Surname Geneology Lookups

[Spooner]

I have a rather unique last name that I've always wondered the story behind. Everytime I attempt to do a lookup on it to get some history as to where the heck it came from, the meaning, and any history on it I come up with sites that want mucho $$$. I don't think I care that much. Does anyone know of any free or inexpensive places that provide such information?

Thanks

 

[James Bond]

What is it?

 

[Crono]

There are some sites online. It would be helpful to know what your last name is, so we could help

 

[CorCentral]

Rumpelstiltskin

I've been wondering this also. Everything I've found online, you have to pay for.

 

[FoBoT]

this site doesn't charge
i can get much of my info from it, YMMV

http://www.familysearch.org/

 

[BigJ]

I'll have to ask a friend of the family for you. She started on ancestry.com and has absolutely exploded with her research since. She doesn't use those sites anymore, but actually contacts churches, government buildings, relatives in the tree, and pretty much anyone and everyone for information. I think she's traced her tree back to the 1200s so far.

 

[Spooner]

i'm not really all that interested in a full tree, just a general history as to where the name came from

name is "cutlip" by the way