About Us

The most complete surname database in the world

Millions
Surnames
+1,000
Years of History
50,000+
Documented Etymologies
6
Surname Types
🎯

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the most complete and accurate database of surnames from around the world. We believe that every surname tells a unique story about origin, migration, and cultural heritage that deserves to be preserved and shared.

We offer detailed information about geographic distribution, etymology, history, and statistics of millions of surnames from five continents, helping people discover their roots and connect with their family heritage.

Our Team

A multidisciplinary group of experts in genealogy, data science and web development working to provide the most accurate information about surnames.

RM

Dr. David Ruiz

Director and Lead Genealogist

My passion is deciphering the hidden stories behind each surname. Every family name is a journey through time.

Education:

  • PhD in Hispanic Philology - Complutense University of Madrid
  • Specialization in Onomastics and Anthroponymy
  • Professional Genealogy Certification (APG)

Experience:

  • +15 years researching geographic distribution of surnames
  • Collaborator on FamilySearch and Geneanet projects
  • Author of articles on etymology of Hispanic surnames
IN

Ana López

Data Scientist & Demographic Analyst

Data tells fascinating stories. My job is finding patterns in millions of records to reveal the true distribution of surnames.

Education:

  • Master in Data Science - Polytechnic University of Madrid
  • Bachelor in Statistics and Data Analysis
  • Machine Learning Certification (Coursera - Stanford)

Experience:

  • +8 years in demographic analysis and big data
  • Former analyst at the National Statistics Institute (INE)
  • Specialist in census data processing
EV

Javier Martínez

Lead Developer & Systems Architect

My challenge is making 500,000 surnames accessible in milliseconds. Technology should be invisible to the user.

Education:

  • Computer Engineering - Polytechnic University of Catalonia
  • Specialization in Database Architecture
  • AWS Solutions Architect Certification

Experience:

  • +12 years in web development and systems architecture
  • Specialist in massive database optimization
  • Previous experience in government open data projects
CD

María García

Researcher & Content Manager

Every surname has a story to tell. My job is researching historical archives to give context to the data.

Education:

  • Bachelor in History - University of Salamanca
  • Master in Archival Science and Document Management
  • Expert in paleography and medieval documentation

Experience:

  • +10 years in genealogical and historical research
  • Collaborator at the National Historical Archive
  • Specialist in civil and parish records
AH

Dr. Carlos Fernández

Linguist and Onomastics Specialist

Surnames are living linguistic fossils. Each one preserves fragments of ancient languages and lost traditions.

Education:

  • PhD in Linguistics - University of Salamanca
  • Master in Romance Philology
  • Specialization in Etymology of European Surnames

Experience:

  • +18 years researching surname evolution in Romance languages
  • Author of "Etymological Dictionary of Hispanic Surnames"
  • Consultant in multilingual surname normalization projects
BR

Laura Sánchez

Community Manager & SEO Specialist

Our goal is not just having data, but making every person find their surname story and feel part of our global community.

Education:

  • Bachelor in Communication - Autonomous University of Barcelona
  • Master in Digital Marketing and SEO
  • Google Analytics and Search Console Certification

Experience:

  • +7 years managing online communities and SEO strategies
  • Former web positioning consultant for cultural projects
  • Specialist in genealogical content and user engagement

Our Methodology

1

1. Data Collection

We obtain information from verified official sources:

  • Official censuses: INE (Spain), IBGE (Brazil), US Census Bureau, INSEE (France), ISTAT (Italy)
  • Civil registries: Public databases from 195 countries
  • Academic studies: Peer-reviewed publications in onomastics
  • Genealogical databases: FamilySearch, Geneanet (open data under public licenses)
2

2. Validation and Verification

Rigorous quality control process:

  • Cross-validation: Minimum 2 independent sources per data point
  • Statistical analysis: Anomaly and outlier detection
  • Manual review: Genealogists review top 1000 surnames
  • Confidence classification: High (±5%), Medium (±15%), Low (±30%)
3

3. Processing

State-of-the-art technology to analyze millions of records:

  • Data normalization (orthographic variants, accents, etc.)
  • Geocoding and aggregation by country/region
  • Frequency and distribution calculations
  • Heat map and visualization generation
4

4. Continuous Updates

We keep data up to date:

  • Quarterly automatic updates from public censuses
  • Annual review of most searched surnames
  • Monthly incorporation of new countries
  • Corrections applied within 48h of user reports
5

Commitment to Privacy

We deeply respect the privacy of our users:

  • We do not collect personally identifiable information without consent
  • All data presented is statistical and aggregated
  • We do not sell or share user information with third parties
  • We comply with international data protection regulations
6

Our Technology

We use cutting-edge technology to process and analyze millions of genealogical data:

  • Big Data: We process information from multiple official sources and demographic databases
  • Advanced Algorithms: We normalize and relate orthographic variants of surnames
  • Continuous Updates: Our data is regularly updated with new sources
  • Multilingual: We support data in multiple languages
🔬

Information Sources

Our database is built from verifiable and reliable sources:

  • Civil records and official censuses from multiple countries
  • Recognized genealogical and heraldic studies
  • Academic etymological and linguistic research
  • Demographic data from international organizations
  • Verified contributions from genealogy experts
💻

Our Technology

We use cutting-edge technology to process and analyze millions of genealogical data:

  • Big Data: We process information from multiple official sources and demographic databases
  • Advanced Algorithms: We normalize and relate orthographic variants of surnames
  • Continuous Updates: Our data is regularly updated with new sources
  • Multilingual: We support data in multiple languages
⚠️

⚠️ About Data Precision

All our data are estimates based on public official records. Precision level varies according to source availability and quality per country:

  • High precision (±5%): Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands
  • Medium precision (±15%): Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Argentina
  • Estimates (±30%): Countries without recent censuses or with partial data

We always indicate confidence level and last update date. If you detect an error, please report it here.

Join Our Community

Is more than a database: it's a global community of people interested in genealogy, family history, and cultural heritage.

Search Your Surname