SURNAMES, DNA AND FAMILY HISTORY by Redmonds, King and Hey (Oxford University Press, £20)

The notion of a surname appears to have come here with a few of the Normans. If you could call having a surname a fashion, then it took a long time to catch on. Most people in the 11th century had a personal name and sometimes they had a nickname or a non-hereditary by-name (William Rufus is an example). It wasn’t until the 15th century that most English families had one, taken as it is now from the male line. The authors chart this process in this hugely informative study, which will be of great interest to anyone interested in family history.

They start by looking at earlier studies of surnames, particularly the Dictionary of English Surnames by Reaney. While they commend its achievements, they point out the weaknesses in the light of more recent research. They refer to recent work on 14th-century poll-tax returns, as well as the later hearth-tax returns and parish records of births, marriages and deaths as sources for the mapping of surname distributions over time. The book includes many examples of the distributions in 1881 of specific names in England and Wales (although sadly not Bloomfield).

Acknowledging that a multi-disciplinary approach is necessary, the authors then get to the meat and explain in detail how DNA analysis adds to the study of surnames. It’s all about the Y chromosome, which like a surname is passed down from father to son, and although they are at pains to assert that “it’s not a magic wand that will solve all problems” the technique does move our knowledge on considerably. They explain the various genetic markers, using good diagrams and plenty of examples. The significant impact of genetic mutation is also revealed.

The authors then link the results of the DNA analysis to their earlier thoughts on the origins of surnames, using DNA evidence to trace the changes in names over time and place, linking individuals with the same name or slightly differing spellings. They comment on “non-paternity” events, some implications for forensic science, and ancestry testing by commercial companies. It’s all fascinating stuff.