Surnames as a Science

The name may be represented in our Wambey, though it is perhaps quite as likely to be from some Danish place-name in by, such as Wanby or Wandby. Wampen, however, if there is such a stem, might be placed to it.

STRANG, STRONG, STRANK, STRANGWARD, STRANGWICK, STRINGLE, STRINGFELLOW

There are two A.S. forms, strang and streng, represented in the above. The only Anglo-Saxon names that I can find are a Stranglic dux in a charter of Ina, and a Streng, found in Strengeshô, "Streng's grave-mound." Stranglic is the A.S. stranglic, strong, and looks like a sobriquet which had superseded his original name. Streng might be the same as far as it is itself concerned, but there is an O.G. Strangulf (ulf, wolf) which, along with our own names Strangward and Strangwick, strongly suggests an ancient baptismal name, and a formation in accordance with the Teutonic system. The last name, Stringfellow, must have been a sobriquet, – it probably represents a mediæval Strengfelaw, and has been rather curiously corrupted, owing to the meaning of streng not being recognised.

STRAY, STRAW, STRETCH, STREEK, STRAIN, STRICKETT, STRAIGHT

Closely allied to strang and streng are A.S. strac and strec, violent, powerful, brave, whence I take the above. The only ancient names to correspond are an O.G. Strago, ninth century, and Strocgo, eighth century. Strain and Straight represent respectively the forms Stragin and Stragget, formed with the endings in en and in et referred to in Chapter II.

STARK, STARKIE, STARR, STARCH, STURGE, STURGIN, STURGEON, STERICKER

From the A.S. stearc, sterc, O.H.G. starah, starh, stiff, strong, I take the above. This form starc seems formed by metathesis from the above strac, – indeed, all the three forms, strang, strack, and stark, are etymologically very closely allied. This stem enters distinctly into the Teutonic system, but besides the simple form Stark, corresponding with O.G. Starco and Staracho, we have only Stericker, corresponding with an O.G. Starcher (her, warrior).

EAVESTAFF, LANGSTAFF, WAGSTAFF, HACKSTAFF, SHAKESTAFF, COSTIFF

These names ending in staff might naturally be taken to have been sobriquets, to be classed along with Shakespear, Breakspear, and other names of the same kind. But as regards two of them at least, Hackstaff and Shakestaff, there may be something more to be said. There is an ending staf in Teutonic names, for which Grimm, referring to Gustaf, thinks of O.H.G. stab, A.S. staf, staff, – in the sense, as I should suppose, of baton, or staff of office. There are only discovered as yet two Old German names with this ending, Chustaff and Sigestab. The former, which seems to be from cunst or cust, science, learning, may be the original of the Swedish Gustaf, and possibly of Costiff, one of the curious names gathered by Mr. Lower. Corresponding with the O.G. Sigestab, we find an A.S. Sigistef, a moneyer of Coenwulf. And there is also a Hehstaf, witness to a charter (Thorpe, p. 69). Shakestaff, then, might be a not very difficult corruption of Sigestef (which in the form of Sicestaf would approach still nearer). And Hackstaff might represent the A.S. Hehstaf, in which the second h was no doubt strongly aspirated, and might be more like a hard c. I, however, only bring this forward as a possible explanation; there is quite as much to be said for the other view, unless other ancient names turn up.

NAGLE, NAIL, HARTNOLL, DARNELL, TUFFNELL, HORSENAIL, HOOFNAIL, ISNELL, BRAZNELL, COPPERNOLL

There is in my view no more curious or puzzling set of names than those which, as above, are derived from nagel or nail, clavis. It appears to me, though the line is difficult to draw, that they may be divided into two groups, one of which is the representative of ancient baptismal names, and the other of surnames of a later, perhaps a mediæval, date.

Connected with the former we have Nagle and Nail, corresponding with an O.G. Nagal, ninth century, and an A.S. Negle and Næle, found in place-names, p. 101. Then there are two Old German compounds, Hartnagal (hard nail) and Swarnagal (heavy nail), respectively of the eighth and ninth centuries. The former of these two names we have as Hartnoll, and the Germans have it as Härtnagel. Then I find two more examples among the Anglo-Saxons, Spernægle in a charter of manumission at Exeter, and Dearnagle in a place-name, p. 98. Spernægle is "spear-nail," and Dearnagle is probably the same, from O.N. dörr, spear. The latter of these two names we seem to have as Darnell, and the Germans as Thürnagel. Then we have Tuffnell, which, as Mr. Lower mentions, was in the seventeenth century spelt Tufnaile, and might be taken to mean "tough-nail," but for this we find no corresponding ancient name. There is a Celtic Dufnal, to which, as being a name adopted from them by the Northmen, and so having an increased chance of being represented, it might perhaps be placed. But if this be the case (which I rather doubt), it would have nothing to do with the present group. The sense in these ancient names may be taken to be a warlike one, as in the case of other names having the meaning of point or edge, acies. We find Nægling as the name given by an Anglo-Saxon to his sword, in accordance with the ancient custom, prevalent both among the Celts and the Saxons, of giving names to weapons, and this assists to point the meaning as that of edge, acies. And it seems to me hardly necessary to assume, with Mone (Heldensage), any connection with the mythological smith, Weland.

Then there is another set of names of which we have a considerable number, and the Germans still more, which appear to have been given at a later period, and to be perhaps, at least in some cases, derived from trade. Such are Horsnail, and the corresponding German Rosnagel; Hoofnail, and the German Hufnagel; while there are others, such as Isnell (iron nail), Coppernoll (and Germ. Kupfernagel), about which I hardly know what to think.

HONE, HEAN, HEANEY, ONKEN, ENNOR, HONNER, HENFREY, ENRIGHT, ONWHYN, ENOUGH

A very common stem in A.S. names is ean, the meaning of which remains yet unexplained. We seem to have received it both in the Low German form ean and the High German form aun or on. The Honingas (Oningas) among the early settlers must, I think, be placed to it. It is very apt to intermix with another stem an, to which I formerly placed a few names which I think should come in here.

Stem ean, en, aun, on.

A.S. Eana, Enna (found in Ennanbeorh), Hean (found in Heanspôl, &c). Also Onna (found in Onnandun). Hona, found in Honingas. Ona, Lib. Vit. O.G. Ono, Oni. Eng. Hean, Heaney, Hone. Fries. Onno.

Diminutive

A.S. Honekyn (found in Honekyntûn, now Hankerton). Eng. Onken.

Compounds

(Frid, peace), A.S. Eanfrith – O.G. Aunefrit, Onfred – Eng. Henfrey.42 (Hari, warrior), O.G. Onheri – O.N. Onar – Eng. Honnor, Ennor. (Rad, Red, counsel), A.S. Eanred – O.G. Onrada – Eng. Enright (=Enrat?). (Wine, friend), A.S. Eanwini, Inwine (found in Inwines burg) – Eng. Onwhyn. (Wulf, wolf), A.S. Eanulf – O.G. Aunulf brother of Odoaker, fifth century – Eng. Enough. (Ward guardian), Eng. Onword.

IMPEY, EMPEY, HEMP, HAMP, HAMPER, HEMPER

Mr. Kemble finds Impingas in Impington, in Cambridgeshire, though it would seem incorrectly, as far as the tribe or family is concerned, the name being only that of a man, Impin. The name Impa is found also in Ympanleage, in Worcestershire. A sufficient meaning may perhaps be found in A.S. impan, to plant, engraft. To this stem I place Impey, Hemp, and probably Hamp, while Hamper and Hemper may be compounds (hari, warrior). There is a stem umb in Old German names, which may perhaps claim relationship.

CAUNCE, CHANCE, CHANCEY, CHANCELL, CANSICK, KENSAL, KENSETT

The Cenesingas, found by Kemble in Kensington, would, if the Anglo-Saxons had possessed the requisite letters, have been better represented by Kenzingas, being, as I take it, from a stem ganz, genz, kenz, referred by Foerstemann to ganz, integer. I am inclined to take our names Chance, Chancey, &c., to represent the form kanz in a softened form, come to us through the Normans. The forms of the name in the Roll of Battle Abbey, Kancey, Cauncy, and Chauncy, and the present French names, Cance, Chanceau, and Chanzy, seem to be in conformity with this view. The French seem to have some other names from the same stem, as Cançalon (O.G. Gansalin) and Gantzère (O.G. Gentsar). The forms Cansick, Kensal (both diminutives, and the latter answering to Chancel), and Kensett, may be taken to represent the native form of the stem as found in Kenzingas.

SNOAD, SNODIN, SNOWDEN (?), SNODGRASS

Of the Snotingas, who gave the name to Snotingaham, now Nottingham, we have not many traces, either in Anglo-Saxon times or at present. There are three Anglo-Saxon names, Snode, Snodd, and Snoding, derived from place-names, p. 102. In Old German names it only occurs as the ending of two or three names of women. The meaning is to be found in A.S. snot, prudent, sagacious. The name Snodgrass may be a compound from this stem as a corruption of Snodgast, though no ancient correspondent has turned up, – compare Prendergrass, p. 114.

THRALE

This is a very uncommon name; I never knew of an instance other than that of the brewer who is handed down to posterity as the friend of Johnson. So also in ancient times there is only one name on record, Thralo, for which Foerstemann proposes Old Friesic, thrall, swift, nimble.

EARWAKER, EDDIKER

The curious-looking name Earwaker is no doubt the same as an Eueruacer (Everwacer), in Domesday, from evor, boar, and wacar, watchful, and it is of interest as supplying a missing link in the study of Old German names. For the Old German name corresponding to this appears as Eburacer, and while some other German writers have taken the ending to be acer (Eng. acre), Foerstemann has, rightly as it is proved, suggested that it is a contraction of wacer. Similarly the ancient name Odoacer, of the king of the Heruli, is proved by corresponding Anglo-Saxon names, Edwaker in a charter of manumission at Exeter, and Edwacer on coins minted at Norwich (A.S. ed = O.H.G. od), to be properly Odwacer. From this A.S. Edwaker may be our name Eddiker; and some others of our names, as Goodacre and Hardacre, may represent ancient names not yet turned up.43 The second part of the compound, wacer (whence our Waker), is itself a very ancient stem, being found on the one hand in the Wacer(ingas), among the early Saxon settlers, and on the other in the name Vacir, probably Frankish, on Roman pottery.

SHAWKEY, CHALKEY, CHALK, CAULK, KELK, CHALKLEN, CALKING, CHALKER, CHAUCER

We may take it that our name Shawkey (Shalkey) is the same as an A.S. Scealc, p. 101, and as an O.G. Scalco, from scalc, servant. And the question is, whether our names Caulk, Chalk, and Chalkey, corresponding with an A.S. Cealca (found apparently in Cealcan gemero), and our name Kelk, corresponding with an A.S. Celc, p. 98, may not be forms of the same name without the initial s. Or whether they may be, as I before suggested, from the tribe-name of the Chauci or Cauci, one of the peoples included in the Frankish confederation. Of such a stem, however, there is not any trace in the Altdeutsches Namenbuch, which one might rather expect to be the case, seeing how fully Old Frankish names are therein represented. However, I am not able to come to any definite conclusion respecting this stem, which the forms above cited show to be an ancient one. The French names Chaussy, Chaussée, Cauche, Cauchy, seem to be in correspondence, as also Chaussier, comparing with Chaucer, which, as a softened form, I think may have come through the Normans.

CHAPTER X

NAMES WHICH ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM

It follows inevitably that, among the multitude of names such as are included within the scope of this work, there must be many which, though being of ancient origin, accidentally coincide with other words of modern meaning. And thus there are several which might be taken to be from names of women, such as the following: —

ANNE, NANNY, BETTY, SALL, MOLL, PEGG, BABB, MAGG, MEGGY, MAY, MAYO, NELLY, LUCY, KITTY, HANNAH, MAUDE

These are all English surnames, and have sometimes been accounted for on the supposition of illegitimacy. Now, I am very much inclined to doubt the existence, at least in England, of any names derived from women, inasmuch as in the whole range of our surnames I do not know of one that is unmistakably so derived. There is certainly a case, referred to at p. 57, of a surname ending in trud, a specially female ending, but, as I have there remarked, it does not necessarily follow that the word is the same as that used in women's names. There is, moreover, another name which a little puzzles me, Goodeve, which looks as if it were from the A.S. Godgefa, later Godiva. This is from a special female ending, and I know of no corresponding masculine. But this might be an exceptional case, for I doubt not that many a child in England, and possibly even boys, with an unwonted masculine ending, might be called after the noble woman who freed her people from the tax —

"And made herself an everlasting name."

However, whether this might be so or not, the case seems scarcely sufficient of itself to establish the principle. And with regard to names such as those of which I am now treating, the resemblance is only apparent, and, as I shall proceed to show, these are all in reality ancient names of men. Anna, for instance, was a king of the East Angles, and Moll the name of a king of Northumbria. Anna, Betti, Salla, Moll, Pega, are early men's names in the Liber Vitæ, and all of the above are to be found in some kindred form in the Altdeutsches Namenbuch. And some of these names still bear their ancient meaning on their front, thus Pegg is the "pegger," and Moll (or Maule, the more proper form) is the "mauler," the stem being referred to Goth. mauljan, to maul.

To take, then, these names in order, Anne, which corresponds with many ancient names besides that of the king of the East Angles, among others with that of an Anna, Archbishop of Cologne in the eleventh century, may be referred to O.H.G. ano, ancestor. And Hannah (more properly Hanna) is, with the ending in a, p. 24, the same as Hanney and Hann, probably from the same stem, the h being falsely assumed. Nanny corresponds with an O.G. Nanno, referred to Goth. nanthian, audere. Betty, along with which we must take Batty, is to be referred to A.S. beado, O.H.G. bado, war, found in many ancient names. Sall, along with Sala, is from a stem, p. 62, supposed by Foerstemann to mean dark. Kitty, along with Kitt and Kitto, and also Kidd, corresponding with an A.S. Cydd, p. 98, and a Cyda, in the Liber Vitæ, is from a stem gid, kit, referred to A.S. giddian, to sing. Babb, corresponding with an A.S. Babba, the name of a moneyer, and other ancient names, is from a stem which Foerstemann thinks must have been originally derived from "children's speech." Magg and Meggy, corresponding with an A.S. Mæg and Mecga, and an O.G. Megi, are from a stem referred to Goth. magan, posse, valere; and May, along with Mayo, corresponding with an O.G. Maio, and perhaps with a Maio on Roman pottery, is a softened form of the same. Lucy corresponds with an O.G. Liuzi, a High German form from liud, people, and I think must have come to us through the Normans. Nelly, along with Knell, is referred to at p. 161, as probably from O.N. hnalla, to beat. Maude stands on a somewhat different footing from the rest, the surname being really in this case from the same origin as the woman's name. But the woman's name, as I shall endeavour to show in the next chapter, owes its origin to an ancient mistake, and is properly a man's name.

Names apparently from Animals

Many of the names apparently from animals are also to be otherwise explained. A few of the nobler animals, as the bear, the wolf, and the boar, are to be found in the names of men throughout the Teutonic system. The lion also and the horse occur, though by no means so commonly. The urus, or wild ox, appears to have contributed a few names, of which our Ure may be one. I have met with the fox in one single instance, that of a Northman, Füks, on a runic inscription quoted by Stevens, though it is rather probable that Foxes beorh, "Fox's barrow" (Kemble, Cod. Dip.), may also be from the name of a man. Among birds, the eagle, the raven, and the swan were common throughout the Teutonic system, the last, among the Germans, more especially in the names of women. To account for this, Weinhold observes that along with the beauty of the swan was contained a warlike sense derived from the swan plumage of the maids of Odin. But among the Danes and the Saxon sea-rovers Swan seems to have been common as a man's name, and in this case the idea was more probably that of the way in which the swan rides the waters as the ideal of a rover's life. The eagle, the raven, the swan, the hawk, and the finch seem to be found in the Earningas, the Ræfningas, the Suaningas, the Haucingas, and the Fincingas, among our early settlers, though the two last do not seem to occur in the Teutonic system generally. I doubt all names that appear to be from fishes, and, with one notable exception, all names that appear to be from reptiles or insects. That exception is the snake, which was in special favour for the names of men among the Danes and Northmen, there being no fewer than twenty-four men called Ormr (worm or snake) in the Landnamabôk of Iceland. Hence the name Orme, rather common among us, and the Saxon form Worm, not by any means common. Among the Germans the snake was, according to Weinhold, who looks upon it as the type of fascination and insinuation, in especial favour for the names of women. The two principal words in use among them were lind (O.H.G. lint, snake) and ling (O.N. lingvi, serpent). Hence may be our Lind and Lindo, corresponding with an O.G. Linto; and Ling and Lingo, corresponding with an O.G. Lingo, and an O.N. Lingi. But both of these derivations are somewhat uncertain, and especially the former, for I venture to think that lind, gentle, is at least as appropriate for women as lind, snake. To come then to the names which I take to be otherwise explained.

CAMEL, LEOPARD, BUCK, PIGG, RABBIT, CAT, RAT, MOUSE, SQUIRRELL. GOOSE, GOSLING, GANDER, DUCK, DUCKLING, OSTRICH, LARK, WREN. FISH, SHARK, DOLPHIN, SALMON, TROUT, WHITING, SMELT, HADDOCK, HERRING, TUNNY, SPRATT, MINNOW, LAMPREY. MOTH, MOTE, FLY, FLEA, EARWIG, EMMETT

Of the above, Camel is another form of Gamol, signifying old; there is a Northman called Kamol in a runic inscription in Stevens. Leopard (see p. 151) is a corruption of Liubhard. Buck is found among the early Saxon settlers, also as an O.G. Bucco, and a Buccus, rather probably German, on Roman pottery, and may be taken to be another form of Bugg, p. 3. Pigg, corresponding with an O.G. Pigo, must be referred to the same stem as Pegg, viz. bichen, to slash. Rabbit is no doubt the same as a Rabbod, a "Duke of the Frisians" mentioned by Roger of Wendover, a contraction of Radbod, p. 119. Catt, along with Cattey, is another form of Gatty, corresponding with an O.G. Gatto (gatten, to unite). Ratt, corresponding with a French Ratte, may be referred to an O.G. Rato (rad or rat, counsel). Along with Mouse I take Moss, also a present German Muss, and a French Mousse, all of which may be referred to an O.G. Muoza, a High German form of môd, môt, courage; this name having rather probably come to us through the Normans. Squirrell I have referred to at p. 160. Goose and Gosling I also take to have probably come to us through the Normans, as representing a High German form of the stem gaud (supposed to mean Goth). There are to compare French names Gousse, Gosselin, Josselin, corresponding with Old German names Gauso and Gauzelin, the latter a diminutive. Hence also, as a Christian name, Jocelyn, of Old Frankish origin, come to us through the Normans. Gander is from an A.S. Gandar, referred to in its place as a compound of gand, probably signifying wolf. Duck, corresponding with a Duce (hard c) in the Liber Vitæ, is another form of Tuck, as in the Tucingas, early settlers in Kemble's list, from the stem dug, A.S. dugan, to be "doughty." And Duckling, corresponding with an A.S. Duceling, p. 98, and an O.G. Dugelin, is a diminutive (like Gosling) from the same stem. Ostrich represents an O.G. Austoric, and an A.S. Estrich (Auster or Easter orientalis). Wren, along with Rennie and Renno, is from a stem referred to ran, rapine; though it may also be the same name as Rain, from ragin, counsel. Lark and Laverock are perhaps a little uncertain; we find Anglo-Saxon names Lauerc, Lauroca, and Laferca, which might be from the A.S. laferc, O.E. laverock, lark. On the whole, however, I am rather more disposed to take them to be from Lafer among the early settlers (not I think a compound) with the diminutive ending ec, and similarly I would take Leverett to be formed from the same word, lafer or lefer, with the (perhaps also diminutive) ending et.

Coming to names apparently from fishes, I question very much whether Fiske and Fish are from A.S. fisc, pisces, though Foerstemann, in default of a better, gives that meaning in an ancient name, Fisculf. I think it is one of the cases in which a meaning is to be got from the Celtic, and take it that the Welsh ffysg, impetuous, supplies the sense that is required, of which also some slight traces are to be found in Teutonic dialects. Shark and Sharkey I take to be the same name as Sere in the Liber Vitæ, from A.S. serc, Sco. "sark," shirt, in the sense of a shirt of mail. It is formed, according to Diefenbach, upon a stem sar or ser, signifying armatura, p. 62; whence an O.G. Saracho, corresponding with the above. The Sercings are a tribe or family mentioned in the "Traveller's Song," and in connection with the Serings:

"With the Sercings I was, and with the Serings."

The connection between the two, however, is here probably only for the sake of the alliteration. Dolphin is the Danish name Dolgfinnr, p. 48. There was a Dolfin, presumably of Scandinavian origin, governor of Carlisle in the time of Rufus. Herring and Whiting are both from the Anglo-Saxon patronymic, p. 28, and Haddock, with the M.G. Hädicke, is a diminutive from the stem had, war, p. 54. Tunny, along with Tunn and Tunno (Tunna, Lib. Vit.), is another form of Dunn, a common Anglo-Saxon name. Spratt I class along with Sprout and Sprott, comparing them with an O.G. Sprutho, as from Goth, sprauto, nimble, active. And Minnow, along with Minn and Minney, corresponding with an O.G. Minna, may be taken to be from A.S. myn, love, affection. Salmon is the same as an O.G. Salaman, from, as supposed, salo, dark; and Trout may be the same as an O.G. Truto, probably signifying beloved. Smelt may be taken to be from A.S. smelt, gentle; it occurs once as the name of an Anglo-Saxon, but does not seem to be a word entering into the Teutonic system, and may have been originally a sobriquet. Lamprey I have already referred to, p. 115, as a probable corruption of Landfred.

Of names apparently from insects, Moth and Mote (Mote, Hund. Rolls) are probably the same as an O.G. Moata, from môd, môt, courage, German muth. Fly and Flea are included in a stem, p. 159; and Emmet may be taken to be from A.S. emita, quies, found in several ancient names. Earwig I have taken, p. 49, to be a contraction of Evorwig, as Earheart of Everhard, and Earwaker of Evorwacer.44 Many other names of the same sort might be adduced, but those I have given will I think be sufficient for the purpose.