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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Surprise (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Surprise. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Surprise is located in Meigs County.

To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Meigs County: Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Rhea & Roane.

Below are the counties that are near Surprise. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Surprise:

  • Meigs County     (The home county of Surprise)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Sewee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Akeman Crossroad
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cute ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cute is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
    • Decatur
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Calico
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Calico is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
      • Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
    • Goodfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Beta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • East View
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
  • Anderson County
    • Oak Ridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Bledsoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Ninemile
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Summer City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Summer City is located in Bledsoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer City
    • Winesap
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Blount County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • McMullens
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • McMullens is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMullens
      • Estimated population in 2014: 13,620 people
    • Kiser
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Cloyd Creek ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cloyd Creek is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloyd Creek
    • Brick Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Friendsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Big Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Bradley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Charleston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Etola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellefounte
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Jewett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Crab Orchard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Burke
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Center Ford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Center Ford is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Ford
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,485 people
    • Rogers
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Rogers is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,406 people
    • Hebbertsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lake Pomeroy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairfield Glade
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Tansi Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenbriar Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenbriar Village is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbriar Village
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,103 people
    • Woodlands
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodlands is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlands
      • Estimated population in 2014: 369 people
    • Crossville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Birchwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
      • Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Boyd
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Farragut
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Virtue
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Virtue is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virtue
      • Estimated population in 2014: 131 people
    • Belle Aire
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Belle Aire is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Aire
      • Estimated population in 2014: 512 people
  • Loudon County
  • McMinn County
  • Monroe County
  • Morgan County
  • Polk County
  • Rhea County
  • Roane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.
    • Morrisgap ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Morrisgap is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisgap
    • Pioneer Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Pioneer Village is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
    • Glen Alice
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Iron Divide ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Iron Divide is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Divide
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 328 people
    • Lakemont Heights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Lakemont Heights is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakemont Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 12,564 people
    • Postoak
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Rockwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Cardiff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • College Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • College Grove is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Grove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 10,729 people
    • Midtown Heights
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Midtown Heights is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown Heights
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,360 people
    • Midtown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Midtown is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown
    • Kingston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Surprise, see our County-by-County Page for Surprise.

Cemeteries Near Surprise ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Surprise.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Surprise - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Surprise covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.

  • Concord Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Edgemon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Baldwin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Beulah Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Fisher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Basket Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Ten Mile Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Sharp Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • McPherson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Blue Spring Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (890 more) ...
    • Raby Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Clark Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Surprise had a post office and no railroad service. In 2014, Surprise had a population of 1,799 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Surprise, with the one closest to Surprise listed first.

  • Regret ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Regret is located in McMinn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regret
  • Erie
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Erie is located in Loudon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
  • Sewee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Prigmore
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Euchee
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Euchee is located in Meigs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euchee
  • Cute ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cute is located in Meigs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
  • Pattie Gap ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Pattie Gap is located in Roane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pattie Gap
  • Morrisgap ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Morrisgap is located in Roane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisgap
  • Barnardsville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Barnardsville is located in Roane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnardsville
  • Reagan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Reagan is located in McMinn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reagan
  • Sweetwater
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Fiketon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Fiketon is located in McMinn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiketon
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Breedenton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Breedenton is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breedenton
    • Mount Verd
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Mount Verd is located in McMinn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Verd
    • Roddy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Surprise. See our List of 1890's Communities around Surprise.

Newspapers Published in Surprise ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Surprise.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Surprise, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Surprise.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Surprise:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Surprise, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Surprise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.