Some surnames I research are: Lindstrom, Herrmann (think of the variations), Ryan, Coen, Carney, Bollnow, Krueger (ditto on the variations), Ahlgren, Gode, Goude, Godet, Goode, Goody (all variations in the history of my paternal grandmother), Block, Stoltz, and Petersen (not Peterson). Locations include Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Alsace-Lorraine in France and/or Germany (depending...), NY, IL, IN, MI, CA, AZ, WA, MA and MN.
I began this about 18 years ago, and I am now addicted.