In Search of Your Asian Roots : Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames [Paperback]

Sheau-yueh J. Chao (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0806349468 | ISBN-13: 978-0806349466 | Publication Date: June 1, 2009

The German Element in St. Louis constitutes one of the best snapshots we have of culture and society in a German-American community on the eve of World War I. At the outset, the author provides, street-by-street, the edifices and some of the personalities--the brewers, the politicians, the ministers, etc.--whose energies were at the heart of turn-of-the-century St. Louis. Part II is concerned with German-American life and institutions, such as German music and theater, religious denominations, the Turner societies, and the important German Immigration Society of St. Louis. The focus of the final section of the book is upon business and industry. Includes a name index with over 3,500 entries pertaining to German-Americans mentioned in the book.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Listing names, important terms, and titles in English and Chinese, this reference work categorizes and discusses the origins of 622 Chinese surnames. In addition, it has introductory material, a history of surnames, long bibliographies of works in Chinese and English, and some Chinese history. In an interesting chapter on the history and origin of Chinese surnames, Chao, a librarian at Baruch College in New York, particularly notes that a handful of names (Li, Wang, Chang, Liu, Chao, Yen, Ch'en, Sun, Ma, and Wu) are by far the most common of hundreds of surnames. Given names, of course, are a matter of family choice and not based on precedent. Chao does not note the meanings of names unless the meaning is involved in the origin, and she distinguishes different listings (the five different Chung listings, for example) by their Chinese characters. This reference, which seems very complete and up to date, should be useful for Chinese Americans searching for their roots, although Chao assumes some knowledge of written Chinese. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries serving a large Chinese population.DKitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Clearfield (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806349468
• ISBN-13: 978-0806349466
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,354,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's simply an essential 'must have' reference for any conducting more than a casual investigation into Asian family history., December 10, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Your Asian Roots : Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames (Paperback)

In Search of Your Asian Roots: Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing recommendation as a unique coverage - one of the few - to focus on the special challenges of researching Asian archives. Names and titles are listed in both Chinese and English, discussing the origins of some six hundred surnames and adding in Chinese history which traces the changes to these surname styles over the centuries. It's simply an essential 'must have' reference for any conducting more than a casual investigation into Asian family history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch