The Guild of One-Name Studies

The Guild of One-Name Studies was formally established in 1979 to co-ordinate, educate and nurture the then newly burgeoning area of one-surname research. Education has always been a key part of their objectives, both to advance the knowledge of Guild members and also to inform the public about one-name studies.  It also exists to promote the preservation and publication of individual one-name studies and to maximize their accessibility to interested members of the public.

The Guild publishes the Journal of One-Name Studies and holds annual conferences to help and support its members. It has decided to add online courses to its education programme. Online courses can be delivered to members and to anyone interested anywhere in the world. Pharos was selected as a course provider due to the experience of its instructors, the reasonable cost both to the Guild and to students, and its location in the UK yet with a wide reach to elsewhere.

The first course to be offered is Introduction to One-Name Studies. The five week course will cover the history of one-name studies, why genealogists should have a one-name study, how to check on the suitability of your surname, the history and distribution of surnames, the practical aspects of running a one-name study and the collection and analysis of data from core records needed for a one-name study. 

Further courses are now at the development stage.

The Guild maintains a helpful website which includes a list of all one-name studies currently being managed by members. If you join the Guild there is also a members’ only part of the website that is filled with helpful information.