The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History

by George F. Black

Overview

The classic A-to-Z reference on genealogy and Scottish history with details “drawn from official or other accredited sources . . . duly referred to and catalogued” (Times Literary Supplement).

First published by the New York Public Library in 1946, George F. Black’s The Surnames of Scotland has long established itself as one of the great classics of genealogy. Arranged alphabetically, each entry contains a concise history of the family in question (with many cross-references), making it an indispensable tool for those researching their own family history, as well as readers with a general interest in Scottish history. An informative introduction and glossary also provide much useful information.

“A monumental work.” —Guide to Reference Books, 9th ed. (American Library Association)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788852968
Publisher:	Birlinn, Limited
Publication date:	07/07/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	912
Sales rank:	327,406
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

George Fraser Black (1866–1948) was a Scottish-born American librarian, historian and linguist. He worked at the New York Public Library for 35 years, and he was the author of several books about Scottish culture. His monumental study of Scottish surnames was written over a period of 40 years.

Read an Excerpt

Excerpted from Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History by G. Black. Copyright © 1984. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Sample names entries from Surnames of Scotland:

CAMACHA. A tribe descended from the Stewarts of Garth, "are called Camachas or Crookshanks, from a bend or deformity in his leg, by which their ancestor was distinguished from others of his name" (Stewart, I, p. 27).

MACCOMB, Maccombe. From G. Mac Thom, 'son of Tom' now often Englished Thom. The b is accretionary. Gilchrist Makcome, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder in 1526 (RSS., I, 3386). Roger M.Com appears in Netherglen, 1679 (Kirkcudbright), and Robert McKome was charged with being a disorderly person in the parish of Carsfern, 1684 (RPC., 3. Ser. Ix, p. 574). In the Parish Lists of Wigtownshire and Minnigaff, 1684, the name also appears as McColm, McComb, McCome, and McKComb.

Editorial Reviews

Details of the names are drawn from official or other accredited sources, which are duly referred to and catalogued.

Times Literary Supplement (London)