I am Margaret Southgate, and have been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 2008, researching my maiden name CLOSE and CLOSS, together with other variants. I have lived in South Wales, UK, for many years, and am currently the Guild representative for South and West Wales. However, I grew up in the Bolton area of Lancashire, and began my study by researching the various CLOSE families in the Bolton and Wigan areas.
My study then expanded, initially to the rest of England & Wales, and now with a worldwide focus – although, like almost every other family history research project, there is still a long way to go! I quickly discovered ‘hotspots’ of CLOSE families in and around Swaledale, North Yorkshire, Collyweston, Northamptonshire, and Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, as well as CLOSS families in Llanberis, North Wales, reputedly descended from a North Yorkshire CLOSE.
I aim to write regular blog posts about people and events I have come across in the course of my research, and would be glad to hear what YOU can add to the worldwide story of people named CLOSE, CLOSS, KLOSS, KLOSZ, CLOS, KLOS ….
Have a look at my CLOSE One-Name Study website to see the families I’ve researched so far. If you can add or correct anything there, I’d be most grateful!
