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There is a publication which I would love to have. It is very extensively researched going back to the 11th century. It is The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland.
It costs £400.00 but it should be available in Libraries.
https://www.oxfordreference.com/view...-9780199677764This huge new dictionary is the ultimate reference work on family names of the UK, covering English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames. It includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers, and those that had more than 20 bearers in the 1881 census.
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 Additional material also includes a list of published and unpublished lists of surnames from the Middle Ages to the present day.
- Covers over 45,000 family names in the UK, including immigrant names
- Each entry includes the current and 1881 frequencies of the name, its main GB location, and its language or culture of origin
- Each main entry explains the name's origins and history, supported by a selection of early bearers taken from a wide range of sources such as wills, tax records, court records, parish registers, Nonconformist circuit records, and many other documents
- Entries for variants direct the reader to the main entry where the history and etymology of the name is covered
- Contains a full list of published and unpublished sources consulted
- Introductory essay explains the origin, history, and typology of family names in Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere in the world, the research methods used, the sources used. and some of the problems encountered in researching family names
- Explains many surnames never previously explained and corrects many widely believed errors in the light of new evidence
Feel free to post any information you have about surnames from Britain and Ireland.
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