How do I create a surname interest database the easy way?

Question

Ok firstly let me state that I have very basic knowledge with regards to computers hence this possibly stupid question but here goes.

I run a community website that has a section of members interested in genealogy. I am looking to add a surname interests database that the members can add their family names to along with other details and then other members of the public can browse and see just who is searching who etc.

The database needs to allow members to add their details to and allow others to search it via the alphabetical search or via entering their family name. Problem is I just dont know where to start.

Is there a free template I can upload to my site or something that can be personalised by me or do I need to build this from scratch?

Something along the lines of this would do http://rsl.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ or similar.

Any help would be appreciated. Also how do these work and what would I need to accomplish this?

Thanks in advance, Pete

Answer 1

USA Answer:

About half of the US Gen Web county-level sites have a page like you describe, but limited to a surname, not details. So, for instance, if you were looking for the "Smith" family in Madison County, you would write to everyone on the list. Smith, Johnson et. al are the exceptions; usually most people with a given surname in a county are related.

Since the US Gen Web is widely know and widely popular, and your site-to-be isn't, I'd suggest you find the US Gen Web site for your county and contact whoever keeps it. You could volunteer to help. If it doesn't have a surname page, you could volunteer to help set it up. Poke around in your state until you find some county that has one, ask the author if you can copy and alter.