The Romance of Names

"The Romance of Names" by Ernest Weekley is a book that uncovers the fascinating stories behind our last names. The book explores the origins of surnames, revealing how they developed from personal names, where people lived, what jobs they held, or even nicknames they once had. It shows how language and history have changed names over long periods, including spelling and sound shifts. The book looks at old lists of names from the medieval times to show how surnames evolved and became important parts of cultural identity.