Local Historians Academics and Enthusiasts From Professor Hoskins in the 1960s to David Hey and George Redmonds more recently, some academic historians have led significant developments in surname studies. Hey and Redmonds advocate a multi-disciplinary approach to surname studies. See Academic Historians. Meanwhile numerous enthusiastic amateurs were also making their mark, from H B Guppy (1854-1926) to the members of the Names Project Group based in Sheffield. See The Contribution of Enthusiasts.