Easiest way is with SUMIF(). See Excel Help for it for the details.
Basically, identify the cells with names as the first parameter, a cell where
you will enter one of the names (or an actual name), as the second parameter
and the cells with the numbers to be added as the 3rd parameter.

Assume list of names in cells A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 with some associated
numbers in column B on the same rows, and that you can enter any one of the
names into C1. This formula would give you total of numbers for the name
entered in C1:
=SUMIF(A1:A6,C1,B1:B6)


"Vercingetorix.I" wrote:

I need a formula to search for names in columns and then add the figures that
are in a different column, so for example i have names in one column and then
need to find each name and add the dollar amounts that are listed in another
column...