--------------------------- EDITOR'S NOTE ---------------------------- Whether you're a newcomer to genealogy or have been researching your family tree for 20 years, there are always new surnames to search. Just last month I received some birth certificate copies from France as a Christmas gift from my grandmother and, since they include mother's maiden names, I now have several new families to search. Needless to say, I can't wait! <p>In honor of all of the family lines that we're continually adding to our family trees, this week I've collected a host of resources for tracing your family surnames. Some may be new to you, while others are bound to be old favorites. But, whether you've tried them before or not, I bet you have found new surnames to search for since your last visit. <p>Have fun hunting this week and be sure to post in the About Genealogy Forum about your successes. We all love to hear about Happy Dances :) http://genealogy.about.com ------------------------- IN THE SPOTLIGHT --------------------------- Top Ten Surname/Pedigree Databases Search for your surname and make family tree connections in these ten outstanding, lineage-linked databases, containing a combined 650 million surnames. The linked family trees include names -- and often dates, places, and submitter contact details -- making it easy to collaborate with other researchers to exchange surnames and family trees. Most are free or allow some type of free access. http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gR Creativity Required Many genealogists, both beginner and advanced, fail in the quest for their ancestors because they don't take the time to search for anything other than the obvious spelling variants. Don't let that happen to you! Get inspired when searching for alternative surname spellings with these quick tips. http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gS ---------------------------- MORE TOPICS ----------------------------- Ever Wonder What Your Surname Means? Surname origins from around the world GuideSite http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gT Surname Search Tips Become an Internet super sleuth GuideSite http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gU Tips for a Successful Surname Query Make new genealogy connections GuideSite http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gV How to Find Maiden Names Don't forget your female ancestors GuideSite http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gW Soundex Made Easy Discover your surname's soundex code GuideSite http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gX Free Interactive Family Group Sheet One of the most handy tools ever invented for the genealogist the Family Group Sheet comes second only to the familiar pedigree chart (ancestor chart) in usefulness and popularity. This free, interactive version provides room for documenting the family unit - husband, wife, and children, with spaces for births, deaths, and marriages, plus notes and sources. Fill it out online right in your browser, or print out copies and fill in by hand. A great way to share your genealogy information with friends and family. http://glclk.about.com/?zi=10/7gc copyright 2002 About, Inc. Thanks for being a subscriber to the About Genealogy Newsletter. _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail