Encyclopedia of Surnames: The Complete Companion to Tracing Your Name's History | 
 enlarge | Author: John Ayto
Publisher: A&C Black
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $14.03
You Save: $8.92 (39%)
New (31) from $14.03
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 874672
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 0713681446
Dewey Decimal Number: 929.4203
EAN: 9780713681444
ASIN: 0713681446
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Ships by USPS. 1+ million customers served-In business since 1986. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. Toll Free Support
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
With entertaining coverage of more than 7,000 surnames, this book provides a complete and accessible companion to tracing the history of names. Written by John Ayto, a respected lexicographer and author of Word Origins, this is the ideal research tool for historians, journalists, genealogists, researchers, and anyone interested in tracing their family history.
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| Customer Reviews:
 The latest in last names! April 28, 2008
I purchased this encyclopedia of surnames as a gift for my 88-year-old father who has a real interest in the origin of last names. He has really enjoyed referring to it, even as he watched the NFL draft, looking up many of the players' names.
Although there are 6,000 entries, there were many unlisted names. This was disappointing for us but didn't diminish our interest in those that are listed. This is the only publication of this type that I could find.
 You Can Find A Better Name Book April 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Certainly not what I was expecting. I could only find ONE family name in this book and it's a very common name and I already knew where it's origin was.
Only very common surnames in this book. Very little background info. Irritatingly most last names, instead of deep origins, have names of celebrities and historical, literary subjects next to the name.
I found out more about surnames just asking kids in grade school and people I worked with! I worked with a lady last name Olsen. I asked her if she had Swedish ancestry. She said it was Norwegian since they end their names in "sen" instead of "son." This book so far doesn't clarify that. I have a grandfather names Deskins. I had heard "kins" means a Welsh ancestry. I could only find the name Jenkins and it did not indicate anything Welsh.
I found NO other family names especially my husband's which is Polish/Czech.
A real disappointment. There are better name books out there I'm sure.
Or just ask classmates and fellow workers what their last names mean.
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