Patronymica Britannica

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. I am sure that my reader will excuse, while the author will pardon, my making a few extracts from this singular and entertaining melange of Surnames. It is right to bear in mind that the author has sometimes regarded their apparent, rather than their actual, derivations and original meanings. Mr. Bowditch acknowledges the assistance he received from the article in the Edinburgh Review above mentioned, and from Mr. Dixon's publication, as well as from what he is pleased to call my elaborate essay. He adds Had I seen these publications at an earlier period, the great extent of the subject would have deterred me altogether. I am sure that many, in common with myself, will feel glad that Mr. Bowditch's reading in this direction was originally thus limited.