Tips and Tricks for Surname Research

Surname Research: Your Complete Guide

Want to know more about surnames? Follow our guide to find out where hereditary family names came from and how to learn more about your last name.

Online Course: Master Ancestry.com in 4 Weeks

Take full advantage of Ancestry.com's database, trees, and tools to find your ancestors. This mega-genealogy website is the go-to source for searches and DNA tests, but there's far more to the site than meets the eye. In this 4-week course, you'll learn how to master everything from the online trees and finding records, to mastering hints and DNA matches.

How to Research What Your Last Name Means

Learn what your surname means and where it came from with these search strategies for last name research.

Genealogy Websites Cheat Sheets Collection

This collection will help you make the most of your online genealogy subscriptions and tools. The cheat sheets include at-a-glance charts, tips, tricks and example searches for researching your family history online. Includes Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, FamilySearch.org, and Google Cheat Sheets.

Premium: 7 Research Tips for Unusual Last Names

An unusual surname is a valuable tool for a genealogist. Discover six strategies to use oddball names in your tree to your greatest advantage.