An understanding of naming patterns can be very helpful in tracing ones ancestry, as families in many cultures followed the custom of naming their children in a specific manner. Learn more about common naming practices, for both surnames and given names, in various countries and cultures around the world.
Check the names in your family tree for possible clues to ancestral ties.
This article discusss the seven general categories into which Arabic naming practices fall as well as provides lists of given names, cognomens and a bibliography.
A brief overview of early British naming practices from Family Chronicle.
An excellent article on naming practices and name structures in the Byzantine era of the Roman Empire.
Explanation of Chinese naming practices covers the traditions surrounding the use of surnames and personal names in China.
A list of common masculine and feminine Czech names from the 15th and 16th centuries compiled from several sources.
Dutch first names can be confusing for foreigners. Nevertheless some knowledge of the naming patterns can be helpful during your genealogical research.
Curious about how your Finnish ancestor received their name? This tutorial covers the patronymic naming system, farm names, and additional information on Finnish naming practices.
An essay on how to identify German names including spelling clues, prefixes/suffixes and meanings.
Learn about naming practices in the Kashmiri Pandit community, including the choosing of gotras, surnames and nicknames.
This site includes common naming patterns, information on Irish female names and a list of ancient Irish proper names with their derivations.
Search this database from GoIreland.com for a brief history of your Irish surname.
This paper uses the naming conventions adopted by the Jews of Medieval England (c.1070 - 1290) as a way of generalizing the rules of period Jewish naming. Includes a list of Jewish names.
An in-depth look at personal names in Spanish-American culture by Don Moore.
An explanation of common naming practices in Lithuania.
This helpful page on the Poland GenWeb page summarizes naming customs found in Poland including Polish, German, Ukranian and Jewish naming customs.
Links to several resources for medieval Russian names including a dictionary of period Russian Names and a discussion of medieval Russian naming practices.
An article on naming patterns and names in Norway by historian Johan I. Borgos, a Norwegian native.
A brief description of Norwegian naming practices, with examples.
Excellent information for individuals researching 18th Century Pennsylvania-German names and records by Charles F. Kerchner.
Basic information on how Polish surnames originated and what typical patterns they follow.
Information and links to sites with more information on Swedish naming practices as well as Norse, Danish and Finish names.
Information on Scottish surnames including surnames based on patronymics, occupation, location and nicknames. There is also a chart of common naming patterns.
A wonderful site full of information and examples of early Swedish naming practices, including patronymic names, clergy, nobility, craftsman, children born out of wedlock, and emigrants.
A tutorial on names and their meanings for the Urhobo people from Nigeria, courtesy of the Urhobo Historical Society.
An explanation of Vietnamese naming practices.
An explanation of the Welsh patronymic naming system (where the children of a marriage took their Father's forename as their surname)with examples.
