The Historical Research Center International

The Historical Research Center ("HRC") was founded in Florida in 1988 and today supports over 177 dealers located in 22 countries on 5 continents. Many dealers have multiple sales locations and to date we have licensed over 500 sales units worldwide. HRC has the largest and most extensive facility of its kind in the world, with a library of original books dating back to the 1600's, along with reproduced manuscripts and documents dating from even earlier centuries. Our library includes reference books relating to people in history, passenger lists of old sailing ships and immigrant lists, all of which are used to do our research and collect information about names and people in history who bore those names. Our archives contain information on millions of names from around the world. Many of our books are written in the language particular to the region of origin that they cover, and we pride ourselves on the fact that our research historians are chosen for their multi-linguistic abilities. Our Family Name Histories are individually researched from the documented sources and researched in our own headquarters. All research is original, and every scrap of historical data can be proved as authentic by producing the source references. The United States has always been the melting pot of the world, however the last decade has seen people develop a completely different attitude about who they are. Instead of trying to hide their ancestry by sliding inconspicuously into the melting pot, they now display a newfound pride in their roots. People are now proud to display their ancestral nationality. The HRC databases of Family Name Histories and Coats of Arms truly reflect this multi-ethnic population, and our histories reflect origins and data from all parts of the planet. Some names on our database refer to the names of countries and locations that have changed names over the centuries, and people are truly amazed that we can find information about their heritage. Over the years, HRC has built a unique database of Family Name Histories. In this database, we have compiled detailed and accurate historical backgrounds covering nearly 1 million family names, including their meaning, origin and reference to them in history. All are carefully recorded and can be printed in the form of a Family Name History scroll in moments. Clients are always fascinated to learn something about the history of their family name. HRC has developed a computerized graphic arts database, which has the ability to reproduce full color Coats of Arms, and crests in the vivid colors originally used hundreds of years ago. Though many people think that Coats of Arms (sometimes referred to as family crests) were only granted to nobility, HRC can actually find this fascinating insignia for more than ninety percent of all names submitted. These reproductions can be incorporated into products customized for the client. Examples include hand embroidered Coats of Arms, hand painted plaques, jewelry and timepieces, glassware and apparel.