Did you ever wonder who might be researching your family, besides you? How are they connected to you and why are they interested? The answer might be found in a surname database.
The Sudbury District Branch is developing a database of surnames being researched in the Sudbury District. The database includes names, era, places, and the email contact of the submitter (i.e. the person researching the family).
Value of a Surname Database
A database will help in finding out who is researching a specific surname in a specific region. They help map where a surname originated and how it spread over generations, revealing stories of economic migration, social upheaval, or name changes.
Surname studies often reveal that families with the same name, previously thought to be unrelated, share a common ancestor, particularly for uncommon names.
Databases often catalog phonetic or spelling variants that might otherwise lead a researcher to abandon a valid lead.
How you can help
If you are researching a family or families in the Sudbury District please help us by submitting your information (names, era, places, and the email contact of the submitter) to [email protected]. You do not have to be an OGS member to submit information and information is publicly available. You never know who you might connect with!
Names currently in the database are at https://sudbury.ogs.on.ca/surnames-being-researched/
Surname Index
The branch also maintains a surname index. This is a searchable list of the over 115,900 names contained within the various publications that have been published by the Sudbury District Branch.
Read more Surname Index
Find your last name’s meaning and origin. Familysearch.org has a ‘new to me’ surname database of names, events and relationships, searchable by location. Great way to validate your findings.
One thought on “Who’s researching your name?”
It really is a small world. I have Manitoulin connections, but a few Sudbury as well. I’ll add my names soon. Well done!