Defines the meanings of American surnames and lists their geographical origins.

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

This Dictionary is part of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format. The fascinating and informative Dictionary of First Names covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including the very newest names as well as traditional names. From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this book will answer all your questions: it will tell 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 for the name have been. It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The book includes extensive appendices covering names from languages including Scottish, Irish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese names. Tables of the most popular names by year and by region are also included. From the traditional to the rare and unconventional, this book will tell you everything you need to know about names.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain provides information on almost all names with more than 30 bearers in the UK 2011 census, based on the latest research. Each of the around 43,500 entries covers the name's etymology, variants, frequency, and historical and geographical distribution.

Containing entries for more than 45,000 English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames, The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland is the ultimate reference work on family names of the UK. The Dictionary includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers. 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.

LOOKING FOR A NAME THAT MEANS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO YOU? Given the dizzying array of choices available, picking the right name for your baby can be daunting. Why waste hours looking through one long alphabetical list of names just to burn out even before you've run through A, B, and C? In this creative twist on the traditional name book, Baby Names Made Easy offers selections organized into categories of meaning, making it easier than ever to choose a name that is significant to you. Traditional or trendy, American in origin or from all over the globe, the names here cover an array of topics. For example, look under: Animals & Insects (and find "Naia" -- Hawaiian for "dolphin") Victory (and find "Vincent" -- Latin for "conquerer") Love & Affection (and find "Mia" -- Italian for "mine") Religion & Faith (and find "Dev" -- Sanskrit for "God") The book's handy alphabetical index makes cross-referencing easy, so you can find the perfect name in no time. Baby Names Made Easy is a practical and one-of-a-kind reference for anyone searching for the most important gift they can give their child.