Created by Julie Goucher, 2023

As we research, we go on this fascinating journey. Gathering materials of individuals who may connect to our family, or just share the surname, either through birth, marriage or perhaps for some other reason.

If we look at a surname distribution map we can we can gain an idea of where people were at a particular point in  time. We can then wonder:

• Why they were there
• When did they get there
• Who were they with
• How long have they been with the people they are with
• How did they get there

All valid questions and these are just a few of the many questions that could be asked. One of my Pharos students is researching the Irish name of GLASSETT. I was a little curious.

I had a quick look at S & N’s website called The Genealogist – if you don’t have a subscription you can still do the search of a surname for each of the census decades. As it gives the result you can select to see the results in the form of a map, which is an excellent provision from S & N, sadly they don’t have maps for the Irish census, but they do for Great Britain, across the Census years, including what is described as a 1921 substitute.

The journey of following where individuals came from and went to is great for our studies, but what about the journey we go on as researchers? We need to record not just our positive outcomes, but also our negative ones. Track your thoughts of where you can look to research, expand your knowledge and create an understanding of the context of the lives of people that share the same name. What do we hope to find?

Document your journey, and that recording will become part of the history of your study.