Themes Surname distribution 1996 UK surname distribution of 16,000 names. This is the bedrock of this site, located in the Distribution Section. 1881 GB distribution – Surname Atlas on CD. Surname plotting You will need :- to collect snapshots of a name from a national source at different time periods. I have started to cover this on the Distribution pages. Maps – either off-the-shelf or hand-drawn. Advice on this at the maps and mapping page. The Distribution Section also includes an online map of the Registration Districts of England and Wales 1837-1851. Statistics Raw data in the Statistics Section will help you ‘normalise’ any figures that you derive from collecting numbers from a national source (or if not, then suggestions where to find this information). Statistics and forenames A new and embryonic sub-section about the statistics and distribution of UK forenames, probably post 1540. Surnames and genetics Is your surname derived from a single-ancestor? This is ably covered by Chris Pomeroy’s site. [link not accessible] Multi-names All this may lead you to become interested in names for their own sake – Looking at the names of an area – town or county, perhaps? I started doing this for Portsmouth c 1901 [link no longer available]. Comparing names of the same type – locatives etc. Considering the leading names (high frequency) as a class on their own. Investigating the linguistic aspects of surnames and how these relate to migration patterns (Variance section), the search for cultural networks How surnames appear in large-scale databases Large-scale statistics Will surnames survive? Is there a power-law governing the birth/death cycle of surnames? See High frequency names. Starting earlier What is the oldest thing that you possess? Probably your surname? The Teaching Section attempts to encourage study at a younger age. Actually, this section is rapidly becoming a mini-sample of the whole site. Recommended start here. Surnames and health There has been interest in names as health markers for some time. In the UK, the lead is now being taken by UCL (University College London), and the Genome Project. This is a PhD Project being conducted by Pablo Mateos. His publications are listed and accessible via his own website [link no longer available]. The study of surnames as an academic discipline For an advanced background of what has been achieved so far, and what remains to be done, then read Silvio Brendler’s article ‘Is there a place for an English Surnames society?’ [link no longer available]. Teaser If John has been the most frequent given name during the period of surname formation, why is the leading surname not Johnson rather than Smith ???? Last revised by Phil Dance: 22nd June 2006