SOME BASIC SOURCES FOR ONE-NAMERS
Civil Registration
Census Returns
Parish Registers
Wills
Monumental Inscriptions
Directories
Military Records
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Family history and one-name studies
A one-name study can broadly be defined as the collection of data relating to given surname
with the aim of determining:
- The origins of the name
- How it has spread from these origins
- How variants in spelling may have arisen
- The current worldwide geographical distribution
This can also lead to discovering more about individual family trees; indeed for many one-namers studying more unusual surnames the goal is to
trace these trees back to one or more common ancestors. A further aim is the placing of these families in their historical context, discovering if
there are any famous (or infamous) occurences of the name.
There are over 17,000 Hammonds in the 1881 census alone, which puts it firmly in the 'large' category. A paradox arises here, as although identifying
individual lines is important, it is possible to draw certain conclusions based on more general data, such as the 1881 census already mentioned,
without the immediate need to painstakingly cross-check and verifiy sources for individuals.
The general approach
My own approach to this is to carry out the analysis in the background, using the origins and distribution pages, whilst compiling tentative family trees
as a way of involving and providing some value to visitors. As I add to the family trees, initially by trawling through the census returns, I am hoping that
people will contact me with corrections and additions based on their own more detailed and informed research - it is also an alternative way to let others
know you are connected to a certain family (for an example see , my own great-grandfather).
It is worth mentioning that where no source is stated, the source can be assumed to be the census returns, which are readily verifiable.
I will attempt to reference other sources where appropriate.
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