The Encyclopedia of Surnames is not just another dictionary With entertaining coverage of more than 7,000 surnames listed alphabetically, it provides a complete and accessible companion to tracing the history of names. Written by John Ayto, a respected lexicographer and author of titles such as "Word Origins," the "Encyclopedia of Surnames" is the ideal gift or research tool for historians, journalists, genealogists, researchers and anyone interested in tracing their family history. Broad coverage includes supplementary features on famous surnames, surnames of fictional characters, pseudonyms and names from abroad which are popular in the UK, including Celtic names.