A Concise Dictionary of Surnames

The linguistic meaning and development of over 70,000 surnames are covered in this reference work. Clear and concise entries cover a wide range of names from Britain, Europe, North and South America, New Zealand, and many other countries where surnames are of European origin. It features an introduction on surname distribution, and the typology of surnames (including patronymic surnames, local names, habitation names, occupational names and so forth). Variants and diminutives are included, and the extensive cross-referencing should make this an easy-to-use and useful guide for anyone interested in the origin of surnames.