Open AccessA Diagnostic Database of American Personal Names
Author(s) -
Patrick Hanks,
D. Kenneth Tucker
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
names
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1756-2279
pISSN - 0027-7738
DOI - 10.1179/nam.2000.48.1.59
Subject(s) - settlement (finance) , genealogy , history , geography , linguistics , database , computer science , world wide web , philosophy , payment
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.