancient ancestry and human migration patterns. The session aims to demystify the complex terminology and provide practical insights into how haplogroups can be used in genetic genealogy and guide participants to find their own haplogroup.
Discover how and where to locate records relating to your Essex and East London Ancestors. Learn about the changes of jurisdictions, and the various depositories that hold the keys to researching your family history. Once one of the seven Kingdoms, Essex and its neighboring East End towns/boroughs are steeped in history – from Tudors hunting in Epping Forest, to the Windrush arriving in the port of Tilbury. Find out how the landscape, particularly the Thames Estuary, played its part in shaping the county and its people. From probate courts to manors, schools to newspapers, a vast array of sources will be covered.
Discover how and where to locate records relating to your Essex and East London Ancestors. Learn about the changes of jurisdictions, and the various depositories that hold the keys to researching your family history. Once one of the seven Kingdoms, Essex and its neighboring East End towns/boroughs are steeped in history – from Tudors hunting in Epping Forest, to the Windrush arriving in the port of Tilbury. Find out how the landscape, particularly the Thames Estuary, played its part in shaping the county and its people. From probate courts to manors, schools to newspapers, a vast array of sources will be covered.
Finding and Fixing Tree Inconsistencies focuses on the honest mistakes we might make in recording data, how we can recognize them and what we can do to correct them.
Finding and Fixing Tree Inconsistencies focuses on the honest mistakes we might make in recording data, how we can recognize them and what we can do to correct them.
See How it Works: Shared DNA Matches Find Ancestors
Wed, May 14 2025: 18:00 UTC
It’s not just how much DNA you share with your matches–it’s how much DNA they share with EACH OTHER that give needed clues to build family tree connections between your matches. MyHeritage’s Shared DNA Matches tool has been giving us that insight for a long time, and now other sites do, too. How do you leverage that data to answer your DNA questions? Come see how it works in real DNA case studies!
It’s not just how much DNA you share with your matches–it’s how much DNA they share with EACH OTHER that give needed clues to build family tree connections between your matches. MyHeritage’s Shared DNA Matches tool has been giving us that insight for a long time, and now other sites do, too. How do you leverage that data to answer your DNA questions? Come see how it works in real DNA case studies!
21 Million Reasons to Research at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Thu, May 15 2025: 0:00 UTC
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is the largest genealogy repository in the Mid-Atlantic. Its collections include over 21 million items ranging from manuscript collections to books and photographs—many of which are useful to genealogists with Pennsylvania ancestry, and most of which cannot be found anywhere else.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is the largest genealogy repository in the Mid-Atlantic. Its collections include over 21 million items ranging from manuscript collections to books and photographs—many of which are useful to genealogists with Pennsylvania ancestry, and most of which cannot be found anywhere else.
Cousin Finder™ : Retrouvez vos cousins avec MyHeritage
Thu, May 15 2025: 12:00 UTC
Cousin Finder™ est une toute nouvelle fonctionnalité innovante qui exploite les correspondances entre arbres généalogiques pour identifier les membres de MyHeritage avec lesquels vous partagez un lien biologique — vos cousins généalogiques — issus d’ancêtres communs. Elle vous permet également de les contacter facilement, afin de collaborer et d’enrichir ensemble vos recherches et l’histoire de votre famille. Elisabeth Zetland, membre de l’équipe de Recherche de MyHeritage, qui vous fera découvrir tout le potentiel de Cousin Finder™ et comment l’utiliser pour faire progresser votre généalogie.
Cousin Finder™ est une toute nouvelle fonctionnalité innovante qui exploite les correspondances entre arbres généalogiques pour identifier les membres de MyHeritage avec lesquels vous partagez un lien biologique — vos cousins généalogiques — issus d’ancêtres communs. Elle vous permet également de les contacter facilement, afin de collaborer et d’enrichir ensemble vos recherches et l’histoire de votre famille. Elisabeth Zetland, membre de l’équipe de Recherche de MyHeritage, qui vous fera découvrir tout le potentiel de Cousin Finder™ et comment l’utiliser pour faire progresser votre généalogie.
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