Author Archives: Julie Goucher

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About Julie Goucher

Genealogist, Author, Presenter, native Guildfordian, avid note taker and journal writer. Lover of Books, Stationery & History; Surnames, Butcher & Orlando One-Name Studies. Pharos Tutor for all One-Name Studies/surname courses as well as Researching Ancestors from Continental Europe.

I’ve Collected Data, now What?

Having downloaded and acquired data you need to do something with it. Not every member of the Guild does family reconstruction, and that might depend on the size of your study and your personal preference. Personally I do reconstruct families … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | Leave a comment

Quick Wins for Surname Collection

Any One-Name and surname research project will involve the collection of material, what I refer to as raw data. Regardless of where your surname originated from or where you reside, to undertake a One-Name Study and register this with the … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 2 Comments

Before you get Started – Organisational Considerations

Undertaking a One-Name Study and surname research should be fun, so it is worth taking time to think about the way forward. It doesn’t matter if you change systems, I did three times before I proceeded with what I have … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 1 Comment

More on Surname Maps

Last week, when I launched this One-Name Studies and surname research series I mentioned the website Surname Profiler and included the map which detailed the occurrences relating to the surname of Orlando. As I was writing that post, which you can … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 2 Comments

Surname Distribution Maps and Migration

Surname distribution maps add a new and different dimension to a One-Name study. A surname may well have it’s origins in one Country, and a map can provide an interesting insight to how migration can influence the geographic spread of … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 1 Comment

Favourite Book(s) #6 – Surname Detective by Colin D Rogers

This is a fascinating read of investigating surname distribution in England from 1086. The author took a sample of 100 surnames, some of them fairly common and followed the migration of people through the centuries. Also covered is how surnames … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Favourite Book(s) | 2 Comments

How Big is My One-Name Study?

As the image here might suggest, you are going to need to think and write notes relating to the size of your potential One-Name Study, it is nothing complicated, I promise! Not all surnames are equal and understanding the frequency … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 5 Comments

Why Have a One-Name Study?

As any genealogist or family historian will tell you there are always more questions than answers and always a burning obsession to find out more, even if the odds are against a successful search. There are a variety of reasons … Continue reading

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Seven Steps to One-Name Studies and Surname Research

The Guild of One-Name Studies advocate the Seven Steps of a One-Name Study. These are effectively the stages of surname research and the it is not necessary to move through the steps in the order they are displayed here.  It … Continue reading

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What is a One-Name Study?

Yesterday I shared the information that the next Pharos Introduction to One-Name Studies course will begin on 13 February. I thought that  some people might be wondering what a One-Name study is. Essentially it is a project which focus’ on … Continue reading

Posted in Introduction to One-Name Studies (Pharos course 901), One-Name Studies | 3 Comments