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The Origin of English Surnames by Percy H Reaney is a nonfiction available to read on EtoBox.

What is The Origin of English Surnames about?

Modern English surnames are a miscellaneous jumble, ultimately from some medieval word, personal-name or placename, all subject to changes of pronunciation and spelling. Words once common have disappeared and names, now meaningless, have been modified by popular etymology and phonetic spelling. Some names, apparently obvious, have the medieval, not the modern meaning. Others point to a dialectal origin or a Scandinavian or French source. Among the subjects discussed in this book are the classification of surnames; surnames of women, servants and apprentices; patronymics and metronymics; names from occupations, medieval pageants, minstrelsy and drama, Local surnames from English villages, insignificant and lost places are listed, and special attention has been given to the identification of surnames from French places. Chapters are included on the development of hereditary surnames, and on the homes of family names. The book is an interpretation and extension of the author's A Dictionary of British Surnames, with numerous new examples. It is etymological and explanatory, not genealogical, though this aspect has not been ignored. To the genealogist it will be of great value, and for

Who reads The Origin of English Surnames?

It is typically read by self-directed learners exploring a subject in depth.

Common subject areas: history, science, philosophy, social sciences.

Author
Percy H Reaney
Publisher
Routledge & Kegan Paul Books Ltd
Published
1967
Language
EN
ISBN
9780710028853
Category
nonfiction
Subjects
History, Language Learning, Historical Fiction

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