| Surname |
Definition |
| |
| ABERCROMBIE |
It is Scots Gaelic which also gives
us ABERCROMBIE - `mouth of the crooked stream', the first
element being the prefix of many a Welsh coastal town, the
meaning exactly the same. |
| ALLBONES |
This surname conjures up a picture
of a skeletal person. However, it is a classic example of
how a name over many hundreds of years by inconsistent spelling
and poor dictation. ALLBONE is infact, a corruption of ALBAN
the first British martyr, and a forename which had its origins
in Alba, Roman cities in Italy and Gaul, the meaning of which
was 'white'. Today we see many churches in the uK bearing
the name of St Alban. Whilst most people believe that the
saint met his death in the Hertfordshire town of that name,
recent research points to a possibility that it might well
have happened in Caerleon, Wales. |
| ATKINS |
Originally ADAM, Hebrew for "red"
(the colour of skin, not the hair)
it was shortened to AD before the addition of the Flemish
suffix giving us ADKIN. His son would have been ADKINS, later
corrupted to ATKINS. |
| |
| BADMAN |
This is another name which excites
the imagination. But again, innocence emerges when learning
that BADMAN is a dimunitive of BARTHOLOMEW, a hebrew forename
which means "son of Talmai". |
| BARBER |
Is exactly as today but here was
a man who, in medieval times, also
practised surgery and dentistry. It is now difficult to imagine
a customer
plonking himself into a chair and asking for a short back
and sides, to be followed by the removal of his tonsils! |
| BARNES |
Is a person who lived near Barns,
the word originally meaning
"buildings where barley
was stored" and is Old English. |
| BARTHOLOMEW |
English surname from a medeival
given name from the Aramaic "bar-Talmay" (son of
Talmay - having many furrows i.e. rich in land). Popular because
of the apostle St. Bartholomew patron saint of tanners, vintners
and butlers. A midlands varient is Bartlam. |
| BARRY |
Is a popular forename of today,
the surname is Old French for "suburb
under a rampart" and is therefore a locality name. |
| BATHER |
Suggests that here was a man that
took a bath twice annually and was
therefore thought as over doing it. Not so, for the forename
is a corruption of ap Arthur, the Welsh for "son of Arthur",
which was later turned into a surname. |
| BEAMER |
This surname gives the impression
that here was a person who smiled a lot. He was, in fact,
a trumpeter, another name of the same meaning being HORNBLOWER,
the fictional character created by C.S. Forrester. Among the
duties of this dignitary was the summoning and dismissal of
workmen, and was therefore the forerunner of today's factory-
hooter. |
| BEEBEE |
The nearest variants I can find
are BEEBY (habitation name from Leicestershire), and BIBBY
(from medieval female given name Bibbe, this version most
common in Lancs). A variant of Bibby is Bibb, said to be chiefly
a West Midlands surname. If anyone can add anything to this
description please email me. |
| BELLHANGER |
This name could suggest the occupation
of one who hangs bells. Not so, the occupation of bellhanger
never did exist. It is a corruption of BERINGER. A Germanic
forename meaning "bear" (the animal) spear. |
| BLACKMAN |
It is difficult to sometimes
understand the reasoning behind medieval some forenames
which were later turned into surnames. This is one such
name. It is hard to see why a baby boy could be thus named.
In some
instances it was shortened to BLACK and the French suffix
added, giving us BLACKETT. This was later corrupted to PLACKETT. |
| BLAKEY |
While in most instances, the meaning
is "pale face" (the word having
the same root as "bleak"), there is a possibility,
because of inconsistency of spelling over the years, that
it is also a corruption of BLACKIE- two contradictary meanings!
The latter, incidentally, would refer to the hair and not
complexion. |
| BLANCHFLOWER |
We are on firmer ground when we
look at BLANCHFLOWER, it's meaning "white flower"
The heroine of a Medieval romance, the name took on a mocking
nature when applied to sissies or males with certain feminine
tendencies. |
| BOOTH |
Northern English, topographic name
for someone who lived in a small hut or bothy, e.g. a cowman
or shepherd. Word is Scandinavian in origin and denoted various
kinds of temporary shelter. Still a more common name in the
north of England, and also in Scotland. |
| BOWERS |
Is a "chambers" or "women's
rooms" where the ancestors would have
worked. This is yet again an example of how an occupational
name could be expressed in more than one language in Medieval
England. BOWERS is Old English while CHAMBERS, an equally
common surname, was from old French. Both tongues were used
for a while until they later fused into what is now modern
English. |
| BRETT |
Of English and French descent, it
is an ethnic name for a Breton. The English surname is most
likely found in East Anglia, where many Bretons settled after
the Norman Conquest. Variants include Brittain and Brettle
(and variants). |
| BRITTAIN |
An English national or ethnic name
for a Briton or breton. It was also adopted by immigrants
wishing to show their patriotism. |
| BROCK |
It is said that in medieval times
most people took a bath just once a year whether they needed
it or not! Without the benefit of deodorants it is hardly
surprising to find the surname BROCK, it's meaning "badger"
a nickname to a person who stank like one. But again it poses
the question: if personnel hygiene in those times was such
a low priority, wouldn't one have had to keep most people
at least an arms length away? It therefore suggests that the
original owner of this surname must have ponged to high heaven
and whilst he was at home his wife might have kept a pig in
the house as an air freshener! . |
| BROCKBANK |
This requires little imagination
to discover that it is a river or hillside that is inhabited
by badgers. It is here that the original bearer of this surname
would have worked or lived, probably the latter. |
| BROCKLESS |
It's meaning "having no breeches"
But if that was the case, how did he dare step outside the
house without losing dignity? Many sarcastically applied meanings
suggest themselves, of course, of which at least one is rather
rude! This was certainly one example of the true meaning being
lost in the swirling mists of time. |
BROTHWOOD |
If anyone has any clue about this surname please
email me, I have no information in my sources to indicate
the origin. |
| |
| CARPENTER |
1066 saw the arrival of the Normans
and modern English can be said to be roughly a mixture of
Anglo Saxon and French. The latter gave us hundreds of surnames
including the occupational CARPENTER, its meaning as of today. |
| CHEEVER |
It's meaning "nanny goat"
Did the original owner of this surname possess one? Or was
he nimble footed? Hardly. The male goat, surely, would have
been more appropriate. Again we are left to guess as to why
this surname first came into being. |
| CHICKEN |
The name CHICKEN is to be found
in the London area. Today the word is applied to a person
who has little or no courage. Whilst there is no evidence
to suggest that this was the case in Medieval times, it could
well turn out to be the answer. There doesn't seem to be another
explanation. |
| COBBA |
Was an Anglo-Saxon name meaning
"big man". If he owned a field it
might have been known as Cobba's lee, which later would have
been corrupted to COBLEY. |
| COE |
A common East Anglian surname is
COE, it's meaning "jackdaw." But why? The bird has
no obvious characteristics other then it is a pilferer of
certain garden produce. Could this then be the answer? Was
it applied to a thief? We will never know. |
| CROWTHER |
A violin virtuoso in olden days
might have been named CROWTHER, the first element taken from
the Welsh "crwth" - a fiddle. |
| CRUSH |
The only person I know of with this surname
is pianist Bobby Crush, and I am not sure if this is a stage
name. I was asked for information on CRUSH and can find no
references to the derivation of this name. If anyone does
know, please email me, I can then pass the information to
Gary Crush and update the entry on the website. Mick Pearson |
| |
| DANGERFIELD |
The origin of the name is Norman
de Angerville. I have written an article outlining the history
of the name which can be found at click
on link
Interestingly we have recently determined
that many Midlands Dangerfields are probably related to
a family of Dashfields who changed their name from Dashfield
to Dangerfield in the mid 18th century. This family may
have originally been Dangerfield's in the 1600's but we
are unable to make this connection at this time.
Howard Mathieson
Winnipeg Canada
Guild of One Name Studies Member # 4328
Web Site: www.members.shaw.ca/sdangerfield |
| DENBY |
Following the departure of the
Romans, Britain, now undefended, was unable to stem the flow
of invaders, among them the Vikings, who left their mark on
many off the surnames today, one of them being DENBY - `Danes'
place or farm'. If you look at a map of Denmark you will see
many places which end in `by', its meaning unchanged. |
| DOUGLAS |
Scots Gaelic also gives us many
place names, one of which is DOUGLAS - `dark stream', which
was later taken up as a surname. Its popularity as a forename
is fairly recent. |
| |
| EDDINGTON |
Again Old English, this is a locality
name, its meaning "wasteland hill". |
| EDWARDS |
Although a very English forename,
its meaning "prosperity
happiness", it is now a popular Welsh surname. |
| EVAN |
Welsh - from given name IFAN, Scottish
- a variant of EWAN (from given name EOGANN) and also a variant
of HEAVEN |
| |
| FIDDLER |
Has the same meaning as today (the
musical instrument and not the
manipulator of expenses). A violin virtuoso in those days
might also have been named CROWTHER, the first element taken
from the Welsh "crwth" - a fiddle. |
| FISHER |
Has exactly the same meaning as
today and is found all over the UK,
suggesting that it was given to fishermen of both sea and
rivers. |
| FLAVELL |
A common name around the Black
Country, appears to derive from
the Anglo-Norman name de FLAMVILLE. It is the name of a town
in Normandy, and the de Flamvilles came over about the time
of the Norman conquest. They held lands in Yorkshire and Bedfordshire
as well as in the Midlands. I have written an in-depth article,
which you can read at flavroots.html.
Thanks to Satima Flavell Neist for the information. |
| FRANCIS |
Was a Frenchman. Its popularity
as a forename was influenced by St
Francis of Assisi, but the meaning remains the same. It is
taken from Old French. |
| FULLARD |
Ian
Hunt from Canada is trying to trace the origin of this surname.
His mother's family are from Wolverhampton (and environs),
her maiden name is Fullard. It appears to be a local derivitive
of Fuller - cloth worker. It may also be a variant of the
local name FULLWOOD.
Bob Fullard from Toronto
emailed me with this information - My mother was from England,
her name was Fullard , my grand parents are Carnegies. I
was told in Toronto Canada that the name originated in France
as Fouliard not sure of the spelling, they came to England
during the Crusades later changing it to Fullard. I have
my mothers maiden name which was Fullard. And that is the
name I have alway gone by.
My father’s
mother was Mary Fullard, born in Wolverhampton in 1878.
She had a sister Eliza (1876) and a brother William (1883).
Their parents were Daniel and Sarah Ann nee Almond. Sarah
came from Wolverhampton and Daniel from Dudley and they
lived in both towns at different times. Does this tie up
at all with the Fullard that Ian Hunt from Canada is looking
for?
Best wishes, Shabra Dowson |
| |
Name for a dresser of cloth. Surname
found mostly in SE England and E Anglia. Other names with
similar origin are TUCKER (same job, different name) and WALKER
(ditto) |
| FULLBROOK |
Is "muddy brook" and there
are places of that name in Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and
Oxfordshire. As in locality surnames, this is where the ancestor
would have lived. |
| FURLONG |
As has been explained before,
nicknames are often difficult to explain as the reason for
their bestowal has long vanished over the dead centuries.
This is one such example, having the same meaning as today
(i.e. an eigth of a mile) it is actually a corruption of
"furrow long", but why should a person be thus
named? He may have been a winner over that distance in a
foot-race, but nothing else seems to suggest itself. |
| FURNINGER |
1066 saw the arrival of the Normans
and modern English can be said to be roughly a mixture of
Anglo Saxon and French. The latter gave us hundreds of surnames
including the occupational FURNINGER - `a cheese-maker and/or
seller' (modern French: fromage) and CARPENTER, its meaning
as of today. |
| |
| GILL |
A common Scottish surname, and,
again originates from Scots Gaelic,
meaning 'servant'. This word has survived in Scotland, for
one often hears of a gillie, its meaning approximately as
that of Gill. |
| GLASGOW |
DURING the Roman occupation, most
of what is now England, Wales, and the South of Scotland spoke
a language which was the forerunner of Welsh, although the
predominant tongue of the towns was Latin. Despite this, many
towns retained their Celtic names, an example is GLASGOW `Green
hollow' and again compares favourably with modern Welsh. As
a surname, it is seen more usually as GLASCOE. |
| GODDARD |
Yet another forename. Germanic in
its origin, its meaning "god hard". As the god is
pagan, it is difficult to understand why the staunch Christians
of medieval times should find this acceptable as a forename. |
| GRAINGER |
An ocupational name for a farm bailiff
(English and French) |
| |
| HALFPENNY |
Nicknames are often difficult
to explain, as the reason for their bestowal has long been
lost in the passage of time.Such is the case with HALFPENNY,
an estate agent in Swansea. There is a chance of course
that it came about because this was perhaps the rent for
a
piece of land. But the possibilities are endless. We could
go on
speculating all day. |
| HARVEY |
Is the Bretonian word for battle.
Originally HERVEY, it was
Normanised to HERVE and a vowel change eventually led to HARVEY.
The Scottish form is HARVIE. |
| HAYCOCK |
Many boys were christened HIGH (the
same meaning as today) and the familiar "cock" would
later be added as a form of endearment, giving us HIGHCOCK,
a corruption of which is HAYCOCK. |
| HAZEL(L) |
An English topographical name, comes
from someone who lives near a hazel tree or grove. A number
of variants including Hassell, Hessell, Heazel, Haselar, Heasler.
Other variants include the basic variant plus -gren (hazel
branch), -blad (hazel leaf) and -qvist (hazel twig). Lots
of alternatives. |
| HEWLETT |
An English name, mainly Worcestershire,
from Middle English given name Huwelet, Huwelot, Hughelot. |
| HIRST |
A north of England surname, it's
meaning is "copse" or "wooded area", and
is from west Saxon "HYRST". This name appears in
the Midlands as HURST and in the south as HERST. |
| HODGETTS |
Derives from the medieval given
name HODGE (pet form of Roger). The surname HODGETTS is one
of many derivatives, but is the one found most commonly in
the West Midlands. |
| HOMFRAY |
See HUMPHREY |
| HONEY |
Was a collector and/or seller of
honey. But could also have been a
possible nickname for a sweet natured person. As said before,
it is
impossible to tell with nicknames as the reason has been long
lost over the centuries. |
| HOPPER |
Nicknames are often difficult
to explain, as the reason for their bestowal has long been
lost in the passage of time. HOPPER: The dancehalls were
refered to as a "hop" this word gives ua a clue
as to the meaning of HOPPER, a dancer. Again it is a nickname,
presumably for an expert in those far-off medieval times. |
| HORLICKS |
This name is a corruption of HARLOCK
and the meaning is "grey lock
of hair", the first element comparable to "HOAR". |
| HOWELL |
This was a forename made popular
by the Bretons. Meaning "eminent"
it was the name of a great Welsh king. A double diminutive
is HOWLETT, the suffix in this instance being Old French. |
| HOWLETT |
See HEWLETT (Above) |
| HULL |
Is simply a corruption of "hill",
with the West Midlands vowel change
and has nothing to do with the Humberside city whose correct
name is
Kingston-upon-Hull, the last element a Celtic word. |
| |
From personal name Humfrey, introduced
by the Normans, borne by a 9th century saint, Bishop of Therouanne
who had a following in England. |
| HURN |
Means "corner" or "bend",
sometimes "a curving valley" and is another
locality name. |
| |
| JORDAN |
This takes us back to the crusaders
who were not averse to helping
themselves to a bottle of water from that river - its meaning
from the Hebrew "flowing down" - and then using
it on their return for the baptism of a boy who would thus
be named. It was originally a forename, it's use as a surname
arriving later. |
| JOYCE |
1066 saw the arrival of the
Normans and modern English can be said to be roughly a mixture
of Anglo Saxon and French. The BRETONS, then independent
of France, were given land following the assistance in the
conquest. They were responsible for many British surnames,
including JOYCE who was a Breton prince and saint, and was
used originally as a male forename. Its use as a female
forename is recent. |
| |
| KELLOGG |
Since William KELLOGG set up his
business in 1906, his cereal
products have dominated the breakfast table. An Essesx name,
it is a
corruption of "Kill hog" in other words a slaughter
of pigs. |
| KINGSTON |
Was originally King's tun. A place,
usually a farm or manor, owned by the sovereign. The surname
would have been given to a person who
worked there. |
| KNELLER |
Is "a dweller at the knoll",
an Old English word for hilltop. |
| |
| LAWLER |
Irish. An anglicised form of Ó
Leathlobhair, leath = somewhat / fairly
lobar = leprous / sick |
| LEWINGTON |
Was a farm owned by a person named
LEWIN, the meaning "dear
friend" and is Old English in its origin. |
| LINCOLN |
DURING the Roman occupation, most
of what is now England, Wales, and the South of Scotland spoke
a language which was the forerunner of Welsh, although the
predominant tongue of the towns was Latin. Despite this, many
towns retained their Celtic names, an example being LINCOLN
`colony at the pool'. The modern Welsh is Llyn colofn, although,
the latter element would have been borrowed from the Latin
as were at least five hundred other words. |
| LLOYD |
In Medieval times, Cornish
was very much a living language, although it was generally
classed a dialect of Welsh. It is doubtful if the two- languages
were mutually intelligible as both developed separately,
but the similarities can clearly be seen in most of the
Cornish surnames, nearly all of them taken from place names.
LLOYD is an Anglicisation of `Liwyd', its meaning `grey'
and was probably bestowed on a person whose hair was of
that colour. |
| |
| MARSHALL |
This is a Germanic occupational
name later Normanised. Its meaning is "horse servant"
as is indicated by the first element which is similar to "mare".
The duties of a marshall were varied. He might well have been
a groom, a shoeing-smith or even a veterinary who specialised
in horses. Although found in all parts of the UK, it is a
particularly popular surname in Scotland. |
| MARTIN |
Another forename, is a diminutive
of Mars, "the god of war" and is
Latin. Used in many regions across Europe. |
| McLAREN |
Scottish name, a form of the Gael
MacLABRUINN, which in turn is a Gael form of the given name
LAWRENCE. |
| MOON |
The Norman dialect for "monk"
at first glance seems to present a
problem. We assume all monks to be celibate, so could there
be the whiff of a scandal associated with this surname? There
may well have been, except the lower order in a monastic community
were there purely for their manual labour and did not take
a vow of celibacy. It may also have been a nickname for an
overly pious person. |
| MOONEY |
Many Irish immigrants had their
surnames corrupted, especially those of Gaelic origin. This
is one of those which originally would have been O'MOONEY,
"descendant of Dumb" and would therefore have
been a nickname. |
| MOSLEY |
There are two possible explanations
here, depending on where the
ancestor lived. It could be a corruption of "Mouse -
lee", a field with mice or, "Moss - lee", a
field where moss grows. |
| MUTCH |
A corruption of MUCH, also means
"big" as it does today and is the
prefix of many English villages in order to differentiate
them from a smaller village of the same name. |
| |
| NORRIS |
This is simply a corruption of North
- ish and was a nickname given
to a newcomer from the North. |
| |
| OUTTERIDGE |
Is another example of the strange
choice of forenames in those
far-off days. It is Old English and is actually a corruption
of OUTRIDGE, its meaning "dawn powerful". |
| |
| PANTHER |
Is common in the Northants area
and has nothing to do with a member of the cat family. The
name comes to us from Old French and was the title given to
the official in charge of the pantry at a manor house. If
of a charitable disposition, he would occasionally throw stale
bread crumbs in the direction of the starving serfs of the
village, thereby earning (hopefully) for himself the image
of a caring and God-fearing person. |
| PEARCE |
An English name from the given name
Piers (vernacular form of Peter) - patronyms include PEARSON
and PIERSON, varients include PEARS(E), PIERCE, PEAS and PERRIS
|
| PENGELLY |
In Medieval times, Cornish was
very much a living language, although it was generally classed
a dialect of Welsh. It is doubtful if the two- languages were
mutually intelligible as both developed separately, but the
similarities can clearly be seen in most of the Cornish surnames,
nearly all of them taken from place names. PENGELLY (Welsh:
Pengelli) is perhaps the most common of all cornish surnames
and means `the far end of the grove'. |
| PENTREATH |
In Medieval times, Cornish was
very much a living language, although it was generally classed
a dialect of Welsh. It is doubtful if the two- languages were
mutually intelligible as both developed separately, but the
similarities can clearly be seen in most of the Cornish surnames,
nearly all of them taken from place names. PENTREATH (Welsh:
Pentraeth) means `the far end of the beach'. |
| PERSHOUSE |
This family has lived around the Black Country
since the 1200s. In those days they were called 'de Parco'
or 'atte Parke'. One branch did very well in the iron trade
and built themselves a fancy house, which quite
understandably was known as the Parkes' house. Over time,
the family
that lived there became known as PARKSHOUSE, which devolved
into PURSHOUSE, PERSHOUSE, PARSUS and many other variants.
Thanks to Satima Flavell Neist for the information. |
| PROVERBS |
My Mother was born and brought up in Wednesbury.
Her Mother's maiden name was Muriel Proverbs. Other than The
Black Country - the greatest density of distribution for this
surname seems to be Barbados!
Any ideas on the origins of the name Proverbs?
Nick Evans
(The Wednesbury clan arrived from Newcastle in the early
1800's, mining family background. Allegedly their was a
family bible indicating this family came from the Caribbean
ex-slave trade landing in Bristol - no proof what so ever.
It would be surprising if a member of this horrid trade
ended up down a pit in Newcastle.
I appreciate master names were adopted but Proverbs is also
a bible chapter. No one todate can prove or find the birth
of John Proverbs in Newcastle either.
Thanks to Nigel Seamarks for this information)
(I can find
no information on the origin of this name - I did find some
modern-day Proverbs in the USA, but no-where else. If anyone
can throw light on this please email me - editor) |
| |
| RAPER |
This is a surname which suggests
the lowest form of man in today's
times. It is simply a corruption of ROPER, "a maker of
ropes". RAPER is a north of England surname, its pronunciation
actuualy nearer to the original than that of southern ROPER. |
| RIGLEY |
Derived from Wrigley and is a Nottinghamshire
varient of that surname. |
| RUTTER |
Occupational - player of the rote (a medieval
musical instrument), a nickname for an unscrupulous person
(variant REUTER) - robber, highwayman, footpad. |
| |
| SANDERSON |
This was originally ALEXANDER,
the Greek for "defender of men",
but in most instances a diminutive was formed by taking the
latter element, giving us SANDER. His son would have been
Sander's son or SANDERSON. The English Sanderson's originate
from Alexander de Bedick who had estates in Washington, Durham,
& Blyth, Nottinghamshire. All of his sons called themselves
Sanderson (Alysanders's son's) as a surname in the aerly 1300's.
In middle English Alexander was spelt Alysander. |
| SHEARMAN |
Was a person who cut away the superflous
nap of woollen cloth,
perhaps using the equivalent of today's shears in the medieval
cloth
industry. |
| SHERWOOD |
Habitation name from Nottinghamshire,
variant SHEARWOOD |
SHINGLES(R) |
This derives from an English occupational name
for someone who laid wooden tiles (shingles) on roofs. |
| SHIPMAN |
Is deceptive. Although some bearers
would certainly have earned their living at sea, this would
hardly explain why this surname is common in inland Leicester
and Nottingham. The reason is that here it is a corruption
of "SHEEPMAN" in other words, a shepherd. |
| SIZE |
This is an Old French word for "juryman",
and has the same root as
ASSIZES. |
| SKEGG |
The Viking language, which is now
classed as Old Norse, a cousin of Anglo Saxon, also gave us
such names as SKEGG - `beard', and SKELLHORN or SKELLON -
`a horn (- shaped land) at a sheiling'.
Other invaders followed, notably the Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
Their
languages later fused into what became known as Anglo Saxon.
It was the Angles who gave their name to England but many
of today's surnames are by courtesy of the Saxons. Sayce is
Old Welsh for Saxon (modern Welsh:'Saes') the Scottish equivalent
being `Sassenach'. The surname SAXON is fairly common in Lincolnshire. |
| SOUTHALL |
An English surname, chiefly found
in the West Midlands. Habitation name from any number of places
with that name. Distribution indicates it is likely that the
surname came from Warwickshire. |
| STEVENS |
Is "son of Steven" and
this is a forename with far more dignity,
being Greek for "crown". |
| |
| TALBET |
Is again a forename, this time Germanic,
of uncertain meaning,
although "valley" has been suggested. It would therefore
be the equivalent of today's GLEN which is Scottish Gaelic
with exactly the same meaning. |
| THURSTON |
From medieval given name "Porsteinn"
composed of divine name "Porr" and "Steinn"
(stone). Also from a habitation name from Suffolk. Variants
include Thurstan, Tustin(g), Dusting, Tutin(g) |
| TREMAINE |
In Medieval times, Cornish was
very much a living language, although it was generally classed
a dialect of Welsh. It is doubtful if the two- languages were
mutually intelligible as both developed separately, but the
similarities can clearly be seen in most of the Cornish surnames,
nearly all of them taken from place names.
TREMAINE (Tremaen) was `a place or farm near a (stone) monolith'.
Welsh surnames are rather disappointing as few of them have
origins in that language. An exception is TREVOR which is
from the Welsh: `tre fawr' meaning `big village'. Again, its
use as a forename is fairly recent. |
| TREVELYAN |
In Medieval times, Cornish was
very much a living language, although it was generally classed
a dialect of Welsh. It is doubtful if the two- languages were
mutually intelligible as both developed separately, but the
similarities can clearly be seen in most of the Cornish surnames,
nearly all of them taken from place names. TREVELYAN (Trefelin)
is `mill farm'. |
| TUCKER |
See FULLER |
| |
| UDALL |
Udall. derived from de Ovedale. The de Ovedales
came to England at the time of William the Conqueror, settling
first in the Lake District, then moving to Talconeston Norfolk.
(the first de Ovedale I have discovered was John/William de
Ovedale, c 1175 from Talconeston, Norfolk.) soon the name
being recorded as de Uvedale, Their next move was to Titsey
Surrey, later to Wickam Hampshire. Later the "de"
was dropped, and due to phonetics, and local dialect, there
are many variants, Udall, Udell, Udale, Youdall, Yowdall.
(there have been Udalls in the Black Country since, the end
of the 1700's), information from Gay udall Follows. |
| |
| WALDRON |
1. Germanic from walh = foreigner
and hrafn = raven or
2. Old English Sussex from w(e)ald = forest and œrn =
house / dwelling |
| |
Was a fuller
who trod on the cloth in the trough, hence the occupational
name. He would have spent his day "walking on the cloth". |
| WARDLE |
Its meaning is "look - out
hill". The surname could have been given
to somebody who had the job of being "look - out"
from that point. |
| WEBB |
Occupational name for a weaver. |
| WESTLEY |
Is Old English and its meaning
is "a field to the west". This was
usually west of a farm. |
| WHATLEY |
Is a corruption of WHEATLEY, its
meaning being a field where wheat
is grown. Its origin is from the Old English. |
| WILES |
(from Wileman) An English occupational
name for trapper / hunter. Or a devious person. From Middle
English, wile = trap / snare. Or from Late English, wil =
trick |
| WOODWARD |
Occupational name for a forster,
employed to look after trees and game. Occasionally may be
derived from the personal name "Wuduweard" composed
from the same description as above i.e. wood guardian |
| WORRALL |
An English name, from a place in
South Yorkshire. The Wirrall peninsula may also be the source
of some instances. The surname is common in the Black Country,
as well as Lancashire and South Yorkshire. |
| WRIGLEY |
English surname, from Wrigley Head
near Salford. |
| WYMARK |
1066 saw the arrival of the Normans
and modern English can be said to be roughly a mixture of
Anglo Saxon and French. The BRETONS, then independent of France,
were given land following the assistance in the conquest.
They were responsible for many British surnames, including
WYMARK and it is from Breton `we o march' (worthy of a horse). |
