Surname Distribution Maps

Sometimes it is possible to guess where a surname originated through surname distribution maps. These maps graphically display locations where surnames occurred at different periods in time. This strategy provides genealogists with a starting point for research in the birth country, when that information cannot be discovered through sources recorded in the new country of settlement. It works particularly well for less-common surnames and among families that have stayed in the same European locations for centuries.

Online Surname Distribution Maps[edit | edit source]

Country	Website
World (237 countries)	http://www.forebears.co.uk/surnames
World (26 countries)	http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/
Argentina	http://www.miparentela.com/
Austria	http://namenskarten.lima-city.at/en/
Belgium	http://www.familienaam.be/
Canada	https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
Canada	https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-names/
Croatia	https://actacroatica.com/en/search?surname=True
Czech Republic	http://www.kdejsme.cz/
England	https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
England	http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/
England ($)	http://www.rootsuk.com/
France	http://www.geopatronyme.com/
France	http://www.genealogie.com/nom-de-famille/
France	http://www.familleunie.fr/
Germany	http://geogen.stoepel.net/ https://nvk.genealogy.net/map
Ireland ($)	http://www.johngrenham.com/
Italy	http://gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/genera.html
Italy	http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/cognomi.html
Italy	https://www.cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani
Netherlands	http://www.verwandt.de/karten/
Netherlands	http://www.meertens.knaw.nl/nfb/index.php?taal=eng
Poland	https://nazwiska-polskie.pl/
Scotland	https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
Spain	https://www.mapadeapellidos.eu/index.php
Spain	https://www.ine.es/widgets/nombApell/index.shtml
Spain	http://www.ine.es/apellidos/formGeneral.do?vista=3
Switzerland	http://www.verwandt.ch/Start.action
United Kingdom	https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-names/
United States	https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
United States	https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-names/
Wales	https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
Wales	http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/
Wales	http://www.rootsuk.com/

External links[edit | edit source]

Geogenealogy surname mapping website
Stephen Archer's Surname Atlas CD for detailed mapping of British surnames in the 1881 census

References[edit | edit source]

1. "Familienname," Wikipedia. Available online.

2. Meitzler, Leland. "Surname Distribution Maps for the USA, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Austria & Switzerland on dynastree.com," Genealogy Blog. Available online.

3. Meitzler, Leland. "Surname Distribution Maps For Argentina, the Netherlands & the United Kingdom Are Online," Genealogy Blog. Available online.

4. Murphy, Nathan W. "Localize Your Surname with Distribution Maps," Price and Associates Genealogical Services. Available online.

5. "Surname map," Wikipedia. Available online.

6. "Surname Mapping," ISOGG Wiki. Available online.

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