Surname Discovery

Surnames were originally descriptive words, identifying a man, or woman, according to where they lived, what they did for a living, a personal characteristic, or their parent's name. These were known as by-names, and developed into four corresponding types of hereditary surname, based on location, occupation, nickname or a personal name.

Some surnames originated with one family, while other surnames originated simultaneously in more than one region at the same time. Since then, most surnames have changed, both in spelling and pronunciation - some of these changes have been subtle, some have been so dramatic that the original meaning of the name has become obscured or lost.

Until relatively recently, the spellings of surnames were not fixed, and it was common for individuals to use different forms at different times, whilst related family lines often favoured other versions of the original name.

Recent academic research has indicated that surname dictionaries can be misleading, or inaccurate, in their definitions. Other surnames cannot be found in any surname dictionary at all.

Unlike other surname research services, Nameswell does not simply extract information commonly available in standard surname dictionaries.

Nameswell provides a personal service supported by specialist knowledge and detailed research. Your report is unique to your family.

Surname Research