Step Two - Preparing for the Search

Decide what name(s) you need to search for.

In my case, I discovered I was very fortunate in having my last name of 'Bump'. It derived into several basic family names: Bompasse, Bumpass, Bumpas, Bumpus, Bump, and smaller offshoots as Bumphery, Bumps, or Bumpers. I was lucky in that I was able to focus my search more exactly than I would have been able to if my last name had been Jones or Smith. That is, I only had to check an approximate five thousand basic resources. If my last name was Smith, a quick web search reveals over four million references to that particular last name. It is not an impossible task, but would be one of more diligence, patience, and just plain stubbornness to get through all that.

Create a section of documentation accordingly to each last name or reference name you discover during your research. This allows you to get it all done at the same time in most cases, rather than having to go back again and again to the same resource for that little piece of information overlooked.

It follows that the family names you discover during your research are important to other relationships as well. I found that our family is related by marriage to Miles Standish, Captain John Smith, were cousins to King Richard III, and very distantly related to William Wallace of Scotland. This information was discovered while researching the Civil War Bumps, and added greatly to the heritage that our family line enjoys, despite the uncommon (and often humorously used) name.