Research Guides: COM 287: Persuasive Speaking: Name Speech

Books

Come to Reference Desk, 2nd Floor Young Library, for a selection of Name books.

Dictionary of American Family Names From the editor of the highly acclaimed Dictionary of Surnames comes the most extensive compilation of surnames in America. The result of 10 years of research and 30 consulting editors, this massive undertaking documents 70,000 surnames of Americans across the country.
Call Number: Reference CS2485 .D53 2003
A Dictionary of First Names From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this book will answer all your questions: it will tell you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and who the famous fictional or historical bearers for the name have been.
Call Number: Online - Full Text Available
A Dictionary of Surnames Anybody who has ever wondered about the origin of a family name will find the answer in this new dictionary, which explains the origin and meaning of all the common surnames in the English-speaking world, together with many other rarer English names and foreign names.
Call Number: Refererce CS2385 .H27 1988
The Surnames of Ireland
Call Number: Reference CS2411 .M25 1969
Surnames of Scotland
Call Number: Online - Full Text Available

Start Here First!

Onomastics, or onomatology, is the study of names. In this speech assignment, your task is to study your own name and the meaning behind it. The New York Public Library has created an insightful guide called "Names Have Meaning: A Research Guide for Baby Names and Family Names."

The guide works as an excellent road map for your assignment and we highly encourage you to read through it before you begin your research. Once you have done so, you can begin using the books and web resources listed on this page to discover more information about your name.

If you need help at any point, please feel free to get in touch with us. We are here to help you succeed!

Web Resources

Ancestry.com
- Discover the meaning and history behind your last name!
- You can type in your last name to learn facts like the following: Meaning and history of your name, where your family lived in the US and UK, average life expectancy, and common occupations.
Behind the Name
- This online dictionary allows you to explore the etymology and history of your first name.
- You'll also be able to see related names and the popularity of your name throughout history and different countries.
The Social Security Administration
- Since 1880, the Social Security Administration has been tracking the most popular names across the United States, including by state.
- You can search your name to see how its popularity has changed over time and you can also search to see what names were the most popular by state for a given year.