August Book Review
Each month our newsletter editorial staff review one of the books from our Genealogy Book Store powered by Amazon.com.
If you are interested in having us review a specific book in an upcoming edition please contact our editorial staff.
This month we are reviewing Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History by Dr. George F. Black.
This major reference work, first published in 1946, and reprinted in 1999, is a fully documented alphabetical
listing of over 8,000 Scottish family and personal names.
Despite being over 50 years old, it is an invaluable source of information for genealogists, historians
and families interested in their Scottish ancestry.
Over 800 pages in length it is a must have tool for anyone with a keen interest in Scottish ancestry
or any group devoted to Scottish genealogy research.
We find it difficult to find a single flaw with this book. It is well thought out and organized. It provides
great information that is easy to find. Dr. Black did an excellent job of compiling this masterful listing
of Scottish surnames using public and other records of Scotland as they appeared throughout the centuries.
It took him decades to compile his masterpiece. This dedication is something rarely seen in modern times.
One of the most impressive and detailed bibliographies we have ever encountered thoroughly details his extensive sources.
Dr. Black also remembers the historically phonetic nature of names and his lists generally include most,
if not all, of the variations of spelling for each name. The lists also includes the date when a name appeared
and the location, as well as some insights or explanations, where needed.
The book also includes an excellent glossary of obsolete or uncommon words to help you with your research.
Simply put this book is one of the staples of Scottish Genealogical Research and a must have for anyone interested
in this area. We highly recommend this book for these reasons.
About the Author
The late Dr. George Fraser Black, (1866-1948), a noted bibliographer and historical scholar
on the staff of The New York Public Library from 1896-1931, spent almost half a century on the research of this volume.
Miss Mary Elder Black, who had assisted her father in the preparation of the main text, also supplied the amendments
and additions included as an appendix.
More information on Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History by Dr. George F. Black can be found
by visiting our bookstore or Amazon.com
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