English Surnames: Their Sources and Significations

"English Surnames: Their Sources and Significations" by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley is a late 19th-century exploration of the roots and meanings behind English family names. The book argues that names offer a window into the past, revealing the history and culture of the people who first bore them. Bardsley aims to fill a gap in scholarly knowledge by systematically categorizing and explaining different types of surnames, including those derived from a father's name, a place, or a job. The book promises a detailed journey into the stories hidden within the names we use every day.