Vol. 48 No. 1 (2000)
Research Article

A Diagnostic Database of American Personal Names

PDF
  • Patrick Hanks,
  • D. Kenneth Tucker
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.2000.48.1.59

Published 2000-03-01

Copyright (c) 2000 Maney

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Abstract

Computational analysis of pairings between surnames and forenames in “A Diagnostic Database of American Names” reveals a number of significant associations. These can be used as evidence to help pinpoint the most likely source language of an unfamiliar and unresearched surname, and to provide a framework for historical and genealogical research. The data can also be studied geographically since a number of surnames are associated with particular states or regions. A study of present-day distribution of surnames can be correlated’ with historical and other evidence regarding settlement patterns.

PDF