If you’ve ever wondered “where does my last name come from?” or “where does my surname come from?”, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have roots in countries like Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Norway—and each surname carries a story of migration and identity.
Understanding that story can connect you to the ancestors who brought your name across the ocean. Trace's Researching Your Immigrant Ancestors course shows you how to uncover it.
Did You Know?
The myth that names were changed at Ellis Island isn’t true. Passenger lists were prepared overseas, and Ellis Island clerks were multilingual, ensuring accuracy—not altering surnames. Most name changes happened later, during naturalization or assimilation into American culture.
Why Your Surname Matters in Genealogy
A surname can point you to your ancestor’s village in Ireland, province in Italy, or town in Germany. It helps narrow records, verify identities, and link generations across continents. But tracing it can be challenging—spelling shifts, missing documents, and language differences all complicate the search.
How the Researching Your Immigrant Ancestors Course Helps
This course is designed for anyone asking, “where does my surname come from?” and ready to learn real research methods. You’ll:
- Identify your ancestor’s European birthplace or origin.
- Trace their immigration and naturalization journey through passenger lists and petitions.
- Learn to handle variant spellings and translations like Schmidt to Smith or Rossi to Rose.
- Follow real case studies of immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Scandinavia.
With seven modules, twenty-eight lessons, and eleven handouts, you’ll gain the tools to follow your surname’s path from homeland to America.
Why Take This Course
Most genealogy tutorials stop at U.S. borders—this course goes beyond them. You’ll learn the context of immigration laws, how surnames evolved, and how to navigate records on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether your roots lie in Eastern Europe, Southern Italy, or Northern Ireland, you’ll gain confidence connecting your family’s name to its original home.
Who It’s For
- Descendants of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, or Scandinavia
- Family historians facing spelling variations or missing origins
- Anyone seeking to understand how their surname connects to migration history
Start Tracing Your Surname’s Story Today
Your surname carries your family’s journey—its origin, resilience, and transformation. Don’t leave its story unfinished.
Enroll in Trace’s Researching Your Immigrant Ancestors course today, and uncover where your last name truly comes from.
Turn curiosity into discovery—and transform your surname into a bridge to your ancestral home.
