CNYGS Surname Files – A Member Benefit Worth Revisiting!

by Nancy Maliwesky

It’s cold out there, and unless you’re a hearty skier, hiker or you’re on a cruise to some sunny clime, you’ve probably been spending a lot of time at home, in front of your computer or iPad. At least I have! This is the time of year when many of us with the genealogy bug go back to our files and trees and start chipping away at some of the many nagging questions that we all have regarding our ancestry. When you’re not hunting your own ancestors, you may be watching Public Television and enjoying this season’s Genealogy Road Show or the Antiques Roadshow. Both of these shows certainly get me thinking about research ideas and the value of things often overlooked.

This got me thinking about the Surname files available to our members (and the world!) on the Central New York Genealogical Society’s website. You may remember submitting your surnames and areas of interest when you joined the CNYGS, but have you looked at them since then? Have you had anyone contact you who is also researching your surnames? Maybe it’s time to revisit this often overlooked resource.

The first thing I would suggest is to look at the surnames you submitted. Are the place names up to date, or have you found additional place information since you first submitted your surnames. Perhaps it’s time for an update? The more information, the more likely you will find a meaningful match. You are welcome to update your surnames when you pay your yearly dues, or at anytime. Just send an e-mail to cnygs@yahoo.com or write to us. When updating place names, it is also helpful to put the place names in order, chronologically, from your earliest records to your most recent records. So, for instance, if your ancestors came from England, then settled in Dorchester, MA, then moved to Windsor CT, then to Northampton and later Westhampton and later Westfield, MA, then settled in Pompey, NY, before moving to Huron Co., OH, put your place names in that specific order as this migration pattern may be helpful to other researchers.

The next thing to check is other surnames that match yours. Were any of these people in the same place as yours? Well, you won’t know unless you contact the other member, and that’s pretty easy, just contact CNYGS and we will contact the member for you (we don’t post members contact information for privacy reasons). Who knows, your long lost cousin may have been sitting a few rows behind you at the last meeting you attended!

Another way to use the Surname file requires a bit more effort and some thinking outside the box, but isn’t that what we genealogists do best? Just because you don’t see any surnames on the list that match yours, doesn’t mean that none of our members can help you. Try looking at the place list to see where other members have been researching. If you don’t want to take the time to browse through the whole list, try a search on a place you’re researching. You may be surprised to find that many of our members are researching the same places that you are. Even if they have not listed your surnames, they may have come across those people in their research. At the very least, they may know where to look for further information in that area. It couldn’t hurt to reach out to them. Perhaps you will find a new research buddy!

So, next time you’re on your computer and you need a quick break from that brick wall that has been driving you crazy, take a look at the CNYGS Surname files. The answer may be there!

©2015, Nancy Maliwesky

Nancy Maliwesky, Central New York Genealogical Society Board Member and Chair of the New York State Family History Conference worked as a professional genealogist with the American Pomeroy Historic Genealogical Society for ten years. Recently retired, she continues to pursue her passion for genealogical research and writing. She is also a singer/songwriter (the self proclaimed "Singing Genealogist") and an artist.