In "A Dictionary of Surnames," Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges have laid out where early last names come from and what they mean. Through research into genealogy and linguistics, they found the ...

It's much more complicated than the good old John Citizen concept. They might be married into the royal family, but Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton will never fully be able to shake their maiden ...

A fascinating book sheds light on the real meaning of a host of common surnames, based on how they have evolved from nicknames used in 13th century Britain. A Dictionary of Surnames, by Patrick ...