Familypedia:Model surname article page

This page sets out three recommended "model" forms of the text to be shown in a "... Surname" category. Neither is compulsory; but contributors who copy and paste one of these models (and type or paste the surname in the places indicated) will ensure that their page is able to be found easily, more quickly than by typing things out.

The first model has our current thinking on the "ideal" set of details (which requires replacement of "XXX" with the actual surname in three places). Below it is an alternative much shorter starter-text (which someone will probably want to enlarge later); it's only very slightly quicker to insert because there are only two "XXX" to replace.

Each model includes a one-click search of Wikipedia for the name. Wikipedia has different ways of presenting surnames; a search should give either:
 * a page with just the name (possibly a disambiguation page linking to places and/or people), such as Wikipedia:Special:Search/Milton; or
 * a hit list starting with some of the most useful pages: such as a page of the form "XXX (surname)" or pages mentioning (in name or text) people with that surname. Try this: Wikipedia:Special:Search/Forlong.

Detailed format
Copy the text below and paste into the page. Replace "XXX", in the three places where it appears, with the specified name. Then optionally replace "Alternative spelling 1", and so on.

This category collects pages and subcategories related to the XXX surname.

Meaning and origin
(If this becomes lengthy, create a separate article with just the name as its title; example: Ferguson)

Spellings

 * Alternative spelling 1 (Replace with actual name)
 * (If more than one, give each a separate line starting with a star)

List/s of individuals possibly not listed automatically below

 * Category:XXX Unlinked Individuals

Short format
Copy the half-dozen lines of the next paragraph and paste into the page. This will provide the essential structural links until you or someone else can add some of the above. As above, replace "XXX" with the specified name.''

This category collects pages and subcategories related to the XXX surname.

Organized infobox format
See Template:Infobox Surname for more information.

This category collects pages and subcategories related to the XXX surname.