How to Conduct a Single Name Study

There are various approaches to genealogy.  One is a single-name study.

My family tree is mostly comprises surnames such as Robertson, Taylor, Smith and Wilson. However, one of  my  6 x  great grandparents were James Mantach and Jane Simpson.  Mantach (also spelled Mantoch) is probably the most unusual name amongst my direct forebears.

ScotlandsPeople  has records of  just 219 baptisms / births  (85 Mantach baptisms pre 1855 and 69 Mantach births post-1855 and 65 Mantoch pre-1855 baptisms). There are a total of 98 marriages, and 124 deaths.

In the census returns, there were 42 Mantach / Mantochs in 1841, 36 in 1851, 44 in 1861,  37 in 1871, 45 in 1881, 45 in 1891, 29 in 1901 and only 14 in 1911.

The surname  is concentrated on  Morayshire.

These figures suggest that a One-Name Study of the name Mantach / Mantoch might result in a comprehensive account.

I’m going to blog about conducting a one-name study, illustrating the use of various sources as I do so.

Baptism of my 5 x great grandmother Elizabeth Mantoch / Mantach 30 Dec 1770.  OPR 141/30 14 Rothes and Dundurcas. Copyright Scotland’s People.