Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set [Hardcover]

Patrick Hanks (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195081374 | ISBN-13: 978-0195081374 | Publication Date: May 8, 2003

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-This scholarly dictionary contains more than 70,000 entries-covering 85 to 90 percent of the U.S. population-and is the most comprehensive collection of American surnames ever produced. Hanks and contributors used the 1997 ProCD phone directory to create a truly multicultural work, with a vast array of names from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Entries include each name's frequency of occurrence in the database; language(s), origin(s), and definition(s); associated given names; and, for some, the earliest known bearer in North America (or other historical notes). The lengthy introductory material covers the history of surnames, types of names, and-in 23 separate essays-surnames from particular countries/ethnic groups (including bibliographies). This set will be useful for genealogists, historians, and others curious about their family roots. However, it is not written for the layperson, and most students will need assistance in interpreting entries. Unfortunately, there are no glossaries that define genealogical, grammatical, and linguistic terms, and teens are likely to puzzle over such words as metonymic, agent derivative, byname, cognate, etc. Another drawback is that while there are cross-references to main entries (e.g., Roecker, "variant of ROCKER"), there are none going in the other direction; and some names mentioned as variations don't receive their own listing (for instance, Van der Werken, which appears to be absent, is actually discussed under Vanderwalker). Still, Family Names is a valuable contribution and will likely become the definitive source in this area.
Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

This hefty set purports to outline the etymology of 70,000 American family surnames. The introduction claims that more than 85 percent of Americans will be able to locate their family name in these volumes. The population sample for compiling this resource was 88.7 million, roughly one-third of all U.S. inhabitants. Names are ordered alphabetically across the three volumes, with each entry containing the frequency of the name's occurrence, etymology, languages, spelling variants, typology (identifying when the name denotes a place, occupation, status, or forebear), regions in which the name appears, and cross-references. The entries are clear and lucid, without reliance on confusing abbreviations or symbols.

As the helpful general introduction indicates, the Dictionary is intended only to be a starting point for etymological or genealogical research. This introduction also has brief but informative sections about names in specific regions or time periods (ancient Rome, for example), and hereditary, patronymic, habitational, topographic, and seasonal names. A second introductory section, "Surnames, Forenames, and Correlations: Some Facts and Figures," explains the survey population as well as the normalization and presentation of the data. A third opening segment, "Introductions to Surnames of Particular Languages and Cultures," is particularly helpful in its specificity, providing information on surname history in regions ranging from the British Isles to East Asia, in addition to chronicling immigration patterns. Anyone can benefit from this information, whether they find their actual family name here or not. Each one of these introductory chapters contains its own bibliography, though it should be noted that many of the sources listed in the regional sections are not in English.

The introductory chapters provide more than 100 pages of helpful advice for researchers both using these volumes as well as going beyond them for further investigation. Additionally, clear structure and layout make this work a great source for lightning-quick reference into the origins of one's family name. The Dictionary of American Family Names is a useful tool for both the beginning and advanced researcher and is recommended for academic and large public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 2128 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195081374
• ISBN-13: 978-0195081374
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory book for everybody interested in origin of surnames, April 6, 2008

By 

Radoslaw Zielezinski (Poznan, Poland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set (Hardcover)

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)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good resource., April 21, 2008

By 

Michael D. Pelletier "Pelletier" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set (Hardcover)

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.