Tips and Tricks

Understanding Surnames

Going over the lists of guilds I found surnames and even given names all derived from occupations. Here are a few: Baker, Brewer, Collier, Cooper, Draper, Dyer, Fuller, Glover, Goldsmith,

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New Records on Family Search Website

On 05/31/2020, Family Search sent out the following advice to various individuals, etc. Their website is www.familysearch.org. Over 57 Million New Records “FamilySearch expanded its free online archives in April

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Unusual Grave Markers

While sorting papers recently, I came across a letter I had been given in 1999. I could not help the gentleman at the time, but with more online resources, I

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Surname Backgrounds

Here are some names of old occupations that may give you an idea of the history of your surname: Surname Occupation Backman/Backster/Baxter/Beck/Becker baker Barker One who strips bark from trees

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“Secretary Hand”

Member Frances Heales mentioned “Secretary Hand.” This led me to the following info: It was a style of European handwriting from the 1500s and 1600s and longer for English, German,

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