One-Name Study

One of the objectives of Polmanarkivet is to support the research of the Polman surname, and we are carrying out extensive world-wide genealogical research on this surname and its variants. This study of the surname is registered with the Guild of One-Name Studies. The registration with the Guild includes the name Pohlman and its variants: Pohlmann, Polman, Polemann, Bolemann, Poldemann, Påhlman.

Although this web site focuses on a particular line, the one-name study is interested in anyone who bore the name Pohlman anywhere in the world. If you are unfamiliar with name studies, please read further and use the links under “One Name Study” at the top navigation.

As a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies, we are bound to respond to e-mail and reply-paid enquiries.

About One-Name Studies

A one-name (or surname) study is a project researching all occurrences of a surname, as opposed to a particular pedigree (ancestors of one person) or descendancy (descendants of one person or couple). Some ‘one-namers’ restrict their research geographically, perhaps to one country, but true one-namers collect all occurrences worldwide.

The purpose of a one-name study is not just about the collection of data. Its aim is to research the genealogy and family history of all persons with a given surname and its linked variants. A study may concentrate on aspects such as the geographical distribution of the name and the changes in that distribution over the centuries, or may attempt to reconstruct the genealogy of as many lines as possible bearing the name. A frequent aspiration is to identify a single original location of the name, especially if the name appears to derive from a place name.

Guild of One-Name Studies

Typically, those researching their family history concentrate on their own family tree or a specific lineage. In contrast, one-name studies investigate all instances of a single surname across the globe, without regard to familial connections. A one-name study can help researchers understand the meaning of a surname and how, and where, it has been distributed throughout the world.

One-Name Study Principles

When a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies registers a study there are principles they agree to:

• That it is global in scope;
• That it includes research in countries where the name is relatively significant and where sources of genealogical data are readily available;
• That it will research and store data available in core genealogical datasets and transcriptions;
• That it stores and may research other data where the surname is mentioned;
• That the member will maintain an accurate description of the scope and progress of the study using the Study Codes visible on their self-service registration page on the Guild website;
• That the member will deal with all email and reply-paid letter enquiries concerning this study in a timely fashion.

Research Scope

At the moment, the one-name study will focus on the name Pohlman and its variants: Pohlmann, Polman, Polemann, Bolemann, Poldemann, Påhlman.

See more below on notes on name variants.

A Note on Name Variants

The Guild expects members to study all the known variant spellings of a surname in addition to the primary spelling. However, there are also surname deviants which are clerical errors in recording or transcription, and spellings that the person concerned would not actually have used. The Guild recommends that members not register deviant spellings as variants.

This one-name study follows the Guild’s recommendations on variants, including:

• A name spelling that the person was known to have used, through signature evidence on wills, marriage bonds etc or other documents originating from the individual concerned, or
• A name spelling used by officials on a consistent and persistent basis over a period of years.

Variant spellings or deviants which are applied randomly or inconsistently due to enumeration, transcription and indexing errors are excluded. You can read more about variants and deviants at the Guild.