Tag Archives: surnames

Genealogy Research Can Be Confusing

Putting together your family tree can be confusing. I think this is one of the reasons why many people who are new to genealogy become frustrated. Sometimes, it can be like trying to put together a puzzle. Except, you don’t actually have all the pieces to this particular puzzle. You haven’t seen the full picture of what it should look like after it all comes together. This might be your very first time attempting to put together a puzzle of this type, and there are no instructions to be found. It’s no wonder that this confuses people! Your family tree … Continue reading →

Top Ten Most Common Canadian Surnames

In 2007 CBS News in Canada published a list of the top ten most common Canadian surnames. They compiled this list by searching through telephone directories that were compiled by a company called infoUSA. This is an unscientific study, and it does not take into account anyone who did not happen to have a telephone number attached to their surname in that year. But, it does give a general idea of what the top ten most common Canadian surnames might be. According to this study, the most common Canadian surname is Li. This name has Chinese origin. It might mean … Continue reading →

What does your surname mean?

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What’s in a name? Every name means something. Most people seek out information about the meaning of names when they are looking for the perfect name for a baby that is on the way. Surnames, or last names, also have their own meanings. What do the surnames in your family mean? One of the things that makes genealogy fun and interesting is learning about the meanings behind some of the names. Sometimes you find out that a certain first name has been handed down through several generations. It can be both entertaining and enlightening to learn what your last name … Continue reading →

Top 5 Mistakes Made by New Genealogists

Like many new genealogists, I made a lot of mistakes when I first began researching my genealogy. To help you avoid doing the same, I have come up with a list of the top 5 mistakes that new genealogists make. 5. Not Setting a Goal Before you begin researching your family tree, it is important that you set a goal and stick with it. Choose one line of ancestors to research, and get all the information that you can about that particular family. When you hit a brick wall (and cannot locate any more information), move on to a new … Continue reading →