Mailing lists are a great way to gather information and meet new people. There are two types of lists in most groups ... "mail mode" where you receive each message as it is posted, and "digest mode" where you receive several messages together under one heading. When subscribing to a list, make sure you follow their subscribe/unsubscribe directions correctly or in some cases it simply won't work!
Once subscribed you can post a message or simply "watch" for a while. It's entirely up to you, but rest assured, you will find lots of useful information on ANY mailing list! In your first message, you should take the time to briefly introduce yourself and to list your interests. If you're subscribing to a list for a specific area, be sure to put your surname in capitals in the subject line. This will make it more visible and clearer for people who have the same surname interests. I have added some buttons below which will take you to a list for the relevant countries. There are also links which will allow you to search further yourself on general sites.
Another way of finding mailing lists is an indirect approach which sometimes brings good results. Go to Google and type in "one name study". The results will give you a list of one name study sites for various surnames. You may have a considerable number of pages to scroll through, but it can sometimes pay off! If you find a site for a surname you're looking for, take a wander through that site and see what you can find. Quite often these sites have a mailing list and/or notice board and it will be mentioned on their website.
It's not hard to join a mailing list and it is quite often very beneficial. You may find someone else has already done all the hard work and you can reap the benefits! ;) If so, be sure to thank the person concerned and return the favour if you should come across any new information!! Just remember your "p's and q's" and enjoy your new friends! ;)
Good luck on your search :-)
Australia:
United Kingdom:
United States of America:
Groups: