By belonging to genealogical societies in certain regions or counties where you had generations of ancestors live can provide bonus sources of fellow researchers who share the surname you are examining. Your common interests of the surname and the region can benefit everyone.

This online site with local societies for the counties in England exhibits the large numbers available to anyone to ask assistance.

There are also genealogical societies focused on broad geographical locations, ethnic, ancestral homelands, languages and even family name based societies. The link for genealogy societies will provide a full listing such societies and their contact information.

The link site for the Essex Society for Family History works to preserve archival material relating to the Essex region and share it with others. This society, like most, does encourage individuals to join the society where even great resources are available for members. If you had ancestors living for decades in a certain county, it would be beneficial to join such an organization.

Other societies, such as the Liverpool provide online with their site a collection of surnames their members are researching, the time period, the location and then an email address to contact that researcher. This becomes a very invaluable tool to have person to person contact with someone looking for the same surnames as you.

Never limit yourself. Review several neighboring English counties to the home county of your ancestors. Your relatives may have lived in some nearby locations as well.