Copyright  – Julie Goucher, 2018

Remarkably, researching surnames is seen as a very niche topic, despite the vast majority of people having one (FN1).

Our individual family histories are littered with surnames. Hopefully all different ones, though if your ancestors like my maternal line, they lived within the same 30 mile radius for 300 years, crossing the borders of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. As a consequence I have multiple occurrences of the same surname, nearly all of which do connect, even if a generation back, or individuals to the side of my direct ancestors.

The Introduction to One-Name Studies course is as you might expect, an introduction. It introduces students to consider each surname of their individual choosing, looking at the elements of Origins, size of a study, organising a study and considerations of software use and so forth. If you are interested, then look no further, as the Introduction course starts today, Monday 19 January, and there are a few spots left.

Members of the Guild of One-Name Studies can avail themselves of a discount, the code is to be found in the members area here (members ensure you are logged in), whilst non-members who have purchased the course receive complimentary membership for the first year, subject to completing the online form, the link to which is provided within the Pharos forum.

For more information and to sign up visit the Pharos website.

FN1 – the country which does not use surnames is Iceland.