Popular Historical Female Names
Knowing popular given names of a particular period can help you identify your ancestor in databases, indexes and records.
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Maiden Voyage
Are you lost at sea in your search for ancestral maiden names? We'll show you 10 places to lay anchor and find your female forebears.
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All About Surnames: Find Out Where Your Last Name Comes From
Find ancestors using these seven surname-based research strategies.
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Surname Categories
These are the main types of surnames you'll encounter in your research.
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Follow the Biology or the Surname?
You've got questions about discovering, preserving and celebrating your family history; our experts have the answers.
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Why is my Surname Misspelled?
Answers for the beginner, the befuddled and anyone hitting a brick wall.
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13 Surname Web Search Tips
Use the Web—don't get lost in it—with these 13 lucky surname-searching strategies and sites for finding your family names online.
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Avoid Bogus Surname Histories
Psst over here! Want to buy a book with everything you ever wanted to know about your family tree? Scam artists' efforts to sell unsuspecting people bogus family yearbooks and surname books are reminiscent of the street peddlers who sell Rolex knockoffs out of suitcases. Signs of a scam You...
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Surname Toolkit
Finding names is at the heart of genealogy. Use these resources to learn more about surnames.
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All-Too-Common Problem
So there are 31,139 John Smiths in the 1900 US census — and your ancestor is one of them. These techniques will help you find the right guy.
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Desperately Seeking Surnames
Finding names is at the heart of genealogy. Try these seven surname research strategies, and you'll open doors to family tree discoveries.
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