Surname Research

Origins, Distribution & One-Name Studies

  • GB Names

    Explore the generational and inter-generational residential movements of family groups across Great Britain, using historic censuses and recent consumer registers.

  • Guild of One-Name Studies

    The biggest organisation for surname research, with thousands of surname studies available. Brings together researchers who are interested in researching the same name.

  • Surname Interests

    An alphabetical list of surnames and a link to the person or group researching each name.

  • The Surname Society

    An online resource for members to publish details of their surname studies. No restriction is placed on the number of surnames listed, and collaboration between researchers is actively encouraged.

  • Internet Surname Database

    Contains nearly 50,000 surnames from around the world, with information on meaning and origin.

  • British Surnames

    Find information about British surnames, their meaning, and how common they are. Thousands of surnames are listed.

  • Names Encyclopedia

    Discover name meanings, origins, global distribution, genealogy tracking, anagrams, common name combinations and many other name-related resources.

  • Patronymica Britannica

    A dictionary of the family names of Great Britain, published in 1860, listing surnames alphabetically.

Origin of English Surnames

A 9-minute video on the origin of English surnames.