Exploring the history of a surname is a useful first step on a journey to tracing roots in Ireland. Surnames are very much connected to place in Ireland and are, therefore, an integral part of Irish identity and family history. In the case of the Northern Ireland city of Derry (aka Londonderry), naming traditions go back Derry's founding by the city of London in 1613. Esteemed genealogist Brian Mitchell, who has published a number of books on Derry family history in recent years, here presents us with an analysis of the most popular surnames for that port city.