Editorial policy
This policy covers free surname pages and related hubs on surnameroot.com.
Purpose
Help readers explore surname frequency and plausible origins with transparent data — not to sell false certainty about personal ancestry.
Sources
We prioritize U.S. Census Bureau surname files for counts and distributions. Origin text follows documented rules; see Methodology.
Use of automation
We use software to generate and update large reference templates from structured data. We are actively concentrating editorial effort on high-demand surnames and reducing index priority for thin template leaves. Automated text is not a substitute for primary historical research on your family.
Commercial relationships
- Heritage Report — paid digital product sold by SurnameRoot.
- Amazon links — as an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases (e.g. DNA kits) at no extra cost to you.
Ads, if shown, are labeled by the ad network. Editorial pages such as methodology are not for sale.
Corrections
Factual errors: contact us; we review and update when warranted. We do not invent ancestors, court records, or DNA results.
Independence
Census data is public. Classification errors are ours, not the Census Bureau’s endorsement.