This reference work investigates the etymological origins and historical development of over 16,000 surnames currently in use within the English language. P. H. Reaney and R. M. Wilson utilize extensive archival research, including medieval tax records, parish registers, and historical census data, to trace the evolution of family names from their earliest recorded forms. The text provides a systematic framework for understanding how occupational, locative, and patronymic identifiers transitioned into permanent hereditary surnames.

Experts and genealogists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for onomastic research due to its rigorous historical methodology. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive resource for those tracing family history or linguistic evolution.