Anybody who has ever wondered about the origin of a family name will find the answer in this new dictionary, which explains the origin and meaning of all the common surnames in the English-speaking world, together with many other rarer English names and foreign names. It also gives information, where possible, about their history and distribution, and about some of the notable people who have borne them. The dictionary is based on extensive study of the literature of surname research in all the major European languages. Specialist consultants for particular areas, including the Celtic languages, Iberian languages, and Jewish names, have provided much information not previously available. This title is also announced in the Oxford General Books catalogue for Autumn 1988.