The Origin & Signification of Scottish Surnames With ... Christian Names

By Clifford Stanley Sims

Originally published in 1862, Clifford Sim's book presents common Scottish surnames with a brief explanation of each surname's origin. The author's surname derivations are based on localities, baptismal names, trades, offices, professions, etc. 

Some descriptions of surname origin are as much as a page in length...others, only a line or two.

An example of the variance in description can be found with the surnames CHRISTIE and CLELAND which appear one after the other.

• CHRISTIE is a simple description of:
  • CHRISTIE: "A diminutive of Christopher, which signifies Christ's carrier"

• CLELAND has a more complete description:
  • CLELAND: "Local: From the lands of Cleland in Lanarkshire. James Cleland of that ilk was the associate of Wallace, and received from Robert Bruce several lands in the Baroney of Calder. He was the ancestor of William Cleland of that ilk, who by Jean his wife, daughter of William Lord Somerville, was progenitor of the Clelands of Cleland , Faskin, Monkland, and Cartness. The family arms are derived from the office they held of hereditary foresters to the Earls of Douglass." 

Many surname descriptions are much lengthier than the CLELAND example, though few are shorter than the CHRISTIE example. 

Also included is a long list of Christian names and their meanings. The Christian name descriptions are typically one word.

Two examples are: 

• "Lionel - A little lion"
• "Phoebe - Radiant" 
  

Details

122 pp
5.5" X 8.5"
Coil bound
Originally published Albany, NY, 1862
This edition published by Global Heritage Press, Milton, 2003 
ISBN 1-894378-75-X (coil-bound)