Online surname dictionary goes free to allow families in lockdown to trace their ancestry

‘At a time when many family members are apart, it will help bring people together,’ spokesperson says

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An online surname dictionary database is allowing families to discover information about their ancestry for free while in lockdown.

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland features more than 45,000 family names online.

Searching your surname on the website could help you shine a light on where your ancestors came from, offering information regarding surnames with English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish origins, in addition to family names from immigrants who have settled in Britain and Ireland since the 16th century.

While the website is usually only accessible through subscription services, from 15 May until 21 May the online database is free to use, as part of a collaboration between Oxford University Press and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to mark the UN’s International Day of Families on Friday.

Mike Collins, head of public engagement at the AHRC, explained the development of the online dictionary “was made possible by careful and painstaking research over many years”.

“It feels appropriate to give people free access to this searchable database for a week. At a time when many family members are apart, it will help bring people together as they discuss the biographies of their surnames,” he told The Guardian.

The online dictionary was compiled by researchers from UWE (University of the West of England) Bristol.

Richard Coates, professor emeritus of onomastics at the university, said it was a “splendid” idea to offer the dictionary for free for a limited period.

“There seems to be perpetual interest in where surnames come from,” he said. “It can be an excellent way of helping people begin to trace their family histories.”

Sarah Williams, editor of the Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, stated that the online dictionary “is the most authoritative resource for anyone wanting to understand the origin of their family name”.

“Having free access to this huge body of research will delight family historians across the globe.”

The online dictionary also comes in the form of a book, which has more than 3,000 pages and costs £400.