NamensArchiv is a project by Deutsche Chroniken, a small Berlin-based team that creates videos about German history and family names. It researches the origins, meanings, regional distribution and history of more than 850,000 German surnames, drawing on historical registers, name dictionaries and other sources. Each name is researched individually, with findings presented in a concise, free online summary. The site also offers a surname lexicon with detailed entries, spelling variants and articles about the history and regional significance of family names.

Visitors can purchase a surname certificate as a PDF, a researched and narrated personal video, or a video-and-certificate gift with a dedication and printable card. For a more extensive keepsake, NamensArchiv offers a 50-page hardcover book featuring historical maps, illustrations, a family-tree section and a QR code linking to the name video. The team shares research through its website and social media, while optional, one-time reader contributions help support the free archive and future research. Each paid product is offered without a subscription.