An informative and fascinating book which covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including traditional names as well as the very newest names. It covers pet names, variant spellings, and gives intriguing historical and linguistic information for names from Aaron to Zuleika.

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,...