Surname Studies & Locale Studies

What is a Surname Study?

It’s a scholarly, footnoted study or the origins and meanings of a surname. Information varies from study to study, but you can expect the following types of information:

etymology – linguistic roots
types of derivation (patronymic, matronymic, occupational, toponymic, or descriptive names)
cognates (variations in spelling)
nationality or nationalities of origin
meaning(s)
cultural significance in nation(s) of origin
famous bearers of the name
migratory patterns that spread the name (descendants later immigrated Germany>Pennsylvania>Illinois>Nebraska)

It’s not only information for the past; it’s a map for future research, with specific recommendations of online and brick-and-mortar collections. Some Surname Studies I’ve run on my own family have given me heretofore unknown information about geographic origins that have led me to new research avenues.

Surname Studies require a few things from you, including:

full name of OPA (oldest proven ancestor) bearing that surname
all vital stats (birth, marriage, divorce, and death dates and places – estimates will suffice)
religion of OPA (Mennonite, Catholic, Presbyterian, Church of England, LDS, Baha’i, Jewish)
anything else you know to be true about OPA (spouse name and vital statistics, any uncertainties about dates or locations)
any migratory facts you have (ex. descendants emigrated to Pennsylvania to South Carolina, USA)
Occupation of OPA or spouse (ex. miller, farmer, mason)

These facts will enable me to direct each study to your specific ancestral line.

What is a Locale Study?

It’s similar to a Surname Study, but it focuses on a specific location. Results, vary, but with it, you’ll likely get:

a history of the name of the location
settlement or colonization data
primary locations of early settlers or colonizers
quality of like facts, including the professions and occupations of residents
how these facts changed over time
local military history
religions of the populations, and changes over time
all manner of social history that affected life in the locale

Locale Studies also require specific data:

date range for the study (ex. 1790 to 1835)
specific facts sought (ex. relating to Black chattel slavery, local military conflicts, professions, governmental actions, and similar types of points)
location (ex. Aghanloo Parish and Limavady, County Derry, Ireland)
the names of specific OPAs who were resident there, including all information requested for Surname Studies, above

Both types of studies provide data that you can act upon in furthering your research. Or, you can simply enjoy some new knowledge!

Standard Pricing:

$15 per study
8 for $100

When you purchase studies, you help to financially support Reparational Genealogy.

Reparational Pricing:

As ever, FREE, because if I charged you, it wouldn’t be a reparation. OPAs in reparational work involve developing a biography, and providing all available information, including military service and, if available, enslavers’ names. The yield in Reparational Surname Studies will include the enslaved and White roots of the surname, and a great deal of history of the families’ overall enslavement cycle.