A Dictionary Of Family History

An A-to-Z genealogy reference for those who want to research their family trees. Part encyclopedia, part dictionary, part almanac, this is a practical, easy-to-use reference, filled with thousands of fact-filled A-to-Z entries. You’ll find: *definitions of genealogy terms *timelines *details of available archives and websites *advice on research methods *explanations of genealogical peculiarities and puzzles that would test the knowledge of even veteran researchers With an emphasis on families with ancestors from Great Britain, this book includes many intriguing historical tidbits, such as the mechanics of the first census. For those interested in family, local, and social history, it’s both a useful tool and an enjoyable compendium.

A standard reference for family historians which provides detailed information on archives, the legal system, religious practice, education, topography, migration and origins or surnames, amongst other subjects.

"Researching family history is one of the most popular leisure activities throughout the world. The wide variety of documents which survive in this country, and overseas, make it possible for genealogists to unearth many generations of ancestors, some as far back as Domesday Book. They can learn about their ancestors' everyday lives and the area in which they lived. To do this, family historians need to extend their knowledge of archives, the legal system, legislation, law enforcement, professions, religion, education, topography, origins of surnames, migration and much more. For this a reference work is an essential tool. The Dictionary of Genealogy provides a very extensive glossary of all the terms encountered in such research. Illustrations provide an easy recognition of all the relevant documents in English and Latin. Supplementary tables and lists make this the most useful one-volume guide on the market for family historians."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Containing entries for more than 45,000 English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames, The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland is the ultimate reference work on family names of the UK. The Dictionary includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers. 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.

With the increasing interest in family history, this dictionary provides both amateur and professional local and family historians with answers to questions they may have about terminology such as boon work, pontage and prodigy houses.

Presents a detailed list of meanings for abbreviations, alphabetic symbols, initials, contractions, and shortenings of words found in both original records and printed sources used in genealogy. Listings are arranged alphabetically, appear just as they would in the original documents, and include a brief explanation or description. Useful as a reference for genealogists, historians, and reference librarians. Sperry teaches family history at Brigham Young University. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR