The Select Surname Website
What's in a name? More than you might think. Each surname
carries an individual history that has been shaped by all the forebears
of that name. In palmistry, the left hand usually tells you what
you are born
with, the right hand what you made on your life. So too with
family genealogy. Word origin and DNA will provide a starting
point. But the history and events over time can give these names
their distinctive characteristics and traits.
The names found on this site are not the most common. But each in its own way has its own style. Not quite like a clan perhaps. But definitely as a distinctive grouping with a shared history. The select names chosen here - of English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish origin - are as follows:
Site Map: Select Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
Have a look at some of these surnames - other than your own - to see the extent of the rich tapestry of life that can exist in family names.
Each surname on this list includes: a name origin or derivation; a history of the name through time and countries; some notable people who bear this name; and further internet resources on the name (we have only chosen those sites that are readily accessible without charge on the internet).
Enjoy the site!
Colin Shelley
PS. If your surname does not appear on this list, you may find it
on our companion site Select Surname List.