Surnames as a Science

Names apparently from Office or Occupation:LORD, EARL, ABBOTT, NUNN, BISHOP, PRIEST, ALDERMAN, PRENTICE, PRINCE, HAYWARD, HOWARD, ANGLER, ARCHER, AUTHER, FARRIER, HURLER, PLAYER, MARINER, WARNER, WALKER, PLOWMAN, ARKWRIGHT, HARTWRIGHT, SIEVEWRIGHT, GOODWRIGHT

Lord, as noted at p. 158, can hardly be from A.S. hlaford, Eng. lord. Earl, however, along with Early, seems to be the same word as Eng. "earl," though as a name entering into the Teutonic system it is only a word of general honorific meaning, and may not represent any man who ever bore the title. Abbott I take to be the same as an A.S. Abbod, p. 96, the stem being, as supposed, from Goth. aba, man. Nunn, along with Nunney and Noon, compares with Nun, the name of a kinsman of Ina, king of Wessex, and with O.G. Nunno and Nunni, the meaning of which seems somewhat obscure. Bishop, at least in its origin, can hardly have been from the office, for there is a Biscop in the genealogy of the kings of the Lindisfari, who must of course have been a heathen. The name in this case may be a compound of bis (closely allied to bas, p. 5) and A.S. côf, strenuous, which we find as the ending of some other A.S. names. But after the advent of Christianity, a man, though inheriting the old name, would no doubt wear it with a difference. Priest must, I think, be what it seems, there is a witness to a charter (Thorpe, p. 69) whose name is Preost, and whose description is "presbyter"; his original name, whatever it was, must have been so completely superseded by that of his office that at last he accepted it himself, and signed accordingly. Alderman I have taken, p. 116, to be, even in Anglo-Saxon times, a corruption. Such a name, as derived from office, could hardly be borne by an Anglo-Saxon, unless, indeed, as a sobriquet, superseding his original name. So also Prentice, from an A.S. Prentsa, I take to be due to a corruption in Anglo-Saxon times. I am not sure that Prince may not be from the same name, Prentsa, dropping the vowel-ending and becoming Prents. A name which has been mistakenly supposed to be from some office of agricultural oversight is Hayward; it is however an ancient name, more properly Agward or Egward. Howard, which has been sometimes confounded with it, is an entirely different name, the O.N. Hâvardr (hâ, high), introduced I think by the Danes or Northmen.

Some names formed with wright, as Arkwright, Hartwright, Sievewright, and Goodwright, will be found in their places in Chapter III. as, according to my view, ancient compounds. I might perhaps add Boatwright, from an O.G. Buotrit, and also Cheesewright, for which we have the stem, p. 155, though no ancient form to represent this particular compound. The Wrihtingas, in Kemble's list of early settlers, I take to be properly Ritingas, from a stem rit, supposed to be the same as Eng. "ride," though perhaps in an older and more general sense of rapid motion. Many names ending in er, as Ambler, Angler, Archer, Auther, &c., are in reality from an ancient ending in har, signifying warrior. Ambler represents an O.G. Amalher, p. 42, Angler an O.G. Angilher, p. 42, Archer an O.G. Erchear, p. 42, and Auther an O.G. Authar, p. 42. Farrier, along with Ferrier, may represent an O.G. Feriher, p. 49, and Hurler an O.G. Erlehar, from the stem erl already referred to. Gambler represents an O.G. Gamalher, and Player is the same as an A.S. Plegher, from pleg, play, probably the play of battle. Then we have Mariner and Marner, which, with French Marinier and Marnier, may be referred to an O.G. Marnehar (mar, famous), and in a similar manner Warrener and Warner may be taken to be from an O.G. Warnehar (Warin = Wern). Among names of this class we may also include Walker, of which there is abundant instance as an ancient name. Kemble has Wealceringas among the early settlers, as well as also Wealcingas representing the stem on which it is formed, probably A.S. wealh, stranger. There was in after Anglo-Saxon times a Walchere, bishop of Lindisfarne, and Ualcar is found in a runic inscription in Stevens; while, as O.G. names, we have Walachar and Walchar, and as a present German name we have Walcher. However, in view of the commonness of this name, it is perhaps only reasonable to suppose an admixture from A.S. wealcere, a fuller.

I may here observe that this same ending, har, so common in ancient names, give us many names which have the appearance of a comparative, such as Harder, Paler, Richer, &c., and in its other form, hari, many names such as Armory, Buttery, Gunnery, Flattery, which we have also in the other form as Armor, Butter, Gunner, and Flatter (flat, formosus).

Names apparently from Times and Seasons

The names of this sort have generally been supposed to be derived from a person having been born at some particular time. That there are names of this sort, such as Christmas, Noel, and Midwinter, we cannot for a moment doubt, but, judging by the early records of our names, they are of very rare occurrence, and I conceive that in the majority of cases names of such appearance are to be otherwise accounted for.

SUNDAY, MONDAY, FRIDAY, HOLIDAY, LOVEDAY, HOCKADAY, PENTECOST, LAMMAS, LAMAISON, SUMMER, WINTER, JANUARY

Sunday may be Sunda, comparing with an O.G. Sundo, and an A.S. Sunta, perhaps from sund, sea. Similarly Munday may be Munda, to be referred, along with Mundy, to mund, protection, and comparing with an O.G. Mundo. The other four names ending in day seem to represent ancient compounds, and in what sense these were given it is difficult to say. Friday corresponds with an O.G. Frittag and with an A.S. Frigedæg, p. 99, Holiday with an O.G. Halegdag, Loveday (Luiedai in Domesday) with an O.G. Liopdag (liub, love), and Hockaday, with a present French Hocedé, with an O.G. Hodag (hoh or hoch, high). From the character of these names, compounded with "high," "holy," "peace," and "love," they might be supposed to have been given in a religious sense, and their date, the ninth century, would be in conformity. The Anglo-Saxon name Frigedæg, it will be observed, is from the same word as our "Friday," and not the same as the Old German name, which is from frid, peace. But it seems to me quite possible that the Anglo-Saxons, having received the name, might mistake its meaning and spell it according to their own views. This they seem to do in some other cases, as, for instance, the stem wit, common to the Teutonic system, and rather probably from wid, wood, they seem to take as from wiht, man, and spell it accordingly. Summer and Winter are both ancient names; in the Cod. Dip. Alamanniæ there are two brothers called respectively Sumar and Winter, A.D. 858. Winter was also the name of one of the companions of Hereward the Saxon. Pentecost I have elsewhere supposed, p. 120, to be a corruption of Pentecast, as an ancient name. I rather doubt Lammas, which is found as Lammasse in the Hundred Rolls, and which corresponds with a French Lamas. Lamisso was the name of a Lombard king of the fifth century, and was derived, according to an old chronicler, from lama, water, because in his youth the king had been rescued from drowning – a derivation which may perhaps be regarded with some suspicion. Taking Lammas then as the representative of an ancient name, we might get from it our name Lamaison (ending in en, p. 27), though if Lammas were from the diminutive ending is, es, p. 32, it could not take a German en in addition; in this case the ending must be Romanic, which, from the French form of the name, seems very possible. As to the name January, I am inclined to look upon it as a corruption of another name, Jennery, which, along with Jenner, I take to be the same as the Old German names Genear and Ginheri, from, as supposed, gan, magic or fascination.

Names apparently from Parts of the BodyHEAD, BODY, ARMS, LEGG, LEGGY, LEGLESS, FINGER, HEART, EARHEART, SIDE, BACK, ELBOW, FOOTE, TONGUE. (LAWLESS, BOOKLESS, FAIRLESS, RECKLESS), FAIRFOOT, TRUEFITT

With the exception of Foote and Tongue, I do not think that any of the above are what they seem. Head seems to be probably the same as A.S. Hedda, which, like another name, Hada, seems to be from had, war. Body is clearly from bodi, messenger, p. 157, and Arms is from an ancient origin, p. 19. Legg I take to be the same as Law, A.S. lag, found in several ancient names. Hence I take Legless to be the same as Lawless, and both to mean "learned in the law," from an ancient ending leis, explained by Foerstemann as "learned." This gives something like a meaning to some other names, as Bookless; "book-learned"; Fairless, "travel-learned"; perhaps Reckless (A.S. reccan, to reck, understand). Finger is a Scandinavian name, p. 50, Heart is a false spelling of hart, hard, and Earheart is Everard, p. 49. Side is from an A.S. Sida, p. 93, and Back (Bacca and Bacga in the Lib. Vit.) is another form of Bagge, bagan, to contend. Elbow I take to be Elbo, from alb or alf, signifying "elf." Foote may be taken to be what it seems, though I think that such a name must have had a vowel-ending, as its meaning must be "footy," i. e. nimble, as "handy," from hand. Comparing with our Foote there is a name Fus on Roman pottery, which, see p. 4, it is clear from his little joke, that the owner took to be from fus, foot. It does not follow, as a matter of course, that the old potter knew the meaning of his own name; there is a word funs, sometimes fus, occurring in O.G. names in the supposed meaning of eager; this word would more appropriately be used without a vowel-ending than would fus, foot. Foerstemann has a name, Fussio, which does not, however, throw any light upon it. Another name, however, also found on Roman pottery, Lytafus, corresponding with our Lightfoot, rather seems to favour the meaning of fus, foot. Two other names of a similar kind to Lightfoot are Fairfoot (properly Farefoot; faran, to go, travel), and Truefitt (properly Truefoot) a name like Treubodi, p. 26. The last name, Tongue, corresponds with an O.G. Tungo, which I take to be from tung, lingua, probably in the sense of eloquence. We must presume the name not to be High German.

Names apparently from Trees

Names from trees have been generally taken to be derived from a local origin, as marking the site of a man's habitation. There are, however, a number of names which I take in some, or in all cases, to be from a different origin.

ASH, ASKE, ASKEY, BEECH, BIRCH, ALDER, OAKE, OAKEY, IVY, LINDEN, THORNE, HASELL, WILLOW, SYCAMORE, CHESNUT, ROWANTREE

Aske or Ashe represents an ancient stem in Teutonic names, perhaps derived from a mythological origin, man being feigned to have been created out of an ash-tree, perhaps from being the wood out of which spears were made (Cf. Asquith, p. 148). The Ascingas were among the early settlers, and Æsc was the name of the son of Hengest. Hence I take our names, Ash, Aske, and Askey, with several compounds. The Bircingas were also among the early settlers; the stem seems to be birg, supposed to mean protection, and entering into a number of names throughout the Teutonic system. Alder, which corresponds with an A.S. Aldher, and an O.G. Althar, is a compound of ald, old, and hari, warrior. The oak, as the symbol of strength, would seem suitable for men's names, but upon the whole it seems more probable that Oake and Oakey, Aikin (A.S. Acen, p. 96) and Aikman (A.S. Æcemann, p. 96), are from ac, ec, perhaps "edge," acies. Ivy is the same as Ive with a vowel-ending, and compares with an O.G. Ivo, and an A.S. Iffa, perhaps from O.N. [^y]fa, to rage. Linden is from lind, p. 175, with the ending in en, p. 27. Hasel and Thorn are both found in the list of early settlers, the former I take to be properly Asel, corresponding with an O.G. Asilo, from as or os, semideus; the latter, which does not seem to occur in the Teutonic system generally, I rather suppose to be a contraction of O.N. thoran, boldness. Willow, along with Will and Willey, is also found in the list of early settlers, and corresponds with an O.G. Willo, perhaps from will in the sense of resolution. Sycamore is from an O.G. Sicumar, p. 162, and Chestnut is referred to at p. 155. Rowantree is no doubt from the tree, and may perhaps have reference to its supposed magical powers. Rointru is also a French name, perhaps a relic of the many Scotchmen who have at different times taken refuge in that country, though possibly of older origin.

There are a few other names which may be included here.

STUBBE, STUBBING, GROVE (GRUBB), TWIGG, SPRIGG (TWINE, TWINING, TWISS, SPRAGUE, SPRACK, SPARK, SPRACKLIN, SPRECKLY)

Stubbe might be taken to be of local origin, for nothing would be more appropriate to mark a locality than a stub. But the patronymic Stubbing points to an origin of a different kind, and moreover we find Stubingas among the early settlers. And there was also a Stuf, nephew of Cerdic, and a Northman called Stufr in the Laxdæla-saga. The origin is to be found in O.N. stufr, stubbr, A.S. styb, branch, shoot, probably in the honorific sense of race or lineage. I take Grove, along with which I put Grubb, to be from Germ. grob, Dan. grov, coarse, clumsy; but no doubt in an older sense more suitable for men's names, and probably cognate with Eng. "gruff," the idea being that of great size and strength. We find Grobb as an Anglo-Saxon name, p. 99, and Griubinc (son of Griub) as an Old German name, of which, however, Foerstemann does not offer any explanation. Grobe and Grove are present German names (the latter Low German), and Grub and Grubi are found in France. Here also I may take Twigg, corresponding with an A.S. Twicga, moneyer of St. Edmund, also with a Tuica found in Tuicanham, now Twickenham. I take it to be from the same root as "twig," viz. A.S. tweg, two, and to have perhaps the meaning of "twin." (Names of a similar kind may be Twine, with its patronymic Twining, and also Twiss, corresponding with an O.G. Zuiso, A.S. twis, twin.) Sprigg I class along with Sprague, Sprack, and Spark, corresponding with a Spraga in the Lib. Vit., as from O.N. sprackr, Prov. Eng. spragg, sprack, smart, active. We have also, as a diminutive, Spracklin, corresponding with a Spraclingus in the Lib. Vit., and we have Spreckley, probably the same name as that of Sprakaleg, brother of Sweyn, king of Denmark, from O.N. spræklegr, sprightly.

Names apparently from Complexion or Colour of Hair

Such names as Black, White, Brown, have been no doubt in many, probably in most cases, original surnames. Nevertheless they are also ancient baptismal names, and it is not by any means certain that these are from the same origin as the surnames.

BLACK, BLACKER, BLAKE, BLANK, BLANCHARD, WHITE, BROWN, DUNN, GRAY, GREGG, CRAIG, MURCH, MURCHIE, SMIRKE

The Blacingas were among the early settlers. Blecca was the name of a governor of Lincoln, A.D. 627; Blaca is an early name in the Liber Vitæ, and Blac is a name in Domesday. I am inclined to take Black, along with Blake, to be (of course as an ancient name) the same word as blic, found in some Old German names, and to find the sense concerned in A.S. blican, to shine (which indeed is the root of black), hence to give it, like Bright, the sense of "illustrious." Hence I take our Blacker and the French Blacher to be the same as an O.G. Blicker (hari, warrior) – the ancient family of Blacker, I believe, trace their origin to Nancy. I further take Blank and Blanchard (hard, fortis) to be a nasalised form of the above, and to have the same meaning. The stem will be found in more detail p. 46.

I take White, so far as it may be of ancient origin, not to be from colour; in some cases it may be from wid, wood, and perhaps in others from wit, wisdom. In Anglo-Saxon names it is spelt wiht, as if from wiht, man – Cf. O.G. Witgar, A.S. Wihtgar, O.G. Witleg, A.S. Wihtlæg, O.G. Widrad, A.S. Wihtræd, though, as I take it, it is the same word common to the Teutonic system.

The Brownings (Brûningas) were also among the early settlers, and Brûn frequently occurs in after Anglo-Saxon times; among others there is a Brûn bydel, "Brown the beadle," in a charter of manumission. Bruno also occurs as an Old German name, and Brûni was not an uncommon name among the Northmen. I am rather disposed to question the derivation from brown, fuscus, and as in the case of Black, to take the sense contained in the root, which seems to be that of burning or brightness. One of the Northmen, called Brûni, was surnamed "the white," so that in his case, at any rate, the name was not derived from complexion. Dunn is another name that is found among the early settlers, and also in after Anglo-Saxon times. It seems to me to be at least as probably from O.N. duna, thunder, as from dun, fuscus.

The Grægingas (A.S. græeg, grey) are also found in the list of early settlers, though the name does not seem to figure much in after Anglo-Saxon times. There are Old German names Grao and Grawo, and various compounds. The root-meaning seems to contain the sense of "horror," which may be that which is present in names, the idea being of course that of one who is a terror to others. As well as Gray, we have Gregg, and perhaps as another form Craig,45 and the Germans have Grau. The Myrcingas among the early settlers may perhaps be represented in our Murch and Murchie (whence Murchison), possibly also in S(mirke). Whether the name is from A.S. mirc, dark, mirk, may be uncertain; Professor Skeat thinks of marc, limes, for the Myrcingas, who are probably the same as the Myrgingas of the "Traveller's Song."

Names apparently from Scriptural Personages

While names taken from the eminent characters of Scripture have, ever since the advent of Christianity, been in favour for the names of men, there are among our surnames some names which we must reasonably suppose are to be otherwise explained.

PHAROAH, HEROD, ESAU, CAIN, JAEL, POTIPHAR PUDDIFER (ABLARD)

Of the above, Pharaoh is only a misleading spelling of an O.G. name Faro, perhaps come to us through the Normans. And Esau is a similar perversion of another O.G. name Eso, probably from as or os, semi-deus. Cain is, along with Gain, from the name Gagin, Cagen, p. 10, probably signifying victory. Herod is, no doubt, the same as an A.S. Herrid in a charter of Wihtræd, from, as supposed, A.S. herad, principatus, found also in some Old German names. Jael I take to be most probably a softened form of Gale, from a stem referred to A.S. galan, to sing. Potiphar, along with Puddifer, a French Potefer, and perhaps a Low German Bötefur,46 I take to represent an ancient name not turned up, from bod, bud, or pot, envoy or messenger, and faran, to travel, found as an ending in some Old German names. Abel is a name which, as frequently used for a Christian name, might also be found in surnames. But there is a Teutonic word abal, signifying strength, which may be more probably that which is found in the French Abeillard, with which we have a name Ablard to correspond.

Names apparently Descriptive of Moral Characteristics

There are a number of names which, if they had been found as Christian names, might have been supposed to be of Puritan origin, but which as surnames must be otherwise accounted for.

GOODHEART, STONEHEART, GODWARD, LOVEGOD, LOVEGOOD, LOVEMAN, MANLOVE, GOODLIFFE, FULLALOVE, GODLIMAN, GOODENOUGH, THOROUGHGOOD, HUMBLE, SAINT, BADMAN, PAGAN, BIGOT, GODDAM, SWEARS, SWEARING, SCAMP

Of the above, Goodheart and Stoneheart are compounds of hart, hard, pp. 53, 63. So also Godward Lovegod, Lovegood, Loveman, Manlove, Goodliffe, and Fullalove will be found in their places as ancient compounds in Chap. III. Godliman I take to be a corruption of an O.G. Godalmand (the l being introduced in accordance with a principle referred to at p. 114) Goodenough is referred to at p. 119, and Thoroughgood at p. 120. Humble I take to be the same name as the German Humboldt, from an O.G. Hunbald, the ending bald often in our names becoming ble. Saint I take to be the same as Sant, sand or sant, verus, the stem on which is formed Sander in the list of early settlers.

Of the names apparently of an opposite character, Badman, corresponding with a Badumon in the Liber Vitæ, is a compound of bad, war. Goddam stands for Godhelm as William for Willihelm. Swears and Swearing are explained, p. 160. Scamp corresponds with an O.G. Scemphio, derived by Foerstemann from O.H.G. scimph, jocus. This may possibly be the older sense of the word, and Scamp may have been nothing worse than a wag. Pagan, with its contracted form Paine, I have referred to p. 118. Bigot, along with Pigot, Pickett, and probably Beckett, and a Pigota and Picotus in the Liber Vitæ, may be the same as an A.S. Picced, p. 101, which I take to represent the form Pichad or Bighad, from the stem big, with had, war. There is, however, another explanation suggested by our name Bidgood. This name, for which the ancient equivalent has not turned up, seems to be from bad, war, and might have been Bidgod (for god and good constantly interchange), which would readily contract into Bigod or Bigot.

Names apparently from Nationalities

While we have a number of names derived from nations or races in accordance with the Teutonic system, there are some others which might seem more obviously than most others to be from such an origin, and yet which must I think be referred to some other source. Three of these, England, Scotland, and Ireland, I have already referred to at p. 9.

ENGLISH, INGLIS, ROMAN, NORMAN, GENESE, TURK, SPAIN

English I take to be a phonetic corruption of Inglis, which seems to be the same as an Ingliseus in the Pol. Irm., and which I rather suppose to be a transposition of an Anglo-Saxon Ingils, for Ingisil, from the stem ing, p. 56. Roman, I doubt not, is contracted from Rodman, p. 61, as Robert is from Rodbert, and Roland from Rodland. I introduce Norman here as not being, in my view, from "Norman" as we generally understand the term, but as representing more probably the word in its original sense of "Northman." Nordman was a Scandinavian name, and hence it is I think that we have the name, which seems to occur more especially in Scotland and the Danish districts of England. Genese I take to be most probably from the old Frankish name Genesius, perhaps from a stem gan, p. 52, with the ending in es, p. 33. Turk corresponds with an A.S. Turca, p. 111, which again is probably the same as a Gothic Turicus of the fifth century, a diminutive from the stem dur or tur found among the early settlers, and of uncertain meaning. Spain I take to be from the A.S. spanan, allicere, found in some ancient names, and from which I take to be our name Spenlove, (leof, dear) with the corruption, Spendlove. The name Spegen, corresponding with our Spain, occurs in the Liber Vitæ more than once – Is its aspirated form due to the Northumbrian dialect?

Of the names which are truly derived from nationality I will here only refer to one as an illustration of successive forms built one upon the other in accordance with the principle referred to in treating of the ending en, p. 27.

BOY, BYE, PYE, BOYER, BYARD, BOYMAN, PYMAN, BEYERMAN, BYRON

There are three forms, the first representing the form boi, as found in the name of the Boii, who gave the name to Boioaria or Bavaria, the second representing the extended form found in German Baviar, the third the further extended form as found in Bavarian.

SIMPLE FORM BOI

O.G. Boio, Beio, Peio, ninth century. A.S. Boia (in a charter of Cnut). Eng. Boy, Bye, Pye. Germ. Boye French, Boy, Boye, Poy, Poyé.

Compounds

(Hard, fortis), Eng. Byard – French Boyard, Poyart – Italian Boiardo. (Man, vir), Eng. Boyman, Pyman.