Questions tagged [surnames]
For questions about the use, distribution, origin and etymology of surnames, also known as family names or last names.
119
questions
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
Seeking change of name documents for Manhattan in 1890s
My Great Grandfather Moritz Stechil, was a widow and married in Manhattan September 13, 1891. However, when my grandfather was born, the last name changed to Steckler. My grandfather’s birth ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
58
views
Interpreting part of Irish baptism entry
the usual practice for Irish baptism entries is that the mother's name is usually accompanied by their maiden name and sometimes their married name [same as fathers].
In the entry #2081 attached for ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
What is the origin or meaning of the family name Alwast?
My girlfriends grandfathers family name was Alwast and he originally was from northeastern Germany. She and her family don't know about the origins or the meaning of that name.
My own research led me ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
96
views
Download database of last names
Does anybody know if there are downloadable databases of last names per country?
E.g. this one: https://www.cbgfamilienamen.nl/nfb/achtergrond.php?actie=help contains 314.000 last names in the ...
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
What is the origin of the surname Fair?
William C Fair born about 1802 in Báb, Hlohovec, Nitriansky, Czechoslovakia. This could be my 3rd great grandfather.
It would be nice to be able to confirm at least if Fair was known to be a surname ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
57
views
Understanding Surnames On Vital Records From Peru
I'm trying to understand how to create legitimate records from documents written in Spanish from Peru. It seems like two surnames are often used. I have an idea of what the last names are supposed ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
43
views
Finding record of family name change in New York City from 1943 or 1944
During WW II my family changed their name. We all lived in New York City, Manhattan, at the time. The name change was made prior to my parents' application for citizenship.
Where might I find a record ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
105
views
Is person who has lost family last name still considered Direct descendant
My aunt's children, already have children, and these kids no longer have any of my grandparents' last names, as they have inherited the lastname from the husband.
Can they still be considered as ...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
False name on birth certificate
I am using fake names for this question.
Jane Jones is the daughter of Julie ___ and Bob Smithers. Julie and Bob were not married. They lied, and Jane’s birth certificate says “Smith.” Jane later ...
- 273
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Correct spelling of Polish surname Czizyk or Czisik? [duplicate]
Looking for correct spelling of my grandparants who are from Poland. Came over to America via Ellis Island in 1913. Immigration papers reflect: Grandfathers name: Stanislaw Czizyk or Czisik Arrived ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
Manhattan Name Change Records
My great grandfather immigrated to NYC from Lomza Gubernia of Biyalstok Province of Russian EMpire (Poland today) in 1885. We don't know his original name, though the family lore is his name was ...
0
votes
2
answers
53
views
Ormond/Orman Surname Change
I have been tracing my family history (Orman)and have found a switch to my GGG-Grandfather (Orman) from GGGG-Grandfather Ormand.Does anyone know why and when the name was changed?
1
vote
0
answers
55
views
Spelling Alternatives for Lithuanian Surnames
I am having trouble with determining the correct surname spelling for my grandfather. On almost every document, including those from Churches, the names have been spelled different. Examples: Mike ...
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
Obtaining documents of Cuthbert and Baird families
The names of my Cuthberts were, George, James, John, Lewis and others of the family. The specific ones that came to Savannah, GA., USA are James, John, Lewis.
John Cuthbert came in the Prince of ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
Original spelling of Polish surname is missing
My grandfather immigrated to Canada from Poland in 1909 with his parents. Our original surname's spelling was changed upon arrival in Canada. Since then it has been "Kerunsky" and no one kept record....
7
votes
4
answers
184
views
Including Names That Changed in Online Trees
Say I have a person legally born (for example) as Harry William Smith, but he was known by everyone since his teenage years as Buddy. His father passed away when he was young and his mother remarried ...
- 16.5k
1
vote
2
answers
460
views
Using née to indicate more than one previous surname for same person?
Can you use the term née twice when referring to someone married three times. For example, "My mother Jill Smith, née Brown, née White ..."
- 11
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Proper way to record mother's maiden name in Gramps 5?
It's not clear to me how both surnames should be entered for women who took their husbands surname when they married. On some genealogy websites I often see married women's names displayed in the ...
- 183
5
votes
1
answer
452
views
Conflicting names of ancestor's parents from different records?
Winnifred Lydia O'Brien
1896–1979
BIRTH 30 OCT 1896 • Stroud, Gloucestershire, England
DEATH 28 NOV 1979 • New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I believe I have found my great-grandmother in ...
- 1,123
1
vote
2
answers
194
views
Checking if surname is common in Czech Republic?
I’m thinking of trying to find relatives in the Czech Republic so I can learn more about my family history. Here in the US, my name is so rare that anyone who shares it is definitely related to me, ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
What kind of name is Awakum?
My Russian grandfather was born in the late 1890's in the state of Wolynia, the county of Kovel, and the town of Lechiny. His father was called "Awakum".
Does anyone know what kind of name that is ...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
100
views
Seeking Canadian immigration record for Pater Vavaruk/Varvarook who came from Romania 1910-1915?
My Grandfather Peter came to Canada from Romania anywhere between 1910-1915 to Quebec by ship. His last name was Vavaruk, Vavruk, or Varvarook.
He later ended up with the last name Warll. The ...
2
votes
2
answers
186
views
Seeking informational resources on “Robinson” family name origin?
I have hit somewhat of a wall in researching the European lines of my Robinson ancestors. I did learn of the possibility (vs. likelihood?) that Robinson is not a Scottish name, but rather originated ...
- 163
0
votes
2
answers
125
views
Correct spelling of Austrian surname Wasmanski?
My family has always always spelled our last name Wasmanski. On my grandfathers Declaration on Intention it is spelled Waksmunski. He was from Austria. I have seen so many different spellings of the ...
1
vote
3
answers
177
views
Origin of Falez Surname?
My last name is Falez, which is a fairly uncommon surname. The farthest person back in the family tree that I'm aware of was, I'm told, Slovenian or Austrian, which obviously borders Italy and is in ...
- 111
4
votes
0
answers
36
views
Name changes in Canada in the 1920s?
My great-grandfather died in WW1 and then my great-grandmother remarried and had more children with her second husband. This would have been 1920s rural Saskatchewan. All of the children took one last ...
- 1,123
2
votes
1
answer
51
views
Finding original surname of Anton Orsik who immigrated to United States from Russia (Lithuania)?
My father in-law Anton Orsik was born in Vilna, Russia 1898, His father was Feodor Orsik, or that is the spelling of the name on the marriage certificate in New York after his immigration in 1913. I ...
2
votes
3
answers
170
views
Combining maiden name, birth and death dates in parentheses
I would like to write a narrative sentence describing the names and birth and death dates of a given individual. Would it be acceptable to put the wife's maiden name, followed by the dates, within one ...
- 71
0
votes
1
answer
179
views
How Piasecki was spelled originally?
The Piasecki family originally is from Poland. They came to Ellis island, then ended up in Connecticut. I know that there is no connection to the Piasecki’s who have to do with helicopters.
I am ...
-3
votes
1
answer
258
views
What is the meaning and origins of the family name, Majersdorf?
What is the meaning of my family name, Majersdorf.
(Also spelled Maiersdorf, Meierdorf, Meyersdorf, Myersdorf.)
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
181
views
What is the meaning of the German surname "Wiesch"?
What is the meaning of the German surname "Wiesch"?
I actually want Wieschhaus, but the haus seems easy.
1
vote
1
answer
97
views
Identifying family crest?
This wax seal was in my late grandmother's possession.
Can someone here shed light on the associated surname to this piece?
It doesn't seem to fit her maiden mane (Feild) or her married name (...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
114
views
What Romanian surnames sound similar to Cashol?
What Romanian surnames sound similar to Cashol and what would their spelling be in the cyrillic alphabet?
Specifically from the Buchovnia region.
- 113
3
votes
3
answers
182
views
Finding original spelling of Polish name Vazuka which was anglicized on arrival to US? [duplicate]
My last name is Vazuka, but it is polish and was anglicized upon arrival to the US.
How do you spell it in Polish?
How do you pronounce Vazuka in Polish?
- 31
0
votes
0
answers
212
views
Origin of rare Maltese surname De Nasi/Nasis?
I am looking for help finding an etymology for the rare Maltese surname of De Nasi/Nasis.
I have done cursory research into this and surname, and many Maltese surnames now have etymologies, but this ...
- 1,635
0
votes
1
answer
252
views
Irvine Laird of Drum surname question
I’ve been researching Lairds in Sterling and found a link to the 11th Laird of Drum, Alexander Irvine. Can anyone give me insight on why his child would be named David Laird and not Irvine? Could it ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
100
views
Is there a way to rename a surname in an Ancestry tree?
I imported a GEDCOM and the accents in the GEDCOM got misinterpreted for some surnames. I'd like to fix this by doing a global replace of one surname with another, to replace the improper Kovaïč with ...
- 5,247
1
vote
1
answer
163
views
How did the surname Ormond originate?
I'm trying to understand how the surname Ormond originated.
It is clustered primarily in South West Wales, Dublin and Angus in Scotland.
In Dublin, the surname comes from a place name in East ...
- 1,635
1
vote
2
answers
811
views
What is the origin of the Maltese/Gozitan surname "Apap"?
I have many Apap's from Gozo (Malta's sister island) on my family tree and I know that the surname goes back a long way, to the 16th century at least. I haven't trace my Maltese line this far yet and ...
- 1,635
5
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Is there such a thing as Ashkenazi Jewish surnames?
What makes me ask this question is this answer by @ezra to http://genealogy.stackexchange.com/questions/12159/spelling-of-surname-kowesnki-kowenski.
The answer claims the name "Kowenski" is Jewish, ...
- 1,367
5
votes
1
answer
159
views
What was surname of Susan/Susanna, wife of Edward McDowell, from Devon area in abt 1800?
There is an old story in my mother's family of my great-great-great-grandmother Susan having come from a wealthy family but been 'cut off with an angry shilling' when she married the family coachman, ...
- 201
2
votes
2
answers
117
views
At which point where orthography of German family names "set in stone"?
My family name has two spelling variants, which are alternating in the catholic church records I found. Many people in the village had my family name so we can immediately see the tendency, one priest ...
- 1,367
9
votes
2
answers
380
views
Encoding Surnames with Gender Variations (Greek, Czech, Russian, etc) in Gramps?
Background:
In some cultures, such as Greek, Bulgarian, Russian, Slovak, Czech, etc. surnames change form depending on the gender of the bearer. For example, ...in Slovakia and Czech Republic alike,...
- 91
3
votes
2
answers
748
views
Origin of surname Jess in Poland/Germany?
It always puzzled me, where is my last name from?
I have no clue, since I have never seen encountered my last name anywhere else.
We come from Poland. Our family supposedly comes from around ...
5
votes
1
answer
119
views
Origin of surname Шцмоняк
My paternal grandfather is the oldest person I know anything about who had the name. He was born in Rosiska (the obituaries disagree about whether that is in Czechoslovakia or Ukraine). He passed away ...
- 151
6
votes
1
answer
170
views
Family name which sounds like сипа?
I wonder if this family name, "сипа" or "sipa", does exist in any slavic language (or maybe jewish). The ortography might be different and not exactly the same as I wrote it.
The only thing I know for ...
- 163
8
votes
3
answers
361
views
What might 'i' separating parts of someone's name mean?
I've found two names in my family that I'm trying to parse out
Husband: Jordi Flos i Margalef
Wife: Antonia Bassols i Sunyol
Their daughter: Rosa Flos
What does the i something in the two parents` ...
- 203
6
votes
1
answer
651
views
Spelling Polish name pronounced Ko lo jay?
For sure it starts with K. Pronounced Ko lo jay. There is a d on last syllable is similar to dij.
Maybe Kolodij?
4
votes
1
answer
458
views
Determining average number of people that have same surname as random person?
This website gives the approximate number of people with a particular surname in all countries: http://forebears.io/surnames
It spits a number, for example "1500 people", but the problem is that I ...
- 141
4
votes
4
answers
488
views
If widow remarries, do English records ca 1820 show maiden name?
In England, if a widow remarries, is the marriage record more likely to show her maiden name, or the married name from her previous marriage (circa 1820)?. From what I understand, in Scotland, a widow ...
- 191