Dictionary of American Family Names (3 volume set)

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195081374
• ISBN13: 9780195081374
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 2128 Pages
• Weight: 4.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 9.5" x 11.5"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Very good resource.

So far in the names that I have been looking up in my family tree I have found that these three books have most of it. Sometimes I have to look around to find a surname similar to mine to see if mine is off some. Only a few names have I not been able to find in here.

Mandatory book for everybody interested in origin of surnames

Dictionary of American Family Names (DAFN) is a major work by Patrick Hanks. It contains circa 70,000 surnames from the United States, showing their origin and meaning. As US is a melting-pot of nations so there are (in US) surnames of the whole world: Europe (whole), Jewish, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, East Asia. The introductory portion of the book describes surnames of particular nations, languages and cultures. I think that the idea of writing DAFN was very interesting, namely mentioning surnames of US, it (DAFN) mentions surnames of the whole world. That is why I've bought DAFN. As a matter of fact I've got "A Dictionary of Surnames" by Patrick Hanks - 1988 edition, but DAFN is more up-to-date. Besides both dictionaries may be complementary to one another. Very important is a contribution to a DAFN by many contributors and consultants of the whole world. Patrick Hanks wrote to me 25.02.2008 among other things: "The consultant for Polish names was Professor Aleksandra Cieslikowa of the Institute for the Polish language in Krakow, who did a magnificent job." Of course I made sure of credibility of DAFN in the field of Polish surnames. I compared DAFN to Polish Dictionary of surnames in respect of etymology and went well! Finally, I think Patrick Hanks is a leading authority on world names. Radoslaw Zielezinski (Poland)