The Encyclopedia of American Last Names


Book Description

Find out how the names were formed, and get unique insights about the families who carried the names hundreds of years ago. A collection like no other. You'll find countless threads connecting people and places, gain new perspectives on topics covered in history books, and pick up some interesting trivia. Most important of all, it might be able to illuminate your own family heritage, or provide starting points for your own genealogical journey. It all starts with our not-so-simple heritage of last names -- things that really only came into existence a couple dozen generations ago. By understanding the stories behind these names, we can learn not just about our own lineage, but get a whole new perspective on many of the real flesh-and-blood people who walked this early long before us, and who have made it possible for us to stand here today.




Encyclopedia of American Family Names


Book Description

The definitive guide to the 5,000 most common surnames in the United States. With origins, variations, rankings, prominent bearers and published genealogies.




Dictionary of American Family Names


Book Description

Where did your surname come from? Do you know how many people in the United States share it? What does it tell you about your lineage? From the editor of the highly acclaimed Dictionary of Surnames comes the most extensive compilation of surnames in America. The result of 10 years of research and 30 consulting editors, this massive undertaking documents 70,000 surnames of Americans across the country. A reference source like no other, it surveys each surname giving its meaning, nationality, alternate spellings, common forenames associated with it, and the frequency of each surname and forename. The Dictionary of American Family Names is a fascinating journey throughout the multicultural United States, offering a detailed look at the meaning and frequency of surnames throughout the country. For students studying family genealogy, others interested in finding out more about their own lineage, or lexicographers, the Dictionary is an ideal place to begin research.




American Surnames


Book Description

Surnames. We all have them, but whose names were they originally? Whose are they? What do they mean and where do they come from? Elsdon Smith, America's leading authority on names, is the one man who definitely knows, and his book, American Surnames, is designed to answer these questions and more ...




Dictionary of American Family Names


Book Description

"This revised and expanded second edition of the Dictionary of American Family Names has been nearly eight years in the making. Thanks in large measure to the access that the Internet now gives us to vast quantities of data, scholarly reference works, and historical documents, it has been possible to extend the scope of the dictionary in a systematic fashion in order to reflect more accurately both the diversity of American family names and their true origins"--Provided by publisher.




Dictionary of American Family Names: O-Z


Book Description

Where did your surname come from? Do you know how many people in the United States share it? What does it tell you about your lineage? From the editor of the highly acclaimed Dictionary of Surnames comes the most extensive compilation of surnames in America. The result of 10 years of research and 30 consulting editors, this massive undertaking documents 70,000 surnames of Americans across the country. A reference source like no other, it surveys each surname giving its meaning, nationality, alternate spellings, common forenames associated with it, and the frequency of each surname and forename. The Dictionary of American Family Names is a fascinating journey throughout the multicultural United States, offering a detailed look at the meaning and frequency of surnames throughout the country. For students studying family genealogy, others interested in finding out more about their own lineage, or lexicographers, the Dictionary is an ideal place to begin research.




The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Names


Book Description

This comprehensive and thoroughly engaging reference examines the origins and meanings of thousands of first and last names, presented alphabetically. It also lists the 40 most popular male and female given names in the United States since 1930; the 1,000 most commonly found family names in the U.S. organized according to popularity; and the top 100 family names in each of the 50 states. An indispensable encyclopedia for anyone interested in looking up his or her name or finding one for a baby.




Dictionary of American Family Names


Book Description

A dictionary like no other, the Dictionary of American Family Names documents 70,314 surnames giving their meaning, nationality, alternate spellings, common forenames associated with them, and the frequency of each surname and forename. For students studying family genealogy, or others interested in finding out more about their own lineage, the Dictionary is an ideal place to begin research.




The Surnames Handbook


Book Description

Every surname has its own story to tell, and a surname study is a natural complement to family history research. The study of surnames has been revolutionised in the last decade with the increasing availability of online resources, and it is now easier than ever before to explore the history, evolution, distribution and meaning of your family name. The Surnames Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to researching your surname using genealogical methods in conjunction with the latest advances in DNA testing and surname mapping. The book explores the key resources that are used to study a surname and is packed with links to relevant websites giving you everything you need to research your surname in one compact volume.