Names studies

2003 Library Journal Best Reference Source

2003 Booklist Editors' Choice

The Dictionary of American Family Names contains more than 70,000 of the most commonly occurring surnames in the United States, giving their comparative frequencies, linguistic and historical explanations, selected associated forenames, and occasional genealogical notes. The product of a ten-year research project gathering the contributions of thirty linguistic consultants led by Editor in Chief Patrick Hanks, it explains the meanings—some intuitive, some amusing, and some quite surprising—of the family names for more than 90 percent of the U.S. population.

“Another volume for every local historian's bookshelf” - Local Historian

This revised edition of the Dictionary of British Place-Names includes over 17,000 engaging and informative entries, tracing the development of the featured place-names from earliest times to the present day. Included place-names range from the familiar to the obscure, among them 'Beer', 'Findlater', 'Broadbottom', and 'Great Snoring'. The A to Z entries are complemented by a detailed introductory essay discussing the chronology and development of English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish place-names, as well as an extensive bibliography, maps of Britain showing old and new boundaries, and a glossary of common elements in place-names.

Both accessible and up to date, this dictionary is an ideal companion for anybody travelling around the British Isles, as well as for researchers and students with an interest in toponomy, local history, cartography, and lexicography.

Over 6,000 names

‘I have returned to this dictionary again and again for sheer pleasure?’ — Financial Times

We all have a first name, but how many of us really know its origin and history? This dictionary covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including the traditional and the very newest. It tells you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and who the famous fictional or historical bearers of the name have been. It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation.

Have you ever wondered where the unusual names of Elephant and Castle, Grim's Ditch, Soho, and World's End come from? Find out the linguistic and historical origins of these place-names and discover their significance in recording English cultural heritage. From Abbey Road to Canary Wharf and Piccadilly to Whipps Cross, this authoritative and absorbing dictionary covers the meanings behind over 1,700 names of places, streets, stations, and areas of London.

The book comprises two main parts: a fascinating introduction, located on the Preface tab, discussing the chronology and structure of London place-names following the development of the city from pre-Celtic times to the present day; and an A-Z of the place-names themselves, giving their date of first record, origins, and associations. It also features 9 maps of London, a useful glossary of the elements in London place-names, and a select bibliography.

Now revised and updated to include the latest in names research and to include new place-names, this remains an excellent reference guide for local historians and a captivating read for both Londoners and visitors to the city.

Over 45,000 entries

This huge new dictionary is the ultimate reference work on family names of the UK, covering English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames. It includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers, and those that had more than 20 bearers in the 1881 census.

Each entry contains lists of variant spellings of the name, an explanation of its origins (including the etymology), lists of early bearers showing evidence for formation and continuity from the date of formation down to the 19th century, geographical distribution, and, where relevant, genealogical and bibliographical notes, making this a fully comprehensive work on family names.

This authoritative guide also includes an introductory essay explaining the historical background, formation, and typology of surnames and a guide to surnames research and family history research. Additional material also includes a list of published and unpublished lists of surnames from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Over 10 500 entries

This dictionary explores the history, meanings, and origin of place names around the world. It covers countries, regions, islands, cities, and towns, giving the name in the local language, as well as key historical facts associated with many place names.

In addition to the entries themselves, the dictionary includes a glossary of foreign word elements which appear in place names and their meanings, and a list of personalities and leaders from all over the world who have influenced the naming of places.