They were words that described our ancestors. But for a genealogist, a name can be a key to unlocking a stubborn door in the past. When I started researching for this article, I didn't realize what a big task I took on.
Surnames are the focus of genealogical research.
Surname searches can bring up a multitude of confusing problems. In an effort to break down some of the brick walls you may have hit in your research, this will be a multiple part article. The most common problem is that our ancestors often altered their names when they immigrated. I found two articles that are a good place to start untangling this problem. From the Family Tree Maker's classes on Tracing our Immigrant Ancestors , by Karen Clifford, the lesson on The problem with foreign surnames gives some good general tips.