Percy Hide Reaney Manuscripts

The surviving research papers of Percy Hide Reaney, philologist and researcher in personal and place names, 1946 to 1967

The extant material in the collection consists of the post-World War II papers of Dr Percy Hide Reaney (?1890-1968), noted philologist and researcher of personal and place names, and author of numerous related publications. Reaney is chiefly remembered as the author of A Dictionary of British Surnames (1958), The Origin of English Place-Names (1960), and The Origin of English Surnames (1967). The documents in the collection relate primarily to the two works on surnames, and additionally to articles related to onomastics published in various periodicals and transactions of local and philological societies. The notes may also have been used in Dr Reaney's contributions to the English Place-Name Society series (in particular Essex and Suffolk).

The collection comprises working notes, offprints and articles, some correspondence, an annotated copy of A Dictionary of British Surnames, and a proof copy of The Origin of English Surnames.

Unfortunately Reaney's earlier research papers were destroyed in the Blitz.

Dr Reaney had a close connection with Sheffield, being born here in ?1890, and with the University of Sheffield, graduating B.A. in 1911, M.A. in 1913, and taking the degree of D.Litt. in 1935, being only the second person to do so. He was in addition a Ph.D. (London, 1931). Other achievements included: Leverhulme Research Fellow in English (1940-41), member of the Council of the English Place-Name Society, the Council of the Philological Society, and the Essex Archaeological Society, and Chairman of Walthamstow Antiquarian Society.

By category

Available to all researchers, by appointment

Bequeathed to the University of Sheffield Library, 1963

Description prepared by Lawrence Aspden

Outline list: NRA 64R, Ref. No. 24162

Copyright: University of Sheffield Library