External Websites and Databases

The following external websites contain primary source and educational materials for furthering your research.

Ancestry.com Blog External
Series of blog postings about surnames and genealogy.
e-Onomastics External
Topics on names and naming. International.
What's In a Name? DNA, Surnames, and One-Name StudiesExternal
Kennett, Debbie. Rootstech 2024.

Listen to these podcasts for intriguing case studies and inspirational approaches to research.

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Ancestry.com External
Ancestry.com is one of the largest global databases for genealogical use. The Library of Congress subscribes to the library version for the use of researchers on-site in Washington, D.C. Included in the online material are essays about onomastics and genealogy.
FamilySearch.org External
FamilySearch is the largest genealogical database in the world. Use the FamilySearch Research Wiki to find digitzed books and essays about onomastics or about particular places and populations, including name distribution maps. The site is free, but a personal account may be required to access all materials.

American Name Society External
The American Name Society was founded in 1951 to promote onomastics, the study of names and naming practices, both in the United States and abroad. It is a non-profit organization that seeks to find out what really is in a name, and to investigate cultural insights, settlement history, and linguistic characteristics revealed in names.
Encyclopedia Britannica External
"The Science of Onomastics." Includes discussions of naming patterns, the origins of family and personal names, as well as place names.
Family Search Research Wiki External
Essay about one name study research.
Guild of One-Name Studies External
An organization to help pursue genealogical knowledge through the study of one name.
Onomastics Explained External
An essay to describe onomastics and its use.
RootsChat One Name Study and Research External
Surname Studies External
Modern British surnames. How to find information about a surname.

Surnames: Resources in Local History and Genealogy

Local History & Genealogy: Ask a Librarian

External Websites and Databases