Diana - you do not have to join anything to start your own one-name study but over time you might want to join the Guild to keep in contact with like minded genealogists. Have you checked on the Guild web site to see if your name is already registered. Ian Ian S Vicary Worldwide Vicary Vickery One-Name Study including Vickary, Viccary and Vicarey www.one-name.org/profiles/vicary.html http://vicaryone-namestudy.blogspot.com DNA study http:/www.familytreedna.com/public/vicary ************************************