My maternal line of research is the surname of TODD, mainly around Byers Green, Durham, but getting ever further afield as the branches continue to grow. I've been researching my family history now for more than ten years and a chap already mentioned, Christopher TODD b1818, was my great great grandfather. It was myself who discovered how this Christopher, who looks likely to have had no formal education, started out a blacksmith but ended up a 'cancer doctor'. It is also worth mentioning that Christopher was not the only TODD ancestor proclaiming to be a 'doctor'!
I am familiar with the dilemma of trying to reconcile what appears to be at least two TODD families in the Byers Green area, possibly three! There was a TODD family living at a farmstead called Nutty Hagg and I still have not managed to find the link which shows that the TODD's living there were related to my TODD ancestors. I am optimistic that there is some connection or common ancestor, but proving it has been difficult. At the present time, all I have been able to prove is that they were close geographically and no more.
I'm happy to hear from anyone who wants to swap notes about the above TODDs or the other branches of the family with whom they connect.