Where did my ancestors originally come from? Which language area does the family name originate from and does it eventually have a meaning? Can the family name reveal how the early ancestors earned their living?

Often quite easily these questions can be answered for those who for example are bearing a topographic surname such as HAMILTON, GREENVILLE, or MONTGOMERY, or are carrying PREACHER, TAILOR or SHOEMAKER as family name, which indicates a former occupation. But what is the „poor“ individual supposed to do, whose first name(s) is/are followed by the family name ‘ZWIR T Z‘, a surname which does not allow for drawing any such conclusions, neither at first nor at second sight?

Research of ones family history often starts at some point during life time by asking at least one of the following „existential“ questions: