The Oxford Dictionary defines etymology as the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
So how does this relate to my family history research? Knowing how your ancestors given and surnames may have changed over time could make the difference between finding, or not finding their records. But we have some great resources to help you research your ancestors changing names. See below.
Cassell Dictionary of Proper Names
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A Dictionary of Names, Nicknames, and Surnames of Persons, Places and Things
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The Facts on File Dictionary of First Names
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A Handbook of Scandinavian Names
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Our Names: Where they came from and what they mean
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Webster's Dictionary of Proper Names
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What's in a name? : how proper names became everyday words
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Christian Names in Local and Family History
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A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History
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A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire
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A dictionary of names, nicknames, and surnames of persons, places and things
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A Dictionary of Names, Nicknames, and Surnames of Persons, Places and Things
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Hispanic Surnames and Family History
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In Search of Your Asian Roots
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Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames
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Scottish Clan and Family Names
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Surnames, DNA, and Family History
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