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AN 
 
 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 OF 
 
 FAMILY AND CHRISTIAN NAMES. 
 
 WITH AN ESSAY, 
 
 ON THEIR DERIVATION AND IMPORT. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM ARTHUR, M.A. 
 
 "To find out the true originall of surnames is full of difflcultie." 
 
 Camden. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 SHELDON, BLAKEMAN & CO. 
 
 No. 115 NASSAU STREET. 
 1857. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
 
 WILLIAM ARTHUB, 
 
 In fhe Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, f6r the Northern 
 District of New York. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY PRIWIED BY 
 
 Thouas B. Smith, J . J . B s s D , 
 
 2&8i Beekman Street. 16 Spnice St. 
 
■Ays 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 The Author has been induced to publish this volume, 
 from the opinions expressed by a number of literary- 
 friends, that a work on the origin and import of Family- 
 Names would be a valuable addition to the current 
 literature of this country. He is not aware that a Dic- 
 tionary of this kind has ever before been published, 
 embracing surnames derived from the Enghsh, Saxon, 
 Dutch, Danish, German, Welsh, GaeUc (Celtic), Cor- 
 nish-British, and other languages. 
 
 From this consideration he is inclined to indulge the 
 hope that the book will be acceptable not only to the 
 Philologist, but to readers in general who may have 
 the curiosity to know the origin and signification of 
 their own names. 
 
 Much labor has been spent upon the Dictionary. It 
 has been prepared by long and careful research and 
 study of the several languages from which the names 
 are derived. 
 
 In the outlines of the Introductory Essay the author 
 is indebted for much valuable information to the 
 " learned Camden," — " Camden's Remaines concerning 
 Britaine," London, 1614. 
 
 §^mms 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 He has read with pleasure an interesting and amus- 
 ing " Essay on English Surnames," by Mark Antony 
 Lower, M.A., London, 1849, from which he has taken 
 many curious observations and humorous anecdotes on 
 several names given in that work. 
 
 Available aid has also been obtained from a series of 
 articles on L-ish Surnames, by Mr. John O'Donovan, 
 published in the "Irish Penny Journal," Dublin, 1841 ; 
 from " Bailey's English Dictionary," 20th edition, 1764 ; 
 "Playfair's British Family Antiquity," London, 1811 ; 
 and from " Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic Diction- 
 ary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and L-eland," 
 London, 1848. 
 
 In a volume of this size it is not to be expected that 
 the origin and meaning of every surname can be found, 
 nevertheless, from an attentive perusal of the Intro- 
 ductory Essay, and the several derivations of the names 
 given, a majority of Family and Christian names may 
 be ascertained with a good degree of accuracy. 
 
 From the nature and difficulty of the work, arising 
 in many instances from the mutation and corruption of 
 the original names, the change of customs and language, 
 and the frequent similarity of the roots from which 
 many of the words are derived, it can not be otherwise 
 than in many respects imperfect. 
 
 Nbwtonville, Albany Co., N.T., 
 November, 1856. 
 
AN ESSAY 
 
 THE ORIGIN AND IMPORT 
 
 FAMILY IN-^MES. 
 
 Names commenced in Eden. The Creator be- 
 stowed on the first man the name of Adam^ denot- 
 ing his origin firom the earth. Eve gave to her 
 first born the name of (7am, implying acquisition, a 
 standing testimony of her faith in the first promise 
 made to man in Eden. 
 
 The signification of the Hebrew names recorded 
 in the 5th chapter of Grenesis, when arranged in 
 order, present an epitome of the ruin and recovery 
 of man through a Eedeemer : 
 
 Adam, i. e., 
 
 " Man in the image of God;" 
 
 Seth, 
 
 " Substituted by ;" 
 
 Enos, 
 
 "Frail Man;" 
 
 Canaan, 
 
 "Lamenting;" 
 
 Mahalaleel, 
 
 "The blessed God;" 
 
 Jared, 
 
 "Shall come down;" 
 
 Enoch, 
 
 "Teaching;" 
 
6 ESSAY ON THE OKIGIN AND 
 
 Methuselah, *' His deatli shall send j" 
 Lamech, " To the hnmble ;" 
 
 Noah, "' Eest or consolation."* 
 
 These names in the order in which they are re- 
 corded, read thus: "To man, once made in the 
 image of God, now substituted by man frail and full 
 of sorrow, the blessed God himself shall come down 
 to the earth teaching, and his death shall send to 
 the humble, consolation." 
 
 The son of Abraham and Sarah, by divine direc- 
 tion was to bear the name of IsaaCj signifying laugh- 
 ter, in allu^on to the circumstances recorded of the 
 father of the faithfiit in the 17th chapter of Genesis, 
 In like manner Jacob received the name Yaakobj 
 that is, he shall '* hold by the heel" or supplant,, a 
 prediction which was fulfilled when he supplant- 
 ed his brother Esau, in the matter of his birthright. 
 
 The ancient Hebrews retained the greatest sim- 
 plicity in the use of names, and generally a single 
 name distinguished the individual. Where it was- 
 necessary the name of the father was added, and 
 sometimes that of the mother, if she happened to be 
 more^ celebrated. 
 
 Names were first given for the distinction of per- 
 sons, and each individual had, at the beginning, but 
 
 * Dr. Curomings. 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 7 
 
 one proper or given name, as Joseph among the 
 Jews, Amasis among the Egyptians, Arhaces among 
 the Medians, among the Greeks Ulysses^ among the 
 Eomans Bomulus, the Germans AriovisttcSj the British 
 Caradoc, the Saxons Edric^ etc. 
 
 The Jews named their children the eighth day 
 after the nativity, when the rite of circumcision was 
 performed. The Greeks gave the name on the 
 tenth day, and an entertainment was given by the 
 parents to their friends, and sacrifices offered to the 
 gods. 
 
 The Eomans gave names to their female children 
 on the eighth day, and to the males on the ninth, 
 which they called Dies lustricus, the day of purifi- 
 cation, on which day they solemnized a feast called 
 Nominalia. 
 
 The name given was generally indicative of some 
 particular circumstance attending the birth or in- 
 fancy, some quality of body or mind, or was ex- 
 pressive of the good wishes or fond hopes of the 
 parent. Objects in nature, the most admired and 
 beautiful, were selected by them to designate their 
 offspring. The sun, the moon and stars, the clouds, 
 the beasts of the field, the trees and the flowers that 
 adorn the face of nature, were all made subservient 
 to this end. 
 
 Pythagoras taught that the minds, actions, and 
 
8 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 success of men would be according to their fate, 
 genius and name^ and Plato advises men to be care- 
 ful in giving fair and bappy names. 
 
 Sucb hopeful names as Victor ^ conqueror, Felix, 
 happy, and Fortunatm, lucky, were called by Cicero, 
 " bona nomina," good names, and by Tacitus, " fausta 
 nomina," prosperous names. 
 
 " Such names among the Komans were considered 
 so happy and fortunate, that in the time of Galienus, 
 Kegilianus who commanded in the ancient Ulyricum, 
 obtained the empire in consequence of the deriva- 
 tion of his name. When it was demanded during 
 a banquet, what was the origin of Eegilianus, one 
 answered, * a Begno^ to reign, to be a king ; another 
 began to decline *i^ (a king), Begis^ Regilianus^ 
 when the soldiers began to exclaim, 'Ergo potest 
 Eex esse, ergo potest regere, Deus tibi regis nomen 
 imposuit,' and so invested him with the imperial 
 robes."* 
 
 Lewis the Eighth, King of France, sent two of his 
 embassadors to Alphonso, king of Spain, to solicit 
 one of his daughters in marriage. When the young 
 ladies, whose names were Urraca and Blanche, were 
 presented to the embassadors, they made choice of 
 Blanche, though far less beautiful than her sister, 
 assigning as a reason that her name would be 
 
 * Camden. 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 9 
 
 better received in France, as Blanche signified fair 
 and beautiful. 
 
 So the proverb, ^''Bonum nomen honum omerU'^ — A 
 ' good name is a good omen. 
 
 Names, epithets, and soubriquets were often be- 
 stowed by others than the parents, at a more 
 advanced age, expressive of character or exploits, 
 of personal beauty, deformity or blemish — such as, 
 among the Greeks TeAcjua;^©^ (Telemachus), able to 
 sustain the war; '^iXki'n-noq (Philip), a lover of 
 horses ; *AAe|av(5pof (Alexander), a benefactor of 
 men, and rpvTro^, eagle-nose. Among the Romans, 
 Yictor^ a conqueror ; Strabo^ squint-eyed ; Varus, 
 bow - legged. Among the Britons, Cadwallader, 
 the leader of the war. Among the Gaels or Celts, 
 Galgachj or Galgachus, the fierce fighter of battles ; 
 Guraidh, a hero. 
 
 Among the Britons and Gaels, names were taken 
 from those animals which excelled in swiftness, 
 fierceness, boldness, strength or courage, as the 
 Lion, the Bear, the Wolf, the Mastiff, The follow- 
 ing are examples : Llew, Llewelyn, Arthur, Kee, etc. 
 
 Others from valor, skill in war, and various 
 mental qualities, as Caw, Cadwallon, Cadwallader, 
 Hardd; Donald, Duncan, Fergus, Oolom, Gael, Gar^ 
 a<itacus* 
 
 * For the signification of these names, see Dictionary. 
 
10 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 Others from color. Lloyd, Brjch, Winne, Goch, 
 Gorm, Gwrmain, Glass, Dhu or Du, Da or Day, 
 Melyn, Bane, Cane, Eoe, &c. 
 
 The EoMANS introduced such names as Julius, 
 Claudius, Felix, Constans, Constantine, Augustus, 
 Augustine, etc. The Saxons the names of Charles, 
 Edward, Edmund, Baldwin, Oswald, etc. The 
 Danes, such as Hengist, Horsa, Sweyne, Canute; 
 and the Normans chose such as Eobert, William, 
 Richard, Henry, etc. 
 
 Before the general introduction of surnames, the 
 Britons and Celts, for the sake of distinction, used 
 explanatory names, descriptive of personal peculiar- 
 ities, individual pursuits, mental or bodily qualities, 
 accidental circumstances, or the performance of 
 certain actions. These names have been called 
 Soubriquets, Cognomens, and Nicknames — such as 
 Howel Da, or Howel the good; Howel y Pedolau, or 
 Howel of the horse-shoes, so called from being able 
 to straighten them or bend them by manual strength ; 
 Cadrod Hardd, or the beautiful; Ririd Vlaidd, or 
 Ririd the Wolf; Cunedda Wledig, or the Patriotic ; 
 Howel y Fwyall, or the Battle axe ; Caswallon 
 Law hir, or the long hand ; Lly warch Hen, or the 
 aged; Donald Gorm, or Blue Donald; Malcolm 
 Ganmore, great head. 
 
 The Gaels of Ireland had also the same kind of 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 11 
 
 cognomens or descriptive names, as Niall Roe^ or 
 Niall the Bed ; Niall More, JSTiall the Great ; Con 
 Bachachj Con the Lame ; Henry Avrey, Henry the 
 Contentious; Shane au JDimais, John the Proud; 
 .Shane Buidhe, or John with the yellow hair ; Shane 
 Oearr^ John Short; Seumas Bea^h^ James the 
 Swarthy; O'Connor Don^ the Brown-haired O'Con- 
 nor.* 
 
 Sir Henry Piers, in the year 1682, in a letter to 
 Anthony, Lord Bishop of Meath, gave the follow- 
 ing account of Irish sobriquets and cognomens : 
 
 * * * u They take much liberty, and seem to 
 do it with delight, in giving of nicknames ; and if a 
 man have any imperfection or evil habit, he shall 
 be sure to hear of it in the nickname. Thus, if he be 
 blind, lame, squint-eyed, gray-eyed, be a stammerer 
 in speech, be left-handed, to be sure he shall have 
 one of these added to his name ; so also from his 
 color of hair, as black, red, yellow, brown, etc. ; and 
 from his age, as young, old; or from what he ad- 
 dicts himself to, or much delights in, as in draining, 
 building, fencing, or the like ; so that no man what- 
 ever can escape a nickname who lives among them, 
 or converseth with them ; and sometimes, so libidin- 
 ous are they in this kind of raillery, they will give 
 nicknames per antiphrasim, or contrariety of speech. 
 
 * Mr. John O'Donovan, Irish Penny Journal, 1841. 
 
12 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 Thus a man of excellent parts, and beloved of all 
 men, shall be called Grana^ that is, naughty, or fit to 
 be complained of. K a man have a beautiful coun- 
 tenance or lovely eyes, they will call him Cueegh^ 
 that is, squint-eyed; if a great housekeeper, he 
 shall be called Acherisagh, that is, greedy." 
 
 The same custom prevailed in England, and 
 other countries, in reference to descriptive names, 
 many of which in after times became surnames ; as 
 William the Lion; Henry the Fowler; Edmund 
 Ironside; Harold Harefoot; William Kufus (the 
 Red) ; Henry Beauclerk (fine Scholar) ; Richard 
 Coeur de Lion (the Lion-hearted; John Lackland; 
 Edward Longshanks; David Crookshanks. Some 
 of this class indicate mental qualities, as Good, 
 Goodman, Goodenough, Best, Sage, Wise. Others 
 are derived from- personal appearance or bodily 
 peculiarities, as Big, Meikle, Little, Lightbody, 
 Lightfoot, Armstrong, Greathead. 
 
 Among these are included names denoting com- 
 plexion, color of hair and dress, as Black, Blond, 
 Brown, Gray, Grissel, Red, Rufus, Rous, Russel, 
 Rothe (Germ, red). Roth man, Ruddiman, Blacket 
 or Blackhead, Whitelock, and Whitehead. 
 
 Among names of costume are found Capet, 
 Curthose (short hose), Robe, Mantle, etc. 
 
 The custom of giving nicknames to individuals 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 13 
 
 bearing hereditary surnames has not yet been dis- 
 continued ; and in many localities, the peasantry are 
 better known by soubriquets than by their proper 
 surnames. This is especially the case where several 
 families bear the same sur-names. 
 
 Mark Antony Lower, M. A., in his interesting 
 and amusing Essay on Family Nomenclature, re- 
 lates the following story, as given by a correspond- 
 ent of Knight's Quarterly Magazine: "I knew an 
 apothecary in the collieries, who, as a matter of 
 decorum, always entered the real name of his 
 patients in his books; that is, when he could 
 ascertain them. But they stood there for orna- 
 ment ; for use^ he found it necessary to append the 
 soubriquet, which he did with true medical formal- 
 ity, as, for instance, 'Thomas Williams, vulgo diet, 
 (vulgarly called) ' Old Puff.' " 
 
 A story is told of an attorney's clerk, who was 
 professionally employed to serve a process on one 
 of these oddly-named persons, whose real name was 
 entered in the instrument with legal accuracy. The 
 clerk, after a great deal of inquiry as to the where- 
 abouts of the party, was about to abandon the 
 search as hopeless, when a young woman, who had 
 witnessed his labors, kindly volunteered to assist 
 him. 
 
 "Oy say, Bully ed^^ cried she to the first person 
 
14 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 they met, " does tliee know a mon neamed Adam 
 Green?" The bull -head was shaken in token of 
 ignorance. 
 
 ^'■Loy-a-hed^ dost thee?" 
 
 Lie-a-bed's opportunities of making acquaintance 
 had been rather limited, and she could not resolve 
 the difficulty. 
 
 Stumpy (a man with a wooden leg), Cowshin^ 
 Spmdlesha7ihs, Cockeye, and Pigtail were severally 
 invoked, but in vain; and the querist fell into a 
 brown study, in which she remained for some time. 
 At length, however, her eyes suddenly brightened, 
 and slapping one of her companions on the shoul- 
 der, she exclaimed triumphantly, " Dash my wig I 
 whoy he means moy feyther !" and then turning to 
 the gentleman, added, "yo should'n ax'd for Ode 
 (old) Blackbird." 
 
 It is stated that "few of the miners of Stafford- 
 shire bear the names of their fathers; and an 
 instance is given of a certain pig-dealer in that 
 county whose father's name was Johnson, but the 
 people call him Pigman^ and Pigman he calls him- 
 self This name may be now seen over the door of 
 a public-house which this man keeps in Stafford- 
 shire."* 
 
 In this connection Mr. Lower adds : " There were 
 
 * Mark Antony Lower, M. A., on English Surnames, 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 15 
 
 lately living in the small town of Folkestone, Co. 
 Kent (Eng.), fifteen persons whose hereditary name 
 was Hall, but who, gratia- distinctwnis, bore the 
 elegant designations of 
 
 Doggy Hall, Feathertoe, 
 Bumper, Bubbles, 
 
 PiERCE-EYE, Faggots, 
 
 CULA, JiGGERY, 
 
 PUMBLE-FOOT, COLDFLIP, 
 
 SiLYER-EYE, LUMPY, 
 
 SuTTY, Thick-lips. 
 
 Old Hare. 
 
 A Surname is an additional name added to the 
 Proper or given name, for the sake of distinction, 
 and so called because originally written over the 
 other name, instead of after it, from the French 
 Surnom, or the Latin ^^ Super nomen^^^ signifying 
 above the name. 
 
 Surnames have originated in various ways. Some 
 are derived from the names of places ; others from 
 offices and professions ; from personal peculiarities ; 
 from the Christian or proper name of the father; 
 from the performance of certain actions ; from 
 objects in the animal, mineral, and vegetable world, 
 and from accidental circumstances of every varied 
 character. 
 
16 ESSAY ON THE OEIGIN AND 
 
 The introduction of surnames arose from the 
 necessity of the case. Soon after the diffusion of 
 Christianity among the nations of Europe, their 
 Pagan names were generally laid aside, and the 
 people began to take Hebrew names, such as Moses, 
 Aaron, Malachi, David, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 
 John, Peter, James. As the families increased, 
 many persons were found bearing the same name. 
 The Johns, and the Jameses, and the Peters became 
 numerous. 
 
 For a long time, soubriquets and nicknames, like 
 those of which we have spoken, and patronymics, 
 were appended to the name to distinguish the in- 
 dividual, which were in some cases retained, and 
 became surnames, but by degrees this means of 
 remedying the confusion became insufficient, and to 
 identify the individual more distinctly, surnames 
 were found necessary. 
 
 It is impossible to state at what precise period 
 names became stationary, or began to descend hered- 
 itarily. According to Camden, surnames began to 
 be taken up in France about the year 1000, and 
 in England about the time of the Conquest (1066), 
 or a very little before, under King Edward the 
 Confessor. 
 
 He says : " And to this time doe the Scottishmen 
 referre the antiquitie of their surnames, although 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 17 
 
 Buckanan supposeth that they were not in use in 
 Scotland many yeares after. 
 
 " But in England, certaine it is, that as the better 
 sort, euen from the Conquest, by little and little, 
 took surnames, so they were not settled among the 
 common people fully vntil about the time of King 
 Edward the Second, but stni varied according to 
 the father's name, as Richardson^ if his father were 
 Eichard; Hodgson^ if his father were Koger, or in 
 some other respect, and from thenceforth began to 
 be established (some say by statute) in their 
 posteritie. 
 
 " This will seem strange to some Englishmen and 
 Scottishmen, which, like the Arcadians, think their 
 surnames as ancient as the moone, or, at the least, 
 to reach many an age beyond the Conquest. But 
 they which thinke it most strange (I speake vnder 
 correction), I doubt they will hardly finde any 
 surname which descended to posteritie before that 
 time ; neither have they scene (I fear) any deed or 
 donation before the Conquest, but subsigned with 
 crosses and single names, without surnames, in this 
 manner, in England — *J« Ego Eadredus confirmaui; 
 4* Ego Edmundus corrohoraui ; *^ Ego Sigarius con- 
 clusi; »f« Ego Olfstanus consolidaui^ etc. 
 
 "Likewise for Scotland, in an old booke of 
 Duresme in the Charter, whereby Edgare, sonne 
 
18 ESSAY ON THE OBIGIN AND 
 
 of King Malcolme, gave lands neare Coldingham to 
 that church, in the year 1097, the Scottish noble- 
 men, witnesses thereunto, had no other surnames 
 but the Christian names of their fathers, for thus 
 they signed — S. ^ Qulfi filii Meniani. S. >J< Guluerti 
 Jilii Doncani, etc." 
 
 On the authority of Dr. Keating* and his cotem- 
 porary Gratianus Lucius, we learn that surnames 
 first became hereditary in Ireland, in the reign of 
 Brian Boru, who was killed in the battle of Clon- 
 tarf, in the year 1014, in which battle the Danes 
 were defeated. Previous to this time, individuals 
 were identified by Tribe names, after the Patriarchal 
 manner. These tribe names were formed from 
 those of the progenitors by prefixing the following 
 words, signifying race, progeny, descendants, etc.: 
 Corca^ Ginealj Claris Muintir, -Siol, Sliocht^ Dal, 
 Tealachj Ua, Ui, or 0, which signifies grandson or 
 descendant. 
 
 It is asserted on the authority of the ancient Irish 
 Manuscripts, that King Brian ordained that a cer- 
 tain surname should be imposed on every tribe or 
 clan, in order that it might be more easily known 
 from what stock each family was descended ; and 
 
 * See Irish Penny Joimial, 1841, p. 365, "Origin and Meanings of 
 Irish Family names, by John O'Donovan." 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 1^ 
 
 that these names stioTild become hereditary and 
 fixed forever. In the formation of these names, 
 care was taken that they should not be arbitrarily 
 assumed. The several families were required to 
 adopt the names of their fathers or grandfathers, 
 and those ancestors were generally selected who 
 were celebrated for their virtues or renowned for 
 their valor. 
 
 Many of the surnames now common in Ireland 
 were derived from the chiefs of the several clans 
 who fought against the Danes at the battle of 
 Clontarf, under King Brian, and others were 
 assumed from ancestors who flourished subsequently 
 to the reign of that rnonarch. Soon after the 
 invasion of Ireland by Henry the Second, in the 
 year 1172, the Anglo-Norman and Welsh families 
 who had obtained large grants of land in that king- 
 dom, in reward for their military services in subdu- 
 ing the inhabitants, from intermarriages and other 
 causes, began by degrees to adopt the language and 
 manners of the people, and in process of time be- 
 came ^^Hihernis ipsis Hihefrniores^'' more Irish than 
 the Irish themselves. They not only spoke the 
 Irish language, but conformed to the Irish custom^ 
 of surnames, by placing ^Mac," which signifies 
 "50%" before the Christian name of their father. 
 This was particularly the case in regard to those 
 
20 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 English and Welsh families who settled in the 
 province of Connaught. Thus, the descendants 
 of Wniiam De Burgos were called MacWilliarQ, 
 that is, the son of William, and the De Exeters 
 assumed the name of MacJordan, from Jordan De 
 Exeter, who derived his name from Exeter, a town 
 in Devonshire, England. 
 
 In the year 1465, in the reign of Edward the 
 Fourth, it was ehactedr'bj statute^^lEaEiverj Irish- 
 man dwelling within the English . pale, then com- 
 prising the counties of Dublin, Meath, Lowth, and 
 Kildare, in Ireland, should take an English sur- 
 name. 
 
 " At the request of the Commons, it is ordeyned 
 and established by authority of said Parliament, 
 that every Irishman that dwells betwixt or among 
 Englishmen, in the county Dublin, Myeth, Uri- 
 ell, and Kildare, shall goe like to one English- 
 man in apparel; and shaveing off his beard above 
 the mouth, and shall be within one year sworn 
 the liege man of the king, in the hands of the 
 lieutenant, or deputy, or such as he will assigne to 
 receive this oath for the multitude that is to be 
 swome, and shall^ take to him an English surname-, 
 of one— towiie,_as Sutton, Chester, Trym, Skyrne, 
 Corke, Kjnsale ; or colour, as White, Black, Brown ; 
 or art or science, as Smith, or Carpenter; or office, 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 21 
 
 as Cook, Butler; and that lie and his issue shall use 
 this name under payne of forfejting of his goods 
 yearly till the premises be done, to be levied two 
 times by the yeare to the king's warres, according 
 to the discretion of the lieutenant of the king or his 
 deputy."— 5 Edward lY., cap. 3. 
 
 In obedience to this law, Harris, in his additions 
 to Ware, remarks that the Shanachs took the name 
 of Fox, the McGabhans or McGowans^ that of 
 Smithy and the Geals the name of White. In con- 
 sequence of this statute of Edward, many Irish 
 families were induced to translate or change their 
 names into English. 
 
 The ancient prefixes of Mac and are still retained 
 in Irish names, the former denoting soriy and the lat- 
 ter grandson^ or descendant. To distinguish the 
 individual the father's name was used, and some- 
 times that of the grandfather after the manner of 
 the Scripture. Thus, should Donnel h^YQ o, son, be 
 would be called 1/acDonnel, that is, the son of Bmi- 
 nel, and his grandson would be termed O'Donnel ; 
 ClSTeal; the grandson of Neal, or the descendant of 
 Neal ; ifacNeal, the son of Neal. 
 
 The Welsh, in like manner, prefixed Ap, mob, ah, 
 or vap to the given or first name to denote son, as 
 David Ap Howell, David the son of Howell ; Evan 
 Ap Ehys, Evan the son of Eees ; Richard Ap Evan, 
 
22 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 Richard the son of Evan ; John Ap Hugh, John 
 the son of Hugh. These names are now abreviated 
 into Powell, Price, Bevan, and Pugh. 
 
 The name of the ancestor was appended in this 
 manner for half-a-dozen generations back, and it is 
 no uncommon occurrence to find in their old re- 
 cords a name like this : 
 
 " Evan - ap - Griffith-ap- Jones-ap-William-ap Owen- 
 ap-Jenkin-ap-Morgan-ap-Rheese." 
 
 Lower tells of a church at Llangollen, Wales, 
 dedicated to " St. Collen-ap-Grwynnawg-ap-Clyn- 
 dawg-ap-Cowrda-ap-Caradoc - Freichfras - ap - Llyn- 
 Merim-ap-Einion-Yrth-ap-Cunedda-Wledig — a name 
 that casts that of the T>\ii(^mQiXi ' Inhvervanhodscbr' 
 spankhinhadrachde'm) into the shade." 
 
 Surnames were not adopted in Wales until long 
 after they were in England and Scotland. The old 
 manner was retained as far down as the time of 
 Henry the Eighth. It is related in Camden, " That 
 in late y cares, in the time of King Henry the 
 Eight, an ancient worshipful gentleman of Wales 
 beeing called at the pannel of Jurie by the name of 
 ^Thomas ap- William-ap-ThoTnas^ap Richard-ap-Hoel- 
 ap-Euen- Yaghan! was advised by the judge to leave 
 that old manner; whereupon he after called himself 
 Moston, according to the name of his principall 
 house, and left that surname to his posteritie." 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 2S 
 
 About this time, tlie heads of the Welsh families 
 either took the names of their immediate ancestors as 
 surnames, or adopted names from their estates, 
 after the English manner. 
 
 The old Normans prefixed Fitz^ a son, the same 
 as Fils in French, and Filius in Latin, to the name 
 of the father as a patronymic, as Fitz William, the 
 son of William, the same as Williamson. 
 
 Lx-Ireland, after the^in-vasioa of Strongbow, in 
 the time of Henry the Second, names commencing 
 with Fitz frequently occur, as Fitzhugh, Fitzgerald, 
 Fitzgibbon, Fitzsimmons, Fitzpatrick, which are of 
 Anglo-Norman origin. Camden informs ns that in 
 the reign of Henry the First, the daughter and heir 
 of Fitzhamon, an English nobleman of wealth, 
 refused the hand of Kobert, the natural son of the 
 king, saying, 
 
 , " It were to me a gi-eat shame 
 
 To have a lord withouten his twa name." 
 
 Whereupon, the king gave him the name of Fitz 
 Eoy, " the son of the king." Children born out of 
 lawful wedlock not unfrequently have had Fitz 
 prefixed to the name of their mother or reputed 
 father. The children of his Eoyal Highness, Wil- 
 liam, Duke of Clarence, and Mrs. Jordan, took the 
 surname of Fitzclarence. 
 
24 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 _._3VlTZ, a termmatioQ cominQg ia_Bussi ^ names , 
 denotes son^ and is soraewliat analogous to the Nor- 
 man Fitz^ as Peter Paulowitz, Peter the son of Paul. 
 
 Sky is used in a similar manner bj the_PoleSj_^ 
 James Petrowsky, James the son of Peter.., ^ 
 
 Ing, Teutonic, denoting progeny — which. "Wachter 
 derives from the British engi^ to produce, bring 
 forth — was affixed by the Anglo-Saxons to the 
 father's name as a surname for the son, as Cuthing 
 the son of Cuth, JElfreding the son of Alfred, T©i^«^-~^ 
 Jm£ the Fair offspring. Browning th6 Dark off- 
 spring. Qin^ in Gaelic, signifies to beget; An^ 
 Gaelic, is a termination of nouns implying the 
 diminutive of that to which it is annexed, and aw, 
 in the Welsh, as an affix:, conveys also the idea of 
 littleness. The termination son was also added to 
 the father's name, and instead of saying John 
 the son of William, the name was written John 
 Williamson; Peter Johnson, in place of Peter the 
 son of John. While the English affixed son to the 
 baptismal name of the father, the Welsh merely 
 appended "5," as John ^atthews, -that is, John the 
 son of Mathew; David Jones (Johns), David the 
 son of John; John Hughs, John the son of 
 Hugh. 
 
 Kin, kind, ling, let, et, ot, cic, cock, are diminutives. 
 
 From the German kind, a child, is formed the 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 25 
 
 diminutive termination kin, as Watkin the son of 
 Wat or Walter ; Wilkin the son of Will or Wil- 
 liam. Kin or hind has the same signification as the 
 Greek yevog and the Latin genu^^ race, offspring, 
 children. 
 
 Ling at the end of a word conveys the idea of 
 something young or little, as darling or dearling^ 
 firstling^ gosling^ and denotes also the situation, 
 state, or condition of the subject to which it is 
 applied, as hireling, worldling. 
 
 Let, Anglo-Saxon lyt^ is sometimes used for 
 littUj as hamlet, ringlet, streamlet, Bartlet; i. e., 
 little Bart or Bartholomew. The terminations et 
 and ot are used in the same sense, as WilUt, Willmot, 
 the son of William or little William. 
 
 The termination cic or cock is also a diminutive, 
 and signifies little or son, as Hiccic, Hiccock, the son 
 of JHig or Hugh; Wilcock, the son of William; 
 Babcock, the son of Bob or Kobert. 
 
 ioCAL NAMES form the largest class of our sur- 
 names. First among these are those which are 
 national, expressing the country whence the person 
 first bearing the name came; as JEnglish, SooTT, 
 Ieish, French. 
 
 German or Gorman, Brett and Britain. 
 
 Fleming, from Flanders. 
 2 
 
26, ESSAY ON THE OEIGIN AND 
 
 BuKGOYNE, from Burgundy. 
 
 CoKNiSH and Cobnwallis, from Cornwall. 
 
 GEEMAmE, Alman and D'Almaine (D'Alle- 
 magne), from Germany. 
 
 Champagne and Chamfneys, from Champagne, 
 France. 
 
 Gascoyne and Gaskin, from Gascony. 
 
 Eomayne. from Kome. 
 
 Westphal, from Westphalia. 
 
 Hanway, from Hainault. 
 
 Janeway, a Genoese — etc.^ etc. 
 
 These names had commonly Le (the) prefixed to 
 them in old records. 
 
 The practice of taking names fr^m patrimonial 
 estates, or from the place of residence or birth, was 
 prevalent in Normandy and the contiguous parts of 
 France in the ]atter part of the tenth century, and 
 was generally adopted in England and Scotland after 
 the Conquest, 
 
 Names were taken from almost every county^ 
 city, town, parish, village, and hamlet, and from 
 manors, farms, and single houses, such as Clieshire^ 
 Kentj jRosSj. Hastings^ Ounningham, Huntingdon^ 
 Prest/Mj Hully Compton, Qoring^ etc., so that local 
 names of this class number many thousands. 
 
 Where the name was taken from the patrimonial 
 estate, it was assumed by tke individual himself; 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF IsfAMES. 2,7 
 
 when from the place of residence or birth, it was 
 probably bestowed by others. A person who had 
 removed from his native place and settled in an- 
 other, received from the inhabitants of the town 
 or village in which he took np his abode the name 
 of his native place as a surname, which descended 
 to his children. 
 
 These names were first given with the prefix ''o^" 
 shortened frequently to "0" or '*a," signifying /rom 
 (or it may be sometimes an abreviation of "a^"), as 
 John O Huntingdon^ Adam a Kirby. These prefixes 
 were after a time dropped, and Adam d Kirby 
 became Adam Kirby ^ and John OKent^ John Kent. 
 
 Besides these, we have a great number of local 
 surnames which are general and descriptive of the 
 nature or situation of the residence of the persons 
 upon whom they were bestowed, as Hil\ Wood, 
 Dale, Parke, etc. The prefix ^^ or Atte was gen- 
 erally used before these names, as^John At Hill, 
 John at the hill, James At Well, Will At- Gate, Tom 
 At- Wood, now Atwell, Adgate, and Atwood. Atte 
 was varied to Aiten when the following name began 
 with a vowel, as Peter Atten Ash, now Nash^ 
 Richard Atten Oak, now Noakes or Nohes, 
 
 Sometimes " d" was used instead of at, as Thomas 
 d Bechet, Jack cl Deane. By and under were used as 
 prefixes, as James By-field, Tom Under-hill^^ 
 
28 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 In this way men took their names from rivers 
 and trees, from residing at or near them, as Beck^ 
 GtUj Uderiy Trent, Qrant^ and Shannon; Beach, 
 Vine J Ashe, Bush, and Thorn. 
 
 Local names prefixed with De (from) and termi- 
 nating in ville, originated in Normandy, and were 
 introduced into England at the time of the Con- 
 quest. These names were taken from the districts 
 towns, or hamlets of which they were possessed, or 
 in which they resided previously to their following 
 the fortunes of "William the Conqueror, such as 
 De MandeviUe, Be Neville, Be Montague, Be Warren, 
 Be Beaumont, etc. The prefix Be was generally 
 dropped about the reign of Henry the Sixth. All 
 these names introduced into England at the time of 
 the Conquest, from Normandy and the contiguous 
 parts of France may easily be distinguished by the 
 prefixes Be, Bu, Bes, Be La, St., and the suffixes, 
 Beau, Mont, Font, Fant, Ers, Age, Ard, Aux, Bois, 
 Eux, Ft, Yal, Court, Vaux, Lay, Fort, Ot, Champ, 
 and Ville, the component parts of names of places 
 in Normandy, the signification of most of which we 
 give in the derivation of those names into the com- 
 position of which they enter. 
 
 The greater part of English local surnames are 
 composed of the following words or terminations : 
 Ford, Ham, Ley, Ey, Ney, Ton, Tun, Ing, Hurst, 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 29 
 
 Wich, Stow, Stedy Caster, Combe, Coi^, Thorpe^ 
 Worth, Burg, Beck, and Gtill. There is an ancient 
 proverb — 
 
 « fin iFortr, fn ?i^ant, fn 2le2 antr ^Ton, 
 STlje most of 3Snfllfsf) surnames run.** 
 
 To wliicli Lower has added — 
 
 "finfl, ?^urst, anu JK^ooTj, ffiSFfcft, StetJ antr iFfellf, 
 ifull mans 3BnjjlfsI) surnames ^feltJ, 
 
 * ffl®fti) 3r$or|)e anti SSourne, ©ote, ©aster, ©Ite, 
 Comfte, JSurj, 30on, anti Stotoe, anti Stofte, 
 B®ttt) 3E2 antr 33ort, <St)ato, ffl^ortfj antr ffl^atre, 
 Jj^fll, €fate, ®®ell, Stone, are mang matie ; 
 ^\X% l^arai), antj i^outf), anti 3EBoiDn, ann SanTr, 
 ^nti aSecft, anH Sea, toft|) numbers stanti." 
 
 FoED, Welsh, Fford, signifies a way, a road. 
 Ford, Saxon, from the verb Faran, to go or pass, 
 denotes a shallow place in a river, where it may be 
 passed on foot, whence Bradford, Crawford, Stan- 
 ford, etc. 
 
 Ham, Saxon, a house, a home, a dwelling-place ; 
 German, heim, a home. It is used in the names 
 of places, as Waltham, Durham, Buckingharn^ etc. 
 Ham, in some localities in England, indicates a rich, 
 level pasture ; a plot of land near water ; a triangu- 
 lar field. 
 
 Ley, Legh, and Leigh, a pastuxe^eld,, com- 
 
80 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 mons ; uncultivated land. Lle^ Welsh, a place, 
 Stanley, Burkeley, Kaleigh, etc. 
 
 Ey, Ney, Ea are applied to places contignous to 
 water ; a wet or watery place, as Chertsey, Lindsey, 
 Ilsley. 
 
 Ton and Tune, Saxon, and TuiN, Dutch, signify 
 an inclosure; DuN and DiN, Gaelic and Welsh, a 
 hill, a fortified place ; now a town, dun^ tune, town. 
 If the residence of the Briton was on a plain, it was 
 called Llan, from lagen or hgan, an inclosed plain, 
 or a low-lying place; if on an eminence, it was 
 called Dun. Dun, in the Gaelic, signifies a heap ; a 
 hill, mount ; a fortified house or hill, fortress, castle, 
 or tower. 
 
 The surnames terminating in den, din, ton and 
 tun, are numerous, as Houghton, Leighton, Chitten- 
 din, Huntington. 
 
 Ing is a meadow; low flat lands near a river, 
 lake, or wash of the sea, as Lansing, Washington. 
 
 JSuRST,_aij70od^ grove ; a word found in many 
 names of places, as Bathurst, Hayhurst, Crowhurst, 
 Reddenhurst. 
 
 Wick, in old Saxon, is a village, castle, or fort ; 
 the same as vicus in Latin ; a bay, a port or harbor, 
 whence Wickware, WickliflF, Warwick, Sedgewick, 
 
 Stow, a fixed place or mansion, whence Barstow, 
 Bristow, Raystow. 
 
SIGNIFICATIOI^ OF NAMES. 31 
 
 ^TEOjn the Danish, signifies a place inclosed, an 
 inclosure ; a fixed residence ; whence JSalsted, Olna^ 
 ^sted, Husted, Stedham, Grinsted. 
 
 Ceastee, Saxon, a camp, a city; Latin, castrum^ 
 whence Rochester, Winchester, Chichester, Exeter. 
 
 Combe, Anglo-Saxon, a valley; "Welsh, cwrriY a 
 vale, from which we have Balcombe, Bascombe, 
 Slocum. 
 
 Cot, Cete, Saxon, a cottage; Cote, French, the 
 sea-coast l^-aJiill^Jiilloc^ down ; the side. Several 
 names are composed of these words, as Cotesworth, 
 Lippencot, Westcot. 
 
 Thorpe, Anglo-Saxon, a village. Dutch, Dorp, 
 from this comes Northrop, Northrup or Northorp, 
 Winthorp or Winthrop. 
 
 Worth, a possession, farm; court, place; a fort, 
 an island. Such names end in worth, as Bosworth, 
 Farnsworth, Wordsworth, Woodworth. 
 
 Burg, Bury, a hill; Dutch, Berg, a mountain, a 
 hill; now, a court, a castle, a town. From these 
 words we have the names Kingsbury, Loundsbury, 
 Waterbury, Salisbury, Eosenburg or Rosenbury. 
 
 Tre, Tree, Welsh, a town, Coventry, the town 
 of the Convent ; Trelawny, Tremayne. 
 
 The Britons of Cornwall derived many of their 
 surnames from lt)cal objects, while most of the 
 Welsh names are patronymics. The following 
 
82 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 couplet expresses tlie usual character of Comisli 
 names : 
 
 " By j?Ve, Bos, Pol, Lam,, Goer, and Pen, 
 You know the most of Gomish men." 
 
 These words signify town, heath, pool, church, 
 castle, and promontory. 
 
 By is a termination of Danish names of places, 
 and denotes a dwelling, a village, or town, as 
 Willoughby, Busby, Ormsby, Selby, Goadby. 
 
 Over. The Anglo:jSaxQn_.,2tj[ercorresponds to 
 the German ufer^ and signifies a shore or bank, as 
 Westover. 
 
 Beck, a brook, Anglo-Saxon, Becc^ from which we 
 have Beckford, Beckwith, Beckley, etc. 
 
 A majority of Dutch surnames are local, derived 
 from places in Holland. Van, Dutch, Yon, German, 
 signify of or from^ and denote locality, as Van 
 Antwerp^ belonging to or coming from the city of 
 Antwerp ; Van Buren^ from the town of Buren in 
 Holland. Nearly all the Dutch local names have 
 this prefix. 
 
 Surnames derived from Christian or baptis- 
 mal NAMES are probably next in number to the local 
 surnames. For a long time, before and even after 
 the introduction of stationary surnames, the name 
 of the father was used by the child as a surname. 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 33 
 
 Camden says we have many surnames formed of 
 sucIl forenames as are now obselete, and only occnr 
 in Doomsday Book and other ancient records, of 
 wliicli lie gives a list. 
 
 I have already shown how the Normans prefixed 
 Fitz to their father's name for a surname, to denote 
 son ; the Welsh 4p, and the ancient Irish, Mac, 
 
 The surnames formed from Christian or baptismal 
 names are very numerous ; as many as ten or fif- 
 teen are frequently formed from a single Christian 
 name. Lower forms no less than twenty -nine from 
 the name of William. 
 
 First we have the names terminating in son, 
 which was added to the name of the father, as 
 Williamson, John^i^,..Thqmj)son,.-Wdls(m,.,£tG, 
 
 The Welsh merely appended "5" instead ofjon, 
 as Edwards, Davis, Jones (Johns), Hughs. 
 
 Then we have those formed from nicknames, 
 nursenames, and abbreviated names, as Watson, the 
 son of Wat or Walter ; Watts, the same ; Simpson, 
 Simms ; Dohson, the son of Dob or Robert ; Dohhs, 
 Hohson, Hohhs, etc., etc. 
 
 A great many are formed of these abreviated or 
 
 nursenames, with the addition of the diminutive 
 
 terminations ette, kin, and cock or cox, all of which 
 
 signify " little" or " child." From the termination 
 
 2* 
 
64 ESSAY ON THE OEIGIN AND 
 
 ette we have sucli names as WiUett^ little Will^jor 
 the son of Will ; Hallett^ little Hal or Henry. 
 
 From hin or hins we liave Wilkins, Tompkins^ 
 JSimphins, Atkins J Hawkins, Higgins^ Dohhin, and 
 Oilkin. From cock or cox, Wilcox, Simcox, Bahcock^ 
 the son of Bab or Bartholomew ; Ahock, the son of 
 Hal or Henry, and Hickcox, the son of Hig or Hugh. 
 
 Names of Trade, Occupations, and Pursuits, 
 are next in number, as SmithjCarpenter, Joiner, 
 Taylor, Barker, Barber, Baker, Brewer. Sherman {d, 
 shearm an, one who used to shear cloth), Naylor 
 (nail-maker), Ohapman, Mercer, Jenner (Joiner), 
 Tucker (a fuller). Monger (a merchant), etc., etc. 
 
 These names originally had the Norman prefix 
 "Xe" (the), as Le Spicer, Le Dispenser ^ Le Tailleur. 
 
 Official names, including civil and ecclesiastical 
 dignities, viz.. King, Prince, Duke, Lord, Earl, 
 Knight, Pope, Bishop, Priest, Monk, Marshall, 
 Bailey, Chamberlain, etc., etc. 
 
 Many of these titles, as King, Prince, etc., were 
 imposed on individuals from mere caprice, as few 
 of these kings or dukes ever held the distinguished 
 rank their names indicate. 
 
 It is said that nearly nine hundred Kings are 
 born annuallv in England and Wales. 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 35 
 
 We find the followiog in Lower's Essay, as taken 
 from tlie " History of Huntingdon." 
 
 "Tkue Copy of a jury taken before Judge 
 Doddridge, at tke assizes holden at Huntingdon, 
 A.D. 1619. (It is necessary to remark, 'that the 
 judge had, at the preceding circuit, censured the 
 -sheriff for empanneling men not qualified by rank 
 for serving on the Grand Jury, and the sheriff" being 
 a humorist, resolved to fit the judge with sounds at 
 least.') On calling over the following names, and 
 pausing emphatically at the end of the Christian, 
 instead of the surname, his lordship began to think 
 he had, indeed, a jury of quality : 
 
 Maximilian King of Toseland, 
 Henry Prince of Godmanchester, 
 George Duke of Somersham, 
 William Marquis of Stukeley, 
 Edmund Earl of Hartford, 
 Eichard Baron of Bythorn, 
 Stephen Pope of ISTewton, 
 Stephen Cardinal of Kimbolton, 
 Humphrey Bishop of Buckden, 
 Eobert Lord of Waresley, 
 Eobert Knight of Winwick, 
 William Abbott of Stukeley, 
 Eobert Baron of St. Neots, 
 William Dean of Old Weston, 
 
86 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 John Archdeacon of Paxton, 
 Peter Esquire of Easton, 
 Edward Fryer of Ellington, 
 Henry Monk of Stnkeley, 
 George Gentleman of Spaldwick, 
 George Priest of Graffham, 
 Richard Deacon of Catworth. 
 
 " The judge, it is said, was highly pleased with 
 this practical joke, and commended the sheriff for 
 his ingenuity. The descendants of soine of these 
 illustrious jurors still reside in the county, and bear 
 the same names ; in particular, a Maximilian King, 
 we are informed, still presides over Toseland." 
 
 Personal characteristics have given origin to 
 another class of surnames, descriptive of mental or 
 bodily peculiarities. Among these are many names 
 of color and complexion, as Black, Brown, Blond, 
 White, Gray, Grissel (grayish), Rous (red), Dunn 
 (brown) ; and from the color of the hair, White- 
 head, Whitlock, Fairfax (fair-hair), Brunei, Roth 
 (red), Swartz (black), Fairchild, Black, Black- 
 man, etc. 
 
 Those which indicate the mental or moral qual- 
 ities are such as Good, Goodman, Goodfellow, 
 Giddy, Wise, Wiley, Meek, Merry, Moody, Bliss, 
 Joy, Gay, Sage, 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 37 
 
 Those derived from bodily peculiarity and from 
 feats of personal strength or courage, Strong, 
 Mickle, Little, Long, Short, Strongfellow or Streng- 
 fellow. Hardy, Proudfit, Lightbody, Ironside, Arm- 
 strong, Crookshanks, Turnbull, and Camoys. 
 
 " Round was his face, and camvse was his nose." 
 
 OHArOER. 
 
 "We find such names bestowed among the Greeks 
 and Eomans. The Greeks had their Sophocles 
 (wise), Agathios (good), and Strabo (squint-eyed), 
 and Paulus (little). The Eomans, their Pius, Pru- 
 dentins, Longus; their Naso (bottle-nose), Calvus 
 (bald-pate), Flaccus (loU-eared), Yarns (bow-legged), 
 Ancus (crooked arm), Crispus (curly-headed), etc. 
 As I have before remarked, the Britons, Gaels, and 
 Celts bestowed many names descriptive of personal 
 peculiarities, and mental and bodily qualities, as 
 Cadrod Hardd^ Cadrod the beautiful ; Con Bachach^ 
 Con the lame; Shane Buidhe (Boyd), John with the 
 yellow hair; Seumas Reagh^ James the swarthy; 
 Vaicghanj little ; Gough, red ; Owynne, white, etc. 
 
 Some surnames are derived from animals, such 
 especially as were noted for fierceness or courage, as 
 the bear, the wolf, the lion, whence the names 
 Byron, or bear; Wolf, French Loup^, German Ouelph, 
 the surname of the existing Koyal Family of Great 
 
38 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND 
 
 Britain; Wild-boar o r Wil bnyLovel or Luvel, 
 from Lupetlus, a little wol f; Ballj jock (a badger), 
 Tod d (a f ox)j Hare, Hart, Leveret, Eoe,^_§tagg,. etc., 
 to whicli some add.tbe name of Bog and Hogdm^ 
 sheltered swine pasture. 
 
 A writer in the Edinbnrg Eeview, April, 1855, 
 has remarked that Eher or Eafer^ a boar, is the root 
 of the following names : Eber, Ever, Ebers, Ever- 
 ard, Evered, Everett, Everingham, Everington, 
 Jjverlj, and Everton. 
 
 Kichard the Third was called the Boar or the 
 Hog^ " and so gave occasion to the rhyme that cost 
 the maker his life : 
 
 " The Cat, the Rat, and Level the Dog 
 Rule all England under the Hog."* 
 
 The names of fishes have been taken as family 
 names. From this source we have Pike, Burt, 
 Chubb, Mullet, Bass, Fish, etc. 
 
 Birds also come in for a share in our surnames. 
 We have Dove, Eaven, Lark, Wren, Peacock, 
 Finch, Sparrow, Swan, Culver, Gosling, Heron, 
 Wild-goose or WUgus, Jay, and many others. 
 
 The mineral and vegetable kingdoms have con- 
 tributed their full quota of names. In this list we 
 
 * EDiNBUBa Review, April, 1855. — " The allusion to the names 
 of Ratcliff and Catesby is obvious. Level is said to have borne a 
 dog as his arms." 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. ^9 
 
 find Garnet, Jewel, Gold, Silver, Salt, Steel, Iron, 
 Flint, and Stone. 
 
 From flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, we have 
 Lilly, Eose, Feme, Furze, Heath, Broome, Prim- 
 rose, Pease, Peach, Oakj Cherry, Beach^Ash, Thorn, 
 Alder, Pine, and Burch. I\y.^ I 
 
 We find such names among the Eomans — Taurus, 
 a bull; Yitulus, a calf; Porcius, like a hog; Ca- 
 prillus, like a goat; Leo, lion; Lupus, a wolf; and 
 the names of Fabius, Lentulus, Cicero, and Piso, 
 were given respectively for skill in cultivating 
 beans, lentils, peas, and vetches. 
 
 Many names were taken from the signs over the 
 doors of inns, or the shops of various tradesmen, 
 where goods were manufactured and sold. 
 
 Camden informs us, " that he was told by them 
 who said they spake of knowledge, that many 
 names that seem unfitting for men, as of brutish 
 beasts, etc., come from the very signs of the houses 
 where they inhabited. That some, in late time, 
 dwelling at the sign of the Dolphin, Bull, White- 
 horse, Kacket, Peacocke, etc., were commonly called 
 Thomas at the Dolphin^ Will at the Bull^ George at the 
 Whitehorse, Bohin at the Rackety which names, as 
 many other of the like sort, with omitting a/, be- 
 came afterward hereditary to their children." 
 
-40 ESSAY ON THE OEIGIN AND 
 
 Li olden timesj in London, might be seen the 
 sign of the Boar's Head, the Crosskeyes, the Gun, 
 the Castle, the Crane, the Cardinal's Hat, the 
 Angell, the Bell, the Swan, the Bowles, the Bar- 
 rell, the Crosier, the Griffin, the Coney, the Jugg, 
 the Kettle, the Potts, the Pitcher, Sword, Shears, 
 Scales, Tabor, Tub, etc. 
 
 In the cities and towns, every kind of beasts, 
 birds, and fishes, objects animate and inanimate, 
 were taken by tradesmen assigns to distinguish 
 their shops from others, and to excite the attention 
 of customers. From many of these, names were 
 bestowed, and we can account in this way for many 
 surnames which would otherwise seem strange and 
 absurd. 
 
 Armorial ensigns and heraldic bearings have 
 given surnames to families. Many of the old 
 knights took their names from the figures and 
 devices they bore on their shields. 
 
 The royal line of Plantagenet (Broome) took 
 their surname from the broom plant, Fulke, Earl 
 of Anjou, the founder of the hou^e, having worn 
 a sprig of broom, as a symbol of humility, and 
 adopted it as his badge after his pilgrimage to the 
 Holy Land. 
 
 Names were borrowed from^rmor and costume, 
 aa Fortescue (strong-sEFeld), Strongbow, Harness, 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 41 
 
 Beauliarnois, Broadspeare, Sjtiakespeare, ^Shotbolt, 
 Curthose, that is, short hose, Gurtmantle, a name 
 given to Henry the Second from his wearing shorter 
 mantles than were then in fashion; Freemantle, 
 Coates, Capet. "Hugh Capet, the founder of the 
 royal line of France, in the tenth century, is said to 
 have acquired that surname from a freak of which, 
 in his boyhood, he was very fond, that of snatching 
 off the caps of his play-fellows. De La Kocque, 
 however, gives a different origin for this name, 
 deriving it from * le bon sens et esprit qui residoit 
 ^ sa teste I' " 
 
 We have names taken from the seasons, the 
 months, and the days of the week, holidays and 
 festivals of the church, most of which probably 
 originated from the period of birth, such as Sum- 
 mer, Spring, Winter, Fall, Monday, Friday, J Vf a y , 
 March, Morrow, Weekes, Day, Christmas, Paschal, 
 Holiday, Noel (Christmas), etc. 
 
 Many surnames have originated in soubriquets, 
 epithets of contempt, and ridicule, and nicknames, 
 imposed for personal peculiarities, habits, and qual- 
 ities, or from incidents or accidents which happened 
 to the original bearers. Such names are very nu- 
 merous, and can be accounted for in no other way. 
 
42 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AKD 
 
 The J are such as Doolittle, Hearsay, Timeslow, 
 Houseless, Tugwell, Steptoe, Goelightly, Braggy>_ 
 Trollope, that is, slattern ; Parnell, a woman of bad 
 character; Lawless, SiUiman, Bastard (William the 
 Conqueror was not ashamed of the illegitimacy of 
 his birth, as he often signed his name William the 
 Bastard)^ Crookshanks, Longshanks, Addlehead, 
 and Leatherhead, Grubbins, that is, the refuse parts 
 of a fish ; G-allows, and Devil I 
 
 We can easily imagine how some ridiculous 
 incident or foolish act or saying would confer a 
 soubriquet or nickname upon a person by which he 
 would be known and called through life, and which 
 would even descend to his children, for we often see 
 this in our day. 
 
 The following anecdote from Lower is an illus- 
 tration : " The parish clerk of Langford, near Wel- 
 lington, was called Redcock for many years before 
 his death ; for having one Sunday slept in church, 
 and dreaming that he was at a cock-fighting, he 
 bawled out '■ a shilling upon the red cock !' And 
 behold, the family are called Bedcock to this day." 
 
 We have gone through the principal sources 
 from which the greater part of our surnames are 
 derived ; but many names yet remain for the origin 
 of which we are at a loss to account. 
 
 But shall we wonder when we consider that 
 
SIGNIFICATION OF NAMES. 43 
 
 names have been taken and bestowed from every 
 imaginable incident and occurrence unknown to us, 
 and that many of them have been so corrupted in 
 process of time, that we can not trace their originals. 
 All names must have been originally significant. 
 
 In the words of our old friend Camden : 
 ^^To drawe to an end, no name whatsoeuer is to be 
 disliked, in respect either of originall or of significa- 
 tion ; for neither the good names doe disgrace the 
 bad, neither doe euil names disgrace the good. If 
 names are to be accounted good or bad, in all coun- 
 tries both good and bad have bin of the same sur- 
 names, which, as they participate one with the other 
 in glory, so sometimes in shame. Therefore, for 
 ancestors, parentage, and names, as Seneca said, let 
 every man say, Vix ea nostra voco. Time hath 
 intermingled and confused all, and we are come all 
 to this present, by successive variable descents from 
 high and low ; or as he saith more plainly, the low 
 are descended from the high, and contrariwise the 
 high from the low." 
 
AN 
 
 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 OF 
 
 FAMILY NAMES. 
 
 In the following Dictionary, in giving the languages from 
 which the names are derived, I have used these abbreviations: 
 
 Nor. Fr. 
 
 Norman French. 
 
 aer. 
 
 G-erman. 
 
 Sax. 
 
 Saxon. 
 
 Teut. 
 
 Teutonic. 
 
 Cor. Br. 
 
 Cornish British. 
 
 Lat. 
 
 Latin. 
 
 Fr. 
 
 French. 
 
 Gt. 
 
 Greek. 
 
 Du. 
 
 Dutch. 
 
 Heb. 
 
 Hebrew. 
 
 A. S. 
 
 Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 Dan. 
 
 Danish. 
 
 The term Gaelic is often used instead of what is commonly 
 called the Oeltic. The Celts of Ireland call their language the 
 Gaelic or Gaelen, and the Welsh writers call the Irish Guidhel 
 or Gael. The Gaelic is spoken in different dialects, by the de- 
 scendants of the ancient Celts or Gaels, in a large portion of 
 Ireland, in the Highlands of Scotland, in the Hebrides, and, to 
 some extent, in the Isle of Man. 
 
 The names of many of the rivers, headlands, hills, and mount- 
 ains 'm. Britain are found to be of Gaelic or Celtic origin. 
 
 The ancient British or Welsh language, spoken and written 
 by the people of that name, is more nearly allied to the Gaelic 
 than the Teutonic. 
 
 The Cornish-British is a dialect of the Celto-Belgic or Cam- 
 brian, formerly spoken throughout Cornwall, but now extinct. 
 
46 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 The Saxon, so named from the people who spoke it, in its 
 idiom, resembled the modem Low Dutch. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon was a compomid of the idioms spoken by 
 the Angli, the Saxons, and the Jutes, who, invited by the Brit- 
 ish to assist them against the Scots and Picts, finally took pos- 
 session of the country. 
 
 -' AARON. (Hebrew.) Signifies a mountaineer^ or mount of 
 strength. 
 
 ABBOT. So named fi-om his office in the church ; the chief 
 ruler of an abbey — derived fi-om the Syriac Ahla, signifying 
 father. 
 
 " ABDALLAH. (Turkish.) The servant of God. 
 
 ABEL. (Hebrew.) Yanity, breath, 
 
 ABENDROTH. (Qer.) From alend, evening, and roth, red. 
 The name might have been given to a child bom at the 
 close of day. 
 
 ABERCROMBIE. (Celtic and aaehc.) Local, The name of 
 a parish in Fife, Scotland, on the northern shore of the Frith 
 of Forth, whence the possessor took his surname ; fi^om Aher^ 
 marshy ground, a place where two or more streams meet ; 
 and cruime or crombie, a bend or^crook. Aber, in the Celtic 
 and Gaelic, and also in the Cornish British, signifies the con- 
 fluence of two or more streams, or the mouth of a river, 
 where it flows into the sea; hence it is often applied to 
 marshy ground, generally near the confluence of two rivers. 
 It also signifies, sometimes, a gulf or whirlpool. 
 
 ABERDEEN or ABERDENE. (Gaelic and Celtic.) Local. 
 The name of a city in Aberdeenshire, whence the surname 
 was taken. It is derived firom Aher, the mouth, as above, 
 and Bon, the name of a river, at the mouth of which it is 
 situated. 
 
Of FAMILY NAMES. 4^ 
 
 ABERNETHY. (Gaelic and Celtic.) Local. From a town 
 in Strathern, Scotland, on the river Tay ; derived from Aher^ 
 as given above, and nethy, in the Gaelic, dangerous. Mth or 
 Nithy, is also the name of a river in the south of Scotland, 
 and the name may have been taken from a town at or near 
 its mouth — Ahernithy. 
 
 ABNE Y. (Nor. Fr.) Local. A corruption of Aubigny, a town 
 of France, in the department of Berry, whence the surname 
 is derived; so D' Aubigny is corrupted to Dabney. 
 
 '^ ABRAHAM. (Heb.) The father of a great multitude. 
 
 ACHESON. (Cor. Br.) An inscription or memorial 
 
 ACKART. (Saxon.) From Ac\ oak, and ard^ nature, disposi- 
 tion; firm-hearted, imyielding. 
 
 ACKERMAN". (Saxon.) From Acker, oaken, made of oak, 
 
 and man. The brave, firm, unyielding man. 
 ACKERS. (Saxon.) Camden derives this surname from the 
 
 Latin Ager, a field. The name, however, is Saxon, and 
 
 signifies the place of oaks, or oak-man ; ac and dke being old 
 
 terms for oak. 
 The termination er, in many nouns has the same signification as 
 
 the Latin vir, a man — a,9 Flower, i. e.. Plowman; Baker, 
 
 Bakerman. 
 Like oak, the first Acker might have been firm and unyielding 
 
 in his disposition, or he plight have used or sold acorns. 
 ACKLAND. (Saxon.) Local. The name of a place in North 
 
 Devonshire, England, whence the surname is derived; so 
 
 called, because it was situated among groves of oaks — ^from 
 
 ack, oak, as above, and land. 
 ACTON. (Saxon.) Local. The oak-to^vn or oak-hill— the 
 
 name of a town in Middlesex, England, whence the name 
 
 is derived. 
 ADAIR. (Celtic and Gaelic.) Local. From Ath, a ford, and 
 
 dare, from darach, the place of oaks, " The ford of the oaks.'' 
 
 There is the following tradition of the origin of this surname : 
 
48 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 " Thomas, the sixth Earl of Desmond, while on a hunting ex- 
 cm-sion was benighted, and lost his way, between Tralee and 
 Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, where he was re- 
 ceived and hospitably entertained by one William McCor- 
 mic, whose daughter he subsequently married. At this 
 alliance, the family and clan took umbrage. Resigning his 
 title and estate to his youngest brother, he fled to France in 
 1418, and died of grief at Rouen, two years afterward. 
 The Ejng of England attended his funeral He had issue, 
 Maurice and John ; Robert, the son of Maurice, returning to 
 Ireland, with the hope of regaining the estates and title of 
 Thomas, his ancestor, slew G-erald, the White Knight, in 
 single combat at Athdare, the ford of the oaJcs, whence he 
 received the name of Adaire. He embarked for Scotland, 
 where he married Arabella, daughter of John Campbell, 
 Lord of Argyle." 
 
 ADAMS. (Hebrew.) Man, earthly, or red. The surname of 
 Adam is of great antiquity in Scotland. Duncan Adam, 
 son of Alexander Adam, Uved in the reign of King Robert 
 Bruce, and had four sons, from whom all the Adams, 
 Adamsons, and Adies in Scotland are descended. 
 
 ADOOOK, little Ad or Adam, cock being a diminutive termina- 
 tion. (See Alcock, WUcox, etc.) 
 
 ADDISON. The same as Adamson, the son of Adam, Adie or 
 Addie being, in the Lowland-Scotch, a familiar corruption of 
 Adam, hence Addie-son. 
 
 ADEB or ADIE. The same as Adam. (See Addison.) 
 
 ADKINS. Little Adam, or the son of Adam, from Ad and 
 kins, a diminutive, signifying child, from the Grerman Mnd, 
 so WiUcins, TompJcins, etc. 
 
 ADLAM (Saxon.) Local. From adel, fine, noble, and fiam, a 
 village or castle. Adelham, contracted to Adlam. 
 
 ADLAR. (Dutch.) From Adekmr^ an eagle. 
 
J 
 
 OF FAMILY NAMES. 40 
 
 ADRIAN or HADRIAN. (Latin.) Local. From the city 
 Hadria, which Gesner derives from the Greek adpb^, great 
 or wealthy. 
 
 AFFLECK. (Gaelic and Celtic.) Local. Said to be a corrup- 
 tion of the name Auchinlech, which was assumed by the 
 proprietors of the lands and barony of Auchinleck, near 
 Dundee, in Angusshire, Scotland. The name is pronounced 
 Affleck by the natives. (See Auchinleck.) 
 
 AGAN" or EGAN. (Gaelic.) From Eigin, force, violence; 
 hence, strong-handed, active. The name may be local, and 
 named from Agen, a town in Guienne, France ; also Agen^ 
 "Welsh, local, a cleft. 
 
 AGAR. (Gaelic and Celtic.) Aighear signifies gladness, joy, 
 gayety. If from the Latin age?', it denotes a field or land. 
 
 AGLIONBY. (Nor. Fr.) Local From Aglioji, an eaglet, and 
 hy, a residence or habitation — the eagle's nest. 
 
 AGNEW. (Nor. Fr.) Local. From the town of Agneau in 
 Normandy, whence the family originated. They went fi^om 
 England into Ireland with Strongbow. Agneau, in Nor. 
 Fr. signifies a lami. 
 
 AIKEN. (Saxon.) Oaken ; hard or firm. 
 
 AIKMAN. (Sax.) From ach, oak, and man. 
 
 AINSWORTH. (British and Welsh.) Local. From aim, a 
 spring, a river, and gwerth, a place, possession, or court. 
 In the British and Gaelic, Aun, Ain, An, Hain, Aon, and 
 Avon, signify a river ; the place or possession on the river. 
 
 AITKIN. Probably the same as Atkins (which see). 
 
 AITON. (Nor, Fr.) Local. From ea or eau, water, and ton, a 
 town; the town near the water ; the same as Eaton. 
 
 AKEMAN or ACKMAN. (Saxon.) The same as Oakman, 
 from his strength or disposition. From ack, or ake, oak. and 
 
#<| ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 AKERS. (Saxon.) The same as Ackers (wliich see). 
 
 AKIN and AKEN. The same as Aiken (which see). 
 
 v/ ALAN or ALLAN". Derived, according to Julius Scaliger, 
 from the Sclavonic Aland, a v7oLf-dog, a hound, and Chaucer 
 uses Aland in the same sense. Bailey derives it as the 
 same from the British. Camden thinks it a corruption of 
 vy ^lianuSj which signifies sun-bright. From the same we 
 have Allen, Allin, Alleyne. In the Gaelic, Aluinn signifies 
 exceedingly fair, handsome, elegant, lovely ; Irish, Ahin, fair, 
 beautiful. 
 
 ALANSON. The son of Alan. 
 
 v^ ALBERT. (German.) All bright or famous ; hebrt or hert^ sig- 
 nifies famous, fair, and clear, bright ; so Sebert and Mhelheri 
 were sometimes written Se bright and Mhel bright. AH, 
 JSal, and .^, in old English and Saxon compound names, 
 have the same signification as the English AU, as Al-dred, 
 Al-win, etc. 
 
 ALBRECHT. (Saxon.) The same as Albert— AU-bright. 
 
 J ALCOCK. From Hal or Al, a nickname for Henry; and cock, 
 a termination meaning little, a diminutive, the same as ot or 
 kin; little Hal or Al, so Wilcox, little Will, and Simcox, 
 little Sim, etc. 
 
 ALDEN or ALDAINE. (Sax.) Local. From aid, old, and den 
 or dun, a hill or town ; old-town, or it may be high-town, 
 from aJt, high, Gaelic, and dun, a hiU, castle, or town. 
 
 ALDERSEY. (Sax.) Local. The isle of alders. 
 
 ALDIS. (Saxon.) A contraction of aid-house, the old house. 
 
 ALDJOY. (Sax.) The same as the English aU-joy. 
 
 . ALDRED. (Sax.) All-fear— see Albert. 
 
 ALDRIDGE. (Sax.) The same as Aldred, of which it ia a 
 corruption. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 51 
 
 ALEXANDER. (Greek.) An aider or benefactor of men. 
 From 'AAefcj, to aid or help, and av?)p, a man. A powerful 
 auxiliary. 
 
 ALFORD or ALVORD. (Saxon.) Local. From Alford, a 
 town in Lincolnshire, England, signifying the old ford or 
 way J from aid, old, and /or<:^, a ford, way, or pass. 
 
 ALPORT, (Local.) A village in France, two leagues from 
 Paris. 
 
 ALFRED. (Saxon.) All-peace, from all, and fred or frkde^ 
 peace, hke Alwin and Albert. 
 
 ALOAR. (Gaelic.) Noble. 
 
 ALLEN. The same as Alan (which see). 
 
 ALLENDORF. Local. A town in Hesse, Germany, signifying 
 the old town ; dorf a town or village, the same as Olden- 
 dorf. 
 
 ALLGOOD. (Saxon.) The same as the English All-good. 
 
 ALSOP. (Local.) From Akojp, Co. Derby, England. One 
 might imagine it a corruption of Ale-shop, a name given to 
 one who kept an ale-shop. A very appropriate name at the 
 present day; for ^^Alsop's ale'' is celebrated all the world 
 over. 
 
 ALYERSTON or ALVERTOK (Cor. Br.) Local. A high 
 green hill ; from a?, high, ver, green, and don or ton, a hill. 
 
 ALVIN or ALWIN. (Saxon.) All-winning or victorious, the 
 V and w being interchangeable. 
 
 ALVORD. (Saxon.) The same as Alford (which see). 
 
 AMAKER. (Local.) Derived from Amager, a small Danish 
 
 island to the east of Copenhagen. 
 
 AMBLER. (French.) From Amhleur, an officer of the king's 
 stal^les ; anciently " le Amblour.'' 
 
 AMBROSE. (Greek.) From dfifipootoc, divine, immortal. 
 
62 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 \/ AMEEY. (G-erman.) Always rich, able, and powerful, from 
 the old German Emerkh or Immer-reich, always rich. 
 
 AMES. (French.) From Amie, a friend, beloved ; or if from 
 \/ the Hebrew Amos, a burden. Some think it is a contrac- 
 
 tion of Ambrose (which see). Ameshury in England was 
 criginaEy Amhrosebury. 
 
 AMHERST. (Saxon.) Local. From ham, a town or village, 
 and hurst or herst, a wood, the town in the wood, the "H" 
 by custom, being dropped or silent. It may have been 
 y derived from Hamo, who was sheriff in the county of Kent, 
 in the time of William the Conqueror ; a descendant of his 
 - was called Hamo de Herst, and the Norman de, and the 
 aspirate " h" being dropped — ^Amherst. Amhurst, the con- 
 nected grove, or conjoined woods ; " am,^^ in the British, as 
 a prefix, has the sense of Amh, amjohi, circum, i. e., about, 
 surrounding, encompassing; hence, the surrounding grove, 
 or Amhurst. 
 
 AMMADON. (Gaelic.) From Am^dan, a numskull, a simple- 
 ton ; may be so called by way of antiphrasis, because he 
 was wise ; as Ptolemy received the surname Philadelphus 
 (from the Greek ^IXo^, a lover or friend, and ufJeA^of , a brother), 
 because he charged two of his brothers with forming designs 
 against his life, and then caused them to be destroyed. 
 
 AMPTE. (Dutch.) Ampt, an official situation ; the house in 
 which an officer transacts his business ; a lordship of the 
 Ketherlands. 
 
 ANDARTON. (Br.) Local. The oak-hiU; from an, the; dar, 
 an oak, and ton, a Mil. 
 
 ANDERSON. The son of Andrew (which see). 
 
 : ANDREW. (Greek.) From uvdpelog, manly, courageous. 
 
 ANGEYINE. So named because coming originally from 
 Anjou, in France. The natives of Anjou were called 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. '68 
 
 ANG-LE or ANGEL. (Greek.) From ayyelog^ a messenger ; 
 also the name of a town in France where the family may 
 have originated. 
 
 ANGUS. Local. A county of Scotland, sometimes called For- 
 farshire, and took its name, according to Halloran, from 
 Aongus Fer, grandson to Carbre Eiada, who, with others, 
 invaded the modern Scotland, a.d. 498. Angus or Aongus is 
 derived from Aon^ excellent, noble, and gais, boldness, valor. 
 
 ANNAK. Local. A river and borough of Scotland. From the 
 GaeHc aon, aon^ one, one, or the river that divides the dale 
 in two shares. Amhan, Avon, or An-oun, in Gaelic, may 
 signify the slow running water ; a gentle river. 
 
 ANISTESLEY. Local. From a town in Nottinghamshire, Eng- 
 land, and named, perhaps, from Ando, a city in Norway, 
 by the free-booters or conquerors of Briton. Annansley, 
 the Ua, lying on the Annon. 
 
 ANSELL. Supposed to be an abbreviatioa of Anselm ; also 
 the name of a bird. 
 ■' ANSELM. (German.) From the Teutonic ffamstzhelm, a 
 defender of his companions. 
 
 ANSON. The son of Ann, or the same as Hanson, the son of 
 Hans or John — the " H" being dropped in pronunciation. 
 
 ANSTRUTHER. (Gaelic.) From Anstruth, an ancient order 
 of historians or bards among the Celts, next in rank to the 
 Allamh, or chief doctor of the seven degrees in all the 
 sciences. His reward was twenty kine. He was to be at- 
 tended by twelve students in his own science, to be enter- 
 tained for fifteen days, and to be protected from all accusa- 
 tions during that time ; and he and his attendants supplied 
 with all manner of necessaries. Anstruth is derived from 
 Aon, that is, good, great; sruth, knowing, discerning, and 
 er put for fear, a man. 
 •J ANTHON. A contraction of Anthony, from the Greek uvdoc, 
 a flower ; but, by way of excellency, appropriated to Rose- 
 mary flowers. 
 
54 ETTMOLOOICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 ^ ANTHONY, (areek.) From avdoc, a flower; flourishing, 
 beautiful, graceful 
 
 APPLEBY. Local. A town in Westmoreland, England, 
 called Ahallaba by the Eomans, from which the name 
 is derived. By signifies a town, — the apple-town. 
 
 APPLEGrARTH. Local. The orchard, apple-garden, or close. 
 
 APPLETON. Local The town abounding in apples. 
 
 ARBLASTER. A corruption of Balistarius, a cross-bowman, 
 one who directed the great engines of war used before the 
 invention of cannon. 
 
 " In the kemils (battlements) here and there, 
 Of Arblastirs great plenty were." 
 
 Rom. of the Rose. 
 
 ARBUTHNOT. Local. First assumed by the proprietors of 
 the land and barony of Arbuthnot in the Mearns, Scotland. 
 The name is said to have been anciently written Aberbuth- 
 nothy which signifies the dwelhng near the confluence of the 
 river with the sea, from Aber^ the mouth of a river, both, a 
 dwelling, and neth, a stream that descends, or is lower than 
 some other relative object. 
 
 ^ ARCHIBALD. (German.) The same as Urchenbald, a power- 
 ful, bold, and speedy learner or observer. In the GaeHc this 
 name is called Gillespie — a favorite name with the Scotch. 
 
 ARDAL or ARDGALL. (Celtic.) Bravery or prowess. Ar- 
 dol, local, Welsh, from ar, upon, and dot or dal, a vale, on 
 the vale, or a place opposite the dale. 
 
 ARGYLE. (Gaelic) An extensive sliire on the western coast 
 of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic JEJarra 
 Ghaidheal, that is, the country of the western Gael, or, 
 according to Grant, the breeding-place of the Gael. 
 
 ARLINGTON. Local. From a viEage in Sussex, England. 
 
 ARLON. A local name, and derived from Arlon^ a town in 
 the Netherlands, thirteen miles east from Luxemburg. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 65 
 
 ARMISTEAD and ARMSTED. (Saxon.) The place of arms. 
 
 AEMITAG-E. Local. The same as Hermitage, the cell or 
 habitation of a hermit, formerly a wilderness or solitary 
 place ; a convent of hermits or minor friars. 
 
 AEMOUE. Defensive arms; all instruments of war. The 
 name is probably contracted from Armorer^ a maker of 
 armor. 
 
 ARMSTRONG, A name given for strength in battle. His- 
 torians relate the following tradition : 
 
 This family was anciently settled on the Scottish border ; their 
 original name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Arm- 
 strong on the following occasion : 
 
 An ancient king of Scotland having had liis horse killed under 
 him in battle, was immediately re-mounted by Fairbairn, 
 his armor-bearer, on his own horse. For this timely assist- 
 ance he amply rewarded him with lands on the borders, and 
 to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well 
 • as the manner in which it was performed (for Fairbairn took 
 the king by the thigh, and set him on the saddle), his royal 
 master gave him the appellation of Armstrong. The chief 
 seat of Johnnie Armstrong was Gilnockie, in Eskdale, a 
 place of exquisite beauty. Johnnie was executed by order 
 of James V., in 1529, as a " Border Freebooter." Andrew 
 Armstrong sold his patrimony to one of his kinsmen, and 
 emigrated to the north of Ireland in the commencement of 
 the seventeenth century. The Armstrongs were always 
 noted for their courage and daring. In the " Lay of the Last 
 Minstrel," when the chief was about to assemble his clans, 
 he says to his heralds: 
 
 " Ye need not go to Liddisdale, 
 For when they see the blazing bale 
 Elliots and Armstrongs never fail." 
 V ARNOLD. (G-erman.) The same as Ernold; from are or 
 ehre, honor, and hold, faithful or devoted to — faithful to his 
 honor. How unworthy of the name was the notorious 
 Benedict ! 
 
66 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 ^ ARTHUR. (British.) A strong man ; from Ai- (Lat. vir), a 
 man, and thor, strong. In tlie G-aelic, Air is the same as 
 J^ear, a man; and the ancient Scythians called a man Aior. 
 Thor was the Jupiter of the Teutonic races, their god of 
 thunder. In Welsh, Arth is a bear, an emblem of strength 
 and courage, and ur a noun termination, a man. Arthur, a 
 bear-man, a~-tiero, a man of strength ; the name of a British 
 prince. 
 
 ARTOIS. (Local.) From the province of Artois in the 
 Netherlands. 
 
 ARUNDEL. Local. From a town in Sussex, England, on 
 the river Aran ; a corruption of Arundale — " tlie dale on the 
 Arun." 
 
 ASCALL or ASG-ALL. In the Gaelic, means a sheltered 
 \y place, a bosom, a covert. Aisgiodal or Aisgdll was one of 
 
 the Danish commanders at the battle of Clontarf, near 
 Dublin. The name is expressive of courage and strength. 
 From this may be found the name of Hascall. If the name 
 is of British origin, it would signify the sedgy moor, from 
 Hesg, and hal or hayle — ^low grounds, meadows. 
 
 ASHBURTON. Local. From a town of the same name in 
 Devonshire, England. Barton signifies the town on the hill, 
 and Ashburton the town on the hill covered or surrounded 
 with ash trees. Ash may be, in some cases, a corruption of 
 the Gaelic or Celtic uisge, water. 
 
 ASHBY. (Sax.) Local. The house by the "ash," or the 
 village on a place abounding in ash-trees ; by signifying a 
 Villa or habitation. 
 
 ASHFORD. (Sax.) Local. A town in Kent, England, on 
 the river Ash or Esh — the ford over the Ash. 
 
 ASHLEY. (Sax.) Local. The lea, field, or pasture abound- 
 ing in ash-trees. Leegh, leg, or lea, signifying uncultivated 
 grounds or pastures ; lands untilled, generally used as com- 
 mons. 
 
 ASHTOK (Sax.) Local The ash-hill or town. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 67 
 
 ASKEW. (Sax.) Local. Acksheugh, hilly lands covered with 
 oaks. Aschau, local, a town on the bend of a river in Sles- 
 wick, Denmark. Askew, crooked, from the Danish. 
 
 ASPINWALL. (Sax.) Local. The aspen-vale. 
 
 ASTLEY. (Sax.) Local. A corruption of Estley or Easthy^ 
 the east meadow or field. (See ley, under Ashley.) 
 
 ASTON. (Sax.) Local. A corruption of Eston or Easton, 
 the east town. 
 
 ASTOR. Local. Oster, a town in North Jutland. 'Aar^p, 
 Greek, a star. Austeuer, German, a dowry, a portion. 
 Ooster, the east part. 
 
 ATHERTON. (Sax.) Local. From Atherstone, a town in 
 Warwickshire, England. 
 
 ATHILL. Local At (the) hilL This family formerly bore 
 the name of "Z)e la Hou" that is, "0/ the hill/' which was 
 anglicized into Athill They came originally fi-om Nor- 
 mandy. 
 
 ATHOL. (Celtic and Gaelic.) Local. A district of Perth- 
 shire, Scotland ; from ath, a ford, and al, an old word for a 
 rock, a stone, — Rockford, or the ford of the rock. 
 
 ATHOW. Local. The same as Athill; how or hoo, a high 
 place. 
 
 ATKINS. Camden derives it from At, a familiar abbreviation 
 of Arthur, and kins, a diminutive, signifying a child, having 
 the same meaning as the German kind, a child, an infant, 
 i e.j the son of Arthur, so Wilkins, Simpkins, etc. 
 
 ATTREE. Local. At (the) tree. 
 
 ATWATER. Local. At (the) water. 
 
 ATWELL. Local. At (the) well. 
 
 ATWOOD. Local. At (the) wood. 
 
 3* 
 
58 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 "^ AUBREY. A corruption of the German Alberic, a name given 
 in hope of power or wealth, He signifying rich or powerful ; 
 always rich. 
 
 AUCHIN'LECK. Local. A parish in Ayrshire, Scotland. 
 The etymology of the name may be found in the Gaelic 
 Ach, an elevation, a mound, or round hill, generally level at 
 the top; and leac, a flat stone, a tombstone. In several 
 parts of Ayrshire may be traced the remains of cairns, en- 
 campments, and Druidical circles. Auchinleck appears to 
 have been one of those places where the ancient Celts and 
 Druids held conventions, celebrated their festivals, and per- 
 formed acts of worship. 
 
 AUCHMUTY. (Gaehc.) Local. The field or mount of law ; 
 an eminence in which law-courts were held, moot-MUSj as 
 they were called; from Ach, an elevation, a mound, and 
 mod, a court, an assembly, a meeting. 
 
 AUDLEY. (Sax.) Local. From aid or aud, old, and ley, a 
 field or pasture — the old field 
 
 \J AUSTIN". (Latin.) A contraction of Augustine, from Augus- 
 tinus, imperial, royal, great, renowned. 
 
 AVERILL. Local. A corruption of Haverhill, the aspirate 
 being dropped. Haverill is a town in Suffolk, England, so 
 named from the Dutch Hyver, Teut., Haher, oats, and hill — 
 the hill sown with oats. 
 
 ^ AYERY. (GaeHc.) From Aimhrea (the " mh" having the 
 sound of "v"), denoting contention or disagreement. It 
 may be from Avery ^ a granary, or from Aviarius^ Latin, a 
 bird-keeper. 
 vj AVIS. Avis, in French, is a projector, schemer, busy-body. 
 Avus, Latin, a grandfather, ancestor. Avis, a bird. 
 AYLMER. This family trace their name -and descent from 
 V Ailmer or Athelmare, Earl of Cornwall, in the time of King 
 Ethelred. AUmor, in Welsh, signifies a valley or dale. 
 AYLS WORTH. This name admits of several meanings ; JSW, 
 
OF FAMILY NAMjSS. B% 
 
 Saxon, finished, completed, and worthy a farm-liouse or vil- 
 lage. Aylesj Cor. Br., low meadow, flat lands, washed by a 
 river, sea, or lake, and gweiik, a worth, farm, house, village. 
 
 AYLEWARD. The ale-keeper. 
 
 AYRES. Local. Derived from a river, town, and district of 
 the same name in Scotland. Air, Gaelic, Derivation un- 
 certain. It may come from lar, west — the course in which 
 the river runs ; or Air, slaughter, the place of battle. The 
 Celtic Aer, and the Welsh Aiuyr, signify, radically, to open, 
 expand or flow clearly ; to shoot or radiate. In Thoi-pe's 
 catalogue of the deeds of Battle Abbey, we find the follow- 
 ing legendary account of this name : 
 
 " Ayres, formerly Eyre. The first of this family was named 
 Truelove, one of the followers of William the Conqueror. 
 At the battle of Hastings, Duke William was flung from his 
 horse, and his helmet beaten into his face, which Truelove 
 observing, pulled ofi', and horsed him again. The duke told 
 him ' Thou shalt hereafter from Truelove be called Eyre (or 
 Air), because thou hast given me the air I breathe.' After 
 the battle, the Duke, on inquiry respecting him, found him 
 severely wounded (his leg and thigh having been struck 
 off) ; he ordered him the utmost care, and on his recovery, 
 gave him lands in Derby, in reward for his services, and the 
 leg and thigh in armor, cut off, for his crest ; an honorary 
 badge yet worn by all the Eyres in England." 
 
 BABA. German, Babe, a boy; Greek, Ba^a, an inarticulate 
 
 sound, as of an infant crying out; hence, a little child; to 
 
 say Baha, that is, father or Papa. The word is nearly the 
 
 . same in all languages ; it signifies a young child of either sex, 
 
 BABER. (Gaelic.) Bahair or Basbair, a fencer or swords- 
 man ; one who, by his blows, produced death ; from Bas, 
 death, and /ear, a man. 
 
 BABCOCK. Little Bab, or Bartholomew; from Bah, a nick- 
 name for Bartholomew, and cock, small, little, a son; dc, 
 cock, el, and et are diminutives, and include the ideas of kind- 
 
 i/ 
 
60 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARr 
 
 ness and tenderness, associated with smallness of size. It 
 may be from Boh^ the nickname for Robert; BobcocJc, the 
 son of Bobert, Bobertson. 
 
 BACHELOR. Erom the Dutch Bock, a book, and leeraar, a 
 doctor of divinity, law, or physic. When applied to persons 
 of a certain military rank, it may be a corruption of Bos 
 chevalier J because lower in dignity than the milites bannereU. 
 Killian adopts the opinion that as the soldier who has once 
 been engaged in battle, is called batialarius, so he who has 
 once been engaged in literary warfare, in public dispute upon 
 any subject. Calepinus thinks that those who took the degree 
 of Bachelor, were so called (Baccalaurei), because a chaplet 
 of laurel berries was placed upon them. The w'ord, how- 
 ever, has probably but one origin, which would account for 
 its various applications. 
 
 BACKMAK German, Bach, a brook, and man. Boehnan 
 bookman. Bach, in some places, a ferry; Backman, a ferry- 
 man. 
 
 BACKUS. (Germ.) From Back-haus, a bake-house. 
 
 BACON. Bacon, from the Anglo-Saxon bacan, to bake, to dry 
 by heat. Some derive this surname from the Saxon baccen 
 or buccen, a beech-tree. Upon the monument of Thomas 
 Bacon, in Brome Church in Suffolk (Eng,), there is a beech- 
 tree engraven in brass, with a man resting under it. It ap- 
 pears, also, that the first Lord-keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, 
 with his two wives, are represented in a similar manner. 
 
 BADEAU. (Fr.) Camden says this was a name given to the 
 Parisians who admired every thing that seems a little extra- 
 ordinary. 
 
 BADGER. A licensed dealer in grain ; a hawker, a peddler ; 
 also, the name of a small animal. 
 
 BADGELY. Bagasly, local. From a town in Scotland. 
 
 BAGLEY. (Sax.) Local. The rising or swelling ground 
 that lies untilled ; from bcelge, rising or swelling, and leagh 
 or ley, plain or pasture land. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 61 
 
 BAGOT. (Fr.) A stay or walking stajQf ; a gunstick or drum- 
 stick, from Baguette. It may be a corruption of Bigot 
 (which see). Bctgad, in the Welsh, signifies a great many. 
 
 BAILEY. A name of office ; a corruption of Bailiff, which is 
 derived from the French bailler, to dehver. A municipal 
 officer in Scotland corresponding to an alderman. 
 
 BAILLIE. (Fr.) Bailie, a bailiff; same as BaUey. 
 
 BAIN or BAINE. (Celtic.) Whiteness, fairness. Bain is 
 also a bath or hot-house. The name may be local, from 
 Bain, a town in France. t ' • 
 
 BAISLEY. Baisedlach, Gaelic, proud. 
 
 BAITS. A word used in several languages, and signifies to 
 feed, to rest for refreshment; one who kept a house of 
 entertainment. 
 
 B AKJjR. (Sax.) A name of trade, a baker ; fi:om the Saxon 
 hacan, to dry by heat. 
 
 BALL. (Cor. Br. and Gaelic.) Bal, a mine, tlie top of a hill, the top. 
 
 BALCOMBE. Local. From Bal, GaeHc, a round body, any 
 tiling thrown up; a building, house, town; and comhe, a 
 valley ; the round valley ; tin-works thrown up in a valley, 
 or a dwelling in such a place. 
 
 BALDWIN. (Ger.) The speedy conqueror or victor; from 
 bald, quick or speedy, and win, an old word signifying vic- 
 tor or conqueror, as Bert-win, famous victor; All-win, all 
 victorious, etc. 
 
 BALEN. Belen, in the Cor. British, is the same as Helen, a 
 mill. Belly n, local, a town in Lower Saxony. Balaen, 
 Welsh, steel, denoting strength and durability. 
 
 BALFOUR. Local. From the barony and castle of Balfour, 
 near the confluence of the rivers Or and Leven. (Scot.) Ball 
 and BaUa, in Gaelic, signifies a casting up, raising, like the 
 Greek Bd/i^o), and denotes a wall, fortress, house, a village, 
 Balfour, i. e., the Keep, or castle on the river Or. Balfoir^ 
 the castle of deliverance or security. 
 
 V^" 
 
62 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 ,"* 
 
 BALLANTINE. Local. A place Avbere Bal or Belus was 
 worshiped by the Celts ; from Bal and teine, fire. 
 
 V BALLANTYNE. Local. A place of ancient pagan worship 
 among the Celts, whose principal deity was BeJen or Baal, 
 the sun. To the honor of this deity, the Celts lighted fires 
 on the 1st of May and Midsummer day. Baalaniine signi- 
 fies " the fire of Baal," from Baakn and teine^ Gaehc, fire. 
 
 BALLARD. (Celtic and Gaelic.) From Ball, a place, a round 
 elevation ; and ard, liigh. The GaeUc word Ballart signifies 
 noisy, boasting. Bal also signifies a lord, and ard, high. 
 
 BANCHO. (Gaeha) The white dog ; from Jaw, white, and 
 chu or cw, a dog. Bankhoo (Eng.), the high bank. 
 
 BANCROFT. Local. From the Cor. Br. ban, a mount, hill, or 
 high ground; and croft, a small field near a dweUing — a 
 green pasture. 
 
 BANGS. This name may be a corruption of Banks, or from 
 the French bain, a batli, a hot-house. 
 
 BANNATYNE. Local The name of a place in Scotland, sig- 
 nifying the hill where fires were kindled. 
 
 BANNERMAN. A name of ofiice in Scotland borne by the 
 king's standard-bearer. 
 
 BANNING. Baaning, Danisli, a home, a dwelling. 
 
 BANNISTER. The keeper of a bath; fi-om the French Jam, 
 
 a batli, 
 BANT. (Welsh.) A high place; Bant-Ue. 
 BANTA. (Gaelic.) Local. From Beaunta, hills, mountains. 
 
 BANVARD. (Cor. Br.) Local From ban, a mount, hill, or 
 liigh ground ; and vard, a rampart, that is, a fortified hill or 
 castle. 
 
 BAR. Local A town of France. Barr, a parish in Ayrshire, 
 Scotland, 
 
 BARBER. A name of trade, one who shaves and dresses hair. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 6$ 
 
 BAECLAY. (Sax.) Local. A corraption of Berkeley; a 
 town in Gloucestershire, England, derived from the Saxon 
 heorce, a beech-tree, and leagh or ley, a field, and so called 
 because of the plenty of beech-trees growing there. 
 
 BARCULO. (Dutch.) Local. From Borhulo, a town in 
 Holland, The name was originally Van Borhulo. 
 
 BARD. (Celtic.) Local. From hawr, a top or summit, the 
 highest ; and eidde or oidde, instructor — the chief preceptor, 
 instructor, or poet. 
 
 BARDEL. (Welsh.) Local. A fortification. 
 
 BARHYDT. (Dutch.) From Barheid, sharpness, roughness, 
 severity. 
 
 BARKER. A tanner. 
 
 *' What craftsman art thou, said the king, 
 I pray thee tell me trowe ? 
 I am a Barker, sir, by my trade, 
 Now tell me, what art thou ?" 
 
 PERCY'S RELIQUES. 
 
 BARNARD. The same as Bernard (which see). 
 
 BARNES. A distinguished family of Sotterly, Co. Suffolk, 
 England. Beam, local, a city in France. Barnyz, Cor. Br., 
 a judge. 
 
 BARNET. Local. A town hi Hertfordshire, England. 
 
 BARNEY. A familiar abbreviation or corruption of Bernard, 
 or Barnard (which see). 
 
 BARNWELL. Local From the old EngHsh Bearne, a wood, 
 and veld, a field. 
 
 BARNUM. Local. A corruption of Bearnham, the town in 
 the wood or hill. Bern, in the Swiss language, signifies a 
 bear. This family was originally of Southvnck, County 
 Hants, England. 
 
64 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BAKR. (Celtic.) Local. The top or summit of any thing; 
 any thing round. Bar, Gaelic, an old word for a bard or 
 learned man. Bar, local, a bank of sand or earth, a shoal ; 
 the shore of the sea. It may be derived from Barre, a town 
 in France, or from Barr, a parish and village in Ayrshire, 
 Scotland. 
 
 BARRAS. (Saxon.) Local. From Baerwas, Saxon, groves, 
 a place among trees ; a town in England. 
 
 BARRELL. (G-aelic.) From Barrail, excellent, surpassing. 
 
 BARRET. (Fr.) Cunning; from the old French iarat, strife, 
 deceit 
 
 BARRINGER. Local A corruption of Beranger (Lat, Ber- 
 engarus) ; from Beringer, a town in France, where a battle 
 was fought between the French and the English. 
 
 BARRON or BARON. The word Baron is of Celtic extrac- 
 tion, and originally synonymous with Tnan in general. It 
 has this meaning in the SaHc law, and in the laws of the 
 Lombards ; in the English law, the phrase haron and feme 
 is equivalent to man and wife. It was afterward used to 
 denote a man of respectability, a stout or valiant man ; and 
 Barone was also used by the Itahans to signify a beggar. 
 
 From denoting a stout or valiant man, it was employed as a 
 name for a distinguished military leader, who having fought 
 and conquered under some great commander, was afterward 
 rewarded by him with a part of the lands which he had 
 acquired. 
 
 As a surname, it was originally Le Baron, The Baron. Gaelic, 
 Baran, a baron. 
 
 BARROW. Local A circular earthen mound, marking the 
 place of interment of some noted person ; also a place of de- 
 fense. The name of a river in Ireland. 
 
 BARRY. Local. From the Barry Islands in Glamorganshire, 
 Wales; so called, says Bailey, from Baruch, a devout man 
 who was interred there. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES, 65 
 
 BARSTOW. Local. May have various significations, Barr, 
 the top of a hill, and stow, a place or depository. Bar, in 
 the G-aelic, Welsh, and Cornish-British, means the summit 
 or top of any thing. The GaeKc or Irish aran and harr, 
 signify bread, a crop of grain ; Welsh, har, bread, an ear of 
 corn; Saxon, har and here, corn, barley. Barstow, a place 
 where grain is stored. 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW. (Heb.) The son of him who maketh the 
 waters to mount, or a son that suspends the waters. 
 
 BARTLETT. A diminutive of Bartholomew— Uttle Bart. 
 
 4 
 
 BARTON. (Sax.) Local. From a town in Lincolnshire, 
 England ; a corn town, or barley village, from here, barley, 
 and ton, an inclosure, a house, a village. Barton, a cur- 
 tilage. In Devonshire, it is applied to any freehold estate 
 not possessed of manorial privileges. 
 
 BARTUL. (Ger.) An abbreviation of Bartulph, which is from > 
 Beorht, and ulph ; that is, help in counsel, or famous helper. 
 Bariel, an abbreviation of Bartholomew, used in HoUand. 
 
 BARWICK or BERWICK. Local. A town in Northumber- 
 land, Eng., at the mouth of the river Tweed. The name 
 signifies, the town at the mouth of a river, from aier, the 
 mouth, and wicJc, a town or harbor. Berewich, the corn- 
 town, fi:om here, barley, com. 
 
 BASFORD. Local. The shallow ford or way. 
 
 BASIL. (Grreek.) From Ba(n?.ev^, royal, kingly. "h 
 
 BASSET. (Fr.) A Httle fat man with short legs and thighs, 
 from the French Basset. 
 
 BATEMAN. May have two significations, Baitman, a keeper 
 of a house of entertainment, and Bateman, a contentious 
 man, from hate, Saxon, strife, to beat, contention. 
 
 BATES. Bate, Anglo-Saxon, contention. 
 
6d ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BATH. (Sax.) Local. A town in the county of Somerset, 
 Eng., fiimous for its liot baths ; so named from the Saxon, 
 had^ Teutonic, had^ a place to bathe or wash in. It was 
 called by the Saxons Acmanceaster, or the " sick folks' town ;" 
 and by the Britons, Caerhaddon, from Caer^ a fortified place 
 or city, and baddon^ a bathing-place, from badd^ a bath. 
 
 BATHURST. (Sax.) Local From Bath, as above, and 
 hurst, a place of fruit-trees, a wood or grove. Boothhurst, 
 the house or lodge in the grove. 
 
 BAUM. (Germ.) A tree. It may be derived from a town in 
 France by that name. 
 
 BAXTER. (Anglo-Saxon.) Bagster, a baker. 
 
 BEACH. Local The shore of the sea, lake, or river. 
 
 BEACHER. A dweller on the beach or bay, 
 
 BEAL. Local Bid, a town in Switzerland. The Gaelic 
 word ^^Beul," signifies the mouth, and by metonymy, elo- 
 quent, musical 
 
 BEADLE. A name of office ; a messenger or crier of a court ; 
 an officer belonging to a university or parish. 
 
 BEATTT. From the Celtic Biatach. Anciently, in Ireland, 
 lands were assigned by the government to a certain number 
 of persons who were appointed to keep houses of entertain- 
 ment, and to exercise hospitahty in the different provinces ; 
 they were called Biatachs. The office was considered hon- 
 orable, and besides the lands assigned by the king, they 
 were the lords of seven boroughs or villages, feeding seven 
 herds of one hundred and twenty oxen each, besides the 
 grain raised from seven ploughs every year. Beathaich, in 
 the Gaelic, signifies to feed, nourish, to welcome, to support. 
 ^^Beaia mor," Irish, to have a great estate. Beatha, Gaelic, 
 life, food, welcome, salutation. 
 
 BBAUCHAMP. (Nor. Fr.) Be Beauchamp, from the fair or 
 beautiful field ; in Latin. Be Bello Campo. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 6Y 
 
 BEAUFORT. (Nor. Fr.) De Beaufort^ from the fine or 
 commodious fort. De Bello Forti. 
 
 BEAUMONT. (Nor. Fr.) De Beaumont; a city in France, 
 on the river Sarte, in the province of Mayne ; the fair 
 mount. De Bello Monte. 
 
 BEAUVAIS. (Fr.) De Beauvais. From a town in France 
 of that name, signifying the sightly or beautiful place. 
 
 BECK. (Anglo-Saxon.) Local From hecc, a brook. 
 
 BECKETT. Local. A little brook, (By no means appropri- 
 ate to the furious St. Thomas of Canterbury ! 
 
 BECK^ER. (Ger.) From heclcer, the same as hacJcer, a baker. 
 It may be from hecher, a cup or goblet, from hechern, to tip- 
 ple; '^der Becher" (Grer.), drinker, a tippler; the same in 
 Dutch. 
 
 BECKFORD. (Sax.) Local. The brook-ford. 
 
 BECKLEY or BEAKLEY. Local. The meadow or pasture 
 by the brook ; from beckj a brook, and ley, field or meadow. 
 
 BECKMAN. A dweller by a brook or stream, or on a bee, or 
 neck of land. 
 
 BECKWITH. Local. The same as Beckworth, the farm or 
 place by the brook, fi-om hecJc, a brook, and worth, a farm. 
 
 BED ALE. Local. From a town in England by that name. 
 
 BEDE. He that prayeth, or a devout man. "To say our 
 Bedes, is but to say our prayers." 
 
 BEDDAU. (Welsh.) Local. Graves. "Bhos-y Beddau," ihe 
 heath of the graves, referring to Druidical rites. 
 
 BEDEAU. (Fr.) From hedeau, a beadle, mace-bearer; a 
 petty officer in parishes. 
 
 BEDELL. The same as Beadle, of which it is a corruption; an 
 officer belonging to a court, university, ward, or parish. 
 
68 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BEDFORD. Local A town and shire in England ; from the 
 Saxon bcdan, battle, war, slaughter, and ford, a way or shal- 
 low place for crossing a river. Byddin-ffordd, Welsh, the 
 route or way of the army. 
 
 BEECHER. (Fr.) Beau chere, fine entertainment; or from 
 the beech-wood. 
 
 BEERS. Local From Beer, a town in Dorsetshire, England ; 
 so called fi-om here, grain, barley ; a fruitful place. In the 
 Dutch, beer signifies a bear, a boar. 
 
 BEGG. From the Gaehc Beag, HtUe, young, small of stature. 
 
 BELCHER. (Old French.) Bel-chere, good cheer, fine enter- 
 tainment; a happier name than to be a Belcher, and swell 
 with pride or passion. 
 
 BELDEK (Cor. Br.) The beautifiil hill; or BeiMin, the hill 
 of Belus, a place of Druid-worship. 
 
 BELL. A name taken from the sign of an inn or shop. The 
 sign of a bell was frequently used. " John at the Bell" be- 
 came " John Bell" Bel, French, beautiful, handsome, fine. 
 
 BELLAMONT. (Fr.) Be BeUamont, from the fair or beau- 
 tiful mount. De Bello Monte. 
 
 BELLAMY. Local. From Bellesme, a town of France ; or it 
 may be Belami, French, a dear and excellent friend ; from 
 hel, fair or beautiful, and ami, a friend or companion. 
 
 BELLBW. (Nor. Fr.) De Bellew, a corruption of Be Belle 
 Eau, that is, " from the beautiful water." The family orig- 
 inally came from Italy ; they went into England with Wil- 
 ham the Conqueror, and afterward settled in Meath, Ireland. 
 
 BELLINGtER. Local From Bellinger, a town in South Jut- 
 land. 
 
 BELMONT. (Fr.) De Belmont, from the fair mount; the 
 same as BeUamont — De Bello Monte, 
 
 BELYIDERE. (Italian.) Pleasant to behold; from Bello, 
 pleasant, and videre, to see. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 6d 
 
 BENEDICT. (Latin.) From Benedictus, blessed, well spoken 
 of, or a person wishing aU good. 
 
 BENJAMIN. (Heb.) The son of the right hand ; the young- 
 est of Jacob's twelve sons. 
 
 BENNETT or BENNET. A contraction or rather a corrup- 
 tion of Benedict, from Benedktus, blessed. 
 
 BENT. Local. A plain, a moor, covered with the bent-grasa. 
 
 BENTLEY. Local. Erom lent, as above, and ley, uncultivated 
 ground, a pasture. 
 
 BENSON. Ben's-son, the son of Benjamin. 
 
 BEORN. (Saxon.) A chief. 
 
 BERESFORD. The bears'-ford, from heris, bears, according to 
 Chaucer. Barrasford, from harra, an old word for a plain, 
 open heath. 
 
 BERKELEY. (Sax.) Local From the town of Berkeley, in 
 Gloucestershire, England, derived from the Saxon Beorce, a 
 beech-tree, or the box-tree, and leagh or ley, a field, and so 
 called because of the plenty of beech-trees there growing. 
 
 BERNARD or BARNARD. (Sax.) From Beam or Bairin, 
 a child, and ard (Teut), nature, disposition ; of a child-like 
 disposition ; filial affection. Yerstegan brings it from Beorn, 
 heart — one of a stout heart. 
 
 BERRY. (Fr.) Local. From the province of Berri, in 
 France. 
 
 BERTRAM or BERTRAND. (Sax.) Fair and pure. 
 
 BETTS. (Latin.) A contraction of the Latin Beatus, happy. 
 
 BETHUNE. Local. From the town of Bethune, a fortified 
 town, and capital of a county in Artois, Netherlands. 
 
 BEY AN. (Welsh.) A contraction of Ap Evan, or Ivan, the 
 son of John ; from ap, son, or hterally /row, and Ivan, John. 
 So Brice, from Ap Rice ; Pritchard, from Ap Richard, etc. 
 
 si 
 
 -4 
 
 J 
 
70 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BEYERIDGE. Local From a town in the county of Dorset, 
 England. Bever is probably a contraction of Belvoir (Fr.), 
 that is, fine prospect ; and ridge^ the back or top of a hill. 
 A town located on a hill. 
 
 BEVERLY. Local. From the borough of Beverly in York- 
 shire, England ; from Belvoir, a beautiful prospect, and ley, 
 a place or field. Some say "the lake of beavers," from 
 Beverlac, and so called from the beavers which abounded 
 in the river Hull, near by. 
 
 BEWLEY. A corruption of the French Beaulieu, that is, a 
 beautiful place. 
 
 BICKERSTETH. Supposed to come from the Welsh word 
 hicra, to fight, to bicker, and steth, a corruption of staff, used 
 for tilting or skirmishing. Probably taken from the sign of 
 an inn. Beker (Dutch), is a drinking-cup, Bekeren, to drink, 
 to tipple, guzzle, with the termination steth, for sted, a place. 
 
 BIDDLE. The same as Bedell and Beadle (which see). 
 
 BIDDULPH. Probably the same as Boiolph, which Camden 
 derives from Boat, and ulph (Saxon), Help, because, per- 
 haps, he was the mariner's tutelar saint, and for that reason 
 was so much adored at Boston, in England. 
 
 BIGALOW. Bygglu, in the Welsh, signifies to hector, to bully. 
 In the Cor. Br., Bygel is a herdsman, a shepherd, and the 
 name may have been applied to the commander of an army. 
 
 BIGG-AR. Local. A town in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Buy- 
 gar, in Danish, signifies a builder. 
 
 BIGLER. (French.) One who sq'iints. Bygylor, Welsh, a 
 hector. 
 
 BIGGORE. Local. An ancient province of France. 
 
 BIGOT or BIGOD. A name given by the French to the Nor- 
 mans, because, as Camden says, " At every other word they 
 would swear ^ By God,''' from which they were termed 
 Bigodi. It became the surname of Roger de Montgomery, 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. ^I 
 
 one of tlie followers of William the Conqueror, who was 
 called Roger Bigod. The English word higot has probably 
 the same origin. 
 
 BIGSBY. (Danish.) The place near the town; from higSj 
 near, and ly^ the town. 
 
 BILLINGS. Local. From the town of Billing, in Lincoln- 
 shire, England. Beilean, GaeHc, loquacious; a prattling 
 person. 
 
 BING. (Danish.) Local. Any thing that incloses ; from the 
 Danish hinge, a pen, a bin, a corn-bin ; a name given to a 
 place where supplies or provisions were kept. 
 
 BINGHAM. Local. From the to-^vn of Bingham, in Notting- 
 hamshire, so named from the Danish Bing, a place where 
 provisions were deposited; and ham, a town or village, 
 Bingham, a depository for grain ; a place tiUed, inhabited. 
 
 BINNEY. Local. From the Cor. Br. Bin, a hill; and ey, 
 water ; or from Buinne, Gaelic, a cataract, a stream. Bin- 
 neach, in the Gaelic, also signifies hilly, pinnacled, mount- 
 ains. 
 
 BIORN. (Danish.) A bear ; denoting courage and strength^ 
 the same as Byron. Beren, Saxon, belonging to a bear. 
 
 BIRCH. Local. A name probably given from residing at or 
 near a birch-tree. " John at the birch," etc. 
 
 BIRNIE and BIRNEY. Local. A parish in the shire of 
 Elgin, Scotland. It was formerly named Brenuth, from 
 hrae-nut, as many hazel-trees grew there. The natives 
 called it Burn-nigh, that is, a village nea/r ike Burn or 
 river, now corrupted to Birnie. 
 
 BIXBY. (Danish.) Local. The house or village among the 
 
 . box-trees. 
 BLACKBURN. Local. The black brook or stream. 
 BLACKWOOD. Local. This family derived their name from 
 
 the lands of Baron Dufferin and Claneboye, in Scotland, 
 
 called Blackwood. 
 
*f2 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BL AIN". (Ft.) LoeaL From the town of Blain, in Breta^e, 
 France. Blaen^ in tiie Welsh, signifies the summit or top ; 
 the same as pen, brig, and bar, the highest part of a mount- 
 ain ; the end or top of an object ; the inland extremity of a 
 glen ; a leader or chief. 
 
 BLAIR. (Celtic.) Local. From Blair or JBlar^ which origin- 
 ally signified '' a cleared plain," but from the Celts generally 
 choosing such plains for their fields of battle, blair came to 
 signify a battle. There is a small village called the Blair 
 near Lochord, about two miles from Lochleven, in Fifeshire, 
 Scotland. It signifies a spot where a battle was fought, 
 " locus pugnce" Here, it is supposed, an engagement took 
 place between the Romans and the Caledonians, a.d. 83. 
 
 BLAISDALE. Local From the old EngHsh word Blase, 
 sprouting forth, luxuriant; and dale, a valley. 
 
 BLAKE. A corruption of the British Ap Ldke^ from Ap, signi- 
 fying from, or son, and Lake, — ^the son of Lake. The family 
 went into Ireland with Strongbow, where the name be- 
 came corrupted into Blake. Ap LaTce was one of the knights 
 of Arthur's Round Table. 
 
 BLAKEMAN". A corruption of Blackman, a name probably 
 given from having a dark complexion. 
 
 BLAND. Mild, gentle, smooth. 
 
 BLANEY. Local. Welsh, Bluenae, the inland extremity of a 
 valley. 
 
 BLASEDALB. Local A place in Lancashire, England. 
 
 BLAUYELT. (Ger.) Local The blue field; fi:om Blau, 
 blue, and veld or /eld, field. 
 
 BLEECKER or BLEEKER. (Dutch.) From Bleeker, a 
 bleacher or whitener of hnen. In Danish, bleger. 
 
 BLIN. (Welsh.) Local. The same as Blaen, a point, the 
 inland extremity of a valley. Blin also signifies weary, 
 troublesome. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 73 
 
 BLISS. In English, is a very happy name, imposed by others 
 on the individual. Blys^ in the Welsh, signifies desiring, 
 longing. 
 
 BLIVEN. (Danish.) From Behven, afiable, genteel, kind. 
 
 BLOOD. In tlie Dutch, signifies timorous, cowardly ; a simple- 
 ton. Lower informs us that Godkin, Blood (S'blood), and 
 Sacre, may be regarded as clipped oaths, and given as names 
 to the persons in the habit of using them ; and that in the 
 neighborhood of a fashionable square in London, are now 
 living surgeons whose names are Churchyard, Death, Blood, 
 and Slaughter. 
 
 BLOSS. Local. From Blois, the chief tovm of a territory of 
 the same name in Orleans, France. 
 
 BLOUNT, BLOUND, or BLOND. (Nor. Fr.) Of fair hair or 
 complexion ; from the French Blond. This family trace 
 their origin to the Blondi or Brondi of Italy, so named fi:om 
 their fair complexion. They went into England with Wil- 
 ham the Conqueror. 
 
 BLUNDELL. (Nor. Fr.) From Blund or Blond, fair-haired, 
 and having the same signification, only in a lesser degree. 
 Blundell, a httle fair-haired, so Bussdl, from Bous — red. 
 
 BLUNT. The same as Blount (which see). 
 
 BLYTH. Glad, gay, joyful. Blyth, local, a town in England. 
 
 BOARDMAN. One -^^ho keeps a boarding-house. 
 
 BOCK. (Dutch.) Bock, a book ; hok, a goat. 
 
 BOCOCK. Beaucock, a fine fellow ; a straggler. 
 
 BODINE. (Fr.) Waggish, merry, sportive. Boodinne, in the 
 Dutch, signifies a she-messenger. 
 
 BODLEY. (Cor. Br.) Local. The house on the lea; firom 
 Bod, a house, and ley. 
 
 BOGART. CDutch.) Local. From hoomgard, an orchard. 
 
 4 
 
 y 
 
■'"■^^^ 
 
 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BOGrUE. Local. From the residence being near a hog^ or 
 ■ from the Saxon hoga^ a bend, a bow, a corner ; a town in 
 France; the name appears on ancient coins in Sussex, 
 England. 
 
 BOLINGBROKE. Local. A town in Lincolnshire, England, 
 the birth-place of Henry IV. " The brook or bridge near 
 tlie round hill." 
 
 BOLSTER. (Cor. Br.) Local. A place in St. Agnes, Wales, 
 and signifies an entrenchment; from Bolla, a casting or 
 throwing up, and ter, the earth. Bolwestur, Welsh, a Hang- 
 er-on. 
 
 !B0LT0N. Local. A town in England; the round hill; the 
 abrupt, steep, round hill. 
 
 BOND. The father of a famUy, "Pater familias" whence hus- 
 band, that is, house-hond. BondSj in Danish, is a peasant, 
 countryman, also a villager. 
 
 BONAR. Local. A town in Scotland ; a chain of hills ; hills 
 for tillage ; also, the hill of slaughter. Cornish British, Bonar, 
 the house of slaughter. 
 
 BONNAL. (Cor. Br.) Local. The house on the cliff. 
 
 BONNER. (Fr.) From Bonheur, happiness, good-fortune, 
 
 prosperity. 
 
 BONNEY. (Scot) Genteel, fine, spruce. French, Bon, 
 Bonne, good, handsome. 
 
 BONTECOU. (Fr.) Bmite, goodness, strength, fruitfulness, 
 and ctd (pron. hi), the bottom, behind ; denoting, figura- 
 tively, the humor or turn of mind. 
 
 BOORMAN. (Sax. and Ger.) A countryman or farmer. 
 
 BOOTH. A small cottage. 
 
 BORDOEL. Local. A town in Lower Saxonv. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 75 
 
 BOKLAND. (Cor. Br.) Local. The high land ; the swelling 
 or rising land ; from hor^ swelling, rising, and land. If from 
 the Saxon^ it signifies the land belonging to the common 
 people. Bordlands were lands which the lords kept in their 
 hands for the maintenance of their board or table. 
 
 Borland is the name of a village in Fifeshire, Scotland, whence 
 the family may have originated. 
 
 BORRATL. (Gaelic.) From Borrail, swaggering, boastful, 
 haughty, proud. Barrel, in old English, signifies a plain, 
 rude fellow, a boor. 
 
 BOSCAWEK (Cor. Br.) Local. From the town of Bos- 
 cawen, in Cornwall, which signifies the house surrounded by 
 elder trees. 
 
 BOSTWICK. (Cor. Br.) Local. The house near the haven 
 or creek ; from Bos, a house, and wick, a haven or creek. 
 It may be from the Dutch Bosch, a wood, and wick, the 
 town in the wood. Boswick, in the Cornish-British, is the 
 dwelling near the harbor or village. 
 
 BOSWELL. Local. A corruption of Bosseville ; from Bosch, 
 a wood, and ville, a village. Bothel, G-aelic, the house of the 
 powerful. 
 
 BOTTESFORD. Local. A town in England. 
 
 BOUGHTON. Local. From Boughton, a place in ITorthamp- 
 tonshire, England; the bowing or bending hill. Bouton, 
 the steep or abrupt hill. 
 
 BOUVIER. (Fr.) A drover. 
 
 BOTTOM. Local. Any low grounds ; a dale or valley. 
 
 BOURNE. Local. From the town of Bourne, in Lincoln- 
 shire, England, which is so named from the old English 
 Bourne, a small river or spring-well. 
 
 BOUCHER. (French.) A butcher ; a blood-thirsty man. 
 
 BOVIE. (Fr.) Local. A corruption of Beauvais, a town in 
 France, whence the surname originated, and which signifiea 
 
Yd ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 the sightly or beautiful place. The family settled in Holland 
 from France. 
 
 BOWERS. From hur, Saxon, a chamber ; a cottage ; a shady 
 recess. 
 
 BOWEK (Welsh.) A corruption of Ap Owen, the son of 
 Owen, so Price from Ap Rice, and Pricliard from Ap 
 Richard. 
 
 BOWES. This surname, according to Grrose, originated as fol- 
 lows : about the time of the Conqueror, there was a town 
 (on the site of the Castle of Bowes), which the tradition of 
 the family states, was burned. It then belonged to the 
 Earls of Brittany and Richmond. The castle was built, as 
 Mr. Horseley thinks, out of the ruins of the Roman Fortress, 
 by Alan Niger, the second earl of that title, who, it is said, 
 placed therein WUham, his relation, with five hundred arch- 
 ers to defend it against some insurgents in Cambridge and 
 Westmorland confederated with the Scots, giving him for 
 the device of his standard the arms of Brittany, with three 
 bows and a bundle of arrows, whence both the castle and 
 the commander derived their names; the former being 
 called Bowes Oasih, and the latter, William de Arcubus, or 
 WilHam Bowes. 
 
 BOWLES. Probably from the sign of an inn, as " John at the 
 Bowl" i. e., at the sign of the bowl. Boel, local, a town in 
 South Jutland, Denmark. Boel, Dutch, an estate, also one 
 who keeps a mistress. 
 
 BOWMAN. A military cognomen ; an archer. 
 
 BOWNE. (Cor. Br. and Welsh.) Signifies ready, active, 
 nimble. 
 
 BOWYER. An archer, one who uses a bow ; one who makes 
 bows. 
 "^> BOYD. (G-aelic.) From huidhe, yellow-haired. Boyd, a river 
 of England that unites with the Avon. 
 
 BOYER. A name given to a Grandee among the Muscovites. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 77 
 
 BOYNTON. Local. From Buvington, in the Wolds, in the 
 East Eiding of Yorkshire, England, now called Boynton 
 Dugdale, so named from its being higher in place or alti- 
 tude. 
 
 BRACY. (Fr.) Local. From Bracy^ a town in Normandy. 
 
 BRAINE. Local. A small town and abbey on the river 
 Yesle, in France. Brain, Gaelic, a chieftain ; a naval com- 
 mander ; a captain of a ship. 
 
 BRADBURN. Local. The wide or broad brook. 
 
 BRADFORD. Local. A town on the Avon, in Wiltshire, 
 England, whence the surname is derived, and which signifies 
 the hroad ford, there being at that place a ford across the 
 Avon. 
 
 BRADY. (Gaelic.) Breada, handsome. 
 
 BRAGG. Brag, among the Scandinavians, was the god of elo- \y^ 
 
 quence, and the word was anciently used in the sense of 
 eloquent; also, accomplished, brave, daring. 
 
 BRAMAN. Bramin, a priest among the Hindoos. Bremen, 
 local, a city of Germany. 
 
 BRAN. (Gaehc.) Poor ; black ; a raven , a mountain-stream. 
 Welsh, Iran, a crow ; the name of dark rivers. 
 
 BRAMHALL. A place where goods are sold ; hram, Danish, 
 goods on sale. 
 
 BRAND. In all the Teutonic dialects brand signifies to burn ; 
 also a sword, either from its brandishing, or from its ghtter- 
 ing brightness. Brant, a hill ; steep, high ; Welsh, Bryn. 
 
 BRANDE. Local. A town in Denmark. 
 
 BRANDON. Local. A market-town in Suffolk, England, 
 and means either the hurnt town, or the crows' hiU. 
 
 BRANDRETH. Bailey defines this name "the curb of a 
 well," but I think the name is local, and may be derived as 
 follows: Bran, both Welsh and Gaehc, signifies a swift 
 
7d ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 river, and dreth, the sandy shore or strand. Brandreth may 
 also mean the sandy shore frequented by wild-fowl, from 
 Bran, a crow, and dreth^ as above. Brwyndretli^ in Welsh, 
 denotes the shore abounding with rushes, from hrwyn, 
 rushes, and treth, the shore. I prefer, however, to use 
 Bran in the sense of dark, black, and then we have the 
 " dark shore,'^ or water, or a place on the shore of the river 
 Bran. 
 
 BEATT. (Danish.) Brave, valiant, coiu-ageous. 
 
 BRECK. Local. An old word signifying broken, a gap; 
 Brecca, an old law term which we find in old Latin deeds, 
 was used to denote a breach, decay, or want of repair. 
 Breck is also used in some parts of England to denote pas- 
 ture. Breck, Gaehc, is a wolf or wild savage. 
 
 BRECKENRIDaE. Local From Brecken, broken, out of 
 repair ; and ridge. Sax., ryg, the top of a hill ; a house. 
 
 BREED. (Dutch.) From Breed, broad, large. Brede, local, a 
 town in Sussex, England, and in the Danish, signifies brim, 
 margin; sea-side, shore, river-side. 
 
 BREESE. (Welsh.) A contraction of Ap Reese, the son of 
 Reese, or Rice (which see) ; so Bevan from Ap Evan, Brke 
 from Ap Rice, etc. Brys, Welsh, agihty, quickness; Bresse, 
 local, a small territory in Burgundy, France. 
 
 BRENDOK (Cor. Br.) Local. The crow's hill; from Brm, 
 a crow, and dun or don, a hill. 
 
 BRENIQAN. (Cor. Br.) A Umpet. 
 
 BRENIN". (Cor. Br.) From Brenhin, a tributary prince; a 
 king. Brenin, Welsh, a chief. 
 
 BRENTWOOD. Local. A town in Essex, England, and sig- 
 nifies burnt- wood ; brent signifying burnt, from the Anglo- 
 Saxon brennan, to burn. 
 
 BREWER, BREWISTER, BREWSTER. A brewer of malt 
 liquor. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 79 
 
 BEET aud BRETT. Probably contracted from Breton, a 
 Briton; hretle, Frencli, a long sword; hrat and bretyn, in 
 the Welsh, signify an urchin. 
 
 BRETON. (British.) A native of Britain ; Bretton, a town 
 in Fhntshire, Wales. 
 
 BREUILLY. (Fr.) LocaL A coppice. 
 
 BRIAl!^ or BRIOK (G-aelic.) The noUy descended^ from Bri^ 
 dignity, honor, and aw, diminutive of that to which it is an- 
 nexed, belonging to it ; G-aelic, gin or gen, begotten. Bri, 
 Welsh, honor; h'iadd, honorary. Bailey derives Brian 
 from Bruiant, Frencli, clamorous. Brian, in the G-aelic, 
 also implies one who is fair-spoken, wordy, specious. 
 
 BRIANT or BRYANT. (Gaelic.) Dignity, honor; from 
 Bri, exalted, and ant, a termination, implying the being or 
 state of that to which it is annexed ; equivalent to the Greek 
 av, and the Latin ens. 
 
 BRIENNE. Local A town of France, either so called from 
 its elevation, or being the ancient meeting-place of the 
 Brians or nobles. 
 
 BRILL. (Dutch.) Local So called from Bril, a neat city in 
 tho Netherlands. 
 
 BRIARE. Local From Briare, a town in the province of 
 
 Orleans, France. 
 
 BRIERLT. Local The briar-lee; French, hruyere, shrubs 
 growing on commons and heaths. 
 
 BRICE. (Welsh.) A contraction of Ap Rice, the son of Rice, 
 which is the same as Rhys or Rhees (see Rhees). Brys, 
 Welsh, haste, quick, hvely. 
 
 BRICK. A corruption of Breck (which see). We cut the fol- 
 lowing, on this name, from a newspaper : 
 
 A certain college-professor, who had assembled his class at the 
 commencement of the term, was reading over the Hst of 
 names to see tliat all were present. It chanced that one of 
 
80 ETYMOLOGICAL, DICTIONARY 
 
 the number was unknown to the professor, having just 
 entered the class. 
 
 " What is your name, sir ?" asked the professor, looking through 
 his spectacles. 
 
 " You are a brick," was the startling reply. 
 
 " Sir," said the professor, half starting out of his chair at the 
 supposed impertinence, but not quite sure that he under- 
 stood liim correctly, " sir, I did not exactly understand your 
 answer." 
 
 " You are a brick," was again the composed reply. 
 
 "This is intolerable," said the professor, his face reddening; 
 " beware, young man, how you attempt to insult me." 
 
 " Insult you I" said the student, in turn astonished. " How have 
 I done it?" 
 
 " Did you not say I was a brick ?" returned the professor, with 
 stifled indignation. 
 
 " No, sir ; you asked me my name, and I answered your ques- 
 tion. My name is U. R. A. Bricks-Uriah Reynolds Ander- 
 son Brick." 
 
 "Ah, indeed," murmured the professor, sinking back into his seat 
 in confusion — " it was a misconception on my part. Will 
 you commence the lesson, Mr. Brick ?" 
 
 BRIDGE and BRIDGES. Local. Any structure of wood, 
 stone, or other materials, raised over rivers for the passage 
 of men and other animals. 
 
 BRIDGMAK. One who attends a bridge; a builder of 
 bridges. 
 
 BRIDE. (Gaehc.) From Brighidj a hostage, pledge, or secu- 
 rity. The son of Bridget. Cormac, Archbishop of Cashel, 
 in his glossary, defines BrigJiid " fiery dart," and that it was 
 the name of the Muse who was believed to preside over 
 ■ poetry, in pagan times, in Ireland. Breochuidh, a term 
 given to those virgins who kept the perpetual fire of Beil or 
 Belus among the Druids and ancient Celts. 
 
 BRIGGS. From the Anglo-Saxon hrigg, a bridge; brig, 
 Welsh, height, the top of any thing. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 81 
 
 BEIG-HTOIsr. Local. A town on the coast of Sussex, Eng- 
 land, anciently called BrigJitelmstone, from Brithelm, i. e., 
 bright helmet, who was bishop of Bath and Wells, about the 
 year 955. The bright town. 
 
 BRIMMER. From the Anglo-Saxon Bremman, Breme, or 
 Brrni, to extend, to amplify to the utmost limits ; to be vio- 
 lent, furious, to rage ; a violent, bold, furious man ; " Fough- 
 ten breme," that is, "He fought furiously." Br&mmer, a 
 native of Bremen^ Germany. 
 
 BRINKERHOFF. (Dutch.) Brengerliof, messenger of the 
 court, or head messenger or carrier ; from Brenger, a mes- 
 senger, and Tiof, a court, or Jioofd^ head, chief, a leader. 
 
 BRISBAN" or BRISBIK This name is local, and may signify 
 the Mount or Hill of Judgment, a place where courts were 
 held and law administered, among the Celts and Britons, 
 from the Cornish-British Irez or hrys, a judgment, a trial at 
 law, and han, a hill, a mount. In Gaelic, Breasban signifies 
 the royal mount ; Briosgabhain, the rapid river ; Brisheinn, 
 the broken hill or clifi*. 
 
 BRISTED. (Sax.) Local. From hrihs, bright, pleasant, and 
 stead, a place — a bright, pleasant place. 
 
 BRISTOL. (Gaelic and Welsh.) Local. A city in England. 
 The name signifies "The broken chasm;" from bris, Gaehc, 
 broken, and tuU, Welsh, tol, a hole, cleft or chasm. This 
 corresponds to the ancient name of Bristol, which was Caer 
 Oder, i. e., " the City of the Gap" or chasm, through which 
 the Avon finds a passage to the sea. 
 
 BRISTOW. (Sax.) Local. From briJis, pleasant, bright, and 
 stow, the same as stead, a place. 
 
 BRITTE. A word used in Dutch poetry for a Brittainer. 
 
 BRITTON, BRITTEN, and BRITTAK A native of Britain, 
 the ancient name of England. Several derivations have 
 been given to Britain, such as Brydon or Prydyn, Welsh, 
 the fair tribe, or brave men. Bridaoine, Gaelic, from Bri, 
 dignity, and daoine^ men. Pryddain, the fair and beautiful 
 4-^ 
 
82 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 isle. Brait or Briand, extensive, and in, land. Brit-tcme, 
 the land of tin. 
 
 BROCK From the Saxon Broc, a badger. Broch, in Gaelic 
 or Irish, Cor. Br. and Welsh, has the same meaning. 
 
 BROCKLESBY. Local. Derived from BrocJdes, a small town 
 of that name in England, and hy, near to ; a village. Dutch, 
 Broch, a marsh ; also, broken land. 
 
 In a party in which the celebrated Porson was a guest, there 
 was also a physician by this name, Dr. Brocklesby, a de- 
 scendant of the eminent man who attended Dr. Johnson in 
 his last illness. In addressing Dr. Brocklesby, Porson called 
 him Dr. Rock — "Yes, Dr. Rock — no, Dr. Rock," etc. — a 
 name rendered almost infamous by Hogarth, in his picture 
 of the " March of the Guards." At length. Dr. Brocklesby 
 became offended, and said, " Mr. Porson, my name is not 
 Rock, it is Brocklesby," pronouncing the syllables distinctly, 
 Brock-les-by. " Well," said Porson, " if Broch-les-h is not 
 Rock, then I know nothing of Algebra. 
 
 BRODIE. (Gaelic.) Local. From the lands of Brodie, Co. 
 Moray, Scotland. The name signifies a Httle ridge; a brow; 
 a precipice. Brody, a town of GaUicia. 
 
 BRODT. Local. So named from a town in Sclavonia, settled 
 by an ancient people who came from Scythia. 
 
 BROME or BROOME. The Earls of Anjou first took the sur- 
 name of Brome or Broome after their pilgrimage to the 
 Holy Land. Fulke, Earl of Anjou, having worn a sprig of 
 the broom-plant as the symbol of humility. 
 
 BROMFIELD or BROOMFIELD. Local. The field abound- 
 ing in broom. 
 
 BROMLEY. Local. From Bromley, a small town in England, 
 so called from brome or broom, and ley, a field or common. 
 
 BROOME. The same as Brome, above. 
 
 BRONSON, BRUNSOK A contraction of Brownson, the 
 son of Brown. Briaunson, local, a place in France. This 
 name came into England with William the Conqueror. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 83 
 
 BROOKS. Local. Brooks, Becks, and Rundels are names for 
 small rivers. 
 
 BROSTER. (Cor, Br.) Greatness, majesty. 
 
 BROTHERSON. The same as nephew. 
 
 BROUGHAM. Local. Originally Burgham, The village on 
 a hill ; a borough town. The name of a place in England. 
 
 BROUGHTOK Local. A town on the hill; a village in 
 Flintshire, England. 
 
 BROWER, (Dutch.) From Brouwer^ a brewer. 
 
 BROWN. A name derived from complexion, color of hair or 
 garments, consequently, a very common name. 
 
 BROWNSOK The son of Brown. 
 
 BRUCE. (Nor. Fr.) Local De Bruys ; from Bray or ^ 
 Bruys, a place in Normandy where the family originated. 
 De Bruys was one of the followers of WiUiam the Con- 
 queror, and fought at the battle of Hastings. From this 
 ancestor, King Robert Bruce was descended. 
 
 BRUNNER. Local, From a town of that name in Switzerland. 
 
 BRUX. Local. A town in England. 
 
 BRUYERE. (Fr.) Local. A common or heath covered with 
 shrubs. 
 
 BRYAN. The same as Brian or Brien (which see). 
 
 BRYN. (Welsh.) A mountain ; a mountaineer. 
 
 BRYCE. (Welsh.) A contraction of Ap Rhys, the son of 
 Rhys or Rhees. (See Rhees.) 
 
 BRYNE. Local. A river in Donegal, Ireland ; in Welsh, a 
 hill. Bryne^ Saxon, a burning. 
 
 BUCHAN. Local. A district of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. 
 The derivation of the name is uncertain. It may be from 
 the Gaelic hoc^ hocan, deer ; a place abounding in deer. 
 
 BUCHANAN. Local. A parish in the shire of SterHng, Scot- 
 land. The derivation of the name is uncertain. It is prob- 
 ably from the same root as Bv-chan. 
 
84 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BUCHER. (Fr.) Pronounced Booshay. A wood-house ; pile 
 of wood; pyre; faneral-pile. 
 
 BUCK. Such names as Lyon, Bull, Buck, etc., may have been 
 borrowed from armorial bearings, the shields and banners of 
 war, or for a resemblance to those animals noted for cour- 
 age, agiUty, or swiftness, or from signs and emblems over 
 shops and inns. 
 
 BUCKBEE. Local. The town or village among the beech- 
 trees, from hoc, a beech-tree, and by, a village. 
 
 BUCKHOUT. (Dutch.) Local. The beech-wood; from 
 beuk, a beech, and lioudt, a wood. 
 
 BUCKINGHAM. (Sax.) Local. A shire and town in Eng- 
 land, and so called either from Biicen, beechen, and Tiam, a 
 village, from the abundance of beech-trees grow-ing there, or 
 from the Saxon hucca, deer — the deer-vUlage. 
 
 BUCKLIN. (Graelic.) Local. From Bucklyn^ a town in 
 Sterlingsliire, Scotland. The name may be derived from 
 Boc, plural, BuiCj a roe-buck, deer, and linne, a pool or lake. 
 
 BUCKM ASTER. A name, probably given to one who had 
 the care of herds of venison. 
 
 BUCKMrN"STER. (Sax.) From lucm, beechen, or lugan^ to 
 bend, a bow, a comer, round ; and minster, a church, a mon- 
 astery. 
 
 BUCKSTON or BUXTOK (Sax.) Local. From hoc, a 
 beech-tree, and ton, a town — ^beech-town. 
 
 BUDD. (Welsh.) Thrift, gain, riches, victory ; hod, a dwell- 
 ing. Bud, in the Danish, signifies a messenger, courier, a 
 sergeant. 
 
 BUDDINGTOK Local. The flourishing town, or Bodding- 
 ton, the dwelling town. Buttington, a place on the Severn, 
 England, which may indicate the town on the limit, bound- 
 ary, or extremity. 
 
 BUEL. (Welsh.) A herd of cattle; an ox. Biidl, local, a 
 place in France. 
 
OF FAMILT NAMES. 85 
 
 BULKELEY or BUCKLEY. Local. Derived from the manor 
 of Bulkeley, in the County Palatine of Chester, England. A 
 corruption of BuMocTc-ley^ the bullock-field or pasture. 
 
 BULL. A well-known animal, powerful, fierce, and violent. 
 The name may have originated from the sign of a shop or 
 inn, as " John at the Bull." Biil^ in Saxon, is a brooch, a 
 stud, a bracelet. 
 
 BULLARD. Having the disposition of a bull. 
 
 BULLER. (Danish.) Bohr, a gallant ; an amorist. 
 
 BULLOCK. A fuU-grown ox. All the families of Bulls, Bul- 
 lards, and Bullocks are noted for being firm and inflexible in 
 their way. 
 
 BULLIONS. Probably local, from BoUeyne^ a town in France, 
 whence the family of Anne Boleyne took their name ; or 
 fi'om the city of Boulogne^ which was so called from Beul, 
 Gaelic, the mouth, and Liane^ the river, or the ^^ mouth of 
 Lkme^'' it being situated at the mouth of that river. 
 
 BUN. (Gaelic.) A foundation ; Bunn^ a hill. 
 
 BUNNELL. Local. A corruption of BonMU, a parish in the 
 county of Dumbarton, Scotland. 
 
 BUNTING. A kind of bird. 
 
 BUNYAN. (Welsh, Celtic, and Gaelic.) Erom Bunan, a 
 squat, short person. 
 
 BURR. (Saxon.) Burli, a wall, a fortress, a castle ; a hill, a 
 heap, the same as burgh. 
 
 BURBECK. Local. The beak or point of the hill; from 
 Burh^ a hill, and hek, Dutch, a point, a beak ; or from Burhj 
 a hni, castle, fort, or dwelling, and hech, a brook. 
 
 BURBY. (Saxon.) The house or village on the hill ; from 
 Bur, a liill, and hy, a house or village. 
 
 BURD. Local. A river in France. 
 
86 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 BUEDEN. Lower says this name is probably a corruption of 
 bourdon^ a pilgrim's staff, — a very appropriate sign for a 
 wayside hostelry. 
 
 It may be local, derived from Bour^ a house (from the Saxon 
 hure^ a bed-chamber), and den^ a valley — the house in the 
 valley. 
 
 BURDER, A bird-catcher or fowler. 
 
 BURDETT. A Utile bird, ett signifying young, small, tender. 
 
 BURG. In all tlie Teutonic languages signifies a hill, a fortifi- 
 cation, tower, castle, house, city, and nearly so in the 
 Armoric and Welsh. 
 
 BURGESS. An inhabitant of a borough ; a freeman, citizen ; 
 a representative of a borough in parhament. 
 
 BURGOS. Local A city of Spain, in Old Castile, situated 
 beside a liiU, on the river Arlanzon. 
 
 BURGOYNE. Local From Bourgogne, now Burgundy, an 
 old province of France. A name given to a native of that 
 province. 
 
 BURKE. A corruption of {De) Burgo, as the name was for- 
 merly written, that is, from the fort, castle, hill, or city. 
 Tliis family went from Normandy into England with the 
 Conqueror, and afterward into Ireland with Strongbow. 
 
 BURLASE. (Cor. Br.) Local The green summit or top, 
 
 BURLEIGH. Local Burh, Saxon, is the same as burg, a 
 city, castle, house, or tower ; in composition, it signifies de- 
 fense; leighj a low place, opposed to a place higher, the 
 same as ley, a meadow, a pasture. Burly, swelled, bulky, 
 boisterous. 
 
 BURNHAM. Local Derived from Burnham, a town in Nor- 
 folk, also in Essex, England ; in the old EngHsh, Bourn or 
 Burn, signifies a river, and ham, a village or town — the vil- 
 lage by the river. Bourn, burn, and bern, in the Cornish- 
 British, is a hill, a heap ; and Burnham, the house or town 
 on the rising ground. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 87' 
 
 BURN'S. Local. A hum, in Scotland, is a small stream, the 
 . same as Bourne. Biorn, in the Danish and Swedish, signi- 
 fies a bear, figuratively, a ferocious, vaUant man. 
 
 BURNSIDE. Local. Beside the brook or burn. 
 
 BURRAED. Local. A high hill or top. Boorard, resembling 
 a countryman; Boer, Dutch, a rustic, a farmer, and ardj 
 nature, mode, kind. 
 
 BURRELL. Borel is used by Chaucer in the sense of lay, as 
 horel-clerks — ^lay-clerks. It may be a corruption of Borrail 
 (which see). 
 
 BURT. (G-aeUc.) Burt, quizzing, joking ; also, in Enghsh, a 
 kind of fish. Buurt, Dutch, a hamlet, consisting only of a 
 few houses ; a neighborhood. 
 
 BURTIS. (Welsh.) Bwrdais, a burgess. 
 
 BURTOK Local. A town in Leicestershire, En^and. The 
 name signifies either the town on the hUl, or, as Bailey says, 
 the Bur-town, from the abundance of burs growing there- 
 abouts. There are several places by this name in England. 
 
 BUSHNELL. (Dutch.) Bossen-haU, a faggot or wood-mar- 
 ket, or a hall or mansion in the wood. 
 
 BUSHWELL. Local. Bushwild. From hush and well, vnldy 
 wold, a wood, a lawn, or plain ; an uncultivated bushy 
 place ; Bushfeldt, the bushy field. 
 
 BUSK. (Swed.) From Busche, a wood, a thicket. 
 
 BUSKIRK. (Dutch.) Local. From Bos, a wood, and leerk, 
 a church — the church in the wood. 
 
 BUSSEY. (Fr.) Local. From the town of Bussey, in the 
 province of Burgundy, France. 
 
 BUTLER. This family derive theh origin from the old Counts 
 of Briony or Biony, in Normandy, a descendant of whom, 
 Herveius Fitz Walter, accompanied the Conqueror into 
 England. His son, Theobold, went with Henry IL into 
 Ireland, where, having greatly assisted in the reduction of 
 
88 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 the kingdom, he was rewarded with large possessions there, 
 and made it the place of his residence. The king afterward 
 conferred on him the oQioe of chief Butler of Ireland, whence 
 his descendants, the Earls of Ormond and others, took the 
 surname of De Boteler or Butler. 
 
 BUTMAN. Local. Perhaps the man who lives at the hutt or 
 boundary; a marksman. Botman, one who gives a blunt 
 answer. 
 
 BUTTS. Butts were marks for archery. In most parishes 
 places were set apart for this necessary sport which were 
 called " the Butts," — Whence, the name was given to a person 
 residing near such a spot, as "John at the Butts." But 
 signifies a promontory, as the Butt of Lewis, an isle of 
 Scotland. Danish, But, blunt, rough. 
 
 BUXTON. Local. From the Saxon hoc, a beech, G-erman, 
 huche, and ton — the beech-town. A village in Derbyshire^ 
 England. 
 
 BYPIELD. The viUage in the field, from By, Danish, a town, 
 — or the place by or near the field. 
 
 BYGtBY. (Danish.) Barley-town; from byg, Danish, barley. 
 
 BYING-TOK (Saxon.) From Bying, a habitation, and ton, a 
 hill or inclosure. 
 
 BYRON". (Ft.) Local. Originally De Biron, from the town 
 of Biron, in the province of Gruienne, France. 
 
 CAD. (Qaelic and Welsh.) War, a battle-field. 
 
 CADE. An old word for a barrel or cask; probably taken 
 
 from a sign at an ale-house or tavern — ^^John at the Cade." 
 
 Shakspeare.uses Cade in this sense : 
 
 "Cade. — ^We, John Cade, so termed of our supposed father. 
 Dick. — Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings 1" 
 
 Hen. YI., Act IY., Sc. H. 
 
 CADOaAN. (Welsh.) Terrible in battle; fi-om cad, battle, 
 and gwg, fierce. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 89 
 
 CADELL. (Welsh.) WaiHke. Gaelic, Cathdl 
 
 CADER, (Welsh.) A keep, fortress, or strong-hold. 
 
 OADWALLADER. (Welsh.) Derived from cad, battle, and 
 gvxdadr, a leader, a lord — ^the leader or lord of the battle. 
 Gwaladr would seem to come from gwdl, a wall or defense^ 
 and adre, signifying at home or abroad, everywhere. 
 
 CAD WELL. Local. A village in South Wales; written 
 
 Cydwell. 
 
 CADY. Ca-dia, in Gaelic, the house of God. There is a com- 
 monalty of Switzerland called Gotthespunt, or Casdee, i. e.. 
 the house of God. Cadie, in the Scottish, is an errand-boy^ 
 a messenger. 
 
 CAETH. (Welsh.) A captive. 
 
 CAIN. (Welsh and Gaelic.) Chaste, beloved, fair, beautiful. 
 
 CAIRN. (Cor. Br.) Local. A circular mound of stones. 
 
 CALDER. Local. A river in Yorkshire, England. Calduor^ 
 Gaelic and Welsh, the water that incloses or shuts in. 
 
 CALDERWOOD. Local. The wood on the river Calder. 
 
 CALDICOTT, COLDICOT, and CALDECOTE. Local. 
 (Welsh.) Ool-dow-cwU, Oolcoit, the neck of the wood. 
 O'Connor derives Caldecott from Cald-i-scoi, the inclosure 
 of the Scot ; a locality hemmed in by Glamorgan, the Wye, 
 and high lands on the north. A village in Hertfordshire, 
 England. 
 
 CALDWELL. Local. Col-ivold, the wood of hazels; or it 
 may be Cold-well, a cold spring. 
 
 CALHOUN. A corruption of Colquhoun (which see). 
 
 CALL. (Welsh.) Prudent, discerning, cunning, trickish 
 Caill and Cuil, Gaelic, are the same. 
 
 CALLAGHAN. (Gaehc or Celtic.) From Ciallach, prudent, 
 judicious, discreet. 
 
90 ETYMOLOOICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 CAMERON. (Graelic.) From Carrie crooked, and sron^ nose, 
 crooked or hooked-nose. 
 
 CAMPBELL. (Celtic and Caelic.) Wry-mouth, the man 
 whose mouth inclined a httle on one side; from cam^ 
 crooked, distorted, and heul^ the mouth. This ancient 
 family may be traced as far back as the beginning of the 
 fifth century, and is said to have been possessed of Lochore, 
 in Argyleshire, as early as the time of Fergus II. Sir Colin 
 Campbell, of Lochore, flourished toward the end of the 
 thirteenth century, and was called Sir Colin More, or Colin 
 the Great His descendants were called by the Irish 
 Mc Calleriy tliat is, the descendants of CoHn. 
 
 CAM. (G-aelic and Welsh.) Crooked, winding; injury, deceit^ 
 injustice. 
 
 CAMUS. (Graelic) A bay, a creek, a harbor. Camoys, one 
 whose nose is turned upwards. 
 
 CAN or CAIN. (G-aelic.) Clear, white, fair, and hence, be- 
 loved, dear ; can^ a lake, a whelp- 
 
 CANN. (Gaehc.) Ceann and Kin; Welsh, Ken or Cen, the 
 head; projection. 
 
 CANNING. (Saxon.) Cyning, a leader, a king. Germ., 
 KOnig ; Butch, Koning ; J)a.n., Konge; Swedish, Konung ; 
 Welsh, cun; Irish, cean, which is tiie same as the Gaelic 
 Ceann, and the oriental Khan or Kaun, all signifying head, 
 a leader. Saxon Connan and Cunnan, to see, to know; 
 hence Cunning, or Canning, Kenning. 
 
 CANON. (Welsh.) The river Taf is called in the interior the 
 Canon, or the singing river. A rule, a law ; a dignitary of 
 the church- 
 
 CAPEL. An old word signifying a strong horse. 
 
 " And gave him caples to his carte." 
 
 Chaucer. 
 Capel, Danish, an oratory, a chapel 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. ' 91. 
 
 CARACTACUS. (Gaelic.) From Caer, a castle or city; 
 eacht, an exploit, and cios, a tribute, expressive of his abil- 
 ities in conducting an offensive, as well as a defensive war ; 
 or, as O'Connor derives it, from Cathreacteac-eis, the leader 
 of the host in battle. 
 
 CARD. A word used in some parts of Scotland to denote a 
 travehng tinker. Ceairde, G-aehc, a tradesman. 
 
 GARDEN. Local. Assumed from the manor of Cawarden or 
 Carden, near Chester, in England. 
 
 CAREW. (Welsh.) Derived from the castle of Carrw, in 
 Wales. The castle by the water, from Caer, castle or fort, 
 and ew, water. 
 
 CAREY or CARY. Local. From the manor of Cary or Kari, 
 as spelled in the Doomsday Book, in the parish of St. Giles, 
 near Launceston, England. Cary, in the British, signifies 
 beloved, dear. This name may be the same as Carew. 
 
 CARMICHAEL. Local. Assumed from the lands and barony 
 of Carmichael, in the shire of Lanark. The castle or strong- 
 hold of Michael, from mer, a castle or fortified place. 
 
 CARNE and CARNES. (Welsh.) Local. A rock, a heap 
 of stones. This family claim descent from Ithel, King of 
 Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest 
 son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his 
 father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and carne, 
 a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Came, 
 which continues the surname of the family. 
 
 CARNIGAN. In the Gaelic, Carneach signifies a Druid or 
 priest, and Carnahan, rocky or stony ground. 
 
 CARR. This name has several significations; Caer, Cornish- 
 British, a city, town, a fort, a castle ; Carre, French, a stout, 
 broad-shouldered man ; Cawr, Welsh, a giant. 
 
 CARTER. A name of trade, one who drives a cart. CairteaVj 
 Gaehc, a tourist, a sojourner. 
 
92 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 CARSON or CORSON. The son of Car; Ourson, the stock 
 of a vine. 
 
 CARTERET or CARTRET. (Gaelic and Welsh.) Local. The 
 place or town of the castle. 
 
 CAR WIN. (Cor. Br.) Local. The white castle; from cmr^ 
 a castle, and win or gwin^ white. 
 
 CARY. The same as Garey (which see). 
 
 CASE. (French.) Gase. A hut, a hovel ; Caelic, cass^ caise, 
 steep ; quick, hasty, passionate. 
 
 CASS. (G-aelic.) Cos, a verb, to turn against, to thwart, 
 oppose ; a difficulty, a trying situation, a cause. Gas, a 
 castle, the primary sense is to separate, drive off, or hate ; 
 the radical sense of hatred is driving off. 
 
 CASSIDY. (Gaelic.) From casaideach, apt to complain or 
 accuse. Gasadow, in the Cor. Br., signifies an offender. 
 
 CATHCART. (Gaelic.) Local. From the parish of Cathcart, 
 in Lanark and Renfrew, Scotland. The river Cart runs 
 through it, whence the name is derived. Gaeih- Cart, from 
 caetJi, a strait, the river here running in a narrow channel 
 
 CATHERWOOD. (Gaelic.) Local. A fenny-wood, wet 
 ground, from Gathar, soft, boggy ground ; or the fortified 
 place in a wood, from Gathair, Gaelic, a town, a fortified 
 city, a guard, a sentinel. 
 
 CAVAN. (Welsh and Gaelic.) Local. The ridge of a hilL 
 
 CAW. Local. Gaelic, Ga, a house, a place fortified, inclosed, 
 surrounded. Gaw, Welsh, whatever defends or keeps 
 together ; Gawr, an old English word for a king. Gaw or 
 Gu, an ancient king of North Britain whose capital was 
 Dumbarton. 
 
 OAXTON. Local. Derived from Caxton, a small town in 
 England. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 93 
 
 CAY. Kea^ in the Cornish-British and Welsh, is an inclosure ; 
 that which fastens or secures; a landing for vessels; French, 
 quai; Dutch, haai ; Gaelic, ceithe. 
 
 CAYLY. Local. From Calais^ a sea-port of France; Cola, 
 Gaelic, a harbor, port, haven, bay, a road for ships. 
 
 CHAD WICK. Local. The cottage by the harbor, or sheltered 
 place ; from the Saxon Cyte and wick; Oyte signifies a cot- 
 tage, and wicJc, a harbor, a sheltered place. It may be so 
 called from the shad fisheries. 
 
 CHAFFEE. (Fr.) Chafe^ to heat, to grow warm or angry; 
 Fr., chauffer, to warm, to cannonade, attack briskly. 
 
 CHALK. A well-known earth ; a locahty. Chalk, Saxon, a 
 servant or attendant. 
 
 CHALLIS. A cup or bowl ; taken perhaps from the sign of a 
 house or shop. 
 
 CHALLONER. Local. Derived from a town in France of the 
 same name. This family derive their origin from Macloy 
 Crum, of the fine of chiefs in Wales, who resided several 
 years in Challoner. 
 
 CHALMERS or CHAMBERS. One of the clan Cameron of 
 Scotland, going to France, put his name in a Latin dress, as 
 was customary in those times, styhng himself De Cameraria, 
 which was called in French, De la Chamhre, and upon his 
 return to Scotland, he was again, according to their dialect, 
 called Chambers. Chalmers is a corruption of the same. 
 
 CHAMPE. (Fr.) Local. From champ, a field. 
 
 CHAMPION. A soldier, one that fought in pubhc combat in 
 his own or another man's quan-el. 
 
 CHAMPLIX or CHAMPLAIK The same as champaign, a 
 flat, open country; from Champ, an open, level field or 
 plain, and lean, a meadow ; laine, Gaehc, full ; leaihanrij 
 wide ; Cor. Br., laun ; Welsh, Uann, full, wide. 
 
 CHAMPNEY.' (Fr.) Local. From Champ, a field, and ey, 
 water — the wet country or country near the water. 
 
94 ETYMOLOaiCAL DICTIONARY 
 
 CHANDLER. A name of trade ; a maker and seller of various 
 wares, originally of candles. 
 
 CHANNINGr. (Saxon.) Cyrdng, knowing, wise; Dutch, 
 Koning, whence king j the same derivation as Canning. 
 
 CHAPEL. Local. A private oratory ; a place of public wor- 
 ship. 
 
 CHAPIN. A corruption of Chapman ; a trader, a shopman. 
 
 CHAPMAN. The same as Chipman, a trader, a shopman; 
 from the Saxon ceapan or cypan, to buy or sell. Sax., ceap^ 
 a bargain, a price ; one who cheapens, asks the price, buys. 
 
 CHARLES. (G-er.) From carl, strong, stout, courageous, and 
 valiant. The Hungarians called a king by the general name 
 Carl, and Scaliger makes Carl-man the same as the Greek 
 dvdpiac. 
 
 CHARNOCK. (Nor. Fr.) Local. Derived from the town of 
 Chernoc, in Normandy. 
 
 CHATHAM or CHETHAM. Local From a town in Kent, 
 England, on the Medway, so named from the Saxon cyte, a 
 cottage, and ham, a village, signifying the village of cottages. 
 A paragraph to the following effect went the round of the 
 papers not many years since : 
 
 Two attorneys in partnership had the name of the jBrm, 
 "Catcham and Chetum," inscribed, in the usual manner, 
 upon their office-door ; but as the singularity and ominous 
 juxta-position of the words led to many a coarse joke from 
 passers-by, the men of law attempted to destroy, in part, 
 the eflfect of the odd association, by the insertion of the 
 initials of their Christian names, which happened to be 
 Isaiah and Uriah ; but this made the affair ten times worse, 
 for the inscription then ran : 
 
 " /. Catcham and TJ. Chetum r 
 
 OHATSEY or CHADSEY. Local From the Saxon cyU, a 
 cottage, and sey, near the water. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 00 
 
 CHATSWOETH. Local, Derived from a viUage of that name 
 in Derbyshire, England, and signifying the cottage-farm; 
 from cyte, a cottage, as above, and wcyrth, a place or estate. 
 
 CHATTERTON. Local. Chadderton^ Saxon, cete-doir-ton, 
 the cottage-town in the wood ; from cete or cyte, a cottage, 
 hut, cabin; doir^ a wood, and torij a town. 
 
 CHEDSEY. Local. From Chertsey^ a town in Surrey, Eng- 
 land, near the Thames, pronounced by the natives, Chedsey, 
 meaning " Cerot's Island." 
 
 CHEESEMAN. A dealer in cheese. 
 
 CHEEVER. (Fr.) Chevir signifies to master or overcome ; 
 and Chevre is a goat. 
 
 CHENEY. (Fr.) Local. From Chene, an oak; Chenaie, a 
 grove, a plantation of oaks. 
 
 CHESEBROUGH. Local. The cheese-borough or town. 
 Chessbro, the hill or town on the river Chess. 
 
 CHESTER. Local. From the city of Chester, the capital of 
 Cheshire, England, founded by the Romans. The name is 
 derived from the Latin Castrum; Saxon, ceaster, a fortified 
 place, a city, a castle or camp, it being a Roman station 
 where the twentieth legion was quartered. The Roman 
 stations in England were generally so called, being sometimes 
 varied in dialect to Chester, Chaster, or Caster, the termina- 
 tion of many EngUsh towns, as Colchester, the camp on the 
 river Coin ; Doncaster, on the Don ; Lancaster, on the Lon 
 or Lune, etc. 
 
 CHICHESTER. Local. From the city of Chichester, Sussex, 
 England, whose Saxon name was Cissanceaster ; from Cissaj 
 the son of Aella, who settled the kingdom of the South- 
 Saxons ; and ceaster or Chester, a city, from castrum, a Roman 
 station. 
 
 CHICKERINQ. (Cor. Br.) Local. The stone house, a house 
 on a rock, a fortress ; from chi, a house, and cairne, a rock 
 or stones. 
 
96 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIQNARy 
 
 CHILDS. Child, Page and Varlet were names given to youths 
 from seven to fourteen years of age, while receiving their 
 education for knighthood, 
 
 CHILTON. Local From a town of the same name in Wilt- 
 shire, England, signifying the chalk-hills; from the Saxon 
 cylt^ clay or chalk. 
 
 CHIPMAN. A trader. (See Chapman.) 
 
 GHITTENDEK (Cor. Br. and Welsh.) The lower house on 
 the rising or fortified ground ; from Chy-tane-din — Chy, a 
 house, tane, lower, and din or dun, a hiE. 
 
 CHOLMONDELEY. (Norman.) Local The place at the 
 gorge or neck of the mountain ; from Col, a strait or defile, 
 and mond or mont, a hill. This name is pronounced Chum- 
 ley. An English gentleman meeting the Earl of Cholmon- 
 deley one day coming out of his own house, and not being 
 acquainted with him, asked him if Lord Chol-mond-e-ley 
 (pronouncing each syllable distinctly) was at home. " No," 
 repHed the peer, without hesitation, " nor any of his pe-o- 
 ple." 
 
 CHUBB. From the Saxon cob, a great-headed, full-cheeked 
 fellow. The fish called chulih was so named from its having 
 a large head. 
 
 CHUECH. Local A house of Christian worship, derived 
 from the old Enghsh chirch, and Scottish Kirh, Latin circus, 
 and this from the Gaehc cearcal, h. temple, a round building. 
 The root of Church is from the GraeHc car, roundness, from 
 which we have cirhe or hirhe. 
 
 CILLY. Local A town in Cermany. 
 
 CLAGET. (Ger.) From Jdugheif, good sense, wisdom, pru- 
 dence, dexterity. The Danish klegt signifies the same. 
 
 CLAPP. (Cor. Br.) Full of chat, tonguey ; from the Cornish- 
 British clap, prating, 
 
 CLARE. (Fr.) Clair^ from the Latin Clarus, pure, re- 
 nowned, illustrious. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 9T 
 
 CLARK. Clerk, a clergyman, a scholar, one who can read and 
 
 write. 
 
 CLAUSON. Local. A town of Germany, near Pozen; de- 
 rived from Maicse, a mountain defile. 
 
 CLAVERINGr. Local. First assumed by the proprietors of 
 the barony of Clavering, in Essex, England, near the spring- 
 head of the river Tort. Derived from the Anglo-Saxon 
 dcefer, or Belgic Jdaver, both denoting clover; and ing^ a 
 meadow, a pasture — the clover-fields. 
 
 CLAY. Local, A town of France in Seine. A lake on the 
 isle of Lewis, Scotland. Clee, hills in Wales. Cle, left- 
 handed, a place lying to the left, in relation to another place. 
 Cledh, chid, and cladd, in the GaeHc, Welsh, and British, 
 signify a ditch, a trench, a wall; cladh, a church-yard; 
 cledd, Welsh, a sword; GaeHc, claiheamh, from which we 
 have G lay more, a large sword. The same word in Welsh 
 and Gaehc that signifies a river is often applied to a sword, 
 from their resemblance in ghttering brightness. 
 
 CLAYTOR Local. The clay-hill. 
 
 CLEARY or CLERY. From the Gaelic Oleireach, a clerk, a 
 clergyman, a writer. A noted family of historians whose 
 estates were in the county of Donnegal, Ireland. 
 
 CLEAVER. English, one who cleaves ; a dweller on a cleave 
 or cliff. 
 
 CLEMENT. From the Latin Clemens, mild, meek, gentle. 
 
 CLEVELAND. Local. Derived from a place by that name 
 in Yorkshire, England; a corruption of Cliff-lane, and so 
 called from its being steep and almost impassable with cliffs 
 and rocks. 
 
 CLIFF, Local. A steep bank, a precipice ; a town in North- 
 amptonshire, England. 
 
 CLIFFORD, Local. The ford or way by the cliff. 
 
 5 
 
98 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 CLIFTON. Local A small village in England ; the town on 
 the cliff. 
 
 CLrCTG. (Danish.) EJinge^ a blade, a sword. 
 
 CLING-MAN. (Danish.) A swordsman, fencer, fighter. 
 
 CLINTON. (Dano-Norman.) Local. Klint, a promontory, 
 brow of a hill, cape ; and ton, a town. Colonel Charles 
 Clinton, the progenitor of the distinguished family of CHn- 
 ton, and his associate emigrants from Ireland, settled, in 1722, 
 in " Little Britain," Orange Comity, New York. 
 
 CLOSSON. (Dutch.) The son of Klaas, the abbreviation of 
 Nicholas among the Dutch. Klaas-son, the son of Nicholas. 
 So Santa Klaas for St. Nicholas. 
 
 CLOUGH. (Anglo-Saxon.) Local A small valley between 
 hills, a breach ; from the past of the Anglo-Saxon participle 
 cleqfian, to cleave, divide. 
 
 CLOWES. (Anglo-Saxon.) Local. A cUff or cleft in a hiU; 
 from Clough, as above. 
 
 CLUM. Local A place in Germany, the ancient residence of 
 the Knight of Clum, the fi:iend of John Huss. 
 
 CLUTE. lauii, Dutch, a lamp; "hij heeft kluiten," he has got 
 the chink, he is rich. 
 
 COATES. Local The side, the shore, coast, border. 
 
 COBERN. Local. A town in Germany; the high or united 
 hill. 
 
 COBB. Local. A harbor; as the Cobb of Lyme-Regis, 
 County Dorset, England. 
 
 COCHRAN. Local Cocrinn^ Gaehc, a point or promontory 
 in open sight ; from Coe, manifest, plain, and Www, a cape or 
 promontory. 
 
 COCKBURN. Local. The brook by the hillock ; from coch^ a 
 luUock, and &wm, a brook. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. ftOf 
 
 COE. The primitive word Co is an elevation, exalted. Ko\ in 
 the Coptic, is a rock; hoh^ Persic, a hill; Coey, Graehc, a 
 hero, literally, a dog. Lower says that Coe is a Norfolk 
 provinciahsm to designate " an odd old fellow." 
 
 COOEY. Gaelic, Cu-maighe, figuratively, the hero or swift 
 warrior ; literally, the " dog of the plain.^^ 
 
 COEYMAN. (Dutch.) The cow-man; from hoey, a cow. 
 Kooimarij a man who decoys ducks. 
 
 COFFIN. Local. Cyffin, in Welsh, signifies a boundary, a 
 limit, a hiU; cefyn^ the ridge of a hill. This name has its 
 origin from Co, high, exalted, and fin, a head, extremity, 
 boundary. This family settled early in this country, on the 
 sland of Nantucket, near Cape Cod, where the name is 
 very common. The following humorous lines, descriptive of 
 the characteristics of the different famiUes residing on that 
 island, were written by one Daniel AUen, a native of the 
 island, more than a hundred years ago : 
 
 " The hasty Coffin, fi-actious, loud, 
 The silent Gardiner, plotting, 
 The Mitchells good, the Barkers proud, 
 The Macys eat the pudding ; 
 The Rays and Evssels coopers are, 
 The knowing Folger lazy, 
 A learned Coleman very rare, 
 And scarce an honest Hiossey." 
 
 COaaESHALL or COGSWELL. Local. Derived from the 
 town of Coggeshall, in Essex, England ; Cog, a small boat, 
 and shoal, a place where the water is shallow, and where 
 fish abound, a fishhig-place. 
 
 COHEN. (Heb.) A bishop or priest. 
 
 COIT. Local. A wood. 
 
 COLBERN. Colbrin, Welsh, the hazel-hiU; fi-om Coll (plural), 
 hazel, and hryn, a hill. 
 
100 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 COLBURN. (Oor. Br.) The dry well, or the well on the 
 neck of the hill. 
 
 COLBY. Local. Kolbye, a town in Denmark ; Col^ with or 
 near, the " &?/" o^" town. 
 
 COLE. An abbreviation of Nicholas, common among the 
 Dutch. 
 
 COLEMAN and COLMAN. A dealer or workman in coals. 
 Gaelic, Colman, a dove. 
 
 COLLAMORE. Local. From Ooulommier, a town in France. 
 This family originally came into England with William the 
 Conqueror. Colmar, Graelic, a brave man; CoJlmor, the 
 great wood. 
 
 COLLEY. Local. CoU-lle, in Welsh, denotes the place of 
 hazel; Cil-lle, the place on the back or neck of the hill; 
 from cil or coZ, the back or neck. CoiUe, Gaehc, a wood. 
 
 COLLIER. A name of occupation, a dealer or workman in 
 coals. 
 
 COLLINE. (Fr.) Local. A hill that rises by degrees. 
 
 COLLINS. (Gaelic.) From Cuihin, darhng, a term of en- 
 dearment applied to young animals, as Catulus, in Latin. 
 In the Welsh, Collen signifies hazel — a hazel-grove. 
 
 COLQUITE or COLQUOIT. Local. From col, the neck, and 
 coit, a wood. Col, in the Cor. Br., signifies the neck of a 
 hill, a promontory. 
 
 COLQUHOUN and CALHOUN. According to tradition, the 
 progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, 
 King of Ireland, who came to Scotiand in the reign of 
 Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, 
 to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into 
 Colquhoun. I am incHned to think the name is from the 
 Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious 
 in battle; fi-om Colg, and chuoin, the genitive of Cu, a 
 hound, a war-dog. 
 
 COLSON. The son of Col or Cole (which see). 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 101 
 
 COLT. A name given to one of a sportive disposition, or may 
 be taken from the sign of an inn. " Will at the Colt." 
 
 COLTON. Local. The town at the neck of the hill, from Co\ 
 the neck of a hill, and ton^ a town. Caltuinn^ Gaelic, 
 hazel. 
 
 COLVER. From the Dutch Jcoher, one who plays at Jcolf, a 
 favorite game in Holland. 
 
 COLVILLE. (French.) Local. From Col, a neck, strait, or 
 defile ; a pass between hills ; and ville, a town, the place in 
 the gorge or pass of the dell. 
 
 COLYEN and COLVIN. Local. From Colvend, a tovm in 
 Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, the ancient name of which was 
 Culwen, derived from Joannes De Culwen. 
 
 COL WELL or COLVILLE. The village on- the neck of the 
 hill, or near the hazel-wood ; Col, Gaelic, hazel ; and viUe, a 
 village, changed into well. ColdweU denotes the quality of 
 the water, a cold spring ; Colwold, the hazel- wild, or bushy 
 place of hazels. 
 
 COLY. Local. A little river in Devonshire, England. 
 
 COMEYN, or DE COMINGES, as it was anciently written ; 
 from Cominges, a town in France, anciently called Lug- 
 dunum Convenarum, situated on a hill near the banks of the 
 river Garonne, so named because people of diverse countries 
 assembled together to dwell in that place. Comeyne or 
 De Cominges went into England with William the Con- 
 queror. 
 
 CONANT, (Welsh and Gaelic.) Conan, a river. Counant, 
 a cataract in North Wales, from cau, a chasm, a deep hol- 
 low, shut up, and nant, a rivulet. 
 
 COMSTOCK. (Dutch.) From horn, a dock or harbor, and 
 stock, a stick or timber — the wharf or dock of timber. 
 
 CONK (Gaelic.) Strength, according to O'Donovan; it is 
 also the genitive plural of cu, a dog. Cond, signifies pro- 
 tecting, keeping. 
 
102 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTION ART 
 
 CONDE. May be a local name from the town of Conde, in the 
 French part of Hainault, which gave its name to a branch 
 of the royal family of France, the Princes of Conde. Kun- 
 dig or Jcundy, Dutch, signifies knowing, skillful, expert. 
 
 CONDER. Conders were persons stationed upon high places 
 near the sea coast to watch the shoals for fishermen, at the 
 time of herring-fishing. The name is derived from the 
 French conduire, to conduct. 
 
 CONE. (Heb.) A bishop or priest; Jcom, in the Dutch, sig- 
 nifies bold, daring, intrepid. 
 
 CONKLIN. (Dutch.) From Con, bold, wise, knowing, and 
 klein, Uttle or son, *. e., the son of Con. Konkelen, in Dutch, 
 signifies to plot, intrigue, conspire. Ceangleann, Gaelic, the 
 head of the valley. 
 
 CONNELL or CONNELLY. (Celtic and aaelic.) From 
 conalj love, friendship. 
 
 CONNOR or CONOR. (Celtic and Gaelic.) From Oonchohar, 
 the chief of men, powerful among men, a leader. O'Dono- 
 van derives this name from Conn, strength, and cobhair^ aid, 
 assistance. Con-na-fir^ the head of men, 
 
 CONRAD. (Ger.) Able counsel 
 
 CONRY. Local. "Gauir ConrigTi,'^ a high mountain near 
 Tralee, County of Kerry, Ireland. 
 
 CONSTABLE. A name of office. Roger de Lacey first 
 assumed this surname from being constable of Chester, in 
 England. A commander of the cavalry. 
 
 CONTIN. Local. From Contin, 9, parish in Rosshire, Scot- 
 land, derived from the Gaelic Con-tuinn, signifying the 
 meeting of the waters, alluding to the forking of the river 
 Rasay, which here form an island. 
 
 CONWAY. (Br. and Celtic.) Local. From a river of that 
 name in Wales, which issues from a lake in Merionethshire, 
 and flows through a fertile vale of the same name, and 
 enters the Irish Sea, at Aberconway; from Con^ head, 
 chief, and wy^ a river. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 108 
 
 CONYERS. Local. From CoignierSj in Normandy, their 
 ancient residence; came into England with William the 
 Conqueror. 
 
 COOEY or COE. (Gaelic.) A hero; literaUy, the dog of the 
 glain, from cw, a dog, and magh, a plain. The names of 
 various animals were given anciently to heroes, to denote 
 power, swiftness, or courage. 
 
 COOKE. One whose occupation it is to prepare victuals for 
 the table. 
 
 COOKSOK The son of Cook; originally from Settle, in 
 Yorkshire. 
 
 COOMBS. (Cor. Br.) A place between hills, a valley ; in the 
 Welsh, Cwm. 
 
 COONS- Dutch, Koen, bold, daring, audacious. Coon, Saxon, 
 bold, 
 
 COOPER. A name of occupation or trade. The name is also 
 local, from Cupar ^ a town in Fifeshire, Scotland, which is 
 derived from Cu-pyre^ the inclosed fire, or Co, high, a beacon 
 fire, or signal on the coast for ships. Pyre, a beacon fire, on 
 a high place, is the origin of the word pier, a wharf or land- 
 ing-place for ships; Danish, pyr and fyr^ a lantern; irvp, 
 Greek, a fire ; the whole landing-place in time was called 
 the pier. 
 
 COORTAK (Anglo-Saxon.) A band of soldiers. 
 
 COOTE. Local. Welsh, Coed, a wood; Cor. Br., Coit and 
 Cut. Coot-hill or Coit-hayle, the wood on the river. 
 
 COPP. (Sax.) Local A hilL 
 
 CORBET or CORBIE. (Fr.) A raven. 
 
 CORBIN. Local The name of a place in Glencreran, Scot- 
 land, signifying a steep hill, from the Gaelic Cor-beann or 
 Cor-beinn. 
 
 CORDLAN. Welsh, Corddlan, a hamlet, same as Cortlan. 
 
104 ETYMOLOGICAL DIOTIONARY 
 
 CORKIN. (GaeHc.) Local. The head of the dale; from 
 coire^ a dell, a circular hollow, and ceann^ the head. 
 
 CORMAC. (Celtic.) The son of the chariot ; first given, it ia 
 said, to a prince of Leinster who happened to be born in a 
 chariot, while his mother was going on a journey. 
 
 CORNELIUS. From the Latin cornu^ a horn (Greek, /cepaf) ; 
 and ^Aiof, the sun — ^the horn of the sun. 
 
 CORNELL. In the British it signifies a comer, a place shaped 
 hke a horn (from the Latin cornv). CorneiUe^. in the 
 French, signifies a crow. 
 
 CORNING. Local Welsh, cornyn, a small horn, or the 
 place of winding or turning. 
 
 CORNISH. Local. Belonging to Cornwall, indicating the 
 place from which the family came. 
 
 CORNWALLIS. Local. A native of Cornwall ; Cornwall is 
 derived from cornu, a horn; Welsh, corn and Galivys, the 
 Gauls, the ancient people of France ; a term indicating the 
 circular form of the coast. O'Connor derives Cornwall from 
 carna, altars, and Gael, i. e., the altars of the Gael. 
 
 CORRIE. Local. A town in' the Isle of Arran, Scotland. 
 Coire, Gaelic, a circular hollow surrounded with hills; a 
 mountain delL 
 
 COR WIN. (Cor. Br.) Local. The white castle ; from caeTj a 
 castle, and win or gwin, white ; or the white choir. 
 
 CORSE. (Welsh.) A fen, a wet meadow. Carse, Armorio 
 and Gaehc, a level tract of fertile land. 
 
 CORY. Carrey, local, a town in Scotland. The word conveys 
 the idea of roundness, bending, turning, the winding of a 
 stream. Gaelic, car; Welsh, cor, a circle, a dell, a glen; 
 caire, a circular hollow surrounded by hills. 
 
 COSTAR or COSTER. (Dutch.) From Foster, a sexton ; also, 
 a cunning, sly fellow. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 105 
 
 COTTRELL. A cottage, or a cottager. 
 
 COTESWORTH. Local The estate or place in the wood ; 
 from coit, a wood, and worth, a place or possession. If from 
 the French cote, the sea-shore, the estate on the shore. 
 
 COTTON. This name afifords several derivations. Local, 
 Welsh, Coedton, the woody hill ; Coiton, Cuiton, Cor. Br. ; 
 Qwtton, Welsh, the cottage hiU. Cotden, Saxon, the cot in 
 the valley ; Qwthen, Welsh, the ancient cottage or dwelling. 
 
 COURT. A place inclosed, protected, cut off; that which ex- 
 cludes access. Saxon, curt; Arm., court; Pr., cour ; G-aelic, 
 cuairt, a circle ; Welsh, cor and cwr, a circle. 
 
 OOURTLANDT. (Dutch.) Local. From Tcort, short, Httle, 
 and land or landt, from the short or narrow land, properly 
 Van Courtlandt. 
 
 COURTEN'AY. Local. A town of France which stands on a 
 hill on the banks of the small river Clairy, about fifty-six 
 miles south of Paris. This small town has imparted its 
 name to several princes, whose actions are celebrated in 
 French history. The name signifies " The court near the 
 water." 
 
 COVERT. Local. A sheltered place. 
 
 COVENTRY. Local. A city in Warwickshire, England; 
 from Coven, a convent, and tre, British, a town — the town 
 of the convent ; Welsh, ^^ Cy faint-trey 
 
 COWAN. (G-aelic.) Gohhainn, a smith; Gowan, a Scottish 
 word for a wild flower. 
 
 COWDRAY or COULDRAY. Local. The grove of hazels. 
 
 COWLEY. Local. The cow-pasture. 
 
 COX. Coch, Httle — a term of endearment, a diminutive, the 
 same as ot or Mn, used as a termination, as Wilhox, httle 
 Will ; Simcox, httle Sim, etc. The word is also often Used 
 to denote a leader or chief man. Addison says: "Sir 
 Andrew is the code of the club." 
 
106 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 COWLES. A monk's hood or habit. 
 
 CRADOCK. A corruption of the old British name Garadoc, 
 which is said to signify " dearly beloved." 
 
 CRAIG-. (Cor. Br. and Welsh.) A rock, a crag, a stone; 
 Gaelic, carraig, a rock, creag, a rock. 
 
 CRAM. (G-erman.) From kram, a retail shop. 
 
 CRAMER. (Q-erman.) From kramer, a retail dealer. 
 
 CRANDELL.- (Welsh.) Local. From kren, round, or cran, 
 wood ; and dal, or dol, a vale — the round or w"oody vale. 
 Orandal, in Irish, signifies the woody vale. 
 
 CRANSTON or CRANSTOUK Local. The town of (7mw5, 
 a Danish leader who invaded England ; a parish in Edin- 
 burgshire, Scotland. 
 
 CRAPO. (Fr.) From crapaiid, a toad, an ugly man. 
 
 CRAVEN. One who begs for his life when conquered ; fi-om 
 crave, a word used formerly by one vanquished in trial by 
 battle, and yielding to the conqueror. Craven is also the 
 name of a place in Yorkshire, England, very stony, derived 
 from craig, Cor. Br., a rock, and pen, a head. 
 
 CRAWFORD, Local. First assumed by the proprietor of the 
 lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. 
 The extreme ancestor of the ancient family of Crawford, in 
 Scotland, was Reginald, youngest son of Alan, the fourth 
 Earl of Richmond. He seems to have accompanied David 
 the First to the north, and to have received extensive grants 
 of land in Strath Cluyd, or Clydesdale, whence his imme- 
 diate descendants adopted the name of Crawford, then form- 
 ing one of the largest baronies in Scotland, and signifying in 
 G-aeUc ^^ The pass of blood," from cru, bloody, anad ford, a pass 
 or way, as commemorative, probably, of some sanguinary 
 conflict between the Aborigines and the Roman invaders. 
 'The name has been derived by others from crodh 8.nd port, 
 pronounced cro-fort, signifying " a sheltering place for 
 cattle." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 
 
 107 
 
 CRAYFORD. Local A town on the river Cray, in Kent^ 
 England. The ford over the Cray. 
 
 CRESSY. Local, From a town in France by that name. 
 
 CRICHTOlsr. In the Gaelic, criochton signifies a boundary hill, 
 end, limit, landmark ; creachton, the hill or castle of plunder, 
 or the ruined, pillaged place. 
 
 CRIGrAN". The same as Crogan ; creagan^ Q-aelic, a little rock. 
 
 CRITTENDEN. (Cor. Br. and WelsL) Local. The cot on 
 the lower hill ; from cru^ a cot; tone, lower, and dun or din, 
 a hill ; or it may be the chalk hUl, from hrit, Saxon, chalk. 
 
 CROCKER. A maker of coarse pottery. The word crock sig- 
 nified a large barrel-shaped jar. Chaucer says : " Spurn not 
 as doth a croche against a waL" 
 
 CROCKET. Kroget, Danish, crooked, bowed, bent. 
 
 CROFT. Local. A town of the same name in England ; a 
 ^ small field near a dwelling. 
 
 CROGtAN. (G-aeUc.) A lean httle person ; Hterally, a shell, a 
 pitcher, fi-om hrogan; Crogan, a castle in North Wales. 
 It may signify a little rock. 
 
 CROMWELL. (Br.) Local. From crom, crooked, and hal or 
 hayle, low, level land bordering on the river or sea. Low- 
 lands on the bend of a river. 
 
 CRONAN. (Gaelic.) A mournful tune or murmuring sound. 
 
 CRONKHITE. (Ger.) From Jerankheit, sickly, rickety. 
 
 CROOKSHANKS. A name descriptive of bodily peculiarity. 
 
 CROSIER. A bishop's stafij with a cross on the top in the 
 form of a crutch or T. A sign over a shop. 
 
 CROSS. Local. A place where a cross was erected, or where 
 two ways, roads, or streets intersected each other. 
 
 CROSSWELL. Local. A cross erected near a well. John at 
 the Cross-well became John Crosswell. 
 
108 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 OROTHERS and CROWTHER. (Welsh.) A harper, a musi- 
 cian ; from crwthj a harp, a Scandinavian fiddle. Gaelic, cruit 
 
 CROUCH. A cross ; from the Latin crux. 
 
 CROUNSE. Dutch, kruin, the top or crown ; Jcrans^ a wreath 
 or garland ; Krantz, local, a town in the Duchy of Bremen 
 from which the family may have come. 
 
 CROWELL. Local. From a town in England by that name. 
 
 CUDNEY. (Br.) From Cud or Coit, a wood, and ey, water 
 — the wood near the water. ■ 
 
 CITDWORTH. From Cud or Coit, a wood, and worth, a 
 place, a dwelling — the farm or dwelling in the wood. 
 
 CULLEN. Local. From the town of Cullen, in Banffshire, 
 
 , Scotland. The derivation is uncertain. It may be from 
 
 Cuillean, holly, a place of holly-trees; or CulUn, the place 
 
 at the neck -of the lake, from Cul, a neck, the back of any 
 
 thing, and ?m, a lake, a pond. 
 
 CULBERT. (aaelic.) From Culbheart, craft, cunning. 
 
 CULBERTSON. The son of Culbert. 
 
 CULVER. A pigeon, a dove. 
 
 CUMMINGrS. Local. A corruption of Comeyn, anciently 
 ^v^itten De Comminges ; from Comminges, a place in 
 France, whence they came. (See Comeyn.) 
 
 CUNNINGHAM. Local. A district in Ayrsliire, Scotland. 
 The name signifies the dwelling of the chief or king, from 
 the Saxon, cyning, Dutch, honing, a leader or chief, and ham, 
 a house or town. 
 
 CUPAR. Local. A borough in Fifeshire, Scotland ; the in- 
 closed or fortified hiU, from Cu, GaeUc, inclosed, and har, a 
 top, a hill. Cu, a hero, a chief — the chiefs hill or fortress. 
 
 CURTIS. An abbreviation of courteous. It may be from 
 Curthose, a name given for wearing short hose, as the name 
 Curtmantle was given to Henry the Second of England,- 
 fi'om his introducing the fashion of wearing shorter mantles 
 than had been previously used. 
 
mmmmmmmm 
 
 ♦ OF FAMILY NAMES. 109 
 
 CUEE. (Dutch.) From Keur, an elector ; as Keursaxen, the 
 elector of Saxony. 
 
 CUSICK. Kessoch, a town near the Moray Frith, Scotland ; 
 casach, Gaelic, an ascent going up by steps. Casag^ in 
 GaeHc, signifies a long coat or cassock^ formerly a cloak or 
 gown worn by the clergy over the other garments. The 
 name may be local, from the place, or from the pecuhar dress 
 worn by the individual. 
 
 CUTTEEr. A boat ; a name probably taken from the sign of 
 an inn, as " John at the Cutter." Coutier, French, a weaver 
 or seller of ticking. 
 
 CUTTEN'G-. (Saxon.) CutJi, well known, famous; and ing, 
 equivalent to the Latin ens, expressing the existence of the 
 quahty or action of the word to which it is affixed; or 
 Cuthing, the son of Cuth. Ing, inge, or inger, in most of 
 the Teutonic languages, denotes offspring, a descendant. 
 
 CUYLER. (G-er.) From Keiler, a wild boar ; iBguratively, a 
 powerful man. 
 
 CYNOAD or KINCADD. (Welsh.) The front of the battle. 
 In Gaelic, Oeanncath, the chief or commander of the battle ; 
 from Ceann, the head, commander, or chief, and cath or cad, 
 battle, war. 
 
 DABNEY. (Nor. Fr.) Local. A corruption of D' Aubigne ; 
 
 from Aubigne, a town in the department of Cher, France. 
 DAG. (Dutch.) The same as Day — the time between the 
 
 rising and setting sun; a dagger, a hand-gun, a pistol; a 
 
 sign over a shop or inn. 
 DAGGETT. Local. Probably a corruption of Dowgate, a 
 
 place in London, so called from dow, British, water — the 
 
 water-gate. 
 DALE, DELL, or DEAL. Nearly synonymous ; a bushy vale; 
 
 low ground, with ground ascending around it. 
 
110 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTION JTRY 
 
 DALLAS. (Welsh.) Erom Beallus, knowing, skillful 
 
 DALRY. (G-aelic.) Local. A parish in Ayrshire, Scotland; 
 derived from Bal, a valley, and righ, a king — the valley of 
 the king. 
 
 DALRYMPLE. Local Taken from the lands and barony of 
 Dalrymple, in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is said to be a 
 corruption of the Gaehc Dale-roi-milleadh, which signifies 
 " the valley of the slaughter of kings," and the place was so 
 called from a battle fought there before the Cliristian era, in 
 which two kings, Fergus and Coilus, were slain. According 
 to others, it signifies " the valley of the crooked pool" I 
 think the name signifies " the valley on the margin of the 
 , pool," from the Welsh Dol, a valley ; rJiim, the edge or bor- 
 der, and pwllj a pool It is very nearly the same in Gaelic ; 
 Dail, a vale, froimh, by, along the whole extent, and poU, a 
 smaU lake. 
 
 DALTON. Local Lerived from the town of Dalton, in Lan- 
 cashire, England ; a corruption of Bale-ton, the town in the 
 dale; or D' Alton, abbreviated to Dalton, that is from the 
 high or rocky hill 
 
 DALZIEL or DAL YELL. (Gaelic.) Local. Taken from the 
 parish of Dalziel, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The parish is 
 said to have received its name from the old parish church 
 which stood near the Clyde, which was probably so called 
 from Dal, a dale or valley, and ciUe, a church — the church 
 in the valley. There is the following tradition, told by 
 Nisbet, of the origin of the name : 
 
 "A favorite of Kenneth 11. having been hanged by the Picts, 
 and the King being much concerned that the body should 
 be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large 
 reward to him who should rescue it. This being an enter- 
 prise of great danger, no one was found bold enough to 
 undertake it, till a gentleman came to the king, and said, 
 Dalziel, that is, * I dare.' In memory of this circumstance 
 his descendants assumed for their arms a man hanging on a 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. Ill 
 
 gallows, and the motto ' I dare.' " The Dakiels afterward 
 became Earls of Oarnwath. Unfortunately, there is no such 
 word as Ddlziel in either the G-aelic or Celtic, which signifies 
 " I dare." The name is local, as given above. 
 
 DAN. (Gaelic.) Bold, daring, intrepid. 
 
 DANA. (Celtic.) From Dana, bold, daring. The chosen 
 successor of a king, among the Celts, was so called ; a poet. 
 
 DANFORTH or DANFORD. Local. A place in England; 
 the way or ford of the Danes. 
 
 DANGAN. (Celtic.) Strong, secure. 
 
 DANGER. A corruption of VAngier, that is, from Angier, a 
 town in France. Lower says, a person named Danger kept 
 a public house near Cambridge on the Huntingdon road. 
 On being compelled to quit his house, he built an inn on the 
 opposite side of the road, and placed beneath his sign '•''Ban- 
 ger from over the way," whereupon his successor in the old 
 hotel, inscribed over }m door, " There is no Danger here 
 now." 
 
 DANGERFIELD. (Fr.) A corruption of UAngerviUe, that 
 is, from Angerville, a town in the province of Orleans, 
 France. 
 
 DANIELS. (Heb.) Daniel signifies, the judgment of Q^d, the 
 s added, being a contraction of son — the son of Daniel. 
 
 DANSEREATJ. (French.) A dancer. 
 
 DANVERS. (Fr.) Anciently written UAnvers or De An- 
 verso, that is, from the town of Anvers, in France. 
 
 DARBY. Local. A corruption of Derby, a shire of England, 
 so called from doire, a forest, a woody, hilly country abound- 
 ing in deer ; or it may be Deerhy, the town of deer. 
 
 DARLEY. (Fr.) A corruption of UErle, from the town of 
 Erie in France. 
 
 DARLING. A name of endearment, a darling ; ing, denoting 
 chUd, progeny, offspring. 
 
wmmmmmmmmimmfmm 
 
 112 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 DAEEELL. (Nor. Fr.) A corruption of De OrreU, so called 
 from a castle and family of Normandy. 
 
 DAET. Local. A river in England. Duart, a town in Scot- 
 land. 
 
 DAE WEST. (Welsh.) From JDertoin, an oak ; local, Derwent, 
 a river in England. 
 
 D'AUBIGNE. (Fr.) From Auhigne, a tovrn in France, in 
 the department of Cher. 
 
 DAUBY. A corruption of De Auhy or DAuby, that is, from 
 Auhy, a town in the Netherlands, near the borders of 
 France. 
 
 r)AUCHY or DAUCHE. A Dutchman; an old form of the 
 word Dutch or Dutcher, a name given in France to an emi- 
 grant from Holland. 
 
 DAUTEY. (Fr.) A corruption of De Autry or DAutry, that 
 is, from Autry, a town in Champagne, France. 
 
 DAYENPOET. Local. Derived from the town of Daven- 
 port, in Cheshire, England, so called from the river Dan or 
 Daven (which name signifies a river), and port, a haven or 
 harbor. 
 
 DAVIDS. (Heb.) Beloved, dear ; the s added, being a con- 
 traction of son. 
 
 DAVIS. A corruption of Davids ; the son of David. 
 
 DAW. (Welsh.) A son-in-law. The name of a species of 
 birds. 
 
 DAWES. Local. DAwes, from the river, fountain, or water. 
 
 DAWNAY. (Nor. Fr.) De Aunay or DAunay, from the 
 town of Aunay, in Normandy. 
 
 DAWSON. Said to be a corruption of the Nor. Fr. D Ossone, 
 from the town of Ossone, in Normandy. Camden, how- 
 ever, thinks it a contraction of Davison, the son of David, 
 which is the more probable derivation. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES* 113 
 
 DAY. The Celtic and Gaelic word deag or dagh signifies good, 
 excellent, the same as Z>a, in Welsh. Camden supposes the 
 name to be a contraction of David. Dai^ Du^ in the Welsh, 
 signifies dark, in allusion to the complexion or color of the 
 hair. Dhu^ in Graelic, the same, dark color, black. Deah^ 
 Anglo-Saxon, dark, obscure. 
 
 DEACON. A servant or minister in the church. 
 
 DEALTRY and DATJTRY. A corruption of the Latin De Alia 
 Ripa, from the high bank or shore; Radulphus De Alta 
 Eipa, Archdean of Colchester died at the siege of Acre in 
 the Holy Land, during the Crusades. 
 
 DEARBORN. (Saxon.) Bear-boren, noble, well-bom. 
 
 DEARDEN. Local. A corruption of Du-er-den, as stOl pro- 
 nounced by the natives of Lancashire, England, where 
 branches of the family reside, and which signifies, "A 
 thicket of wood in a valley." ^'Tfoir-den^ 
 
 DECKIER. From the German Decker, the quantity of ten; 
 probably a name given to the tenth child. It may be one 
 who decks or covers ships or vessels. 
 
 DE GRAFF. (Dutch.) Be Graaf, the count or earl, the great 
 man ; de, the, and graaff, count. 
 
 DE GROOT. (Dutch.) The great, tall, large man; or if local, 
 fi:om the town of Groot, in Holland, which signifies the 
 great or large place ; from de, the, and groot, great. 
 
 DELAFIEDD. (Fr.) De La FieU—ivom the field. 
 
 DELAFLOTE. (Fr.) '' From the fleet" or ships. It is said, 
 that not long since, in London, a certain Mr. Delafloat had 
 his name undergo a singular mutation, in consequence of the 
 indistinct manner in which his name was announced. The 
 porter understood the name to be Helafioie, and so pro- 
 claimed it to the groom of the chambers, and the luckless 
 visitor — a quiet, shy, reserved young man — ^was actually 
 ushered into the midst of a crowded drawing-room, by the 
 ominous appellation of Mr. Helafioat ! 
 
ill 
 
 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 DELAMATER. (Fr.) "Ze maitre;' the master, overseer, 
 landlord, preceptor. 
 
 DELANCY. (Fr.) Local. De La-ncy, from the town of 
 Lancy, in the province of Burgundy, France. 
 
 DELANY. Anciently O'Dulainy, 
 
 DELAUNEY, (Fr.) Local De Launey, from Launey, a 
 town in the province of Champagne, France. 
 
 DELMAE. (Spanish.) Z>eZ ifare, " of the sea." 
 
 DE LORME. (Fr.) From the town of Lorme, in the prov- 
 ince of Livernoi, France. 
 
 DELVEK (Fr.) De Elven or UElven, from Elven, a town 
 in Brittany, France. 
 
 DE MEER. (Dutch.) From the sea ; the same as DeTmar. 
 
 DEMPSTER. Anciently an arbitrator or ofl&cer of justice in 
 the Scottish courts. 
 
 DENIO. Local Denia^ a city of Valencia, in Spain; De 
 Noyon^ from Noyon, a town of France. 
 
 DENMAN. A denizen; in Welsh, Dinman, the place of a 
 fortress, from din, a fortress, and man, a place. Denma/rij 
 Saxon, the man of the valley ; a dweller in the vale. 
 
 DENNIS or DENIS. A corruption of the areek name 
 Dionysius, which is derived from 6log^ divine, and vdvg, 
 mind. Dinas^ Welsh, a fort, a stronghold. 
 
 DENTON or DINTOK (Sax.) Local A town in the county 
 of Buckingham, England. From den, a valley, and ton, a 
 town. 
 
 DERBY. Local From Derhy, in England. Deer-hy, the 
 town or county abounding in deer. (See Darby.) 
 
 Di)RINQ-. (Saxon.) From Dearran or Darran, to dare, bold, 
 daring ; a name given to an old Saxon chieftain. 
 
 DERMOD, DIAEMAID, DERMOND, and DERMOT. (Celtic 
 and G-aelic.) Signify a free man, one having amiable qual- 
 ities. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. tH 
 
 DESHOK (Fr.) Local. Dijon, a town in France. 
 
 DEVENISH. Local. Signifies deep water. This surname 
 was given to an ancestor of the family who was early settled 
 at the confluence of the rivers Isis and Thames, near Oxford, 
 England. Dwfn, Welsh, deep; uisge, Gaelic, water. 
 
 DEYENPECK. (Dutch.) Local. From Biejpen, deep, and 
 becJc, a brook — the deep brook. 
 
 DEYEREUX. (Fr.) UEvereux, from Evereux, a town in 
 Normandy. 
 
 DEYILLE. (French.) De Ville, from the village or town. 
 Some write this name Devil/ 
 
 DEVIN^E or DEVLN". (Fr.) A soothsayer, a cunning man. 
 
 DEVLIN. Local. The Norman spelling of Dubhn. In the 
 great charter of King John, Henry, Archbishop of Dublin, is 
 written Henri de Diveline. 
 
 DEWEES. (Dutch.) De, the, and wees, orphan — the orphan. 
 
 DEWEY. Dewi, in the Welsh, is a contraction or rather a 
 corruption of David. 
 
 DEWSBURY. Local. A town on the river Calder, England. 
 
 DE WILDE. Local. Wildau, called by the Germans Die 
 Wilde, is a town of Poland, situated near the confluence of 
 the rivers Wilia and Wiln, from whence its name is derived. 
 Wild, a wilderness. 
 
 DEXTER. A contraction of De Exeter, from the city of 
 Exeter, in Devonshire, England ; anciently written Excester, 
 from Ex^, the name of the river on which it is situated, and 
 cester, a camp or town, for the derivation of *which see 
 Cheste7\ 
 
 DIBDIN. (Welsh.) Local. From Dib, a slope, sloping 
 ground, and din, a fortified hill — the fortress on the slope of 
 the hill. 
 
 DIBIN. (Welsh.) Local. A clough, a cleft in a hill ; from 
 
116 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 DICK. The familiar abbreviation of Richard. It may come 
 from the Dutch Dyck^ a bank or dike, a bulwark thrown up 
 in the Low Countries against the sea or rivers to prevent in- 
 undation. 
 
 DICKENS. DicMngs, the son of Dick or Richard. 
 
 DICKSOK The son of Dick or Richard. 
 
 DIE. Local. A town in the province of Dauphiny, France. 
 
 DIEFENDORF. (Qer.) Local. Derived from a smaU town 
 of that name in Germany, and so called from Die/en, thiev- 
 ing, and dorf, a village — the thieving village. 
 
 DIGBY. Local. From Digby, a town in the county of Lin- 
 coln, England, so named from the Danish Dige, a dike, ditch, 
 or trench, and by, a town — ^the town by the dike. 
 
 DILLINGHAM. (Saxon.) Local A place in the county of 
 Cambridge, England ; the town of the market ; the buying 
 and selling place ; of paying out or telling money. Saxon, 
 Daelan, to divide, separate, throw ofij pay over ; and ham, a 
 village. 
 
 DILLON. From the Welsh DiUyn, handsome, gallant, brave, 
 fine. 
 
 DIMOCK or DYMOCK. (Welsh.) A corruption of Dm 
 Madoc, that is, David, the son of Madoc, IHa being the 
 diminutive of David among the Welsh. Madoc is derived 
 from mad, good, with the termination oc aflSxed, which has 
 the same effect as our English termination " y." 
 
 DINSMOR. Local. Dinas, in Welsh and Cor. Br., is a fort, 
 city, or walled town, and mawr, great, large. 
 
 DISNEY. (Nor. Fr.) Anciently written Ulsney or DEisney, 
 and originally De Isigney, from Isigney, a small village near 
 Bayeaux, in Normandy. 
 
 DIX. The same as Dicks or Dickens, the s being a contraction 
 of son — ^the son of Dick or Richard. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 117 
 
 DIXIE. (Sax.) . Local. From the Saxon Die, a ditch, dike, 
 or fosse, and ea, water, or ig, an island. 
 
 DOBBIN, DOBBS, and DOBSOK The son of Dob or 
 
 Eobert. 
 
 DOBNEY. A corruption of D'Aubigne (which see). 
 
 DODD or DOD. (Ger.) A god-father. Dod, in Gaehc, sig- 
 nifies "the pet;" peevishness, one who is peevish. 
 
 DODSOK The son of Dod. 
 
 DODGrE. To evade by a sudden shift of place; one who 
 evades, or quibbles. 
 
 DOLBEER. Local. DoTbyr, Welsh, the short vale; from dol, 
 a dell, a vaUey, and hyr, short. Ddlbyr, local, a town in 
 North Jutland, from which the family may have originated. 
 
 D'OILY. Local. From Oily, a place in France ; the same as 
 Doyle. 
 
 DOLE. Local A town in France; DowyU, Welsh, shady, 
 dark. 
 
 DONALD, DONELL, or DONELLY. (GaeUc and Celtic.) A 
 great man, a proud chieftain, from DomhnuV,. These names 
 appear to have their root in the GaeUc noun Dion, a defense, 
 shelter, protection. The verb Dion signifies to defend, to 
 protect. Dun has nearly the same meaning, a heap, a hill, 
 or mount, a fortified house or hill, a castle. Surnames com- 
 pounded of Dion, Don, or Dun, were figuratively used to 
 denote persons of courage, and who were not easUy subdued. 
 
 DONKIN. The same as Duncan (which see). 
 
 DONNACH. The same as Duncan. Diongnach, Gaelic, strong, 
 
 fortified. 
 DONOVAN. (Celtic.) The brown-haired chief; from Don- 
 
 dubhan. 
 DORAN. The son of Dorr. Doran, Gaelic, an otter ; Doran, 
 
 grief, depression of spirits. Dorran, Gaelic, vexation, anger. 
 
118 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTEONARY 
 
 DORLAN, or DOELAND, (Dutch.) Local From Dor, ster- 
 ile, barren, and land, unproductive soil. 
 
 DORN. (Dutch.) A thorn-tree. 
 
 DORR, This name may have several significations, according 
 to the language in which it was first given. Dorr, Gaelic, 
 difficult, easily vexed. Dur, GaeUc, perseveriag, earnest, 
 obstinate. Dorr, Icelandic, a spear. Dor, Cor. British, the 
 earth; also dorre, to break. Doir, local, a woody place. 
 Dar, Welsh, oak. 
 
 DORSET. Local. A county in England. Dorsette, Anglo- 
 Saxon, mountaineers. 
 
 DOTY. Welsh, Diotty, an ale-house. 
 
 DOUAY. (Fr.) Local. Derived fi:om the town of Douay, in 
 the province of Artois, France. 
 
 DOUGALL. (Gaelic and Celtic.) The black stranger, firom 
 Dhu, black, and gaU, a stranger, a term used by the Celts to 
 denote a Lowlander, a foreigner, not one of them. The 
 Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians were called by the Irish 
 Fionne Gael, or fair-haired, and the Germans " Dubh Gail," 
 or the black strangers. 
 
 DOUGHTY. Strong, brave, noble. 
 
 DOUGLASS. (Gaehc.) Local. The dark green river, from 
 Dhu, black, dark, and glass, green. A river of Scotland 
 which flows into the Clyde. A town of Lanarkshire. The 
 tradition of the origin of the name is this : in the year 770, 
 a man of rank and figure came seasonably to the assistance 
 of Solvatius, King of Scotland, whose territory was then 
 invaded by Donald Bain, of the Western Isles. The victory 
 being obtained, the King was desirous to see the man who 
 had done him so signal a service, and he was pointed out to 
 him in these words, in the Gaelic, " Sholto Dhuglass," " be- 
 hold that dark, or swarthy, man." 
 
 DOUGREY. (Gaelic.) Dugharra, stubborn. 
 
OF FAMILY VAMES. Hft 
 
 DOWNS. A term applied, in England, to a tract of poor, 
 
 sandy, hilly land, used only for pasturing sheep. 
 
 DO WELL. (Welsh and aaelic.) Dowyll, Welsh, shady, dark. 
 Ynis Dowyll, the shady island. 
 
 DOYLE. A corruption of D' Oily, from Oily, a city in France. 
 
 DRAKE. (GraeHc.) Drak, a drake ; drac, a route, a way, a 
 footstep ; one who draws or leads, a leader. 
 
 DRAIN. (Gaelic.) Droigheann, a thorn. 
 
 DRAPER One who sells cloths. 
 
 DRENNON. Local. Draenon, Welsh, a thorn-tree or bush. 
 
 DRISCOL. (Celtic and Gaehc.) Local. From dreas and coitl, 
 a tliicket of briars, the place of wild roses. 
 
 I)RIVER. A drover, one who compels or urges any thing 
 else to move. 
 
 DROVER. One who drives cattle. 
 
 DRUMMER. One- who, in military exercises, beats the drum. 
 
 DRUMMOND. (Gaehc.) Local. From Druim, the back, 
 and monadh, mountain, a name of place — the back of the 
 mountain. 
 
 DRURY. A Jewel. [Camden.] 
 
 DRYDEN. From the Welsh Drwydwn, broken nose. Ac- 
 cording to Evans, Jonreth, surnamed Drwydwn, the father 
 of Llywelyn, was the eldest son of Owain Groynedd, but 
 was not suffered to enjoy his right on account of that 
 blemish. 
 
 DUDLEY. Local. A town in Worcestershire, England, so 
 called from the old EngHsh Dode-ley, the place of the dead, 
 a burying-ground. Dodelig, in the Danish, signifies pale, 
 death-hke, mortal ; so also the Dutch DoodelijJc, and Ger- 
 man Todlich. 
 
 Duv-da-lethe, in the Gaehc and Celtic, which has been corrupted 
 to Dudley, has the same signification. 
 
120 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 DUFF. In the Q-aelic, signifies black, but in the Cor. Br. and 
 Welsh, a captain, 
 
 DUFIELD. DufeUt, from the field. 
 
 DTJGAN. Dugan, G-aelic, the son of Dhu^ or the dark-haired. 
 
 DUMAK Z>w, from, and man^ an elevation, something grand 
 or admirable. In the ancient langua,ges, man signifies the 
 sun, and mon^ the moon. 
 
 DUMFRIES. Local. A town in Scotland on the river Nith, 
 and said to be so called from the GaeUc Dun^ a castle, and 
 Dutch vrows, women — the castle or retreat of the women, a 
 nunnery. I think rather it is derived from Dunfrith, the 
 castle in the forest; G-aelic, Dim, a castle, ajid frith, a deer- 
 forest, 
 
 DUMMER. From the Danish Dommer, an arbiter or judge. 
 DUMONT. (Fr.) Bu Mont, from the hiU or mountain. 
 DUN". Local From the parish of Dun, Forfarshire, Scotland, 
 
 derived jQrom the GraeHc Dun, a hill or rising groundj a fort 
 
 or castle. 
 DUNBAR. Local. From the town' of Dunbar, at the mouth 
 
 of the Frith of Forth, Scotland. Dunabar, GaeUc, signifies 
 
 the castle, town, or fort on the height or -summit. The 
 
 town was so called from its situation on the rock which at 
 
 this place projects into the sea. 
 DUNCAlSr. (G-aelic.) A powerful chieftain. From Dwn, a 
 
 fortress, and ceann, head or chief. Duncean or Duncan, 
 
 strong-headed. 
 DUNOANSBY. Local. Duncan's Bay. 
 DUNDAS. (Gaeha) Local The south hill, fort, or castle ; 
 
 from dun^ a hill or fort, and deas, south. 
 DUNHAM. Local A small village in England, so called fi'om 
 
 dun, a hill, and ham^ a village. 
 DUNIPACE. Local From the Latin Duni-pads, hills of 
 
 peace. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 121 
 
 DUNKELD. (aaeHc.) Local. The hazel-hilL 
 
 DUJ^LEVY. (Cor. Br. and Gaelic.) Local From Dun, a 
 hill, ley, green, and vy, a river or stream — ^the green hills by 
 the river. Dunlamh or Dunlavy, in Graelic, signifies the 
 strong-handed. Dundlamhas, mh having the sound of v, is 
 the hill or castle of warriors. 
 
 DUNLOP. (Graehc.) Local A parish in the district of Cun- 
 ningham, Ayrshire, Scotland; fi?om JDun, a castle, fort, or 
 hill, and luh, a curvature, a bending of the shore — :the castle 
 or hUl at the bend. 
 
 DUNN. GaeUc, Dun, a heap, hill, mount ; a fortress, a castle, 
 fastness, a tower. Dunn, Saxon, brown, of a dark color, 
 swarthy. 
 
 DUNNING. The brown offspring, from the Saxon Dunn, 
 brown, and the termination ing, which, among the Saxons, 
 signified offspring, as White-ing, the fair offspring, Outh-ing, 
 the son of Cuth. Dunning has retained its original orthog- 
 raphy since the days of the Saxons. 
 
 DUNSTAN. (Sax.) From Dun, a hill, and stan, a stone — ^the 
 stone-hill, or the strong, enduring dun or fortress. 
 
 DUPPA. Local. A corruption of D' Uphaugh, " from the high 
 or upper haw;" Jiaugh, Scottish and North Enghsh, a low- 
 lying meadow, a green plot in a vaUey. Du Pau, local, 
 from Pau, a town of France. 
 
 DUR In the Gaehc, signifies dull, stubborn, obstinate; also, 
 steady, earnest, persevering. 
 
 DURANT. From the Latin name Durandus, enduring, strong, 
 inured to hardships, from duro, to harden, to inure to hard- 
 ships, to make strong. 
 
 DURBAN. Local. D' Urbin, a province of Italy. Urbin or 
 Urbino, a city situated nearly in the middle of the province 
 or Duchy of Urbin, near the source of the river FogHa. 
 
 DURDEN. Local An old Enghsh word signifying a coppice 
 or thicket of wood in a valley. 
 6 
 
122 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 DUKHAM. Local. According to Bailey, this word is derived 
 from the Saxon Dun and holm, a town in a wood. It 
 seems rather to come from the British Dour, water, and 
 holm, land surrounded mostly by water. It may be de- 
 rived from Doire, which, in the British and Celtic, signifies 
 a woody place, abounding in oaks; hence Doireholm or 
 Dourham, that is, the place or town surrounded by woods. 
 
 DUEKEE or DUEGY. In the Gaelic, Duirche is the compar- 
 ative of Dorch, dark, cloudy, hence dark-complexioned. It 
 may come from Durga, Gaelic, surly, sour, repulsive. 
 Durgy, in the Cor. Br., signifies a small turf hedge. 
 
 DUEWAED. A porter or door-keeper — Door-ward. 
 
 DUSTIN. "Welsh, Dysdain, a steward of a feast. 
 
 DUTCHEE. (Dutch.) Local. From Duitscher, a German. 
 
 DUTTON. Local. A village in Cheshire, England, and may 
 have several derivations. Dut-ton, i. e., Dutch-town. Du- 
 ton, from Du, Cor. Br., side, and ton, the same as dun, a hill, 
 that is, the side of the hill ; or Du-ion, the two hills, from 
 Du, two, and ion, a hill. Dhu-ton, Gaelic and Welsh, the 
 black MIL 
 
 DWYEE. (Gaelic.) Local. From Do-ire, a woody place, 
 uncultivated. 
 
 DYEE. One whose occupation it is to dye cloth. 
 
 DYKE. Local. A name given to one who lived near a ditch, 
 bank, or entrenchment, as " John at the dyke." 
 
 DYKEMAN. One who makes dykes or entrenchments; a 
 dweller near a dyke or embankment. 
 
 DYSAET. (Gaelic.) Local. A parish in Fifeshire, Scotland ; 
 from Dia, God, and ard, high — the temple of the highest. 
 Dysart was a place of ancient Druidical or Gaelic worship. 
 
 EAGEE. Sharp-set, vehement, earnest. The name may be 
 local, from the river Eger, in Bohemia, or Egra, a city on 
 the river Eger. 
 
r 
 
 OF FAMILY NAMES. 123 
 
 EASTCOTE. Local. The east-cote or house ; so Westcott, the 
 
 west-cote. 
 EATON. (Sax.) Local. From ea, water, and ton, a town. 
 
 There are several parishes in England by this name. 
 EBERLEE. Local. Eabar, in the GaeHc, is a marshy place, a 
 
 place where two or three streams meet. Welsh and Cor. 
 
 Br., Aber-lle. 
 EBEELY. (Ger.) From eber, a boar, and ly, like ; indicating 
 
 courage, fierceness, bravery. 
 
 ECCLES. A church, fi-om the Greek kKKArjaia, an assembly, 
 a church, Gaehc eaglais, Cor. Br., IJgles and Eglas. 
 
 EDDY. In the G-aehc, Eddee signifies an instructor. The 
 name may be local fi:om the Saxon Ed, backwards, and ea, 
 water — a current of water running back, a whirlpool. Edd, 
 Welsh, signifies motion, going; Eddu, to go, to move. 
 
 EDGAR. (Sax.) From Eadigar, happy or blessed ; honor. 
 
 EDGECUMBE. Local. From the manor of Edgecumbe, in 
 Devonshire, England. The name signifies, " the edge of the 
 
 EDIKER. (Sax.) From Eadigar, happy. 
 EDMOND. (Sax.) Happy peace. 
 EDWARD. (Sax.) Happy keeper. 
 EGBERT. (Sax.) Always bright, famous. 
 
 EGGLESTON. (Welsh or Br.) From Egles, a church, and 
 
 tun or dun, a hill — the church on the hill. 
 
 EIGINN. (Gaelic.) Strong-handed. 
 
 ELDRED. (Sax.) AU reverent fear. 
 
 ELI. (Heb.) The offering or hfting up. 
 
 ELIAS. (Heb.) Signifies Lord God. 
 
 ELLET. Little EUas, the diminutive ette being added, as Wil- 
 lett, Hallett. 
 
•mmmmmmmmmi'mmi'mmmmmmm'imm 
 
 124 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 ELLIOT. Supposed to signify the son of Mias; Heliat, Welsh 
 and Cor. Br., a huntsman, a pursuer. 
 
 ELLIS. Contracted from Elias. 
 
 ELPHINSTONE. Local. Erom the landd and barony of 
 Elphinstone, in Scotland, and derived from the Anglo- 
 Saxon Elfenne, a fairy or spirit, and stone. These elfenne 
 or eZ/-stones are a peculiar hard flint, and in the olden times 
 were supposed to be shot by the fairies or elfs. The place 
 is so named from this kind of stone being found on the land. 
 
 ELTON. There are many places of this name in England ; it 
 is impossible to decide from which the family appellation is 
 derived. The^, derivation is from the Saxon words ael, an 
 eel, and ton — a town abounding in eels. 
 
 ELWY. Local. A river in Wales. 
 
 ELY. Local. From Ely, a city in Cambridgeshire, England, 
 and signifies the place of willows, from Helig, Cor. Br. and 
 Welsh ; Latin, Salix. Greek D^l^, JEalig, an island ; land in 
 waterland. G-reek, "EAof, a marsh. 
 
 EMERSON. (Sax.) Mnar, from Ethelmar^ noble, and son — 
 the son of the noble. 
 
 EMMET. Local. The name of a river ; ''Eimot;' GaeHc. the 
 quick river, from em, quick. Emmet, Saxon, aemet, an 
 ant. 
 
 ENNIS, ENNES, or INNIS. (Celtic or Gaelic.) Local. An 
 island or peninsula, made so either by ^ fresh water river or 
 the sea. Ynys in the Welsh. 
 
 ENOS. (Heb.) Fallen man, mortal, sickly. 
 
 ERRICK. '' There is a tradition," says Dean Swift, " that the 
 ancient family of the Ericks or Herricks derive their hneage 
 from Erick the Forrester, a great commander who raised an 
 army to oppose the invasion of William the Conqueror." 
 Erick is derived from Ehr, German, honor, and rich, rich — 
 rich in honor. 
 
I 
 
 OF FAMILY NAMES. 125 
 
 ERSKINE. Some writers deduce this family from a noblo 
 Florentine wlio came to Scotland in the reign of Kenneth 
 II. It is said, in the reign of Malcolm II., a Scotchman ol 
 high distinction having killed with his own hand Enrique, 
 one of the Danish generals, at the battle of MurthiD, cut off 
 his head, and with the bloody dagger in his hand showed it 
 to the king, and in the GaeHc language said Erishyne^ "upon 
 the knife," alluding to the head and dagger; and in the same 
 language also said, "I intend to perform greater actions than 
 what I have done." Whereupon, King Malcolm imposed 
 upon him the surname of Erishine, and assigned him for his 
 armor-bearings a hand holding a dagger, with " Je pense 
 plus" for a motto, which has continued to be the crest and 
 motto of this family. 
 
 ERWEN". Welsh, Erwyn, very fair, white. Urfionn^ GaeHc, 
 beautiful, fair. 
 
 ESHAM. Local. From a town by that name in Worcester- 
 shire, England, formerly Eoves-ham, so called from one 
 Eoves Egwins, a shepherd, who was afterward Bishop of 
 Worcester, and ham, a village. 
 
 ESTLEY. Local. The east field or pasture— ^os^Z^y. 
 
 ETHELBERT. (Sax.) Noble, bright, from Ethel or Add, 
 noble, and bert, bright, famous. 
 
 ETON. Local. Awtwyn, in Welsh, is the liillock near the 
 waters, from Aw, water, and twyn, a small hill. In Saxon, 
 Ea and ton have the same signifi.cation, i. e., "tlie hill or 
 town near the water." 
 
 EUEE. Local. From the lordship of Eure, in Buckingham- 
 shire, England. Eure, in the Cor. Br., signifies a goldsmith. 
 
 EUSTACE. From the Greek EvaTadr^g, standing firm. 
 
 EVANS. The Welsh for John, the same as Johns. Evan^ 
 eofn, fearless, bold. 
 
 EYELYN. Local. From Evelyn, in the county of Salop, 
 England. 
 
126 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 EVERARD. (Sax.) The same as EvSo^og in Greek, that is, 
 well reported, ever honored; or from Bberhardt, ever hard or 
 enduring. Some writers are of opinion- that we have Ehers, 
 Everard, Evered, and Everet, from Eber, a boar. 
 
 EVERETT and EVERTS. A corruption of Everard. 
 
 EVERLY. Local. A place in Wiltshire, England. 
 
 EWELL. Local. A town in England. EwMU, Cor. Br., sig- 
 nifies high, tall. 
 
 EYRE. The same as Ayres or Ayre (which see). 
 
 EYTING-E. (Saxon.) Local. From Ey, Saxon, ig, an island, 
 a watery place, and ing, a meadow — the meadow on the 
 island or near the water. 
 
 FAAL. (G-aelic.) A rocky place ; Felh, Saxon, crags, barren 
 and stony liills. Eales has the same signification. Ealaise, 
 a town in France, takes its name from the rocks which sur- 
 round it. 
 
 FABER. (Latin.) A workman, a smith. 
 
 FABIAIST. Derived from the Latin Fabius, Fdba, a bean — ^the 
 bean-man, so called from his success in cultivating beans. 
 
 FACET. French, Facette, a httle face. Faceie, from the Latin 
 FacetuSj gay, cheerful. 
 
 FADEN. (Gaelic.) Feadan, a fife, flute, chanter of a bagpipe, 
 a musical instrument. Ehdan, the son of Fad. 
 
 FAGAN. (Gaelic.) A beech-tree. The Fagans were descended 
 from Patrick O'Hagan, hving a.d. 1180. O'Hagan, the pos- 
 terity of Agan. Ogan, Ogyn, or Hogyn signifies, in the 
 Welsh, young, a youth. Gaelic, Og, a young man. 
 
 FAGG. (Saxon.) Fag, variable or many colored; may be 
 bestowed on the first possessor from his variable disposition. 
 Fag, a laborious drudge. 
 
 FAIRBAIRN. The same as Fairchild — a fair, handsome bairn 
 or child. 
 
 FAIRFAX. (Sax.) Fair-hair; Faex, hair. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 127 
 
 FAIRHOLM. Local. The fair island, or fair lands bordering 
 
 on water ; also, where a fair or market is held. 
 FAKE or FALKE. (Ger.) A fakon or hawk; figuratively, 
 
 daring or enterprising. 
 FAXES. Local. Fahj a river of Cornwall, England; also, a 
 
 rough, rocky place. 
 FALKLAND. (Sax.) From FokJc, the common people, and 
 
 land — the land of the common people, in the time of the 
 
 Saxons- 
 FALUN. Local A town of Sweden, Falan, GaeHc, the 
 
 eon of Fale. 
 FANE. From Fane^ a temple, a church. Gaelic, Fann, faint, 
 
 weak, feeble. 
 FANNING. ThesonofFann. 
 FANSHAW. Local Fane, a temple or church, and shaw, a 
 
 small wood or grove, a thicket — ^the church in the grove. 
 FAR. Fawr, same as Mawr, Gaelic and Welsh, great. 
 FARMAN. (Ger.) Fahr-mann, master of a ferry-boat 
 
 FARNHAM. Local From a town in Surrey, England, " so 
 called from the Saxon Fearn, fern, and ham, a habitation or 
 village — the village in the place overgrown with fern." 
 
 FARQUHAR. (Gaehc.) From Fear, a man, and coir, just, 
 honest, good, or car, friendly ; Feardar, from Fear and ciar, 
 dark-gray — a dark-gray man. 
 
 FARQUHARSON. The son of Farquhar. ' 
 
 FARRADAY. (Gaelic.) From Farraideach, inquisitive, pry- 
 ing, curious. 
 
 FARRAR. A corruption of Farrier, a name of trade. Pfarrer^ 
 in German, a minister. 
 
 FASSET and FAUCET. (Fr.) Fauseite, falsehood, cheat, 
 forgery. 
 
 FAULKNER. (Ger.) A catcher or trainer of hawks. 
 
128 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 FAY. (Spanish.) Fe, faith. In Normandy, plantations of 
 beech were called. Faye, Fayel, and FautMe. 
 
 FEARAK (Gaelic.) An estate. 
 
 FELCH. Probably a corruption of Welch; Filch means to 
 pilfer. 
 
 FELL. Fd, in the Dutch, signifies fierce, furious, violent ; also 
 local, a rocky place, barren and stony hills ; any uninclosed 
 place ; a moor, a vaUey. A sliort time since, a tradesman 
 named James Fell migrated from Ludgate Hill to Fleet- 
 street, and announced the event in the following manner : 
 "L Fell, from Ludgate Hill;" under which a wag wrote, 
 " Oh what a fall was there, my countryman I" — ^Lower. 
 
 FELTOK Local. A small town in England; the rocky or 
 stony hill. 
 
 FENSHAW. Local The sAaw or grove in the /era. 
 
 FENTOK (Welsh or Br.) A well. 
 
 FERDINAND. (Ger.) From Fred, peace, and rand, pure — 
 pure peace. 
 
 FERGUS. (Gaelic and Celtic) A fierce or brave chieftain, 
 from Fear, man, and guth, a voice or word, that is, the man 
 of the word, a commander of an army. Some suppose the 
 first Fergus was so named from Fairghe, the sea, on account 
 of his large navy ; others, from his raging like the sea in 
 battle. Feargach, fiery. 
 
 FERGUSON. The son of Fergus. 
 
 FERRER or FERRERS. Local. From i^'errieres, a small town 
 of Gastinois, France, so called from the iron mines with 
 •which the country abounded ; or the name may have orig- 
 inated firom the occupation of a farrier or iron-dealer. 
 
 FERRIS. A corruption of Ferrers (which see). Fferis, in the 
 
 Welsh, signifies steel. 
 FERROL, FIROL. (Gaelic.) Famous men. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 129 
 
 FIELDING. This family trace their descent to the Earls of 
 Hapsburgh, in G-ermany. Geffery, a son of Edward of 
 Holland, served with Henry III. in the wars of England, 
 and because his father had dominions in LaufFenburgh and 
 'Renfelden, he took the name of Felden or Fielding. 
 
 FIFE. Local. A shire or county of Scotland ; lands held in 
 
 M 
 
 FIFIELD. Local. Has the same signification as Manorfield. 
 Lands held in fee or Jief, for which the individual pays serv- 
 ice or owes rent. 
 
 FILEY and FILLEY. Local. From a town in England by 
 that name. Filid, Gaelic, the d silent, a poet, a bard. 
 
 FILO. Filea, in the Gaelic, is a bard, poet, or historian. 
 $iAof, in the Greek, a friend. 
 
 FILMUR and FILMORE. This name, in all probability, arose 
 from a residence near a lake or a fertile piece of ground ; 
 FUle, Sax,, denoting fullness or plenteousness, and mere, a 
 lake or moist piece of ground. The name has been spelled 
 at different times Fylmere, Filmour, and Filmore. Several 
 other derivations may be found for the etymology of this 
 name. From Filea, Celtic and Gaelic, a bard, a historian, 
 and Trior, great, that is, the famous bard. The Fileas, among 
 the Gauls, or Celts, were held in great esteem, and their 
 office was honorable. They turned the tenets of religion 
 into verse, and animated the troops before and during an 
 engagement with martial odes, and celebrated the valorous 
 deeds of the chieftains and princes who entertained them. 
 
 FINCH. A small singing bird. 
 
 FINNEY. Finne, Gaelic, the genitive of Fionn, fair, sincere, 
 true; bringing to an end, wise, a head, chief The. name 
 may be local from Fines, a place in France. 
 
 FIRMAN. Ferdmon, a soldier. 
 
 FISK. (Fr.) From Fisc, revenue, public ftmds. 
 
 6 
 
130 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 FISTER. (Dan.) A fisherman. 
 
 FITZ GERALD. (Nor. Fr.) The son of Gerald, Mtz, a son, 
 Gerald (Teutonic), all-surpassing, excellent. 
 
 This ancient and honorable family is traced from Otho or 
 Other, a Baron in Italy, descended from the Grand Dukes 
 of Tuscany. Walter, son of Otho, came into England with 
 WiUiam the Conqueror, and afterward settled in Ireland. 
 
 Maurice Fitz Gerald assisted Richard Strongbow in the con- 
 quest of that kingdom. 
 
 FITZ GILBERT. (Nor. Fr.) The son of Gilbert; Fitz, a 
 son, Gilbert, gold-like bright, or bright or brave pledge, 
 from gisle, Saxon, a pledge. (See Gilbert.) 
 
 FITZ HAMOK The son of Edmon, Hebrew, faithful, i. e., 
 the son of the faithful 
 
 FITZ HARDING. The son of Harding (which see). 
 FITZ HATTON. The son of Hatton (which see). 
 FITZ HENRY. The son of Henry (which see). 
 FITZ HERBERT. The son of Herbert (which see). 
 FITZ HERVEY. The son of Hervey (which see). 
 FITZ HUGH. The son of Hugh (which see). 
 FITZ JOHN. The son of John (which see). 
 FITZ MORICE. The son of Morris (which see). 
 FITZ ORME. The son of Orme (which see). 
 FITZ PARNELL. The son of Parnell (which see). 
 FITZ PATRICK. The son of Patrick (which see). 
 FITZ RANDOLPH. The son of Randolph (which see). 
 FITZ ROY. The son of Roy (which see). 
 FITZ SWAIN. The son of Swain (which see). 
 FLACK. Local. (Dutch.) " TZa^," fiat, low ground. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 131 
 
 FLAHERTY. (Celtic.) A man of chieftain-like exploits. 
 From fiaMh, a lord or chief, and oirbheartach, noble-deeded ; 
 the man of noble deeds. 
 
 FLANDERS. Local. A name given to a native of Flanders, 
 a County or Earldom of the Low Countries, or Nether- 
 lands, It took its name either from Flandrina, the wife 
 of Liderick IL, Prince of Buc, or from Flamhert^ the 
 nephew of Clodion, King of France. 
 
 FLANNAG-AN. (Q-aelic.) From fiann^ ruddy complexion. 
 
 FLEMING". Local A native or inhabitant of Flanders. See 
 Flanders. 
 
 FLETCHER. A maker of arrows, or superintendant of arch- 
 ery. From the French fleche^ an arrow. 
 
 FLINT. Local. Derived from a market town of that name, 
 near the sea, in Flintshire, Wales, which gives name to the 
 county. 
 
 FLOOD. Originally FlvM or Floyd (which see). 
 
 FLOYD. The same as Llwyd, Welsh, brown, gray, hoary. 
 
 FOLGER. Camden defines the name, ^^Foulgiers, Feame" (fern). 
 Fougeres, local, a town of France, near the frontiers of Nor- 
 mandy. This town has given its name to a noble family. 
 Raoul de Fougers fortified the town, and built the castle. 
 
 FOL JAMBE. Full James, Fool James ? 
 
 FOLLET or FOLLIOT. (Fr.) Frolicksome, merry, gay. 
 " Rightly named was Richard Fohoth, Bishop of Hereford, 
 who, when he had incurred the hatred of many for oppos- 
 ing himself against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, one cried with a loud voice at his chamber window at 
 midnight : ' Folioth, FoUoth, thy god is the Goddess Azaroth.* 
 He suddenly and stoutly rephed : ' Thou liest, foul fiend, my 
 Qgd i<i the God of Sabaoth." — Camden. 
 
132 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 FONDA. Spanish, Fonda, bottom, foundation, the source or 
 beginning. Fondi, a town of Naples, in Italy, so called from 
 the liSitm fundiis, the bottom. 
 
 FOOTE. Local. A place at the bottom of a hill or mountain, 
 the base. 
 
 FORBES. Local. Lands free from military service, called 
 Saor Forba, or free lands. The name of a parish in Aber- 
 deenshire, Scotland, 
 
 FORBISHER. A pohsher of armor or weapons. 
 
 FORDHAM. Local. So named from a town in England ; the 
 house or village at the ford. 
 
 FORRESTER and FORSTER. A woodman. 
 
 FORSYTHE. (GaeHc.) From Fear, a man, and Syih, up- 
 right, honest, stiff. 
 
 FORTESCUE. Strong shield. Sir Richard Le Forte (the 
 brave), one of the leaders in the army of William the Con- 
 queror, who had the good fortune to protect his chief at the 
 battle of Hastings, by bearing before him a massive shield, 
 hence acquired the addition of the French word escue, a 
 shield, to his name. 
 
 FOSDYKE. Local. The name of a canal, cut by the order 
 of Henry VIIL, from the great marsh near Lincoln, Eng- 
 land, to the Trent Fosse-dyke. 
 
 FOSQ-ATE. From fosse, a ditch, moat, or trench, and gate. 
 
 FOSS. (Cor. Br.) The entrenchment, moat, or ditch. Fas, 
 Danish, a waterfall, cataract. 
 
 FOSTER. Probably a corruption of Forrester or Forsfer. 
 
 FOTHERBY. Local. The town of provisions, food and fod- 
 der, from Fother, the same as fodder, Saxon fodre, food for 
 cattle, and by, a town. 
 
 FOTHERGi-TLL. Local. From Fother, as above, and gill, a 
 brook. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 133 
 
 FOTHERINGHAM. Local. The house or town supplying 
 food for man and beast, from FotJier, as above, and ham, a 
 village. 
 
 POULIS. The surname of Poulis is of Korman extraction. 
 Their first British ancestor came into England either at or 
 before the Conquest, and his armorial bearings were three 
 leaves^ called '^Feuilles" in the old Norman ; it is certain 
 that the name was either given to the family while resi- 
 dents of South Britain, or else assumed by him who first 
 settled in Scotland in the reign of Malcom Canmore, when 
 surnames were then first adopted. 
 
 rOUNTArN". Originally Be Fonte or Be Fontibus (Fountam), 
 fi-om the springs or fountains near which they resided. 
 
 FOWLER. A sportsman who pursues wild fowL 
 
 FOX. A name taken from the cunning animal ; about the year 
 1333 the Shanachs in Ireland anglicised their name to Fox. 
 
 FRAME. (Gaelic.) Freumh or Freamhj a root, stem, stocky 
 lineage. 
 
 FRANK. A native of France, free; a name given by the 
 Turks, Greeks, and Arabs, to any of the inhabitants of 
 the western part of Europe, whether EngKsh, French, or 
 Italians. 
 
 FRANCIS. From the Saxon, Franh, free. The Franks were 
 a people who anciently inhabited part of Germany, and 
 having conquered Gaul, changed the name of the country 
 to France. 
 
 FRANKLANB. A name given by the Saxons to the land of 
 the Franks. 
 
 FRANKLIN. Anciently, in England, a " superior freeholder," 
 next below gentlemen in dignity, now called country 
 Squu-es. Fortescue says (Be Leg. Ang.), " Moreover Eng- 
 land is so filled and replenished with landed menne, that 
 therein the smallest thorpe can not be found wherin dwell- 
 
134 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 eth not a knight or an esquire, or such a householder as is 
 there commonly called a FranMin^ enriched with great pos- 
 sessions, and also other freeholders, and many yeomen, able 
 for their livelyhood to make a jury in form aforementioned." 
 So Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales ; 
 
 " A Franklin was in this companie, 
 "White was his beard, as is the dayesie.*' 
 
 FEASER, FraiscJieur, French, freshness, coolness, bloom; 
 Friseur^ a hairdresser, from, f riser ^ French, to curl. 
 
 FREDERICK. (G-erm.) Rich peace, or peaceable reign. 
 
 FREEMAN. One who enjoys liberty, or is entitled to a fran- 
 chise, or pecuhar privilege, as the freeman of a, city or state. 
 
 FREER. French, Frere, a friar, a monk, a brother. 
 
 FREIOT. (Dutch.) Fraadheid, signifies prettiness, neatness. 
 
 FREMONT. Local. From Framont, a place in France, near 
 Lorraine, meaning the Franc or free mount, the battel hill; 
 or the fresh, blooming, beautiful hill, from frais^ French, 
 blooming. 
 
 FRENCH. Originally coming from, or belonging to France. 
 
 FRERY. Contracted from Frederick (which see). 
 
 FRIAR. (French.) From Frere, a brother, a member of a re- 
 ligious order ; a monk who is not a priest, those friars who 
 are in orders being called fathers. 
 
 FRISBY. Local. (Danish.) The new, or fresh town ; Welsh, 
 fres; French, frais, fresh, new, recently built; Danish ,^A;, 
 and by, a town. 
 
 FRISKIN. (G-aeUc.) From Fear^ and skein, a sword; the 
 man with the ready sword or hanger. 
 
 FROBISHER. The same as Forbisher (which see). 
 
 FROST. (Welsh.) Ffrost, a brag. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 135 
 
 FEOTHINGHAM. Local. A house or village situated near 
 a strait or arm of the sea. Frithingham, the house or vil- 
 lage among the hawthorns ; frith, Cornish British, a haw- 
 thorn, white thorn. Frith, Gaehc, a forest, a place of deer. 
 
 FRY. (Cornish British.) Local. A hill, a town or house on 
 the most prominent part of a hill or eminencg. German^ 
 M'ei, free, Dutch, Vry, or Fri/, free. 
 
 FULHAM. Local. A village on the Thames, England, and 
 derives its name from the Saxon Fullen, fowl, and ham, that 
 is, the house or village of fowl. Either from the house 
 noted for its good living, or from the neighborhood pro- 
 ducing good poultry. 
 
 FULKE. Dutch, Valk, a hawk ; German, FaTke. 
 
 FULKINS. ThesonofFulke. 
 
 FULLER. One who fulls cloth; a clothier. 
 
 FULLERTOK Local. The town where cloth is dressed. 
 
 FULSOM. Local. From Foulsham, a town in England, 
 w:here, perhaps, were raised plenty of fowl, or the streets 
 foul, or the population full and crowded. Saxon, FuUenj 
 foul. 
 
 FURBUSHER. The same as Forhish&r (which see). 
 
 GADSBY. (Dan.) From gade, a street, and hg, a town, i. e., 
 street-town ; or the gate-town, if Webster is correct in giv- 
 ing gade the Danish for gate. 
 
 GAIRDEK (Gaelic.) An inclosed or fortified place; the 
 beacon hill or hUl of alarm, from gair, an outcry, an alarm 
 and din, a hill or fortress. 
 
 GALBRAITH. A compound of two Gaehc words, GaU and 
 Bhreatan, that is, strange Briton, or Low Country Briton. 
 The Galbraiths in the Gaehc are called Breatannich, or Olann- 
 a~Breatannich, that is, the Britons, or the children of the 
 
136 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 Britons, and were once reckoned a great name in Scotland, 
 according to the following lines : — 
 
 " Bhreatanuich o'n Talla dhearg, 
 Hailse sir Alba do shloinneadh." 
 
 " Galbraith's from the Red Tower, 
 • Noblest of Scottish surnames. " 
 
 The ^^TaUa dhearg,'' or " Eed Tower," was probably Dumbarton, 
 that is, Dun Bhreatain, the hill or stronghold of the Britons, 
 whence it is said the Galbraiths came. Galbraith, Welsh, 
 the diversified plain. 
 
 GrALE. A Gael or Scot; a stranger. Fingal, the white 
 stranger, Dugal, the black stranger, alluding to the com- 
 plexion or color of the hair. The root of G-all, or G-aul, 
 is Hal, the sun, from which we have Gal, Oel, 01, brilliant, 
 bright, glorious. Greek, ^Itog ; Welsh, haul, Cornish Brit- 
 ish, houl, the sun. Ge, brilliant, and haul , Gehaul, Gaul, 
 the ancient name of France — still called " sunny France." 
 
 GALGACHUS. In the chronicle of the kings of Scotland 
 Galgachus is called Galdus, of which name and its etymol- 
 ogy Garden gives the following account : 
 
 Galgachus was Latinized by the Eomans, from the Highland 
 appellations Gold and cachach ; the first, Gald, being the 
 proper name, and the second, cachach, being an adjection to 
 it from the battles he had fought ; it signifies the same as 
 proiliosus; Gald the fighter of battles, which kind of nick- 
 names are still in use among the Highlanders. Colgach, 
 Gaehc, fierce, furious, and a^h, battle, skirmish. 
 
 GALL. A native of the Lowlands of Scotland; any one 
 ignorant of the Gaelic language ; a foreigner, stranger. Gal, 
 Gaelic and Cor. Br., battle, evil warfare ; Gal, Welsh, clear. 
 
 GALLAGHER. (Gaelic.) From Gallach, vahant, brave, and 
 er put for fear, a man. Air is a common termination of 
 nouns, and changes into eir, ir, or, oir, and mV, its etymon 
 being /ear, a man. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 187 
 
 GALLIGAK (G-aelic.) From Gealagan, white. 
 
 GALLUP. (Ger.) A corruption of Gottlieb, from GoU, God, 
 and lieh, love or praise — God's praise. 
 
 GALT or GUALT. A bush of hair. Welsh, GwaUt. 
 
 GAINNES. Gaelic, Gainne, a dart, an arrow, a shaft; given 
 because of expertness in the use of these weapons of war. 
 
 GANESVOORT. (Dutch.) Prom Gans, a goose, and voort^ 
 advanced, forward, that is, the forward goose or the gander; 
 figuratively, a leader. 
 
 GANG. Local. "Welsh, genau, an opening of a lake, river, 
 dale or valley ; a place admitting entrance. Genau, in Ger.^ 
 signifies short, alluding to stature. 
 
 GARDENER and GARDNER. A name derived fi:om the 
 occupation. 
 
 GARDENER. This name may be derived from the same roots 
 as Gairden. It is probably, however, the same as Gar^ 
 dener, the orthography having been changed. Camden says, 
 " Wise was the man that told my Lord Bishop (Stephen 
 Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester) that his name was not Gar- 
 dener as the English pronounce it, but Gard^ne^, with the 
 French accent, and therefore a gentleman.'" 
 
 The principal family of the Gardiners in this country derive 
 their descent from Lion Gardiner, a native of Scotland, who 
 served under General Fairfax in the Low Countries as an 
 engineer. He was sent to this country in 1635, by Lords 
 Say and Sele, Brooke, and others, to build a fort, and make 
 a settlement on their grant at the mouth of the Connecticut 
 river. He built the fort at Saybrook, which name he gave 
 to it after the names of his patrons Lords Say and Brooke. 
 His eldest son, David, born at Fort Saybrook, in 1636, was 
 the first white child born in Connecticut. He afterward 
 bought from the Indians the island in Long Island Sound, 
 called by them Monchonack, and by the Enghsh the Isle of 
 Wight, paying for it. as the old records say, a black dog, a 
 
188 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 gun, and some Dutck blankets. He removed there with his 
 family, and gave it the name of Gardiner's Island. The 
 island still remains in the possession of the family, having 
 descended in a direct Une from Lion Grardiner. 
 
 GrARENNIER. (Fr.) A warrener, a keeper of a warren. 
 
 G-ARFIELD. Local Sax., Garwian^ to prepare; G-erman 
 and Dutch, gar, dressed, done, ready prepared, and field, a 
 place where every thing is furnished necessary for an army. 
 
 GARNET. Local. Gamedd, Welsh, a tumulus; an ancient 
 place of Druid worship. Carneddj a cairru Garnet, a 
 precious stone. 
 
 GARNIER. Fr., Garnir, to summons, warn, call out, furnish, 
 supply. Italian, Guamire; ISTorman, Garner, to warn, to 
 summon, to fortify. 
 
 GARRAH. (Cor. Br.) Local The top of the hill; Garw, 
 Welsh, rough. 
 
 GARRET. A corruption of Gerard (which see), 
 
 GARRISOK Local A place where troops are stationed, for 
 the defense of a town or fort, or to keep the inhabitants in 
 subjection. 
 
 GARROW, GAROW, and GARO, in the British, signifies 
 fierce, keen, sharp, rough, a rough place; Gaehc, Garbh^ 
 rugged, mountainous. 
 
 GARRY. Local. A town in Scotland. 
 
 GARTH. (Welsh.) Local. A hill or promontory; Gart, 
 Gaelic, a head. 
 
 GASKELL. (Gaelia) From Gaisgeil, valorous. 
 
 GASTON. Local From Gastein, a town in Bavaria. Also a 
 brave or valorous man, from Gais, Gaelic, bravery, valor, 
 and duin, a man. 
 
 GATES. Local Gute, m Scotland, means a road or way. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 139 
 
 G-AVET. Local. A town in Savoy or Dauphiny, an old 
 province of France. 
 
 GAYER. A gray-hound ; a swift dog. 
 
 G-AYLOR. That is, (7eSer— loud-voiced. 
 
 GEAR and GEER. Gear signifies all sorts of wearing apparel 
 and equipments for horses and men, from the Saxon gear- 
 rian, to make ready ; and the name was probably given to 
 one who took charge of and superintended the gear. John 
 of the Gear, John O Gear, and at length John Gear. 
 
 GEDDES or GETTY. Local. Gaeta, a town of Italy, and 
 signifies a stronghold. Gaehc, Caetigh ; Welsh, Caety, from 
 Cae, surrounded, defended, shut up, and tigh or ty, a house. 
 Geddes, the son of Gideon. 
 
 GEOFFREY. (Belgic.) From gau, joyful, and fred^ peace — 
 joyful peace, 
 
 GEORGE. (Greek.) A husbandman, a farmer, from Veapyb^, 
 
 GERARD. (Tent.) From Gar, aU, and ard, nature; apt, 
 docile ; one ready to do or learn, amiable. 
 
 GERMAIN". (Ger.) A name given to a native of Germany. 
 German is derived from Werr-man, i. e., war-men, a name 
 assumed by the Tungri, in order to strike terror into their 
 Gaelic opponents. The Romans, for want of a W, for Werr- 
 man wrote Gerriman. Vonhammer derives the word from 
 the land of Herman, now Chorasin. 
 
 GERRY. A corruption of Gerard (which see). Gairdeach, 
 the d silent, from Gairde, Gaelic, festive, joyful. 
 
 GERYAS. , (Ger.) Steadfast, honorable. 
 
 GETMAN. (Ger.) The same as Ketman, from hettCj a chain, 
 and mann — a chain-man, one who used or carried a chain ; 
 a surveyor ; a maker of chains. 
 
 GIBBON. (Welsh.) Guihan, a fly. Gihean, in Gaelic, signi- 
 fies a hunch-back ; Gihh-ing, the son of Gilbert. 
 
140 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 GIBBS. From Gih, a nickname for Gilbert. 
 
 GIBSON. The son of Gib or GHbert. 
 
 GIDDINGS. The son of Gid or Gideon. 
 
 GIFFORD or GIFFARD. (Sax.) Liberal disposition; the 
 giver. The name is also local, a town on the water of Gif- 
 ford, Haddington Co., Scotland, from Qaf^ Celtic, a hook, a 
 bend, and /ore?. 
 
 GIHON. Local. Gien or QiTien, a town of France, in the 
 province of Orleans. 
 
 GILBERT. (Ger.) Bright pledge, from GHsle, a pledge; or 
 gold-like, bright, from the Saxon Geele, yeUow. 
 
 GILCHRIST. (Gaelic.) From giUe, a servant, and Chriosed, 
 Christ — the servant of Christ. 
 
 GILKINSOK The son of OiM7i. QiTkin is the child of Gil 
 or Gilbert, hin mearung child or oflfepring. 
 
 GILL. Local. A valleylsr woody glen; a narrow dell with a 
 brook running through it ; a smaU stream. 
 
 GILLAK. Local. A town in Scotland. 
 
 GILLESPIE. The Gaehc for Archibald, from OiUe, a youth 
 or servant, and speach, a word expressive of quickness and 
 sharpness in battle; spuaic, Gaehc, to break the head, to 
 knock. 
 
 GILLETT. From OuiUot, the French diminutive for WiUiam. 
 The family may have come with WHUam the Conqueror 
 into England, from OiUette^ a town in Piedmont-, France. 
 GiUette, the son of Giles. 
 
 GILLIES. (Gaehc.) GiU-Iosa, the servant of Jesus. 
 
 GILLPATRICK. (Gaehc.) From gille, a servant, and Patrick 
 — ^the servant of Patrick. 
 
 GILLY. (Cor. Br.) The wood or grove of hazel; Gaelic, 
 
 Coilh. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 141 
 
 G-ILLMAN. The Gillmans are said to have come from the 
 province of Maine, in France, into England with William 
 the Conqueror, and to have settled in Essex, England. 
 Whether a Oaulman^ a Gael^ or Brookman, from gill, a 
 brook, the same as kill in Dutch, is uncertain. 
 
 GILMOUR. Gillemore, G-aelic, the henchman or follower of 
 • the chief, one who carried the chiefs broadsword, from gille, 
 a servant, and mor, large, great. 
 
 GrILROY. Qile-roimh, a running footman attendant on a 
 Highland chieftain ; from giUe, a servant, and roimh, before, 
 in respect of situation or place ; or GiUe-righj the servant of 
 the king. 
 
 aiLSON. The son of QH or Gilbert. 
 
 GIRDWOOD. Local. The green wood, from the Welsh 
 gwyrdd ; or the inclosed wood, from the Danish gierde, a 
 hedge ; girds, shoots of trees. 
 
 GIRVAN. Local. From the river and town of Girvan in Ayr- 
 shire, Scotland. In the Welsh, Gearafon or Chvyrddafon, 
 imphes the river flowing through the green flourishing place, 
 from afon or avon, a river, and Qwyrdd, green, flourishing. 
 
 GIYENS. (Welsh.) A smith, the same as Gove ; Gaelic, goT>- 
 hain. 
 
 GLANYILLE. Local. A house or castle on the shore of a 
 river or the sea ; Welsh, glan, a shore, bank of a river ; old 
 French or Gaelic, the same ; as Glandeve, in France, on the 
 banks of the Var, Glan or glen signifies also a narrow val- 
 ley or dell. 
 
 GLASGOW. (Gaehc and Cor. Br.) Local. From the city 
 of Glasgow, Scotland. The green, fruitful place, from glas, 
 ■ green, and geu or gew, a " choice field," the stay or sup- 
 port of the estate. 
 
 GLASS. (Gaelic.) Gray, pale, wan; glas, Welsh, green. 
 
 GLENTWORTH. Local. From Glyn, a valley, and worth, 
 a habitation, dwelling, or farm. 
 
142 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 GLISTON. Local. Olaston, the green hill; Gliston, the shin- 
 ing hill, the mineral or mica hill . 
 
 GLOUCESTER. Local. From the city of Gloucester, Eng- 
 land, the ancient Gleva, from the Welsh Glo, coal, coal- 
 mines, and castrum, Latin, a Roman fort or camp ; Saxon, 
 ceaster, a city, — the city of coal. 
 
 GLYN. (Br.) The woody vale. 
 
 GOADBY. Local This name is derived from the Danish 
 word Oode, that is, good, fair, rich, fine, and by, the Danish 
 for a town — meaning the fair or handsome town. If the 
 word is of British origin, it signifies the town hy the wood, 
 fi-om Goed, in the Cor. Br., a wood. 
 
 GODARD. (Ger.) God-like disposition. The name may be 
 local, from Goddardj a mountain in Switzerland. 
 
 GODENOT or GODENO'. (Fr.) "^ Jack in the box,'' a pup- 
 pet, a httle ugly man. The name may be local, and come 
 from Gudenaw, a town on the Lower Rhine, Germany. 
 
 GODFREY. (Ger.) God's peace, godhke peace, from God 
 and /ncZ or frede, peace, or from Gau-fred, joyful peace. 
 
 GODOLPHIK (Cor. Br.) A httle valley of springs; from 
 Godolj a Httle valley, and phin or phince, springs. 
 
 GODWIN. Same as Goodwin or Gooden, derived from God 
 or goodj Sax., and win, conqueror, that is, a conqueror in 
 God, converted or victorious in God. 
 
 *'In one of those battles fought between Edmund the Anglo- 
 Saxon, and Canute the Dane, the Danish army being routed 
 and forced to fly, one of their principal captains named Ulf 
 lost his way in the woods. After wandering all night, he 
 met at daybreak a young peasant driving a herd of oxen 
 whom he saluted, and asked his name. ' I am Godwin, the 
 son of Ulfnoth,' said the young peasant, ' and thou art a 
 Dane.' Thus, obhged to confess who he was, Ulf begged 
 the young Saxon to show him the way to the Severn, 
 where the Danish ships were at anchor. * It is foolish in a 
 
OF FAMILY 5,AMES. 143 
 
 Dane/ replied the peasant, ' to expect such a service from a 
 Saxon ; and besides, the way is long, and the country peo- 
 ple are all in arms.' The Danish chief drew off a gold ring 
 from his finger, and gave it to the shepherd as an induce- 
 ment to be his guide. The young Saxon looked at it for an 
 instant with great earnestness, and returned it, saying, 'I 
 will take nothing from thee, but I will try to conduct thee/ 
 Leading him to his father's cottage, he concealed him there 
 during the day ; when night came on, they made prepara- 
 tions to depart together. As they were going, the old peas- 
 ant said to Ulf, ' This is my only son, Godwin, who risks his 
 life for thee. He cannot return among his countrymen 
 again; take him, therefore, and present him to thy King, 
 Canute, that he may enter into his service.' The Dane 
 promised, and kept his word. The young Saxon peasant 
 was well received in the Danish camp, and rising from step 
 to step by the force of his talents, he afterward became 
 known over all England as the great Earl Godwin." 
 
 GOFR (Welsh.) (7o/, a smith. 
 
 GOLBURK (Cor. Br.) Local. The holy weU. 
 
 GrOLDSMITH. A name of trade; formerly in England, a 
 banker. 
 
 GOLLY or GOLLAH. Local. (Cor. Br.) The bottom, or 
 low place. 
 
 GOOD ALL. Good-hall, a fine hall or mansion ; or good-ale. 
 
 GOODENOUGH. The same as Godenot or Godeno' (which 
 see). 
 
 GOODHUE. Compounded of good and Hugh. Good-Hugh. 
 
 GOODRICH. (Saxon.) Goderich, from God, God or good, 
 and ric, rich ; rich in God, or in goodness. 
 
 GOODYEAR, GOODSIR, GOODSIRB. It is not difficult to 
 
 derive these. 
 GOOKIISr. (Gaelic.) From Gugan, a bud, flower^ a daisy. 
 
144 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 GORDON. Gurtduine, G-aelic, a fierce man ; Gwrddyn, 
 Welsh, a strong man ; Cawrdyn, Welsh, a hero, a giant. 
 
 Some have derived the Gordons from Gordima, in Thessaly; 
 others say they are descendants of the Gorduni mentioned 
 by Caesar in his Commentaries. The name appears to be 
 local, and may be derived from a tovm in France of that 
 name, in the Department of Lot It signifies in GaeHc the 
 round hill, or the hill that smrounds, firom Gour^ round, 
 and duUj a hill or fort. 
 
 GORING- Local. A battle field, a bloody place, fi:om gore, 
 bloody, and ing. A place in Sussex, England ; an angle, a 
 corner. 
 
 GORMAN- A native of Germany, the same as Germain (which 
 see). 
 
 GORTEN. Local (Gaelia) From Gairtean, a garden, a 
 small piece of arable land enclosed. Gortan^ signifies a hun- 
 gry, stingy, penurious fellow, 
 
 GOSPATRICK. Corrupted from the Latin " Comes Patri- 
 cius," " Count Patrick," a title given to the Earl of March, 
 of Scotland. 
 
 GOSS. (Saxon.) A goose, from Gos, a goose. 
 
 GOUDY. Local From Gouda, a town in the Netherlands, 
 in South Holland. 
 
 GOUPIL. (Fr.) An obsolete French word for fox. 
 
 GOW or GO WAN. (GaeUc.) A smith. The Gowan or 
 smith of a Highland clan was held in high estimation. His 
 skill in the manufacture of military weapons was usually 
 united with great dexterity in using them, and with the 
 strength of body which his profession required. 
 
 The Gowan usually ranked as third officer in the chiefs house- 
 hold. 
 
 GOWER. Local (Welsh.) Gwyr, a place in Glamorgan- 
 shire, a place inclosed round, encircled. This peninsula is 
 mostly suiTOunded by the sea and rivers. , 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 14^ 
 
 G-RACE. Originally Le Gros [" the fat or large"], a name given 
 to Raymond, one of the adherents of Strongbow, who was 
 the ancestor of the family in Ireland; 
 
 GEAHAM, GRiEMB, GRIMES. From the Anglo Saxon 
 Qrim^ Dutch, Qrim^ Germ., Grimm^ Welsh, grrni^ Gaelic, 
 
 . gruaim^ surly, sullen, dark, having a fierce and stern look, 
 courageous. 
 
 GRANGER. (Saxon.) One who superintended a large farm 
 or Grange. 
 
 GRANT. On this name Playfair remarks that it may be de- 
 rived from the Saxon, Irish, or French. 
 
 " In the Saxon, Grant signifies crooked or howed. Thus Camfi- 
 bridge, the town and University in England so called, signi- 
 fies a crooked bridge, or rather a bridge upon Cam River, 
 or the crooked and winding river. 
 
 " The Saxons called this town Grant Bridge, Cam in the Brit- 
 ish, and Grant in the Saxon, being of the same signification, 
 crooked. 
 
 "So Mons GrampMus, ihe Grampian HUI, was called by the 
 Saxons Granz Ben, or the crooked hill, but we can not see 
 how from this Saxon word the surname should be borrowed. 
 
 " In the old Irish, Grandha signifies ugly, ill-favored. Grande 
 signifies dark or swarthy. Grant and Ciar signify much 
 the same thing, or are synonymous words, and there being 
 a tribe of the Grants called Olan Chiaran, it is the same as 
 Clan Grant. Thus the surname might have been taken 
 fi-om a progenitor that was Chiar or Grant, that is to say, a 
 swarthy or gray-headed man, and, though, in time, Grant 
 became the common and prevailing surname, yet some al- 
 ways retained the other name, CMaran, and are called Clan 
 Chiaran. In the French Grand signifies great, brave, val- 
 orous, and fi:om thence many are inclined to think that 
 the surname Grant is taken firom Grand, which in the 
 Irish is sounded short, and thereby the letter d at the 
 end of the word is changed into t, and thus Grand into 
 7 
 
146 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 Chrant. The surname, it seems, was thus understood in 
 England about five hundred years ago, for Richard Grant 
 was made Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1229, and 
 is, in Mr. Anderson's Genealogical Tables, as well as by 
 others, expressly called Richard Grant. But the English 
 historians of that time, writing in Latin, call him Richardus 
 Magnus^ which plainly shows that they took Grant to be- 
 the same with the French Gfrand^ and the Latin Magmus, 
 To which let us add, that in the old writs, the article the 
 is put before the surname Grants 
 
 GRAtTYILLE. Local (Fr.) A town in France on the Eng- 
 hsh channel, Orande-viUe — the great town or city. De 
 Orandville. 
 
 GRASSE. . Local. From Grasse, a town in Piedmont, France. 
 De Grasse. 
 
 GRAY. Local. A town in Burgundy, France, on the banks 
 of the Saone. Rollo, Chamberlain to Robert, Duke of Nor- 
 mandy, received from him the castle and honor of Croy, in 
 Picardy, whence his family assumed the name of Be Croy, 
 afterward changed into De Gray. 
 
 GREELY. Local. Probably the same as GreUey or De Grel- 
 ley, from GreiUy, in France. Leland, in his Roll of Battel 
 Abbey, includes this name with those who came into Eng- 
 land with WiUiam the Conqueror. Gh'ele, French, slender, 
 slim, delicate. 
 
 GREENOUGH and GREENO'. Local. The green MIL 
 
 GREER. A corruption of Gregor. Gilbert McGregor, second 
 son of Malcom, Laird of McGregor, who settled at Nithes- 
 dale, Dumfries Co., Scotland, in 1374, left issue, who as- 
 sumed the short appellation of Greer. Welsh, Grewr, a 
 herdsman. 
 
 GREGOR. (Gaelic.) From Greigh a herd (Latin Grex), and 
 fear a man, a herdsman. In the Cornish British Gryger or 
 Gruger signifies a partridge. 
 
or FAMILY NAMES. 14*7 
 
 GREGORY. From the Greek TpTJyopog, watchful. It may- 
 be derived from Gregor, as some of the Clan M'Gregor 
 changed their name to Gregory, when the clan was pro- 
 scribed and outlawed. 
 
 GREIG. (Welsh.) From Cryg, hoarse. 
 
 GREY. See Gray. 
 
 GREW. (Br. and Welsh.) A crane. 
 
 GRIER. A contraction of Gregor, the same as Greer (which 
 see). 
 
 GRIERSON. The son of Greer or Gregor; the same as 
 McGregor. 
 
 GRIFFESr. A name given to a noted man, whose qualities or 
 disposition, in some respects, resembled this fabulous crea- 
 ture. Griffwn, in Welsh, is applied to a man having a 
 crooked nose, like a hawk's bill. Gryffyn, in the Cornish 
 British, signijaes " io give'"' It may be the same as Griffith. 
 
 GRIFFITH. (Welsh and Cor. Br.) One who has strong 
 faith, from Oryf, Welsh, strong, andj^cZ, faith. 
 
 GRIMSBY. Local. A borough in Lincokishire, England, on 
 the Humber, so named from the appearance of the place or 
 the character of the people. Grim, Saxon, fierce, rough, 
 ugly, and %, a town — or the village or town of Grimm, the 
 owner or founder. 
 
 GRINELL. (Fr.) Local. From Grenelle, a town in France. 
 
 GRISSELL. Chisyl, in the Cor. Br., signifies sharp, keen; 
 Griis or Grys, in the Dutch, is gray; grissel, gray-haired. 
 Grizzle is the old famihar abbreviation of the name Griselda. 
 
 GROESBECK. (Dutch.) Local. Derived from the town of 
 Groesbeck in Holland, so called from Groot, great, and heck, 
 a brook. 
 
 GROOT or GROAT. (Dutch.) Local. Large, great, the 
 great man. Gfroot is also a name of a town in Holland, 
 whence the surname may be derived — the great town, 
 De Groot. 
 
148 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 GROSCUP. (Ger.) From gross, big, and hopf, head— big- 
 head. 
 
 GROSYENOR. A great hunter or the grand huntsman, from 
 the French Crros vmeur. The ancestor of the family as- 
 sumed the name from holding the office of grand huntsman 
 to the Dukes of Normandy. 
 
 GROYER. Groover J Oraver, one who carves or engraves. 
 
 GUELPH. A wolf; the surname of the present Royal Family 
 of England. We have the following amusing tradition of 
 the origin of the royal house of Ouelph : 
 
 " It is told in the chronicles' that as far back as the days of 
 Charlemagne, one Count Isenbrand, who resided near the 
 Lake of Constance, met an old woman who had given birth 
 to three children at once, a circumstance which appeared to 
 him so portentous and unnatural that he assailed her with a 
 torrent of abuse. Stung to fury by his insults, she cursed 
 the Count, and wished that his wife, then enciente, might 
 bring at a birth as many children as there are months in 
 the year. The imprecation was fulfilled, and the countess 
 became the mother of a dozen babes at once. Dreading the 
 vengeance of her severe lord, she bade her maid go drown 
 eleven of the twelve. But whom should the girl meet while 
 on this horrible errand but the Count himself, who, suspect- 
 ing that all was not right, demanded to know the contents 
 of the basket. * Welfen,^ was the intrepid reply (i. e., the 
 old German term for puppies or young wolves). Dissatis- 
 fied with this explanation, the Count lifted up the cloth, and 
 found under it eleven bonny infants nestled together. Their 
 unblemished forms reconciled the scrupulous knight, and he 
 resolved to recognize them as his lawful progeny. Thence- 
 forward, their children and their descendants went by the 
 name of Chielph or Welf.'' 
 
 GUEY. Welsh, Gwiw, good, excellent. 
 
 GTJIAR. (Spanish.) A guide. 
 
 GUIOT. The son of Guy; a guide. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 149 
 
 GUISCHARD or GUISCAED. (Nor.) A wUy or crafty man, 
 a shifter. 
 
 GUNTER. Supposed to be the same as IngulphiLs, from In 
 and goipe, Belgic, to swallow down, to devour. The 
 name may be local, and given to a native of Gaunt or 
 Ghent. 
 
 GUNN or GOON. (Br.) Local. From Gun, a plain, a down 
 or common ; Welsh, gwaen. 
 
 " A person whose name was G-unn complained to a friend that 
 his attorney, in his bill, had not let him off easily. ' That's 
 no wonder,' said his friend, ' as he charged you too high /' 
 But this is not so good as" an entry in the custom-house 
 books of Edinburgh, where it appears that '^,' meaning 
 Alexander — ^A. Gunn was discharged for making a false 
 report /' " — ^Lower. 
 
 Lower also tells us of a German named Feuerstein (fire-stone — 
 the German for flint) who settled in the West when the 
 French population prevailed in that quarter. His name, 
 therefore, was changed into French Pierre d Fusil, but in 
 the course of time, the Anglo-American race became the 
 prevalent one, and Pierre d Fusil was again changed into 
 Peter Gun. 
 
 GUNNING. Belonging to Gunn, the son of Gunn. 
 
 GUNSALUS. Goncalez, the son of Goncale, the supposed 
 founder of Castile. Gonzales, Spanish; Gonsalves (Port.)^ 
 consolation, in safety, in salvation. 
 
 GURDIN. (Welsh.) A strong man, from gwrdd, strong, and 
 dyn, a man ; also, gwyrdd-din, the green hill or inclosure. 
 
 GURNEY. Local. From the town of Gournay, in Nor- 
 mandy. 
 
 GURR. G^r, in Welsh, signifies a man or husband. 
 
 GUTHRIE. Warlike, powerful in war, from guth, Saxon, war. 
 Guthmor, Gaelic, loud-voiced. Guthrie, a town in Scotland, 
 Gutric, Gotric, Gotricus, rich in goodness, rich in God. 
 
150 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 GI-UY. A term given in Graul to the mistletoe, or cure-all; also 
 a guide, a leader or director, from Guia^ Sp. and Port. 
 
 G-WYNNE, aUINEE, and WIISTNE. (Welsh.) From Qwyn, 
 white. 
 
 G-Y. Local A town of France. Oye, to guide. 
 
 HACKER. (Dutch.) A chopper, a cleaver, hewer; figura- 
 tively, a brave soldier. Danish, JSdhker, to cut in pieces, to 
 chop, to hoe. Hekher, a hedge, from hehhe, a hedge, a pro- 
 tection, place of security. 
 
 HADLEY. Local. A town of Suffolk, and also of Essex, 
 England, from houdf, a wood, and ley, a place or field. 
 
 HAFF. (G-er.) A sea, bay, or gulf; in Cor. Br., Hdf, summer. 
 Sbfj G-er,, a court; Sqf, Welsh, dear, beloved. 
 
 HAGADORK (Dutch.) Local Hawtl.orn. 
 
 HAGAR. Sdgar, Hebrew, a stranger ; one fearing. Hygar^ 
 in the Welsh, is amiable, pleasing. Hegar, Cor. Br., lovely; 
 also, a bondman, a slave. ^Aigher, Gaelic, gladness, joy, 
 mirth. 
 
 HAINEAH. Local. From Hameau, a city of Hesse Cassel, 
 Germany. 
 
 HAINES or HAYNES. Camden derives the name from Am- 
 ulph, and that from Ana, alone, and ulph. Sax., help, that is 
 one who needs not the assistance of others. Hdine, a river 
 in Belgium. Haine, Fr., signifies malicious, fuU of hatred. 
 Hain, German, a wood, forest, thicket, grove. 
 
 HAINSWORTH and HAYNSWORTH. (Anglo-Saxon.) 
 Local. The farm or place in the forest or grove, from haine, 
 German and Saxon, a wood, and worth, a place inclosed, 
 cultivated. British and Welsh, the estate on the river. 
 
 HALDEN. Local A contraction of Haledon, a place in 
 Northumberland, England, from the Saxon halig, holy, and 
 dun, a hill ; a place where Oswald got the victory of Cad- 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 151 
 
 ■waUader, the Briton, and from this circumstance was called 
 the Holy Hill, and also the Heavenly Field. 
 
 HALE, HAYLE, or HAL. (Welsh.) A moor; also, Hayh, a 
 salt-water river. 
 
 HALES. Local. From a village in Grloucestershire, and also a 
 tovm in Norfolk, England. In Cor. Br., it signifies low, 
 level lands washed by a river or the sea ; a moor. Playfair 
 says, " The word Hales is a compound one, being formed of 
 the Saxon Hale or Heile, strong, healthy, and ley, etc. 
 Others derive it from Halig, Saxon, holy. 
 
 HALIFAX. (Sax.) Local. From the city of Halifax, in York- 
 shire, England, so called from Halig, holy, and faex, hair — 
 holy hair ; from the sacred hair of a certain virgin whom a 
 clerk beheaded because she would not comply with his de- 
 sires. She was afterward canonized. From this circum- 
 stance, the village was also called Horton, from Haer, Sax., 
 hair, and ton, a town. 
 
 HALKETT. The name of Halkett, in the writs of the family, 
 is promiscuously written " de Hawkhead'* and " de Halkett." 
 It is territorial or local, and was assumed by the proprietor 
 of the lands and barony of Hawkshead, in Renfrewshire, as 
 soon as surnames became hereditary in Scotland. 
 
 HALLAM. From Hall, Welsh, salt, and ham, a house or vil- 
 lage, from its manufacture in that place, or being situated 
 near the salt water. It may be derived from Hal or Hayle, 
 a moor, and ham, — ^the house on the moor. Halham, the 
 house on the hill, from Hal, Cornish British, a hill. 
 
 HALLER. (Grer.) From Holler, a man belonging to a salt- 
 work. 
 
 HALLETT. Little Hal, or Henry, the diminutive termination 
 ett being added, as Willett, EUett. 
 
 HALLIDAY. " Holy-day." It is said this name had its ori- 
 gin in the Slogan, or war-cry of a G-aeKc clan residing in 
 Annandale, who made frequent raids on the English border. 
 On these occasions they employed the war-cry of " A holy- 
 
162 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 day," every day, in their estimation, being holy, that was 
 spent in ravaging the enemy's country. 
 
 HALLO WELL. HolyweU. 
 
 HALPEK (Welsh.) The head of the moor or salt river. 
 Gaehc, Alpin, the highest land, peak of a moimtain, from 
 Alp and hen. 
 
 HALSE. Local. (Dutch.) Rals, the neck, a narrow tract of 
 land, projecting from the main body. 
 
 HALSEY. Local. From Hals, and ey or ig, Saxon, an island, 
 water, the sea ; the neck on the water, or running into the 
 sea. The island neck. 
 
 HALSTEAD. Local A town in Essex, England, from Bals, 
 as given above, and sted, a place. Hoisted, £t town in North 
 Jutland, that is, the low place ; Hoi, Dutch, hollow, and stead, 
 a place : a house or town in a hollow place. 
 
 HAM. Local. A house, borough, or village, the termination 
 of many names of places in England ; German, heim, a home ; 
 France. 
 
 HAMILTON. Originally BamUeton, from the manor of Ham- 
 bleton, in Buckinghamshire. William, third son of Eobert, 
 ' third Earl of Leicester, took that surname from the place of 
 liis birth, as above. He was the founder of the family of 
 that name in Scotland, whither he went about the year 
 1215. The name is derived from HameU, a mansion, the 
 seat of a freeholder, and dun, an enclosure, a fortified place, 
 a town. 
 
 HAMLIN. Local. A corruption of Hammelme, which was 
 taken from Hamekn, a town on the river Weser, Germany. 
 Hamelin, a town in Scotland, so called from Ham, a house 
 or village, and lin, a waterfall, a small lake or pond. 
 
 HAMMEL. (Armoric.) A house, a close, a place of rest, a 
 home. Hamle, a river in Brunswick, Germany. 
 
 HAMMOND. Hamrmount, the town or house on the eleva- 
 tion. It may come from Hamon. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. , 158 
 
 HAMOK (Heb.) Faithful 
 
 HAMPTOK Local. The town on the hill; a village in Mid- 
 dlesex, England. 
 
 HANNA. Local. From Hanan, a strong city in Hesse Cassel, 
 Germany. Hana, Saxon, a cock j figuratively, a leader, a 
 chief man. 
 
 HANDEL. (Danish.) Trade, commerce; to trade, trafl&c; 
 handel, Dutch, traffic, commerce, mechanic art, profession, 
 business, or employment. 
 
 HANDSEL. (Danish.) To deliver into the hand. An earnest 
 money for the first sale. A New Year's gift. 
 
 HANFORD. Local. (Welsh.) From hen, old, and ford, a 
 way; "the old way." 
 
 HANHAM. (Welsh.) Hen, old, and Saxon, ham, a town; 
 that is, the old town. 
 
 HANKS. A nurse -name, or an abbreviation of John, the "s" 
 being added for '' son ;" so " Sims," and " Gibbs," etc. 
 
 HANLEY. Local. From the town of Hanley, in Shropshire. 
 The old place or field, from Hen or Han, old, and ley, a 
 place, a common. 
 
 HANSEL. Local. (Saxon.) A firee market or hall, from Mwwse 
 or han^e, a society, hansa, G-othic, a multitude, and sel, a hall. 
 
 HANSON. The son of Hans or John, same as Johnson. 
 Bailey derives it from Han, the .diminutive of Randall, the 
 son of Randall. 
 
 HANWAY. A native of HainauU, which country was called 
 
 Hanway, in the time of Henry VIIL 
 HARCOURT. Local. From the lordship of Harcourt, in 
 
 Normandy. Har, from Saxon Here, an army, and court. 
 HARDESTG. Local. Har, from here, an army, and ing, a 
 
 meadow or common. The place where an army was 
 
 encamped. 
 
164 ETjTMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 HARDY. (Fr.) Bold, free, noble. 
 
 HARGILL. Local. Hartgill, a small river in England. " The 
 deer-brook." 
 
 HARGrRAVE. Saxon. The provider or commissary of an 
 army, from Here or Har^ an army, and grave^ a steward or 
 disposer. 
 
 HARLEY, HARLEIGH, and HARLOW. Local. From a 
 town in Essex, England; the place of the army. From 
 jBere, Saxon, an army, and Zey, a place, a field. 
 
 ' HARM AN, says Verstegan, " should rightly be Heartman, to 
 wit, a man of heart and courage." Probably the same as 
 Herman, from Here, an army, and man, a soldier. 
 
 HAROLD. In old Anglo Saxon, signifies " The love of the 
 army." From Har, an army, and hold, love. 
 
 HARRINGTOK Local From the parish of Harrmgton, in 
 Cumberland, corrupted from Haverington, so called from 
 Haver, Dutch, Hdber, Teut., oats, ing, a field, and ton. The 
 town in or surrounded by oat fields. 
 
 HARRIS, HARRISOK, and HERRIES. The son of Henry. 
 
 HARROWER. The subduer; from the French harrier, to 
 harrass ; — and this, perhaps, from the Anglo Saxon, hergian, 
 to conquer or subdue ;— -one who harrows the ground. 
 
 HARTFIELD. Local The deer field. 
 
 HARTGILL. Same as Hargill (which see). 
 
 HARTSHORN. The horn of the hart or male deer ; an em- 
 blem or sign over a shop or inn, whence the name, " WiU at 
 the Hartshorn.^' 
 
 HARTWELL. Local. From a village in Buckingham, Eng- 
 land, noted for being some years the residence of Louis 
 XVIII. The well or spring frequented by deer. 
 
 HARVEY. (Sax.) From here, an army, and wic, a fort. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 165 
 
 HASBROUCK. Local. Derived Jfrom the town of EdzebroucJc, 
 
 in the province of Artois, France. 
 
 HASCALL or HASKELL. (Welsh.). From hasg, a place of 
 rushes, or sedgy place, and hall or hayle, a moor. " The 
 sedgy place." AsgaU, in the GaeHc, signifies a sheltered 
 place, a retreat, and with the addition of the aspirate " H," 
 might make the name. 
 
 HASWELL. (Dutch or Grerm.) Rasveldt, from Base, a river 
 in Westphaha, and veldt, a field, corrupted into well; or 
 from Wald, Glerman, a wood or forest, — the forest on the 
 Hase. The name may also signify the misty place, or the 
 Wild or field of hares, from Haas, Dutch, a hare. 
 
 HASTIN[GS. Local. Derived from the borough of Hastings, 
 in Sussex, England, which is memorable for the landing of 
 WilHam the Conqueror, and defeat and death of Harold IL,. 
 in 1066. 
 
 Camden derives this name from one Hastings, a Dane, a great 
 robber, who either seized, or built, or fortified it. Somnerus 
 derives it fi-om the Saxon haeste, heat, because of the bub- 
 bling or boihng of the sea in that place ; but as haste appHes 
 rather to voluntary beings, as men and other animals, the 
 name more correctly signifies one who hurries, presses, 
 drives; vehemency, quickness of motion. 
 
 HATCH. Local. A kind of door or floodgate. These ancient 
 stops or hatches consisted of sundry great stakes and piles 
 erected by fishermen in the river Thames or other streams, 
 for their better convenience of securing fish. Also, a term 
 for gates leading to deer-parks or forests. 
 
 HATHAWAY. Local Derived from Port Haethwy, in 
 Wales. 
 
 HATFIELD. Local. From a town in Hertfordshire, also in 
 Essex and Yorkshire, England. Bailey says it is fi'om Saij 
 hot. Sax., and Jield — ^from the hot sandy soil. Houtfield, the 
 
X6Q ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 field in ike wood, from hout, Dutch, a wood. Perhaps the 
 same as Heathfield. 
 
 HATHORN. Local A dwelling near hawthorns. 
 
 HATTON. Local A town in Warwickshire, England. The 
 town on the height ; haut, Fr., high. Haughton, the town 
 in the meadow or vale. Soudt-ton, Dutch, the town in the 
 wood. Shortly after the Conquest, Hugh Montfort's second 
 son, Richard, being Lord of Hatton in Warwickshire, took 
 the name of Hatton. 
 
 HAUGrH. Local. A httle meadow lying in a vaUey. 
 
 HAYEMEYER. (Danish and Dutch.) A garden-master. 
 
 HA YENS. From Edvm, a harbor. 
 
 HAYERILL. Local. Derived from the town of Haverill, in 
 Suffolk, England, so named from the Dutch Saver ; Teut., 
 Saber, oats, and MM. 
 
 HAW and HA WES. (Sax.) Saeg, a small inclosure near a 
 house, a haugh, a close. The name of a town in England. 
 
 HAWLEY. Prom Baw, a hedge, Saxon, haeg, a small piece 
 of ground near a house, a close, a place where hawthorns 
 grow, and ley, a field or meadow. 
 
 HAY. A hedge, an inclosure, to inclose, fence in, a protection, 
 a place of safety. In Dutch, Haag ; Sax., Hege; G-er., 
 Heck; Danish, HeJcJce; Swedish, Hagn; Fr., Haie ; Welsh, 
 Cae; Gaelic, Ca; Cor, Br., Hay. 
 
 " In the reign of Kenneth III. (says Douglass), about 980, the 
 Danes having invaded Scotland, were encountered by that 
 king, near Loncarty, in Perthshire. The Scots at first gave 
 way, and fled through a narrow pass, where they were 
 stopped by a countryman of great strength and courage, and 
 his two sons, with no other weapons than the yokes of their 
 plows. Upbraiding the fugitives for their cowardice, he 
 succeeded in rallying them ; the battle was renewed, and 
 the Danes totally discomfited. It is said, that after the 
 victory was obtained, the old man, lying on the ground 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 16t 
 
 wounded and fatigued, cried '-Say, -Say,' which word be- 
 came the surname of his posterity. The king, as a reward 
 for that signal service, gave him as much land in the Carse 
 of Growrie as a falcon should fly over before it settled ; and 
 a falcon being accordingly let off, flew over an extent of 
 ground six miles in length, afterward called Errol, and 
 lighted on a stone still called Fahonstone or Hawkstone" 
 
 HAYCOCK. A name probably given to a foundling exposed 
 in a hayfield. 
 
 HAYDEN and HAYD YN. Local. Heyden, a town of Den- 
 mark; a place built, made, inclosed, or cultivated, from 
 daane^ Danish, to form, to fashion, to make, cultivate. 
 
 HAYFORD. -Say, an inclosure, and /orcZ, away — ^the road or 
 way inclosed, or the way through the inclosure or park. 
 
 HAYM-AN". (Sax.) A high man, or may be the same as 
 Hayward (which see). 
 
 HAYNE or HAYNES. (See Haine.) 
 
 HAYN^R. (Ger.) From Hech or Hohe, high, and narr, a 
 fool, a jester, a merry fellow, king's fool. Perhaps, like Q-eorge 
 Buchanan, who was so called, a wise and learned man. 
 
 HAYNSWORTH. (See Hainsworth.) 
 
 HAYWARD. Anciently in England the keeper of the com- 
 mon herd or cattle of a town, from the Saxon hieg, hay, and 
 ward, a keeper. 
 
 HAZARD. (Br.) From ard, nature, and has, high — of high 
 disposition, proud, independent. 
 
 HAZELRiaa. Local. The hazel-ridge. 
 
 HAZBLWOOD. Local. A wood where hazel-nuts grow. 
 
 HAZEN or HASEN. (Dan.) A hare. 
 
 HEAD. Anciently written Hede or Hide. Probably from the 
 place written Hede or Hide in Doomsday Book, now Hithe^ 
 in Kent, England, where the earhest traces of the Head 
 family are found. From the Anglo-Saxon Mthej a harbor, 
 a shelter for boats. 
 
168 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 HEATON. (Saxon.) Local The high town or hill, from 
 Hea^ high, and ton. 
 
 HEBER. (Heb.) Derived either from Heber^ one of the an- 
 cestors of Abraham, or from the Hebrew word e&er, which 
 signifies " from the other side," that is, foreigners. 
 
 HECKER. (Dan.) Hekker^ a hedger, from hekke, a hedge, a 
 protectioiL 
 
 HEDD. (Welsh.) Peace ; JiaiM, barley. 
 
 HEDGES. Local. A fence of thorn-bushes; a thicket of 
 shrubs ; an inclosure of shrubs or small trees. 
 
 HEDON. Local From a town in England of the same name 
 — the high town. 
 
 HELLIER or HILLIER. In the dialect of Dorsetshire, Eng- 
 land, signifies a thatcher or tiler. 
 
 HELLING-. Local BeUan, in the Welsh, signifies the elms — 
 the place of elms. Hdling^ m the Dutch, means a slope or 
 declivity. 
 
 HELMER or ELMER. Contracted from Ethehner, noble, re- 
 nowned. Holmer^ the low, shallow pond or lake, from Eo\ 
 Sax., low, and mer, a pond. Halemer, Cor. Br., the lake in 
 the moor, or the salt water. 
 
 HENDERSON. The son of Hendrik or Henry. 
 
 HENLEY. Local. From a market-town in Oxfordshire, also 
 a town in Warwickshire, England. From Hen^ old, and fey, 
 a field or common. 
 
 HENRY. Yerstegan derives this name from MnncTc, ever 
 rich; others from Herrick, rich lord or master; Camden, 
 from the Latin Sonoricus, honorable. Kilian writes it 
 Heynrich — ^Heymrick, i. e., rich at home. 
 
 HERBERT. (Sax.) From Bere, a soldier, and heorM, bright 
 — an expert soldier, or the glory of an army; famous in 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 169 
 
 HERIOT. A provider of furniture for an army. A fine paid 
 
 to a lord at the death of a landlord. 
 HERISSON. Local. From a town by that name in France. 
 
 HERMAN. (Sax.) From Here, an army, and man. A man 
 of the army ; a soldier. Here and Hare signify both an 
 army and lord. 
 
 HERMANCE. (Germ.) A ruler. Heermensch^ Dutch, a 
 master, from Heer, a master, lord, or ruler, and mensch, a 
 man. 
 
 HERNDOK Local. From Heme, a cottage, and den, a val- 
 ley. The cottage in the vaUey. 
 
 HERNE. May come from the Saxon Hern, a cottage. 
 
 HERNSHAW. Local. From hern, a kind of fowl, a hem, and 
 shaw, a shady inclosure, a place where herns breed. 
 
 HERON. (Welsh.) A hero. 
 
 HERR. (G-erman.) Sire, lord, master. 
 
 HERRICK. The same as Erick or Erricks (which see). 
 
 HERRING-. Hirring, a town in the Diocese of Alburg, Den- 
 mark. 
 
 HERSEY. Local. From Herseavtx, in the Netherlands. 
 
 HEYDEN. Local. From a town in Westphalia, also a town 
 of the same name in South Jutland, Denmark. 
 
 HEYMAN or HAYMAN. (Sax.) A high man. 
 
 HEWER, HUER, and EUER. A person stationed on the 
 sea-shore, to watch and notify the fishermen of the shoals 
 of fish ; from the Saxon, Earian, to show. 
 
 HEWIT. The son of Hugh. 
 
 HIBBARD. Same as Hubbard and Hubert (which see). 
 
 HICCOCK. The son of Hig or Hugh ; cock signifying Um,-— 
 
 6* 
 
160 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 little Hig. It may be a corruption of Haycock (which 
 see). 
 HICKS. Hig(s) or Hick(s). The son of Hugh. Hig or Hick 
 being a common nick-name for Hugh. Hick, in the Dutch, 
 signifies a simpleton. 
 
 HICKEY. The Hukci, GwycM, a word signifying valiant 
 men, anciently possessed Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and 
 a part of Grloucestershire, England. 
 
 HIERNE. (Dan.) Local An angle, a comer. 
 
 HIGGESTBOTTOM. A corruption of the German name, Ich- 
 enhaum, that is, oak-tree. 
 
 HIGaiNS. Little Hig or Hugh ; the son of Hugh ; from Hig, 
 and the patronymic termination ings; belonging to, or the 
 son of. 
 
 HILDYARD and HILYARD. Anciently Hildheard. HUd, in 
 Saxon, is a hero or heroine, as Hildebert, illustrious hero, 
 and heard, in the same language, a pastor or keeper. 
 
 HINCKLEY. Local. From Hinckley, a town in Leicester- 
 shire, England. 
 
 HINDMAN and HINMAN. A domestic, a servant; one who 
 has the care of herds. 
 
 HINDON or HINTOK Local A borough in Wiltshire, 
 England. Welsh, Henton, the old town, from Hen, old. 
 
 HIPPISLEY. Local From the Saxon Hiope, a hip-berry, 
 or wood-rose, and ley, a field. 
 
 HIPWOOD. Local The wood where sweet-briars or roses 
 grow. 
 
 HITCHENS. Local A town in Hertfordshire, England. 
 
 HO AG. (Welsh.) Low in stature, small 
 
 HOARE. White, hoar, gray. 
 
 HOBART. The same as Hubert (which see). 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 161 
 
 HOBBS. From Hob^ the nick-name for Robert. 
 
 HOBBY. (Dan.) Local. Erom hob^ a herd, and %, a town ; 
 the town of herds or flocks. 
 
 HOBKrN"S. From Hoh^ Eobert, and the patronymic termina- 
 tion hiTis ; the same as Robertson or Hobson. 
 
 HOBSOK The son of Hob, or Robert. 
 
 HODD. From the Dutch Ebudt, a wood; the same as Hood. 
 
 HODGrB. The same as Roger, which signifies quiet or strong 
 
 counsel. 
 HODGrES. From Hodge, a nick-name of Roger, the " s" being 
 
 added for son. 
 
 HODGrEKINS. From Hodge, as above, and the patronymic 
 termination Tdns ; — changed now to HotchMss. 
 
 HODSOK The son of Hod or Hodge. 
 
 HOE. (Welsh.) A state of rest, a stay ; ease, quiet. Hoh, 
 Saxon, the heel. Local, Haut, Fr., high, the top, summit, 
 noisy, proud, haughty. 
 
 HOFF. (Danish and Dutch.) A court, residence, palace. 
 HOFFMAN". (Dutch.) From Hoofdman, a captain, a director, 
 
 head or chief man. Hofmxm, from Hof, a court — the man 
 
 of the court. 
 HOG-ANT. In the Cornish, mortal, in the Gaelic, a young man, 
 
 from " O^r," young. Hogyn, Welsh, a stripling. 
 HOGARTH. (Dutch.) From hoogli, high, and aerd, nature 
 
 or disposition. 
 HOGG. Same as Hoag (which see). 
 HOGGEL. From the Norman, HugeT, a hill. 
 HOLBECH. Local. A place in the county of Lincoln, Eng- 
 land ; the low brook, or the brook in the ravine or hoUow. 
 
 Holzheck, the brook in the wood. 
 HOLCOMBE, or HOLTCOMBE. Local (Saxon.) A woody 
 
 vale, fi-om IIoU or EuUz, a wood, and ccw»6e, a valley. 
 
162 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 HOLDEN. (Danish.) Safe, entire, wealthy; a safe place 
 held, protected, defended. 
 
 HOLLAND. Local. A name given to a native of that coun- 
 try, w^hich was so called from Hollow-land, because it 
 abounds with ditches full of water. BaUey is of opinion that 
 the Danes who conquered Holland, so called it from an 
 island in the Baltic of the same name, from ol, beer, drink. 
 Why not from Hold land, the land taken and kept, held, 
 governed ? 
 
 HOLLENBECK. From Hollenbach a town on the Ehine, 
 
 Germany. 
 
 HOLMAN. A corruption of Allemand, a German, that is, a 
 mixture of all men, AUe-mann. 
 
 HOLME and HOLMES. Local. Meadow lands near or sur- 
 rounded by water, grassy plains ; sometimes an island. 
 
 HOLSAPPLE. Local. From Hoh, German, a wood, an 
 apple, or apfel, an orchard ; apple-trees in or near a wood. 
 
 HOLT. Local A small hanging wood, from Hultz, Dutch, 
 a wood; a peaked hiU covered with wood; a grove of 
 trees around a house. 
 
 HOLYWELL. Local. A place of importance in Flintshire, 
 Wales. Geraldus Cambrensis says that there was for- 
 merly near this place a rich mine of sUver. Wenefride's 
 Well, from which the name of Holy Well was given to this 
 place, springs from a rock at the foot of a steep hiU. The 
 well is an oblong square about twelve feet by seven. 
 
 HOME and HUME. Same as Holmes (which see). 
 HOMER. Greek, "Ofivpoc, a hostage, a pledge or security. 
 HONE. Welsh, Hoen, joy. Honan, the son of Hone. 
 HOMFRAY. From the French Homme-vrai, a true man. 
 JEOOD. (Sax.) Local From houdt, the wood. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 163 
 
 HOOaABOOM. (Dutch.) High-tree, from Hoog, high, and 
 hoom, tree, either local or expressive of stature. 
 
 HOOPER. A cooper. 
 
 HOOGSTRATEK (Dutch.) Local. High-street. 
 
 HOPE. Local. The side of a hill, or low ground between 
 hills. 
 
 HOPKINS. Little Robert, or the child of Robert. The same 
 as Hobkins (which see). 
 
 HOPPER. (Sax.) Eoppere, a dancer. 
 
 HORE. Hoar^ white, gray. Horr, Local a ravine. 
 
 HORKBLOWER. A musician, one that blows a horn. 
 
 HORTOIST. Local. A town in Yorkshire England — the hor- 
 rible town, or the town in the ravine, from Horr, a ravine. 
 
 HOSFORD. Local. From Ouseford, in England, the "o" 
 being aspirated — that is, the ford or way of the river Ouse. 
 
 HOSKINS or HASKINS. (Cor. Br.) From Beschen or Eds- 
 kyn, the place of rushes, the sedgy place. 
 
 HOTCHKISS. The same as HodgUns (which see). 
 
 HOTHAM. Assumed from the place of residence, Hotham in 
 Yorkshire, probably derived from the Saxon word Hod, a hood 
 or covering, and ham, a house, farm, or village, or a piece 
 of ground near a house or village, both of which terms are 
 apphcable to the situation of Hotham. Houtham signifies a 
 place at or near a wood, from the Dutch Hout, a wood. 
 
 HOUG-H. Local. A place so named in the county of liincoln, 
 England. Saxon and Dutch, Hoch, Hoog, and How, high. 
 
 HOUGHTAILINa. (Dutch.) From Eoofd, head or chief, 
 and telling, counting or teUing, that is, head clerk or account- 
 ant; a money-master, a money-collector. Hough, hauff^ 
 haife, a pUe, a lump; dell, to pay, give over. Sax., daeh,n; 
 Dutch, deelen; Ger., theilen, to separate, give, pay over. 
 
164 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 HOUQ-HTON. Local. A town in Lancashire, England. 
 Sax., from hoog, or hoch, high, and tow, a hill, castle, or 
 town. 
 
 HOUSE. A covering, a dwelling place, a mansion. 
 
 HOUSTON. Local From the parish of Houston, in Kenfrew- 
 shire, Scotland. There is an old tradition, that in the reign 
 of Malcolm IV., a.d. 1153, Hugh Padvinan obtaiaed a grant 
 of the barony of Kilpeter, from Baldwin of Biggar, sheriff 
 of Lanark, and hence caUed Hughstown, corrupted into 
 Houstoun. These Houstons were of great consideration in 
 - Eenfrewshire. ^ 
 
 HOWAED. WilHam, son of Roger Fitz Yalevine, took the 
 name of Howard from being born in the Castle of Howard, 
 in Wales, in the time of Henry I. Spelman derives How- 
 ard from Hof-ward, the keeper of a hall ; Yestegan, from 
 Hold-ward, the keeper of a stronghold; Camden, from 
 Hoc7i-ward, the high keeper. 
 
 HOWE or HOO. A high place, a hill; critically, a hill in a 
 valley. De La Sbwe, " from the hiU," was originally the 
 name of the family. They came to England with William 
 the Conqueror. (See AthilL) 
 
 HOWELL. (Cor. Br.) From Soul, the sun; Greek, "HA of, 
 
 JEuhill, high, exalted. 
 
 HOWLETT. A night-bird, an owL 
 
 HUBAJSTD. Anciently Subavde, from Bugh^ and baiide, bold- 
 Jo Zc? Hugh. 
 
 HUBBARD. (Anglo-Saxon.) A corruption of Hubert, i e., 
 bright form, fair hope. 
 
 HUBBELL. Local. From Hubha, a Danish chief, and hill — 
 Hubba's-hiU or HubhilL Hub means a heap or a lump, and 
 may indicate a small round hill on the summit of another. 
 
 HUBERT. Bright form, fair hope ; Saxon, hiewe, color, form, 
 beauty, and beort, bright. 
 
OF FAMILT NAMES. 16i5 
 
 HUCKSTER A corruption of De HoghsUpe—^^ from the high 
 
 steep." 
 
 HUDDLESTON. Local. From a small parish by that name 
 in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 
 
 HUDSON. The son of Hod or Roger. 
 
 HUGET. Little Hugh, the son of Hugh. 
 
 HUGGrlNS. The same as Higgins, from Hug, the nickname 
 for Hugh, and the patronymic termination ings, belonging 
 to, or the son of. 
 
 HUG-HES. The son of Hugh. Aventinus derives Hugh from 
 Hougen, that is, slasher or cutter. Alfred, in the year 900, 
 used Hugh to denote comfort. Hugh in the Graehc, is 
 Aoidh, which signifies affability, a guest, a stranger. Hu 
 suggests the idea of elevation ; Ho, Hu, highness. 
 
 HULET or HOWLET. A small owl. Heulaidd, Welsh, sun- 
 like; heuledd, sunshine. 
 
 HULL. Local. From the city of HuU, in Yorkshire, England, 
 which comes from the Teutonic or Saxon Hulen or Heulen, 
 to howl, from the noise the river Hull makes when it meets 
 there with the sea. HuU is an old word for a hill ; HuU, 
 Welsh, a rough, uneven place. 
 
 The city of Hull was anciently famous for its good government, 
 whence arose this old saying, called the Beggars' and Va- 
 grants' Litany : 
 
 "From Hell, HuU, and Halifax, 
 Grood Lord deliver us 1" 
 
 From HuU, because of the severe chastisement they met 
 with there, and from Halifax, for a law there instantly be- 
 heading with an engine, without any legal proceedings, 
 those who were taken in the act of stealing cloth — either 
 being probably more terrible than HeU itself. 
 
 HULSE. From the town and manor of Hulse, in G-reat Bud- 
 worth, Cheshire, England. Holtz, Ger., a wood. 
 
166 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONABY 
 
 HUMPHREY. (Anglo-Saxon.) From Hum/red, that is, 
 house-peace — a lovely and happy name. 
 
 HUNGERFORD. Local A market-town in Berkshire, Eng- 
 land, on the Kennet. Hunger's pass or way, so called from 
 Hunger, a celebrated Danish leader who invaded England. 
 
 HUNN. A native of Hungary, or from the Q-erman Hune^ a 
 giant; a Scythian. 
 
 HUNT or HONT. It occurs in Chaucer for huntsman. 
 
 HUNTINGTOK (Sax.) ^wwfer's-<^ow, the mount of hunters ; 
 the name of a shire and town in England. 
 
 HUNTLEY. Local. A town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland; the 
 hunting field. 
 
 HURD. (WelsL) From Hurdh, a ram. 
 
 HURST, (Saxon.) Local. A wood, a grove; finiit-bearing 
 
 trees. 
 HUSTED. Local. Hus, Sax., a house, and sted, a fixed place. 
 HUTCHINS. The child of Hugh. (See Hitchins.) 
 HUTCHINSON. The son of Hitchins or Hutchins. 
 BUTTON. Local A town in England; the high town. 
 
 Camden defines the name to signify a mutineer. Hutain, in 
 
 French, is haughty, proud. 
 HYDE. Local. A farm ; as much land as can be cultivated 
 
 with one plow; a town of Cheshire, England. Hyd, or 
 
 Sithe, a landing place, a haven, harbor. 
 
 IDE. The same as Hide or Hyde (which see), the "JS"" being 
 dropped in the pronunciation. Idea, a small town in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 ILSLEY. Local. Isle's-ley, the place on the island. 
 
 INCLEDON. Local. Ingleton, the beacon hill, the fire-hill, 
 or hiU of alarm, so named from an ancient custom of kind- 
 ling a fire on an eminence, as a signal of invasion or danger. 
 
OP FAMILY KAMES. 167 
 
 ING-E. Ing, Saxon, a pasture, a meadow or watering place, 
 low ground. Danish, Eng, a meadow, meadow ground, 
 pasture ; a place near a river. Welsh, Ing, narrow, a strait 
 
 mGLEBY or INGOLDSBY. Local. Inglesly, the town of 
 the English, or Angles ; perhaps the town was first named 
 at the time the Angles first invaded Britain. Ing-gil-by, 
 Saxon, the town near the brook in the narrow valley. A 
 town in Lincolnshire, England. 
 
 INGLIS or INGLES. The name was given in Scotland, to 
 distinguish the family of some Enghsh settler. The Eng- 
 lishman. In the ancient records of the family the namo 
 Anglicus is often mentioned. 
 
 INGHAM. Local. The town on the low ground, meadow or 
 pasture. 
 
 INGRAHAM or INGRAM. (Ger.) Camden derives this 
 name from Engelramus, from JEJngel, Saxon, angel, and retre, 
 purity. Pure as an angel. 
 
 INNIS or INNES. The same as Ennis (which see). This 
 family is of great antiquity in Scotland, and derives its sur- 
 name from the lands of Innis, a word supposed to be de- 
 rived from the GaeUc Inch, an island, part of that barony 
 being an island, formed by the two branches of a stream 
 running through the estate. 
 
 IPRES. Local. A town in the Netherlands, and has its name 
 from the small river Yperlee on which it stands. 
 
 IRELAND. A name given to a native of that island. Ireland 
 signifies West-land, from the Gaehc lar, the West, and the 
 Teutonic land, Welsh, Llan, a clear place, a lawn. 
 
 IRETON. Local. From Ireton, a manor in County Derby, 
 England. In Gaelic, the west town or hill. 
 
 IRISH. A native of Ireland, the country from which the 
 nominal founder of the family came. 
 
168 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 IRON. A name taken from the mineral kingdom. 
 
 IRYINa or IRYINE. Local From a river and town of tlie 
 same name in Ayrshire, Scotland. 
 
 ISAAC. (Heb.) Laughter. 
 
 ISHAM. Local Isis-ham, that is, the town on the river 
 Isis, in Northamptonshire, England- 
 
 ISLIP. Local A village near Oxford, England ; the name sig- 
 nifies a place on the edge or brink of the water; an island. 
 
 ISRAEL. (Heb.) Prevailing in the Lord ; a name given to 
 the Patriarch Jacob. 
 
 lYES. Local From a town named St. Ives, in the county of 
 Huntingdon, England. O'Connor derives Ive fi-om Iber, the 
 place of Br, the land of heroes, now pronounced Ive or Hy. 
 Gaelic, Ives. 
 
 IVER. (Gaelic and WelsL) A chief or leader. Iver, Danish, 
 zeal, fervor ; ivre, to speak or aqt with zeal Gaelic, Ian 
 Vhor, a hero ; Welsh, eon, brave, and mawr, great. 
 
 JACK. The same as John. 
 
 JACKSON. The son of Jack, or John. 
 
 JACOB. (Heb.) He that supplants. 
 
 JACOBSON. The son of Jacob. 
 
 JAMES. (Heb.) The same as Jacob, he that supplants. 
 
 JAMESON or JAMTESON. The son of James. 
 
 JANES. The son of Jane. 
 
 JANEWAY. A Genoese. 
 
 JASON. (Greek.) Healing. 
 
 JEFFERS or JEFFREY. Corrupted from Geoffrey or God- 
 frey, German, from Ood and fried, God's peace, or from 
 Gau and fried, joyful peace. This name was borne by the 
 chief of the royal house of Plantagenet. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 169 
 
 JEMSE. Local A town in Sweden. 
 
 JENEINS. From Jenks or John, and the patronymic termi- 
 nation ingSj belonging to, or son of John. 
 
 JENKINSOK The son of Jenkins. 
 
 JENKS. The same as Johns ; the son of John. 
 
 JENNER. An old form for Jbmer. 
 
 JENNINGS. The same as Jenkins. 
 
 JEROME. The same as Jeremiah. 
 
 JESSUP. Giuseppe^ Italian, the same as Joseph. 
 
 JETTER. (Fr.) Jeter ^ to overthrow; Jouteur^ a tilter, fencer, 
 a swordsman. 
 
 JEW. A contraction of Juddh, Hebrew. 
 
 JEWELL. Joy, mirth, precious ; a jewel, a precious stone ; a 
 name expressive of fondness. 
 
 JEWETT. The little Jew, the son of a Jew; Jouet, French, 
 toy, sport. 
 
 JOB. (Heb.) Sorrowful; patient 
 
 JOBSON. The son of Job. 
 
 JOHN. (Heb.) Gracious ; God's grace. 
 
 JOHNSON. The son of John. 
 
 JOLLIE. ((Fr. and Sax.) FuU of life and mirth. 
 
 JONADAB. (Heb.) Liberal, one who acts a prince. 
 
 JONAH and JONAS. (Heb.) A dove. 
 
 JONATHAN. (Heb.) The gift of the Lord. 
 
 JONES. (Heb.) The same as John or Johns, and signifies 
 gracious. 
 
 JORDAN or JORDEN. (Heb.) The river of judgment. Jar- 
 dain, Gaelic, the western river, with respect to the Euphra- 
 tes. The name is derived from its two spring-heads, Jor 
 and Dan. 
 
 8 
 
Ho ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 JOSEPH. (Heb.) Increase, addition. 
 
 JOSSELYN and JOSLIN. Local. Jocelin, a town in France. 
 
 JOY. Gladness, exhilaration of spirits ; to shout, rejoice. 
 
 JOYCE. Joyous. 
 
 JUDD. (Heb.) From Juda, praise, confession, and signifies 
 the confessor of Grod. Jode or Jood, in the Dutch, means 
 Israelite^ a Jew ; Jute, a native of Jutland. 
 
 JUDSON. Thesonof Judd. 
 
 KAUFMAN. (Grer.) A merchant, a trader. 
 
 KAVANAGH. (Celtic or Gaehc.) Coamhanach, mild, be- 
 nevolent, merciful ; a friend, a companion. Mr. John 
 O'Donovan says, that Donnell Cavanagh was so called from 
 having been fostered by the Coarb of St. Cavan, at Kilcavan, 
 in the present county of Wexford, Ireland. 
 
 KAY. Local. In Cor. Br., signifies a hedge, inclosure, a place 
 of security, a fortified place. Kai, German, is a quay, a 
 wharf. 
 
 KAYNAED or KINNARD. Local. (Gaelic.) From JEm- 
 naird, a place in Perthshire, Scotland, so called from Ceann, 
 the head, the end, and aerd, a height or promontory, from 
 its high situation. 
 
 KEACH. Keech, a mass, a lump ; a short, thick-set man. 
 
 KEAN. (Gaelic.) Ceann, the head, the top, a chief, a com- 
 mander. 
 
 KEBBY, KIBBY. Local. (Danish.) Kioh-by, a market 
 town, the place of buying, from Kidb, buying, purchase, bar- 
 gain, and hy, a town. 
 
 KEEL. A low, flat-bottomed vessel used in the river Tyne, to 
 convey coals; an inn-sign; a harbor. ^eZ, local, a town in 
 Denmark, a corner, wedge, a ravme. 
 
 KEELER. One who manages barges and vessels. 
 
 i 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 1*71 
 
 K!EEK Bold, eager, daring ; bright, fair ; or may be the same 
 as Kean. 
 
 KBESE, (Dutch.) An abbreviation of Cornelius^ among the 
 Dutch. Keys, called Taxiaxia, were ofl&cers of justice, in 
 olden times, in the Isle of Man. 
 
 KEiaWIN. (Cor. Br.) White dog, from hei, a dog, and 
 gwyUj white ; figuratively, a hero. 
 
 TCE TTTT. Local. From the parish and, lands of Keith, in Banff- 
 shire, Scotland. The name Keith is said to be derived from 
 the G-aelic Qaoth^ wind, pronounced somewhat similarly to 
 Keith. The old village and kirk are called Arkeiih, which 
 may be a corruption of the G-aelic Ard Gaoth, signifying 
 " high wind," which corresponds to its locality, which is 
 peculiarly exposed to gusts of wind. In some old charters, 
 Keith is written Oith, which still more resembles G^ith. I 
 think the name is derived from the Welsh Caethj a place 
 surrounded, shut up, inclosed, a deep hollow, a strait. The 
 root of the word is the Welsh Cau^ to close, to shut up. 
 Concerning this family, the traditional account is, that they 
 came from Germany in the reign of the Emperor Otho, and 
 from the principality of Hesse, from which they were ex- 
 pelled in some revolution. 
 
 The first person of this family of whom our oldest historians 
 take notice, is Eobert De Keith, to whom Malcom II., King 
 of Scotland, gave the barony of Keith, in East Lothian, as a 
 reward for kilHng Camus, a Danish general, who then in- 
 vaded Scotland with a numerous army. The battle was 
 fought at Barry, seven miles from Dundee, where an obelisk, 
 called Camud stone, still preserves the memory of the vic- 
 tory, and it is said the king, dipping his three fingers in the 
 blood of the general, stroked them along the field of the 
 Scotch champion's shield, to whom, besides the landed es- 
 tate before mentioned, he gave the dignity of Great Mar- 
 shal of Scotland, 
 
172 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 KELLOGG-. From Chelioc, or KuUiag (Cor. Br.), a cock, coil- 
 eachj in Gaelic, and ceiliog, in Welsh, the G having the sound 
 of K. 
 
 KELLY. (Gaelic and Welsh.) A grove, generally of hazel 
 KiM or CUhj in the Gaelic and Celtic, denotes a church. 
 
 KELSO. Local. Derived from the town of Kelso, in Rox- 
 burghshire, Scotland. Kelso was originally written Cal- 
 chow J a corruption of Chdlkheiigh, the chalk-hill. 
 
 KELSEY. Local. A town in Lincolnshire, England. Kelsey, 
 in Cornish British, signifies the " dry nech,'^ from Kel, a neck, 
 and syck, dry. 
 
 KEMBLE or KIMBLE. The same as Campbell, of which it ia 
 a corruption. 
 
 KEMP. In old English, a soldier, one who engaged in single 
 combat. 
 
 The name Kemp is derived from the Saxon word to hemp, or 
 combat, which in Norfolk is retained to this day ; a foot-ball 
 match being called a camping or Tcemping ; and thus in 
 Saxon a Kemper signifies a combatant, a champion, a man- 
 at-arms. In some parts of Scotland the striving of reapers 
 in the harvest-field is still called Jeemping. 
 
 KEMPENFELT. Local. The camping or kemping-field. 
 
 KEMPHALL and KJEMPSHALL. The soldiers' quarters. 
 
 KEMPSTER. Prom the Dutch hampen, to fight, or Tmmper^ 
 a champion. 
 
 KEMPTOK The camp town; place of the army. 
 
 KEMYSS. (Gaelic.) Camus, " nez retrouss6," a person whose 
 nose is turned upwards ; crooked, from cam, Gaelic, crooked, 
 not straight. 
 
 KENNAN. Gaelic, Ceanann or Ceanfhionn, white-headed, 
 bald. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. lYS' 
 
 KENDALL. Local. Derived from the town of Kendal, in 
 Westmoreland, England, and was so called from the river 
 Ken^ on which it is situated, and dale; the dale on the river 
 Ken. 
 
 KENDEICK. From the Saxon KenricJc, from Kennen, to 
 know, and ric, rich — ^rich in knowledge. Bailey derives 
 this name* from cewe, bold, and rick^ a kingdom — a valiant 
 ruler. 
 
 KENKARD. (Gaelic.) From Ceannard, a chief, a chieftain, 
 a leader, a commander-in-chief, from Ceann^ head, chief, and 
 Ard^ high, lofty. 
 
 KENNEDY. From the Gaelic or Celtic words Kean-na-ty ; 
 the head of the house, or chief of the clan. Ceannaide sig- 
 nifies also a shopkeeper, a merchant. 
 
 KENNICOT. (Cor. Br.) From Chmnicat, a singer; Welsh, 
 canu, to sing. 
 
 KENT. Local. From the County Kent, in England. Camden 
 derives this from canton, a corner, because England in this 
 place stretches itself into a corner to the north-east. Cant, 
 in Welsh, signifies, round, circular, which is probably the 
 true signification. 
 
 KENWARD. (Saxon.) A cow-keeper, Kine-ward. 
 
 KENYON. (Welsh.) Ceinion, beautiful; Cyndyn, stubborn, 
 Concenn or Kynan, strong head, powerful, a leader. 
 
 KERR. (GaeKc, Welsh, and Cor. Br.) Kaer, a castle ; figura- 
 tively, strong, vaUant ; car^ dear, a kinsman, a fiiend ; Dan- 
 ish, Kier, dear, lovely. 
 
 KERSWELL. Local. The well where water-cresses grow. 
 
 KETMAN. (Ger.) From Kette, a chain, and mann, — a chain- 
 man. 
 
 KETTLE. Local. From the parish of Kettle, m Fifeshire, 
 Scotland. 
 
.1^4 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 KEVIK (Celtic.) From Coemhghin, the beautiful offspring, 
 aoihMnrij pleasant, comely. Caomhan, a noble, kind, and 
 friendly man. 
 
 KEYS. Probably from Keyits^ an old Roman word for a ward- 
 en or keeper. 
 
 KEYSER. (Ger.) An emperor. 
 
 KED. A young goat ; also, EM, from the Saxon Cythan, to 
 show, discover, or make known. 
 
 KIDDER. A dealer in com, provisions, and merchandize ; a 
 traveling trader. 
 
 KIEF. (Dan.) Brave, vaKant, stout, bold. 
 
 KIEL. (G-er.) Local Derived from the town of EmI, in 
 Lower Saxony. 
 
 KERCHER. G-aelic, carcar ; Welsh, carchar, a prison ; Anglo- 
 Saxon, carJc, a prison ; carker, a jailor. 
 
 KIERNAN or KIRNAN. Oarnan, Gkelic, a heap; figura- 
 tively, a strong man, a thick-set, stout man. Ceaman, 
 local, a square, a quadrangle. 
 
 KTERSTED. (Danish.) Local. The place near a marsh, from 
 Kier, a marsh, and sted, a dwelling, a town. 
 
 KILBURNE. Local. Derived from the village of KUburnej 
 in Middlesex, England, famous for its fine weU of mineral 
 water. Ktl, Dutch; Mldej Danish, a channel or bed of a 
 river, and hence a stream ; bourne, a fountain, a spring-weU. 
 
 KILGrOUR. (G-aelic) Local. The ancient name of a parish 
 in Fifeshire, Scotland, so called from kill, a church, and gour, 
 a hill — the church on the hill, or surrounded by hills. 
 
 KILHAM. Local. A town in England, from Ml, as above, 
 and ham, a house or town. 
 
 KILLIN. (Gaelic.) Local. A place in Perthshire, Scotland, 
 from Oill-Un, that is, the church or burying-place on the pooL 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. iVS 
 
 KBIBERLEY. Kemperlike, kemper, a veteran, a stout, war- 
 like man, from the Dutch hamper, a champion, a fighting- 
 man. The name may apply to the qualities of the person, 
 or to the place of a camp or battle, that is, Camper-ley ; 
 Qumberley indicates a place among hills in a narrow valley, 
 
 KINCADE, (Graelic) From ceann, head, and caih or cad^ 
 battle — the head or front of the battle. 
 
 KING-. The primary sense is a head or leader. GaeHc, ceann / 
 Welsh, cun and cwn, a head, a leader. Saxon, cyng^ and 
 nearly the same in all the Teutonic dialects. 
 
 Km GHORK Local A borough in Fifeshire, Scotland. The 
 name is derived from the GaeHc Cean-gorn or gorm^ " the 
 blue head," from the adjoining promontory. It is fancifully 
 suggested by one writer that as the Scottish kings long had 
 a residence in the neighborhood, the name may have been 
 suggested by the frequent winding of the king's horn when 
 he sallied out to the chase in this neighborhood. 
 
 KINGSTON. Local. The name of several towns in England 
 
 — the king's town. 
 
 KINLOCH. Local From lands in Fifeshire. Emn Loch— 
 " the head of the lake." 
 
 KINNAIRD and KENNARD. (See Kaynard.) 
 
 KINNEAR. (Gaehc.) A head man or chief Ceanneir, from 
 Ceann^ head, and etr, an abbreviation of /ear, a man. 
 
 KINNEY, Gaelic, Cine, kindred, a clan, a tribe. Keny and 
 Cany, seeing, knowing; Welsh, cenio, to see. 
 
 KINSLEY. (Gaelic.) From Ceannsallaeh, authoritative, com- 
 manding, ruling. Walker, in his Historical Memoirs of the 
 Irish Bards, relates the following story: Eochaidh, the then 
 monarch, was defeated by Ena, King of Leinster, at the 
 battle of Cruachan. In this engagement Ena killed Cet- 
 mathch, laureate bard to the monarch, although he fled for 
 
mmmmmiiiiiffmimmmm 
 
 116 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 refuge under the shields of the Leinster troops. For this 
 base deed the ruthless king was stigmatized with the epithet 
 Ktnsealach, that is, the foul and reproachful head, which 
 name descended to his posterity. 
 
 KIPP. J^ppe, in the G-erman, denotes a situation on or near a 
 precipice. Mp, Dutch, a hen, a chicken. 
 
 KIEBY. Local. The name of several small towns in England, 
 whence the surname is derived; so called from Kirk, a 
 church, and hy, a village or town. 
 
 EJRK. (Teut.) Kirche, a church. Gaelic, cearcaU, a circle, 
 the primitive places of worship among the Celts were round, 
 a symbol of eternity, and the existence of the Supreme 
 Being, without beginning or end. 
 
 KIRKALDY. Local. From KirJccaldy, a town in Fifeshire, 
 Scotland, from KirJc, a church, and culdee, the worshipers of 
 God, the first Christians of Britain, who were said to have 
 had a place of worship there in ancient times. 
 
 KIRKHAM. Local. From Kirk, a church, and ham, a village. 
 The name of a small town in England, whence the surname 
 originated. 
 
 KIRKPATRICK Local. A parish in Dumfi-iesshire, Scot- 
 land, i. e., Patrick's Church. 
 
 KIRTLAND. A corruption of Kirkland, that is, the church 
 land, fi:om M/rk, a church. 
 
 KIRWAN. The name was O Quirivane imtU the time of 
 Queen Elizabeth, when they, with many Irish houses, were 
 compelled to drop the "O," and Quirivane was corrupted 
 into Kirwan. 
 
 KISKEY. (Cor. Br.) Blessed, happy, to bless. 
 
 KITSOK The son of Christopher or Kit. 
 
 KITTS. The son of Kit or Christopher, "s" bemg added for 
 
 son. 
 KLING. Q-erman Klinge, a blade, a sword. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. lV7 
 
 KNAPP. (Grer.) Knappe^ a lad, boy, servant, workman; a 
 squire, whence Knave and Knapsack. 
 
 KNEYETT. A corruption of the Norman name Duvenet. 
 
 KNICKEEBACKER. (Dutch and Ger.) Cracker-baker, from 
 Jcnacker, a cracker, and backer, a baker. 
 
 KNIG-HT. A term originally applied to a young man after he 
 was admitted to the privilege of bearing arms, by a certain 
 ceremony of great importance called knighting, which was 
 generally conferred by the king. 
 
 KNIGHTLEY. From KhigM, and ley, a place or field. 
 
 KNOWLES or KNOLL. The top of a hill. Knowl, in Cor. 
 Br., is a promontory, hill, or eminence, a projection of hilly 
 ground. 
 
 KNOX. Local. GaeHc, Cnoc, a little hill; figuratively, a 
 stout man. 
 
 KREBS, Local. A town in Upper Saxony, Germany. 
 
 KYLE. Local. Prom a district of the same name in Ayr- 
 shire, Scotland. Gaehc, Coill, a wood. The river Coyle 
 runs through the district, whence, perhaps, the name. 
 
 LACKEY. A person sent, an attendant servant. 
 
 LACY. Local. Derived from a place in France by that name. 
 Sire De Lacy came into England with William the Con- 
 queror. The Lacys afterward settled in Ireland. 
 
 LADD. (Welsh.) Lladd, to destroy. 
 
 LAHEY. GaeHc, Leighidie, a physician. Lagh^ Gaelic, law, 
 order ; Fear Lagha, a lawyer. 
 
 LAING. Scottish dialect for long. 
 
 LAIRD. The same as Lord, from L, the, and ord or aird^ 
 Gaehc, supreme, high, eminence, highness; Lerad, Laird, 
 from radh, Gaehc, saying, declaring, expressing, affirming au 
 
1*IS ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 adage or proverb; giving or uttering law, from the verb 
 dbair. (See Lord.) 
 
 LAKE. A servant. Latin, lego, to send. 
 
 LAM. (Danish.) Lame. 
 
 LAMB. The name was probably taken from the sign of a lamb 
 at an inn, the young of the sheep kind ; Welsh, Llamer, to 
 skip; Graelic, Leum. The primitive Celtic or GraeHc Lam 
 signified armor, as a dart, a blade, or sword ; hence, to lam 
 signified to disable, injure, maim, from which we have lame 
 and limp. 
 
 LAMBOURNE. Anciently written in the Cor. Br. Lamhron, 
 the inclosure of the round hill ; Ian being changed into lam, 
 for the sake of the euphony or ease in speaking ; from the 
 "Welsh Llan, an inclosure, and bryn, a hill. 
 
 LAMBERT. (Sax.) From lamh, and heorht, fair — fair lamb. 
 
 LAMMA. Welsh, Llamu, to skip, leap, jump; to maim or 
 lam. 
 
 LAMPORT. (Cor. Br.) From lam or Ian, a place, and port, a 
 harbor, a place for ships. 
 
 LANCASTER. Local. A town and county of England, the 
 castle or city on the Loyne or Lan river. The Britons called 
 it Caerwerydd. (See Chester.) 
 
 LANDER. Welsh, Lhndir. Grlebe lands belonging to a parish 
 church, or land containing mineral ore. 
 
 LANDOK (Cor. Br.) The inclosed hill or town, from Lan, 
 an inclosure, and dun, a hill or town. Landen, a town of 
 Belgium. 
 
 LANDSEER. (Dutch.) From Landsheer, a lord of the manor, 
 from land and heer, a master or lord. 
 
 LANE. Old G-aeHc, Llan£, a plain ; barren, sandy, level lands. 
 Lane, a narrow v/ay between hedges, a narrow street, an 
 alley. " John of the Lane." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. lYO 
 
 LANGrTOK Local. The long hill or town, so called from its 
 oblong form, 
 
 LANHAM. A contraction of Lavenham^ a town in Suffolk, 
 England; whence the family originally came. Welsh, 
 Llyfn^ a smooth, level place. 
 
 LANMAN. A lance-man, spear-man. 
 
 LANPHEAR. " Lann-feur^" Gaelic, grass-land ; Lann-fear, a 
 pike-man, Lann^ an inclosure ; a house ; a church ; land ; 
 a sword, Feur, grass ; fear^ a man. 
 
 LANSma. Local (Dutch.) Low, flat lands ;"%," mead- 
 ows ; alluvial lands. 
 
 LANTOK (Cor. Br.) The furzy inclosure. 
 
 LAORAN. (G-aelic.) A person too fond of the fireside. 
 
 LARAWAY and LARWAY. (Fr.) A corruption of " Ze 
 
 roi,^^ the king. 
 LARDNER. A swine-herd. 
 
 LARKINS. From lark^ a sweet, shrill, musical bird, and Tdn^ a 
 child. Lmrcean or Leargan, a sloping, green, sid^ of a hill, 
 near the sea, from Xear, Gaelic, the sea. 
 
 LAROCHE and LAROQUE. (Fr.) The rock, a lonely mass 
 of stone. De La Roche, " from the rock." 
 
 LARRY. Supposed to be an abbreviation of Lawrence (which 
 
 see). 
 
 LLARY. (Welsh.) Mild, easy. 
 
 LATH. An old word for " barn," in Lincolnshire, England. 
 
 LATIMER. An interpreter. This name was first given to 
 Wrenoc ap Merrick, a learned Welshman, interpreter be- 
 tween the Welsh and English. The name of his office de- 
 scended to his posterity. 
 
 LATTON. From JSIew, A. S., and ton; the town on the emi- 
 nence or side of a bill. 
 
180 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 LATTD. From the same root as loud, widely celebrated, Latin, 
 laus. laudis, praise; Welsh, clod; Gaehc or Irish, cloth; G-er- 
 man, laut. 
 
 LAUDER. Local. A town in Berwickshire, Scotland. 
 
 LAUREL. The laurel or bayberry-tree, dedicated to Apollo, 
 and used in making garlands for victors. 
 
 LAVENDER. A laundress; Lavandiere, French, one who 
 washes, from the Latin, lava, to wash. 
 
 LAVEROCK. A Scotch word for a lark; also Dutch and 
 Saxon. 
 
 LAW. (Scot.) A hilL Laye, old French, a hill. 
 
 LAWLESS. " Lah-lios." Gaelic, Lagh, law, order, and lios^ a 
 court, a hall, a fortress, a place where law is administered. 
 Lau, Cor. Br., praise, and lis, a court. Lawless, an outlaw. 
 
 LAWLEY. (Saxon.) A place in the hundred of Blackburn, 
 Shropshire, from Law, low, and ley, a place, lea, or pasture. 
 
 LAWRENCE. Flourishing, spreading, from Laurus, the lau- 
 rel-tree. Su- Robert Lawrence, of Ashton Hall, Lancashire, 
 England, accompanied Richard I. to the Holy Land, 1191. 
 
 LAWRIE. Lawrence. 
 
 LAWSON. The son of Law, the familiar abbreviation of Law- 
 rence. 
 
 LAYCOCK. Local. A village on the banks of the Avon, in 
 Wiltshire, England. The name may be the same as Lucoch 
 that is, Uttle Luke. 
 
 LEADBEATER. A name of trade, a worker in lead. 
 
 LEARNED. Local. (Gaelic.) The green, sheltered place 
 near the sea, from Lear^ the sea, and nead, a sheltered place. 
 Or it may be a name given for scholarship, "John tlie 
 Learned." 
 
 LEAVENWORTH. Local. (Welsh.) Llyvngwerth, the 
 smooth, level farm, castle or court, or the worth or place on 
 the river Leven. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 181 
 
 LEBY. Local. A town in Denmark. 
 
 LECHMERE. Local. This family originally came from the 
 Low Countries. Lech is a branch of the Ehine, which parts 
 from it at Wyke, and running westward, falls into the Maes, 
 before Rotterdam ; mere^ a lake. 
 
 LEE, LEA, and LEY. A pasture, meadow, lands not plowed, 
 a common, a sheltered place ; Lee^ a river, a stream, from 
 Lli, Welsh, a stream. 
 
 LEECH. A physician. 
 
 LEFERRE. (Fr.) Le Ferre, the smith. Latm, Fixber, 
 
 LEG-ARD. (N"or. Fr.) Le Gard^ the guard or protector. 
 Probably was first assumed from the possession of some 
 trusty or confidential ofl&ce. 
 
 LEG-ATT. Legate, an ambassador; Leggett, the son of Legge. 
 
 LEIG-H or LEGH. Local. A town in England, a pasture 
 or meadow, the same as Ley, or Lea. The frequency of 
 this family name in Cheshire, England, led to the old 
 proverb, " As many Leighs as fleas, Masseys as asses, and 
 Davenports as dog's tails." 
 
 LEICESTER. From Leicester, a borough town in England. 
 Saxon, Leagceaster, from Leag or Ley, a field or common, 
 and cester, a camp or city, from the Latin Castrum; because, 
 says Bailey, it was probably built hard by a leag or com- 
 mon ; a camp of the Roman legion. (See Chester.) 
 
 LEIR or LEAR. Originally German, and derived from the 
 town of Lear, on the Ems, in Westphalia. 
 
 LELAND. Local. Laland, an island in Denmark, the same 
 as Leylande, the ancient manner of spelling the name, and 
 denotes Low lands. In Welsh, Lie is a place, and Lan a 
 church. Lan may signify any kind of inclosure, as Owin- 
 lan, Perlan, an orchard, a word applied to gardens, houses, 
 castles, or towns. 
 
 LEMON. (Fr.) A corruption of Le Moin, the monk. 
 
182 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 LENNON. (Gaelic.) Leannon, a lover, a sweetheart 
 
 LENNOX, (G-aelic.) Local. From the County of Lennox, 
 Scotland. The original name was Leven-ach^ the field on 
 the Leven, from the river Leven, which flows through the 
 county, called in Latin Levinia, The river was so called 
 from Llyfn, in the Welsh, which signifies a smooth, placid 
 stream. Leven-achs^ for a while spelt and written Levenax, 
 and finally Lennox. Arkil, a Saxon, a baron of Northum- 
 bria, who took refuge from the vengeance of the Norman 
 William under the protection of Malcom Canmore, appears 
 to have been the founder of the Lennox family. 
 
 LENT. Some names were given from the festivals and seasons 
 of the year in which they were born, as Noel, Holiday, 
 Pascal, Lent, &c. 
 
 LEONARD. The disposition of a lion ; Hon-hearted ; from 
 leon, a Hon, and ard, Teutonic, nature, disposition. 
 
 LEPPARD. A name probably taken from a coat of arms, a 
 leopard. 
 
 LESLIE. This family, according to tradition, descended fi:om 
 Bartholomew de Leslyn, a noble Hungarian, who came to 
 Scotland with Queen Margaret, about the year 1067. He 
 was the son of Walter de Leslyn, who had assumed this 
 surname from the castle of Leslyn, in Hungary, where he 
 was born. Bartholomew being in great favor with Malcom 
 Canmore, obtained from that prince grants of several lands 
 in Aberdeenshire, which it is said he called Leslyn, after his 
 own surname. Malcom de Leslyn, who succeeded him, was 
 the progenitor of all the Leslies in Scotland. 
 
 Robert Yerstegan, in his Antiquities, remarks on the word ley : 
 *' A combat having taken place in Scotland between a noble 
 of the family of Leshe and a foreign knight, in which the 
 Scot was victorious, the following lines in memory of the 
 deed, and the place where it happened, are still extant : 
 
 " Between the Less-Ley and the Mair, 
 He slew the knight and left him there." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 183 
 
 The name may be derived from Lessh, a maritime territory 
 in Denmark. 
 
 LESTER, LEICESTER, and .LEYCESTER. Local. A bor- 
 ough town in England ; a camp of the Roman legion. (See 
 Leicester.) 
 
 LEYEN. Local. A river in Lancashire, England, also a town, 
 lake, and river in Lennox, Scotland, whence the county 
 derives its name. (See Lennox.) From the Welsh Ltyfn, 
 smooth, placid — the smooth river. The Graehc lAomha- 
 abhainn, pronounced Le-avon, signifies the same thing. 
 
 LEVENWORTH. (Welsh.) Local. From Zevew, the open or 
 bare place, and worth, a farm, castle, or mansion, or tlie 
 worth on the river Leven. 
 
 LEYEQUB. (Fr.) A bishop. 
 
 LEYERET. A hare in the first year of its age. 
 
 LEYY. (Heb.) The same as Levi, joined, united, coupled; 
 Jacob's third son. 
 
 LEWES. Local. An ancient town in Sussex, England, de- 
 rived from the Welsh Lluaws, a multitude, a populous place. 
 This town was formerly surrounded by walls, vestiges of 
 which are stiU visible, and on the summit of a hill are the 
 remains of its ancient castle. 
 
 LEWIS. In the Fr., Louis ; Latin, Ludovicus ; Teutonic, Lud- 
 wig or Leodwig, from the Saxon Leod, the people, and wic, 
 a castle — the safeguard of the people. Lluaws, Welsh, sig- 
 nifies a multitude. 
 
 LEWKNOR. Local. A corruption of Levechenora, the de- 
 nomination of one of the hundreds of Lincolnshire, England. 
 
 LEWTHWAITE or LOWTHWAITE. (Anglo-Saxon.) From 
 thwaite, a piece of ground cleared of wood, and lowe, a hill, 
 law, a hill or eminence ; in Saxon, Hleive. 
 
 LIGtHTBODY. a writer, somewhere, derives this name from 
 Licht, a dead body, a tomb, and Bodee, contracted from 
 
184 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 Boadicea, — ^meaning the tomb or grave of this British 
 Queen ; a locahty. The name, however, is more hkely to 
 have originated from bodily peculiarity. 
 
 LIGHTFOOT. A name given on account of swiftness in run- 
 ning, or expertness in dancing ; one who is nimble or active. 
 
 LILIENTHAL. (G-er.) Local. The vale of hhes, from Z*7ie, a 
 lily, and thalj a vale ; so Blumenthal, the vale of flowers. A 
 town in Bremen, Hanover. 
 
 LILLY. A beautiful flower. LUlle, in the Welsh, the place by 
 the river or stream, from LU, a stream, and Lie, a place. 
 Liu, an army, a troop ; Llellu, the place of the army. Li 
 the Cornish-British Lhy is a troop, a company of horsemen, 
 and le or li, a place. 
 
 LINCOLN". Local. From Lincoln in England. The name is 
 derived from Lin in the G-aeUc, Welsh, and Cor. Br., which 
 signifies a pool, pond, or lake, and coin, the ridge or neck of 
 a hm, so called from its situation, as it occupies the top and 
 side of a steep hUl on the river Witham, which here divides 
 into three streams. 
 
 LIND. Local. (Swedish, Sax., Dan., and Dutch.) A place 
 where the lime or linden-trees grow. 
 
 LINDALL. Local. From Lin, a brook, a lake, and ddl, a 
 dale. 
 
 LINDFIELD. Local. The field of linden or Hme-trees. 
 
 LINDO. (Spanish.) Neat, spruce, fine. 
 
 LLNGr. (Teutonic.) English, long, heath; also, a species of 
 long grass ; a long, slender fish. 
 
 LINDSAY or LINDSEY. Local. Sir William Dugdale says 
 this surname is local, and was first assumed by the proprietors 
 of the lands and manor of Lindsay, in the county of Essex, 
 England. One of the Lindsays having contracted a friend- 
 ship with Malcom Canmore, when in England, went with 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 185 
 
 him to Scotland, and was the progenitor of the Lindsays in 
 that country. 
 The eastern part of Lincohishire was originally called Lindsei/j 
 from the place abounding with linden-trees. 
 
 LINN or LINNE. Local. A pool, pond, or lake. "Welsh, 
 Uyn ; Cor. Br., lyn ; Gaelic, Zmwe, a pond. 
 
 LINNET. A singing bird. 
 
 LINTON. Local. Erom Lin, a lake or pool, and toiij a town. 
 A parish in Eoxburgshire, Scotland. 
 
 LIPPENCOT. Local. Lippe, a German principality and town 
 on the river Lippe. Cote, side or coast. lAban, Saxon, 
 Leben, German, to abide, to dwell, and co% a cottage. 
 
 LISLE. (Fr.) Local. Vish, an island. 
 
 LISMOEE. Local. A parish in Argyleshire, Scotland. The 
 name signifies the large gardens. Lis or lAos, Celtic, a gar- 
 den, and mor, large. 
 
 LITCHFIELD. From the Saxon lich, a dead carcase, and 
 field, because a great many suffered martyrdom there in the 
 time of Diocletian. The name of a bishop's see in Stafford- 
 shire. 
 
 LITTLER. Derived from the town, village, or hundred of Lit- 
 tle Over, corrupted to Littler, in the county of Cheshire, 
 England, where the family resided in the time of Edward I. 
 
 LIYERMORE. (Welsh.) From Tleufer, a Hght, and mawr, 
 great — the great light. A name given to the first Christian 
 king of Britain, hence called by the Romans Lucius, which 
 has in the Latin the same signification. 
 
 LIVINGSTONE. Local. A barony in West Lothian, Scot- 
 land, so named from one Livingus Uving there in 1124:; 
 hence Livingston. 
 
 LIZARD. (Gaehc.) Local. The high fortress, from lios,^ a 
 fort, an inclosure, or garden, and ard, high. 
 
186 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 LLARY. (WelsL) Mild, easy. 
 
 LLOYD or LHUYD. (Welsh.) Gray or brown. 
 
 LOBDALE, (Graelic.) Local. Luh^ bending, curving, and 
 dail^ a narrow vale or meadow. 
 
 LOCKMAN. A Scottish word for the public executioner. 
 
 LOGrAN". (Graelic) An inclosed plain or low-lying place. If 
 the residence of a Briton was on a plain, it was called Lann^ 
 from Lagen or Logen ; if on an eminence, it was termed dun, 
 
 LONSDALE. Local. Derived from the town of Lonsdale, in 
 Westmoreland, England, so named from the river Lon on 
 which it is situated, and dale — the dale on the Lon, 
 
 LOOMIS or LOMMIS. (Welsh.) Local From lom, bare, 
 naked, exposed, and maes, a field, a name of place — ^the 
 place in the open field. 
 
 LOPPE. Local An uneven or winding place, a bend. 
 
 LORD. A term of civil dignity, a master, ruler, the proprietor 
 of a manor, derived from the Anglo-Saxon ord, which comes 
 from oredj a governor, with the prefix of the letter L, le, 
 denoting the person or place. Graelic, ard, ord, high, lofty, 
 the prime chief, superior. Lord has been derived firom JERa- 
 ford, which is compounded of Blaf, a loa^ and ford, to 
 give, — a bread-giver. 
 
 LORIMER A maker of bits or bridles. 
 
 LOSSIE. Local A river of Scotland, in Elgin or Moray- 
 shire. 
 
 LOUDOUN. From the parish of Loudoun in Ayrshire, 
 Scotland. The name is compounded of Law and dun, — a 
 pleonasm, as both words signify a hill The hill-hill 
 
 LOUGHLIK The ancient Britons or Welsh called the Baltic 
 Sea Lychlyn, and the Scandinavian sea-pirates who infested 
 the coasts of Britain received the same appellation. Norway 
 is called Llychlyn. 
 
 LOUTH. (Br. and Welsh.) From lowdh, a garden. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 187 
 
 LOVE. (Danish.) A Hon. 
 
 LOVEL. The original family name of Lovel was, in olden 
 times, Percival, so called from a place in Normandy, until 
 Asceline, its chief, who flom-ished in the early part of the 
 twelfth century, acquired from his violent temper the sou- 
 briquet of Lupus (the Wolf). His son William, Earl of 
 Yvery,-was nicknamed Lupellm, the httle wolf, wliich in 
 after times was softened into Lupe\ and at last to Luvel or 
 Lovel. 
 
 LOWE. AhiU. 
 
 LOWER. The same as Burder. Louw or low is a Scotch 
 
 word for flame or fire. 
 " Low-bellers," according to Blount, " are men who go with a 
 
 light and a bell ; by the sight thereof birds sitting on the 
 
 ground become somewhat stupefied, and so are covered 
 
 with a net, and taken." 
 
 LOWRY or LOURY. Signifies in Scotch a crafty person, or 
 one who lowers, that is, contracts his brow ; hence a " lowry 
 dm/^ — cloudy. 
 
 LUCAS. The same as Luhe, luminous. Lucas, arising to him. 
 
 LUDBROCK. (Dutch.) Leather or hairy breeches. 
 
 LUDLOW. Local. From the ancient town of Ludlow, in 
 North Wales. Llud^ in Welsh, signifies whatever connects 
 or keeps together, the same as caw. Llud^ a prince of the 
 Britons, a commander ; Welsh, Llywydd, and lowe. 
 
 LUMLEY. (G-aelic and Welsh.) The bare place, from hm, 
 bare, and Z?e, a place. 
 
 LUSHER. (Dutch.) Lauscher, a hider, a skulker. 
 
 LUSK or LOSCE. (Welsh.) A burning or searing. Gaelic, 
 Loisg^ to burn. 
 
 LUTHER. The widely famed or celebrated, derived from the 
 German loth or laut, loud, famed, fortunate, and er, honor — 
 '^fortune and honor." Lauter, Ger., bright, clear, pure. 
 
188 ETTMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 LYNCH. A strip of greenwood between the plowed lands in 
 the common field ; a small hanging wood. 
 
 MABAK (Welsh.) A chHd, a bairn. 
 
 MAOAULEY or MAOAULA. (Celtic.) The son of the 
 
 rock. 
 
 MACE. A staff borne as an ensign of office. 
 
 MACKLrN". The same as McLean (which see). 
 
 MAOLAY. (Gaelic.) The son of Clay (which see). 
 
 MACONOCHIE. The son of Conochie or Dmican, a name 
 borne by the chieftain of the Campbells. 
 
 MADDOCK. (WelsL) The same as Madoc, a proper name 
 common among the Welsh, from mad, good, and the termi- 
 nation oc or og, the same as the termination y or ous in 
 English. The terminations c and ac, denote fixedness, force, 
 plenitude. Og, in its simple form, signifies animation, activ- 
 ity ; also, possessing that which precedes it ; oc, greatness, 
 grandeur; ox, quickness, promptitude. 
 
 MADISOH. The son of Mathew or MatHda. 
 
 MAGOON. (Gaelic.) A corruption of Macgowan, which sig- 
 nifies the son of the smith, from Mac, son, and gow, a smith ; 
 or it may be the same as McCoun, from Mac, son, and 
 ceann, a head or chief— the son of the chief. 
 
 MAGUIRE or M'GUIRE. (Gaelic.) The son of Ouaire, 
 which is the Gaelic for Godfrey. Guaire was son of Alpin, 
 King of Scotland. 
 
 MAHOMET. (Turkish.) Glorified. 
 
 MAHON. (Celtic or Gaelic.) A bear. 
 
 MAIGNY. (Fr.) Local. An old province of France lying to 
 the east of Bretagne, whence the name came. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 189 
 
 MAINARD or MAYNARD. (Ger.) Of a powerful disposi- 
 tion, stout-hearted. Maynliard was one of the barons who 
 went into England with William the Conqueror, and whose 
 name is in the roU of Battle Abbey. 
 
 MAIN or MAYNE. Local. From a French province of that 
 name. Magne, great, large, rich, powerful, the same as 
 magnus in Latin. 
 
 MAITLAND. Local. A tract of flat, meadow land. 
 
 MAJOR. An ofiBcer next in rank above a captain. 
 
 MALLARD. (Belgic.) A wild drake. MeaUardj local, Graelic, 
 a high mound, a hiU or eminence, from meall, a hill, and ard, 
 high. 
 
 MALLERY. (Fr.) A corruption of the French iiaZZiewre; in 
 Latin, Malus Leporarius — a name given for ill hunting the 
 hare, according to Camden. 
 
 MALLET or MALET. This name has been ascribed by some 
 to a place so termed in Normandy, and by others to the 
 courageous blows of the family in battle. MaUeiis, Maule, 
 Mall, and Mallet was one of the offensive weapons of a well- 
 armed warrior, being generally made of iron, and used to 
 destroy by pounding or bruising the enemy through or 
 under the armor, that could not be penetrated by edged or 
 pointed weapons, Edward I. was called Malleus Scotorum. 
 All the families of this name in England trace their descent 
 from the renowned William Lord Mallet de Graville, one of 
 the great barons who accompanied William the Conqueror. 
 
 MALMESBURY. From the town of Malmesbury in Wilt- 
 shire, England, said to be so called by Malmutius, a king 
 of the Britons. It was anciently called Maidulphesburgh, 
 from Maidulph, a Scottish saint and hermit who built an 
 abbey there, and opened a school. Bede writes it Adelmes- 
 hirig, from Adelm, the scholar of Maidulph ; others derive it 
 from a part of the names both of the scholar and teacher. 
 
190 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 MALONE. One of the descendants of tlie house of O'Connor, 
 Kings of Connaught, being tonsured in honor of St. John, 
 was called Maol Eoin — Bald John, from Maol, bald or ton- 
 sured, and jBbm, John, and this was corrupted into Malone. 
 
 MANDEYILLE. From the Latin De Magna villa, that is, of 
 or from the great town. 
 
 MANK (G-er.) Gentleman or master, the same as Jfferr. 
 Man^ in the Welsh, signifies freckled or spotted; also, a 
 spot, a place. 
 
 MANNERING or MANWARING. A corruption of Mesnil- 
 warin, Welsh, fi-om Mesnil or Maenol, a farm. 
 
 MANNERS. (Fr.) From Manoir, and that from the Latin 
 Manere, to stay or to abide. Lands granted to some mil- 
 itary man or baron by the king, a custom brought in by the 
 Normans. 
 
 Manners, first Earl of Rutland, soon after his creation, told Sir 
 Thomas More that he was too much elated by his prefer- 
 ment, and really verified the old proverb, " Honores mutant 
 Mores.^^ 
 
 " Nay, my lord," retorted Sir Thomas, " the proverb does much 
 better in English, ' Honors change Manners.' " 
 
 It is the opinion of Camden that this family received its name 
 from the village of Manor, near Lanchester, in Durham, 
 England. 
 
 MANNUS. A god celebrated among the Germans as one of 
 their founders. 
 
 MANSER. (Dutch.) From Mansoir, a male issue, a boy. 
 Mansaer, in the Welsh, is a stone-mason. 
 
 MANSFIELD. Local. From a town in Nottinghamshire, 
 England, of the same name, so called from the Saxon marir- 
 rian, to traffic, Siudfield — a place of trade. 
 
 MANSLE. Local A town of France in the province of 
 Angoumois. 
 
OF FAMILY a AMES. 191 
 
 MAR. Local From the district of Mar, in Aberdeenshire^ 
 Scotland. J/ar, Welsh, activity ; Maor^ Gaelic, an ofl&cer 
 of justice. 
 
 MARCH. A boundary, a limit; the boundary-lines between 
 England, Scotland, and Wales, were called " The Marches." 
 Lords Marches were noblemen who anciently inhabited, 
 guarded, and secured these marches. 
 
 MARCHANT. Fr., Marchand, a merchant. 
 
 MARK. The same as Marcus^ a field ; polite, shining. 
 
 MARSHALL. A name of ofi&ce — ^master of the horse, an- 
 .ciently, one who had command of all persons not above 
 princes. Teut., Marschalk; French, Mareschal. 
 
 MARSH. (Teutonic.) MarescJie, Morass, a fen, a tract of 
 low, wet land. 
 
 MARSHMAN. One dwelling near a marsh. 
 
 MARTIN. This name may be derived fi:om the Latin martiuSj 
 warlike, from Mars^ the God of War. In the Gaelic, Trior is 
 great, and duin, a man. Morduin, a chief, a warrior. 
 
 MARYEN. Gaehc, Morven, a ridge of very high hills. 
 
 MASENFER. German, Messenfer, a great fair or market for 
 
 merchants. 
 
 MASSEY or MASSIE. Local. From the town and lordship 
 of Massey, near Bayeux, in Normandy. 
 
 MASSENGER. A corruption of the French messager, a mes- 
 senger or bearer of dispatches. 
 
 MASTEN or MOSTYN. (Welsh.) Local. A place or house 
 inclosed, from Maes, a field, and din, inclosed, fortified. 
 Moestuin, in the Teutonic and Dutch, signifies a garden, a 
 place cultivated. The Gaehc dun, and the Welsh din, a 
 fortified liill or fort, are synonymous. The Saxon tun sig- 
 nifies an inclosure, a garden, a viflage, a tovni, and tun or 
 <wm, in Dutch, a garden, a protected place. 
 
192 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 Camden relates, that in the time of Henry YIII., an ancient 
 worshipful gentleman of Wales being called at the panel of 
 a jury by the name of Thomas- Ap- William- Ap-Thomas-Ap- 
 Hoel-Ap-Euan Vaughn, etc., was advised by the judge to 
 leave that old manner. Whereupon, he afterward called 
 himself Mostyn, according to the name of his principal house, 
 and left that surname to his posterity. Mostyn^ a village in 
 Flintshire, Wales. On Mostyn hill, in Flintshire, Wales, is 
 a remarkable monument to the sun, a place of Druid wor- 
 ship. 
 
 MATHER. Welsh, Madur, a benevolent man. Medwr, a 
 reaper. Mathair, in Graelic, is a mother. 
 
 MATTHEW. (Heb.) The gift of the Lord 
 
 MATTISON. The son of Matthew. 
 
 MATTER. (Ger.) A wall 
 
 MAXWELL. One Macchus, in tihe eleventh century, obtained 
 lands, on the Tweed, in Scotland, from Prince David, to 
 which he gave the name of Macchm-viUe, since corrupted to 
 Maxwell. Maxwell is McLcsual, in Gaehc, from Mac, son, 
 and sua\ small, Httle. 
 
 MAY. Probably given to a child bom in that month. May^ 
 in the Saxon, is a daisy, a flower ; the fifth month in the 
 year, beginning with January. GaeUc, rnai or Tuaith, good, 
 pleasant, fruitful ; 3Iad, Welsh. From Ma we have inai, 
 the earth, the producer ; ma, mother, tender, kind. 
 
 MAYO. Local. The name of a county and town in Ireland, 
 the plain near the water, from Moi or Moy, Gaelic, a plain, 
 Moy, a river, and ad, a region or territory ; the region or 
 ^ tract on the river Moy. 
 
 McAllister or McCALLISTER. The son of Alister, the 
 Gaelic, for Alexander. Callester, in the Welsh, signifies a 
 flint, figuratively, an invincible man. Galiuster, in Cor. Br., 
 expresses might, power. 
 
 McANDREW The son of Andrew. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 193 
 
 Mc ARDLE or McCardle. (Graelic.) From Mcic, son, and arda\ 
 literally, the son of the high-rock, figuratively, high prowess 
 or valor. 
 
 McBAIN. The son of Bain. Bean or Ban^ white, Donald 
 Bean, Donald the white. 
 
 McBRIDE. The son of Bride (which see). 
 
 McCABE. The son of Cabe. Caob, G-aelic, a bough, branch, 
 a clod, lump, a bit or piece of any thing. Ceap, the top of a 
 hill, a sign set up in time of battle. 
 
 McCAMUS. The son of Camus (which see). 
 
 McC ALLEN". The son or descendants of Callen or Colin. This 
 name was given to the descendants of Sir Cohn Campbell, 
 or Cohn the Great, who flourished toward the end of the 
 thirteenth century, at Lochore, Scotland. 
 
 McCarthy. The son of Carrihachj an Irish chieftain, who 
 lived in the eleventh century. 
 
 McCLIS. From Mac, son, and Clis, active, quick, ingenious. 
 
 McCOUN". (GaeHc.) From Mac, son, and Ceann, head or 
 chief; the son of the chief. 
 
 McCRACKIN or McCHARRAIGIN. The son of the rock, 
 figuratively, the son of the brave. 
 
 McCREE. (GaeHc.) From Mac, son, and Righ, king, — ^the 
 king's son; or from cridhe, the heart, figuratively, brave, 
 bold, generous ; also a term of endearment. 
 
 McCULLOUGH. The son of Cullough. CuUach, GaeHc, a 
 boar, figuratively, a brave man. 
 
 McDHOIL or McDOWELL. (GaeHc.) The son of DoweU or 
 DougaU, the dark stranger. From dhu, black, and gaU, a 
 native of the low country of Scotland ; any one ignorant of 
 the GaeHc language ; a foreigner, a stranger. The same as 
 McDougaU. 
 
 McDERMOT. The son of Dermot (which see). 
 9 . 
 
194 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 McDonald or McDOISTELL. This family was for many cen- 
 turies reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of 
 Scotland, being styled ^^King of the I^es/' for many gener- 
 ations, during which they were successful in asserting their 
 independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about 
 the year 1 140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He 
 married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, 
 whereupon he assumed the title of ^^ King of the Isles" He 
 was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scot- 
 land. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was 
 his grandson. 
 
 McDONNOTJGH. (GaeHc.) The son of Donnach, the same 
 as Duncan, safe, able to defend. 
 
 McDOUGALL. The son of DougaU, that is, the black stranger, 
 the foreigner, or native of the Lowlands. 
 
 McDUFF. (Graelic.) . The son of the captain, from Mac, son, 
 and JDuff, a captain. 
 
 McFADDEN. (Celtic.) The son of Faddan. Fada, GaeHc, 
 taU ; Phaudeen, Gaehc, " little Patrick," and Mac, son ; Mac 
 Phaudeen, the son of little Patrick. 
 
 McFARLAND. The son of Pharlan, or Partholan, the Graelic 
 for Bartholomew. Malcom McFarlane, descended from 
 Alwyn, Earl of Lennox, founder of the clan McFarlane, 
 lived about 1344, in the reign of Malcom IV., King of Scot- 
 land. 
 
 Tradition gives the following fabulous origin of the name. A 
 nephew of one of the old Earls of Lennox, having kiUed, in 
 a quarrel, his uncle's cook, was obliged to flee the country. 
 Returning after many years, he built a castle upon an island 
 above Inversnaid, in the Highlands, where he, and the island 
 after him, received the appellation of Farland. Hence 
 McFarland, the son of him who came from the Far-land. 
 
 McFERSOK The same as McPherson. 
 
 McGrlNNIS. (Gaelic.) The son of Oinnis, dne, a race, ow, 
 numerous, gen or gin, to beget, a numerous clan or race. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 195 
 
 McaOOKEN or McG-UCKEN. (GaeUc and Celtic.) From 
 Mac, a son, and Ougan, a bud or flower. This name is the 
 same in the Welsh or Cor. Br. 
 
 McGOWAN. (Gaelic.) From Gow, a smith; the son of a 
 smith, Smithson. 
 
 McGRATH and McGRAW. (Celtic or Gaelic.) From Oradh, 
 love, fondness, virtue, prosperity. Mac and rath, the son of 
 prosperity. 
 
 McGregor. The descendants of Gregor, who was the son 
 of Alpin, King of Scotland. A family of great antiquity, 
 and of distinguished ancestors. (See Gregor.) 
 
 McGUIRE. The son of Guaire or Godfrey. Ouaire was a 
 son of Alpin, King of Scotland. 
 
 McHARD or McHARG. (Welsh, Cor. Br., and GaeUc.) The 
 son of the brave or the handsome. Mac 'Arg. 
 
 McILDOEY. 'Evovn. Mac, Eon, giUe, a youth, and dhu,\>h.Qk\ 
 the son of the black youth. 
 
 McILDOUNEY. (Gaelic.) From Afac, son, gille, a youth, and 
 doinne, brownishness ; — the son of the brown-haired youth. 
 
 McILHENNY. (GaeHc.) The son of the old man. 
 
 McILRO Y. (Gaelic.) From Mac, gille, and ruadh, red-haired j 
 — the son of the red-haired young man. 
 
 McINNIS. The son of Innis. 
 
 McINTOSH. The son of the leader or first Tosh, and Toshichj 
 signify the beginning or first part of any thing ; so Toshich 
 came to denote the general or leader of the van. The 
 Mclntoshes derive themselves from McDuff, who obtained 
 his right from Malcom Canmore. 
 
 McINTYRE. (GaeUc.) The son oiKintyre; — a promontory, 
 or headland, firom Cean, head, and tir, land. Also the son 
 of the carpenter. 
 
 McKAY. The same as McKie (which see). 
 
196 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 McKELLY. The son of KeUy (which see). 
 
 McKENSIE. (Gaelic.) The son of the chief, head, or first. 
 Same as McKenneth ; the son of Kenneth, signifying, chief, 
 head, or first. 
 
 McKIBBEN. (Celtic.) From Mac, son, and Ceolbinn, the 
 top of the hill. 
 
 McKIE. (Celtic or Graelic.) The son of a dog; figuratively, 
 the son of a champion. The Britons, Celts, and Grauls, ap- 
 plied the names of various animals to their heroes, indicative 
 of strength, endurance, courage, or svriftness. This name 
 is derived from Mac, son, and cu, hei, or hi, a wolf-dog. The 
 common hound was called Gayer. 
 
 McKINNOIsr. Originally McFingon, the son of Fjngon, who 
 was the youngest son of Alpin, King of Scotland. 
 
 McKIRNAK The son of Kiernan. Karnon, Cor. Br., the 
 high rock; Ouirnin, Celtic, a bush; Cuirnean, G-aeHc, a 
 smaU heap of stones. 
 
 McLAUG-HLIN. The son of Laughlin, or the expert sailor. 
 See Laughlin. 
 
 McLAUEIN. The son of Ldbhruinn, or Lawrence. 
 
 McLEAN". MacGillean. From a Highland chieftain of the 
 name of Gillean, who was the progenitor of this fanjily. 
 
 This Gillean was a celebrated warrior, and was called Gillean- 
 ni-Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle-ax, which in 
 the Gaehc is Tuoidh, which his descendants wear to this 
 day in their crest, betwixt a laurel and a cypress branch. 
 The posterity of this Qillean were therefore called Mac CHI- 
 lean, in aU ancient documents, and now of modern date 
 McLeans. " Magh Leamhna" in the County of Antrim, the 
 estate of the McLeans or Macklins. 
 
 McLEOD or McCLEOD. From Mac, son, and Clode, fi:om 
 Claudius, the second emperor who invaded Britain. Church- 
 ill says he was named Claudius because, through fear of 
 death, he buried himself alive, being plucked by the heels 
 out of a hole to be set upon the throne. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 197 
 
 McMAHON. (G-aelic.) The son of a bear ; a hero. 
 
 McMANUS. The son of Manus or Magnus, the great, or re- 
 nowned. 
 
 McMARTIN. The son of Martin, or the warlike. 
 
 McMASTER. The son of Master. 
 
 McMULLIK ThesonofthemiUer. 
 
 McMURROUGH. The son of Murrough or Murrach; Mor, greatj 
 strong, and ach, battle. Mur, a wall, bulwark, and ach. 
 
 McMURTAIR. (aaehc.) The son of a murderer. 
 
 McNAB. The son of Nab. Nab, the summit of a mountain or 
 rock. The son of the Ahhot P Nab, Persic, a chief, a prince. 
 
 McJN"AMARA. (Celtic.) From Mac, son, and cu-marra or 
 or con-marra, " the hero of the sea." Con-marra was de- 
 scended from Cas, King of Thomond, from whom came 
 McOonmara, or Macnamara. This family were anciently 
 hereditary lords in the County of Clare. 
 
 McNEVIK (Gaelic.) The son of ISTevin. Cnamhin, Naomh, 
 holy, sacred, consecrated ; a saint. 
 
 McNIEL. The son of Niel (which see). 
 
 McNAUGHTON. McAn Achduinn. The son of the expert 
 and potent, from Mac, Gaelic, son, an, of, and achduinn, 
 tools and instruments of all kinds ; able, expert, potent. 
 
 McPHERSON. The son of Pherson, Pherson is the son of 
 Pfarrer, German, a parson, and that from Pfarre, a parish, 
 a benefit, or living. Pfarre is derived from the Gaelic 
 Faire, a watcher, to watch, an overseer, Episcopus. 
 
 McQUADE. Quad, Danish, a song, air, lay ; a species of nar- 
 rative poetry among the ancient minstrels. The son of the 
 Poet 
 
 McQUARIE or McGUAIRE. Son of Guaire or Godfi-ey. 
 Guaire was son of Alpin, King of Scotland. 
 
 McQUEEK That is, McOwen, the son of Owen. Originally 
 McSweene. 
 
198 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARr 
 
 McWILLIAM. The son of WHUam. (See WiUiam.) 
 
 Mc WITHY. The son of the weaver, from the Gaelic Mdc, a 
 son, and guithe, Cor. Br., a weaver. In the Welsh, 
 gwehydd, a weaver, quethy. Cor. Br., to weave. 
 
 MEAD. Local. A meadow, a tract of low land; the sense is, 
 extended or flat, depressed land. 
 
 MEADOW. Local. Land appropriated to the culture of grass. 
 
 MECHANT. (French.) Mediant, bad, wicked. 
 
 MEDCAF. Local. The inclosed cell or church, from middj 
 Welsh, inclosed, and caf, a cell, a religious house. 
 
 MEEK. Mild of temper, soft, gentle. Mac, G-aelic, a son. 
 
 MEERS. Shallow water, or lake ; — a name of place. 
 
 MEHIN. (Welsh.) Mochyn, a pig ; G-aeHc, Muc, a wild boar. 
 
 MEIKLE. A lump or mass, much, big. 
 
 MEIKLEHAM The large village ; the great house. 
 
 MEICKLEJOHK (Scottish.) Large John, to distinguish him 
 from wee John, or little John. 
 
 MELOR. (Welsh and G-aehc.) A soldier, from melwr, Welsh. 
 
 MELLIS. Sweet, from Mel, honey, or Gaelic, milis, sweet, 
 or from Milidh, a soldier. 
 
 MELUISr. Local From the town of Melmi, in France. 
 
 MENAI. Welsh. So called from Menai, a strait which di- 
 vides the island of Anglesea from the coast of Wales. The 
 Mena or Mona, worshiped by. the Sequani, was the moon. 
 The Gaels blessed the beams of this luminary that saved 
 them from the danger of precipices, and Augustine says that 
 the Gaelic peasants invoked Mena for the welfare of their 
 women. 
 
 MENNO. Beardless; defective. 
 
 MENTETH or MONTEITH. Local. From a district in 
 Scotland so called, tlirough which the river Teth runs. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 199 
 
 MENZIES. Said to be originally Ilaynoers, Meyners, then 
 Menys afterward Meynes or Mengies, and now Menzies — a 
 branch of the family of Manners^ in England, the name being 
 originally the same. I think, rather, the name is derived 
 from the parish of Monzie^ in Perthshire, Scotland. 
 
 MERGER. One who deals in silks and woolen goods. 
 
 MEREDITH. This famUy is of British origin. Old chronicles 
 relate that the first settlement of the family was situated 
 on the Welsh shore, where the sea washed in with great 
 impetuosity and noise, from whence it is added they took 
 the name of Meredyth^ or Ameredith. Marcdydd^ Welsh, 
 the animated one. 
 
 MERLE or MERRIL. (Fr.) A blackbird Merel, local, a 
 town in Savoy. 
 
 MERTOK Local From Merton, a town hi Sussex, England, 
 so called from mere^ a lake or marsh, and ton. 
 
 MESHAW. (Fr.) Mediant, bad, wicked. 
 
 MESICK (Dutch.) From Mdesyck, a town on the river 
 Maes, in the bishopric of Liege, Netherlands. 
 
 METCALF. In the Welsh, medd signifies a vale, a meadow, 
 and ca/, a cell, a chancel, a church, i. e., the church in the 
 vale. 
 
 The origin of the name, however, is given by tradition in this 
 wise. In those days when bullfights were in vogue, in 
 merry England, one of the enraged animals broke away from 
 the combat, and was hotly pursued by horsemen. A certain 
 John Strong happened to meet the bull on the top of a hill, 
 and when attacked by the furious beast, he seized him in 
 the nostrils with his left hand, and killed him. As he came 
 to the foot of the hill, meeting several persons in the pur- 
 suit, he was inquired of whether he had met a bull; he 
 rephed he '' Met a calf," and from this circumstance was 
 called afterward John Metcalfe. 
 
200 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 METTERlSriCH. (Dutch.) From Metier, middle or in, and 
 naght, night — middle of the night ; born in the middle of the 
 night. Metternach, local, the town next to the middle place, 
 from nach, next, after, behind, at, or by. 
 
 MEYER. (G-er.) The magistrate of a city or town. 
 
 MEYEUL. Local. Came into England with William the 
 Conqueror. The name is derived from a place in France. 
 
 MICHAEL. (Heb.) Who is like God ? 
 
 MICKLE. From the Saxon Muchel ; Scottish, Muckle, big. 
 
 MIDDLEDITCH. Local. The middle trench for draining 
 wet land or guarding inclosures. 
 
 MIDDLETOK Local. From Middleton, a small town in 
 Dorsetshire, England — ^the middle town. 
 
 MILBOURNE. Local. The mill brook, from Miln, a mill, and 
 borne or bourne, a brook. 
 
 MILDMAY. Said to be derived from the Saxon Mild, soft 
 or tender, and dema, a judge, and was given to one of the 
 early ancestors of the family from his tempering the severity 
 of the law with mercy. 
 
 MILFORD. Local. The ford by the mill. 
 
 MILLER. One who attends a grist-mill. Meittear, Gaelic, 
 having large lips; mdlair, G-aelic, a merchant; maiUor, 
 GaeHc, from maille, armor, and fear, a man — a man in 
 armor, having a coat of mail, a soldier. 
 
 MILLMAJST. A man belonging to a mill. 
 
 MILLS. Local. Living near a mill. Gaelic, Milidh, a soldier, 
 
 the d being silent. 
 MILNE. A mill. In Gaelic Muileann also signifies a mill; in 
 
 Welsh, Milain implies firmness, fixedness of purpose. 
 
 MILNER. A miller. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 201 
 
 MTLTHORPE. Local. From a village of that name in West- 
 moreland, England, so called from miU, and iJiorpe, a village 
 — the mill-village. 
 
 MILTON. Local. From the town of Milton, in Kent, Eng- 
 land. The mill-town, from the Saxon mih,, a mill, and ion; 
 or the middle town. 
 
 MINSTER. (Sax.) An abbey. 
 
 MINT URN. (Welsh.) Local. The round stones or circle of 
 stones, from min, stones, and turn, a round, a circle ; trwn 
 and iron, Welsh, a circle. 
 
 MITCHELL. A corruption of Michael, or from the Saxon 
 Muchel, big. 
 
 MIXE. Local. An ancient territory of France. 
 
 MOCHRIE. (Celtic.) My beloved, from mo, my, and chreSf 
 dear; a term of endearment, a sweetheart. 
 
 MOE. (Old EngUsh.) Large, tall, great. 
 
 MOEL. Maol, in the G-aehc, signifies bald. 
 
 MOELYN. (Welsh.) Bald-pate. 
 
 MOFFATT. Local. Derived from the town of Moflfat, in 
 Dumfriesshire, Scotland. 
 
 MOLEN. (Dutch.) A mill 
 
 MOLLOY. (Cor. Br.) The dusty or hoary mill. 
 
 MOLYNEUX. (Fr.) Local. From Normandy, De Mouhns, 
 De Moulines, De Molineus. From Mbulins, a town on the 
 river Allier, in France, so called from the great number of 
 water mills there. Fr., Moulin, a mill. 
 
 MONGrER. Anciently an extensive merchant, now used to 
 denote those who traffic in a single article. 
 
 MONK. Greek, fiovoc; Welsh, mon, sole, separate, alone; 
 GaeKc, Tnoanach. A man who retires from the ordinary con- 
 cerns of the world, and devotes himself to rehgion. 
 9* 
 
202 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 MONROE. Local. Monadh Roe or Mont Roe, from the 
 mount on the river Roe, in Ireland, whence the family came. 
 Moine Roe, a mossy place on the Roe ; M'unroe, from, of, 
 or about the Roe. The river is sometimes written Munree. 
 
 MONSON. Derived, according to antiquarians, from the Ger- 
 man word MuntZj but probably the son of Mon or Mun, a 
 nickname for Edmund. 
 
 MONTAGrUE. (Fr.) Be Mont aigue — from the sharp or steep 
 
 mountain. 
 MONTFORD. From the Latin "Z>e MonU ForU;' that is, from 
 
 the strong or fortified hill or mountain. 
 MONTaOMERY. A corruption of the Latin ''Mons Gomeris,'' 
 
 Gromer's mount. Qomer, the son of Japhet, th€ hereditary 
 
 name of the Gauls. 
 
 MONTMORICE. The mount of Morris; or from the Moorish 
 mountains, perhaps natives of Morocco ; some bearing this 
 name went with William the Conqueror into England. 
 
 MOODY. A name given from the disposition. Meudwy, Welsh, 
 an anchorite, a recluse, hermit, a monk. 
 
 MOERS. Derived from the town of Moers, in the Nether- 
 lands. Moer or Moeras, in Dutch, signifies a fen, marsh, or 
 moor. 
 
 MOON. A corruption of Mohun^ or it may be local, from the 
 island Anglesey or Mona^ so called, as some suppose, from 
 mwyn, Welsh, mines, from its stone-quarries and mines; 
 others derive it from mpn or mona, alone, separated. Mwyn^ 
 Welsh, affable, pleasant. 
 
 MOONEY. Meunier, Fr., a miller. 
 
 MOORE or MORE. (Gaelic.) Mor, great, chief, tall, mighty, 
 proud. Moar, a collector of manorial rents in the Isle of 
 Man. Moore, from moor — Jolm o' the Moor. 
 
 MORAN. A multitude. Moran, a contraction of Morgan, 
 which signifies of or belonging to the sea. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 203 
 
 MORETOK (G-aelic.) Local. From mor, large, high, and 
 dun^ ton^ a hilL 
 
 MORG-AN. From Mor, the sea, and gan^ born ; the same as 
 Pelagius — ^born on the sea, from the Greek •Kilayog, the 
 sea. Mor^ the sea, and gan^ by or near — near the sea, a 
 locality. 
 
 MORIARTY. (GaeUc.) Noble, illustrious, from Jfor, great, 
 and artach, exalted. 
 
 MORLEY. Local. From Morlaix, in Brittany, France, and 
 derived from the Welsh or British word mor, the sea, and 
 Zey, a valley. It is situated near the sea, on a river of the 
 same name. 
 
 MORSE. Probably a contraction of Morris. Mors, the name 
 of a large island in Denmark, a marsh. 
 
 MORREL. Having yellow hair. 
 
 MORRIS. (Welsh.) From Mawr and rySj a hero, a warrior, 
 a brave man. Marth, the great, the warlike, same as 
 Mavors. 
 
 MORTOK (Gaelic.) Local. From the parish of Morton, in 
 Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Mor, big, great, and 
 dun, ton, a hill. 
 
 MOSELEY. Local Moss-ley, Sax., Moose, Moyes, or Moss, 
 a mossy field or pasture. 
 
 MOTT. (Fr.) A round artificial hilL 
 
 MOULTOK Local A small town in Devonshire, England. 
 
 MOUNTAIN. A name of place. This name once gave occa- 
 sion to a pun which would have been excellent, had the 
 allusion been made to any other book than the Holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Dr. Mountain, chaplain to Charles II., was asked one day by 
 that monarch to whom he should present a certain bishopric 
 just then vacant. " If you had but faith, sire," replied he, 
 " I could tell you to whom." " How so," said Charles, " if I had 
 
204 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 but faith." "Why, yes," said the witty cleric, "your maj- 
 esty might then say to this Mountain, he thou removed into 
 that sea." The chaplain succeeded. 
 
 MOUNTJOY. A name adopted probably by one of the cru- 
 saders, from a place near Jerusalem, which, according to Sir 
 John Mandeville, " men clepen Mount-Joye, for it gevethe 
 joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause that there men seen first 
 Jerusalem * * * ^ full fair place, and a delicyous," 
 Lower says, " Some religious houses in England had their 
 MountjoySj a name given to eminences where the first view 
 of the sacred edifice was to be obtained. This name is still 
 retained in a division of the hundred of Battel, not far from 
 the remains of the majestic pile reared by William the Con- 
 queror. Boyer defines 'Mont-joie' as a heap of atones made 
 by a French army, as a monument of victory." 
 
 MOXON. The son of Moggie or Margaret. 
 
 MOXLE Y. Local. Probably Mugashy, from the Saxon muga, 
 much, great, large, and ley, a field. 
 
 MULLIGAN". (G-aeHc.) Local. Mullechean, the top or sum- 
 mit, a height. 
 
 MULLINS. (Fr.) A miller. "i)e i/owZm," from the mill. 
 
 MUMFORD. The same as Montfort (which see). 
 
 MUNDY. Local. Derived from the Abbey of Mondaye, in 
 the dukedom of Normandy. 
 
 MUNGEY. A corruption of Mountjoy (which see). 
 
 MUNN. A famihar abbreviation of Edmund. 
 
 MUNSEL. Local. From MonsaU, a dale of Derbyshire, or a 
 person originally from Mansle, in France. 
 
 MUERAY, MORAY. De Moravia. Some deduce this family 
 from a warhke people called the Moi^avii, who came from 
 Germany into Scotland, and afiixed their own nomenclature 
 to that district now called the shire of Moray. The root of 
 the name is the same whether Moravian or Gaelic, and sig- 
 nifies the great water, fi^om mor, great, and an or av, water. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 206 
 
 MIJERELL. (Ft.) A sea wall or bank, to keep oflf the water; 
 
 a name of place. 
 MUSGrRAVE. King's falconer, from Meus, Sax., the place 
 
 where the hawks were kept, and grave, keeper. 
 MYERS. The same as Meyer, the magistrate of a city or 
 
 town ; a very common name in Germany. 
 
 NAB. In the Persic, signifies a chief, a prince. Nab, English, 
 the summit of a mountain, the top. 
 
 NAFFIS or NEFIS. (Fr.) From Ne/ils, that is, bom son, 
 from Ne and Jils. Nwyfus, in the Welsh, signifies brisk, 
 sprightly, active. 
 
 NAIRNE, Local. The name of a shire, river, and town in 
 Scotland, whence the surname is derived. The name was 
 taken from the river, which was called in Gaelic uisge- 
 n'fhearn, from uisge, water, and n'fhearn (pronounced nearn, 
 the " fh" having no sound), " the alders" — " the water of the 
 alders," from the great number of alder-trees which grew on 
 its banks. 
 
 NANCE. Local. From Nance or Nancy, a city of France, capi- 
 tal of the department of Meurthe, and signifies a valley ; nans 
 or nantz, in the Cornish British, is a plain, a dale, a level. 
 
 NAPIER. It is said that Donald, a son of the Earl of Lennox, 
 for his bravery in battle, had his name changed by the king 
 to Napier. After the battle, as the manner is, every one ad- 
 vancing and setting forth his own acts, the king said unto 
 them, " Ye have all done valiantly, but there is one among 
 you who hath Wa Pier,^ " and the king gave him lands in 
 Fife and Goffurd. The name came, however, fi:om taking 
 charge of the king's napery or linen at the coronation of 
 Enghsh kings, an oJGfice held by WiUiam De Hastings, in 
 the time of Heniy I. 
 
 NASH. Supposed to be a corruption of "Aiten-Ash,'" — at the ash. 
 Naish, a place near Bristol, England. Naisg, Gaelic, made fast, 
 bound, protected. Probably an old fortress or watch-tower. 
 
206 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 NAYLOR. A maker of nails. 
 
 NEANDER. Newman, Greek, veog-dv7)p^ the new man. 
 
 NEBDHAM. Local From Needham^ a market-town in Suf- 
 folk, England — the village of cattle; Sax., neat^ Danish, 
 nodj a herd, and ham, a village. In another sense it may 
 denote the clean, fair town. 
 
 NEAL. The same as Neil (which see). Neal may be some- 
 times a contraction of Nigel. 
 
 NEFF. French, iVa«/; artless, candid, iVe/, a water-mill ; the 
 nave of a chm-ch. 
 
 NEFIS. Welsh, Nwyfus, sprightly. Nefils, French, a son 
 bom, descendant from. 
 
 NEIL and NEL. In the Cor. Br. signifies power, might, that 
 is, the powerful or mighty. Neul or Mai, in the Gaelic, sig- 
 nifies a cloud or hue ; figuratively, a dark complexion. 
 
 NELSON or NEILSON. The son of Neil or Nel 
 NELTHROPE. From Nehwl, Gothic for near or nigh, and 
 
 thorpe, a village ; given to an individual living at such a spot 
 
 near the village. [Playfair.] 
 NEQUAM. (Latin.) Dishonest, lazy. Alexander Nequam, of 
 
 St. Albans, wishing to devote himself to a monastic life, in 
 
 the abbey of his native town, applied to the ruler of that 
 
 establishment for admission. The abbot's reply was thus 
 
 laconically expressed : 
 " Si bonus sis, venias, si Nequam, nequaquam." If good, you 
 
 may come ; if wicked, by no means. 
 It is said he changed his name to Neckham, and was admitted 
 
 into the fraternity. 
 NESS. A cape or promontory. 
 NETHERWOOD. Local. The lower wood. 
 NEVEU. (Fr.) A nephew. 
 NEVILLE. (Fr.) "Z)e iVewve w'ZZe," of the new town. Neu- 
 
 vUle, a town in Poitou, France. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 207 
 
 NEVrN". (G-aelic.) Naomh, holy, sacred, consecrated. Welsh, 
 Nef, heaven; Nefanedig, heaven-born; Nefddawn, heaven- 
 gifted. 
 
 NEWBURY. (Sax.) New-town. A place in Berkshire 
 raised out of the ruins of an old town called Spingham. 
 
 NEWTH. Nuadh, in the G-aelic, signifies new, fresh, recent. 
 
 NEWTON. Local. The name of several smaU towns in 
 England — the new town. 
 
 NISBETT. Local. From the lands of Nisbett, in the shire of 
 Berwick, Scotland. 
 
 NOAKES or NOKES. A corruption of Atten Oale, "at the 
 oak;" en was added to at when the following word began 
 with a vowel, as " John Atten Ash" — John Nash, that is, 
 John at the Ash. Mr. John Nokes is a celebrated person- 
 age in legal matters, as well as his constant antagonist 
 Mr. John Styles (John at the Style). The names are so 
 common, that " Jack Noakes and Tom Styles" designate the 
 rabble. 
 
 NOBLE. Great, elevated, dignified. 
 
 NOEL. (Fr.) Christmas ; a name given probably to a child 
 born at that time. 
 
 NOGENT. Local. From the town of Nogent, in the province 
 of Champagne, France. The Nugents went from England 
 into Ireland in the time of Henry II. 
 
 NOKBURY. Local. The north town or village. 
 
 NORCUTT or NORTHCOTE. Local. The north-cot; so 
 Eastcott and Westcott. 
 
 NORFOLK. Local. A county of England. Nord-folJc, the 
 north people, so caKed with regard to Suffolk, or the south 
 ' people. 
 
 NORMAN. A native of Normandy, a northman. The inhab- 
 itants of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were anciently so 
 called. 
 
208 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 NOERIS. Norroy^ or north-king ; a title given, in England, to 
 the third king-at-arms. Norrie, French, a foster-child. 
 
 NORTHAM. Local. The north house or village — North-ham. 
 
 NORTHOP. Local A place in England ; the north thorp or 
 
 village. 
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND. Local. A county of England. 
 
 North-Humher-land, the land on the north side of the river 
 
 Humber. 
 NORTOK Local. From Norton, a town in Yorkshire, Eng- 
 land. The north-town. 
 NORWICH. Local. From the city and seaport of Norwich, 
 
 in Norfolk, England. The north-harbor, from north, and 
 
 wick, a harbor or port. 
 NOTT. Hnott, Saxon, smooth, round, a nut. Nbited, an old 
 
 word for shorn, polled. The name may have come from 
 
 wearing the hair short and smooth. 
 
 "A nott hed had he, with a brown visage." — Ohauobe. 
 
 The following, it is said, was penned by the first wife of the 
 Rev. Dr. Nott, on his asking her hand in marriage : 
 
 " Why urge, dear sir, a bashful maid, 
 
 To change her single lot, 
 When well you know, I've often said 
 
 In truth, I love you, Nott. 
 For all your pain I do, Nott, care, 
 
 And trust me on my life, 
 Though you had thousands, — I declare, 
 
 I would, Nott, be your wife." 
 
 NOTTnTOHAM. Local. From the borough town of Notting- 
 ham, in England. Bailey says the name is corrupted from 
 Snottingham, from the Saxon Snottengaj.ca.yeSj and ham, a 
 village, from the many caves and places of security found in 
 tliat county. 
 
 HOWELL. The same as Noel (which see). 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. gOf 
 
 EOX. Local. Cnoc^ in the Gaelic, is a little hill, a hillock. 
 
 NOTES. Noy is an abbreviation for Noah. " In England, in the 
 seventeenth century, Attorney-General Noy was succeeded 
 by Sir John Banks, and Chief-justice Heath being found 
 guilty of bribery, Sir John Finch obtained the ofi&ce ; hence 
 it was said : 
 
 " Nay's flood is gone, 
 
 The Banks appear, \ 
 
 Heath is shorn down, 
 And Finch sings here." — ^Lowee. 
 
 In the Cornish British, Noi is a nephew, and Noys night. 
 
 NUGENT. (SeeNogent) 
 
 NYE. The familiar abbreviation of Isaac, among the Dutch. 
 Noie, Danish, exact, precise, nice. Ny^ Danish, new, re- 
 cently produced. Lower gives the name from AUen-Eye^ 
 at the island. • 
 
 OAEIES. Local. From a dwelling near the oak-trees. 
 
 OAKHAM. Local. From the town of Oakham, in Rutland- 
 shire, England, so called from Oak, and ham, the village by 
 the oaks. 
 
 OAKLEY. Local. The fields or pasture abounding in oaks. 
 
 O'BIERNE. The same as O'Byrne. 0, or Ui^ signifies grand- 
 son, descendant. The descendants of Byrne. In the Welsh^ 
 Bryn is a hill ; Brenin, a chief, a king. 
 
 O'BRIEN. The descendant of Brien, i. e., exalted, noble. 
 
 O'BYRNE. Originally OBran, the descendants of Bran, an 
 ancient king of Leinster ; which signifies a raven ; he was 
 usually called Bran Duv, the black raven, from the color of 
 his hair, and his thirst of prey. 
 
 O'CALLAGHAN. (Celtic or Gaehc.) The descendants or 
 tribe of Callaghan, from CiaUac\ prudent, judicious, discreet 
 
210 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 OCHIERN or OiaTHIERNA. (aaelic.) A term appKed to 
 the heir apparent to a lordship, from Gig, young, and tiernaj 
 a lord. 
 
 OCKHAM. Local From o(Jc or oc, an oak, and ham, a vil- 
 lage, a town in Surrey, England, so called from the abun- 
 dance of oaks growing there. 
 
 OCKLEY. (Sax.) From ock or ac^ an oak, and leagj a field. 
 The oak field, 
 
 O'CONOR or O'CONNOR. The descendants of Conor or Con- 
 covar, an Irish chieftain, who died in the year 971. (See 
 Conor.) 
 
 O'DEVLIN. The descendant of Develin (which see) 
 
 O'DONNELL. The descendants of Donal, an ancient Irish 
 family, who trace their descent through Donal to NiaUus 
 Magnus, the ancestor of the O'Neills, known as Nidi Nia- 
 gaUach, Nial of the nine hostages. The O'Donnells ruled 
 the territory of TirconneU, for thirteen "generations. (See 
 Donald.) 
 
 O'DONOaHUE. The descendants of Donogh (which see). 
 
 O'DONOVAN. The descendants of Donovan, which is de- 
 rived from Donduhhan, the brown-haired chief This name 
 was given to a celebrated Irish chieftain of the tenth cen- 
 tury, who was killed by the famous Brian Boru. 
 
 O'DORCY. The descendant of Dorcy. Dorcy is a corruption 
 of De O'rsay, from Orsay, a town in Cleeve, Germany. 
 
 O'DOUaHERTY. The chief of the oak habitation, fi-om O, 
 high or chie^ doire or darach, the place of oaks, and %A, a 
 habitation. 
 
 O'DUGrAN. The descendant of Dugan (which see). 
 
 O'FL AHERTY. The descendant of Flaherty (which see). 
 
 OG-DEN. Local (Sax.) From ock, oak-tree, and den, a val- 
 ley ; the oak vale, or shady valley. Ogduine, in the Gaelic, 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 211 
 
 signifies a young man, from Og, young, and duine^ a man ; 
 Ogdyn^ in the Welsh, has the same signification. 
 
 OGrlLVIE. Local. From the lands of Ogilvie, in Scotland. 
 It may come from the Welsh Ochil, a high place. 
 
 O'GOWAN. The descendant of Gowan (which see). 
 
 O'HARA. The descendant of " Hara,'^ Chaldee form of ara, a 
 mountain. In GaeHc, arra signifies a pledge, treachery; 
 arr, a stag, a hind ; arradh, an armament ; ara, plural of ar, 
 slaughter, battle. Hara, Saxon, a hare. 
 
 O'KEEFE. The descendant of Kief Kief, in the Danish, sig- 
 nifies brave, stout, courageous. 
 
 OLIFANT. An elephant. 
 
 O'LEARY. The descendant of Lary; Llary, Welsh, gentle, 
 
 easy. 
 OLIVER. So named from the olive-tree, an emblem of peace. 
 
 OLLENDORFF. Local. From Oldendorf in Germany, so 
 called from Olden, old, and dorf, a vUlage. 
 
 OLMSTEAD. Local. A place or town by the green oaks, 
 from Holm, an oak, and stead, a place. Holme, low lands 
 on a river, an island. 
 
 O'MAHONY. The descendant of Mahon, which signifies a 
 
 bear. 
 O'M ALLEY. The descendant of MaUey; Mala, Gaelic, the 
 
 brow of a hill ; Maille, smooth, placid, gentle. 
 
 ONDERDONK. (Dutch.) Under grace or pardon, from onder, 
 
 under, and dank, thankfulness, gratitude. 
 O'NEIL. The descendants of Neil, that is, the powerful or 
 
 mighty. 
 ONSLOW. Local. From the manor of Onslow, in Sliropshire, 
 
 England. Aunslow signifies a place on a river or stream. 
 O'QUIK Anciently O'Con. The descendants of Con Cead- 
 
 caha, one of the early monarchs of Ireland. 
 
-mmmmmmmmm 
 
 312 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 ORCHARD. Local. An inclosure of fruit-trees. OrcTieard, 
 Graelic, a goldsmith. 
 
 ORME. (Prencli.) Local. An elm-tree. 
 
 ORMISTOK Local The town or village of ehns. 
 
 ORMSBY. From orme, an ehn, and hy, a town; a name of 
 a place surrounded by elms. 
 
 ORR. Local Derived from the river and town of Orr, in 
 Scotland. Or, in Welsh and G-aelic, signifies a border, a 
 boundary. 
 
 ORTON. Local From the town of Orton, in Westmoreland, 
 England. G-aelic, Ord, a hill of a round form and steep, 
 and ton, a town a fortress. 
 
 ORVIS. Urfhas, in the G-aelic, signifies fair offspring. Arvos, 
 Cor. Br., local, a place on or near an entrenchment, from Ar 
 and /oss. 
 
 OSBORN. (Sax.) From hm, a house, and hecum, a child — a 
 family-child, an adopted child. 
 
 OSMUND. (Sax.) From hus, a house, and mvm,d, peace. 
 
 OSTERHOUDT. (Dutch.) The east wood, from oost or ost&r, 
 east, and houdt, a wood. 
 
 OSTHEIM. (Ger.) From Osf, east, and heim, a home, habi- 
 tation or village. — -"From the east habitation or village. 
 
 OSTRANDER. (Dutch.) The lord of the east shore, from 
 oste, east, strand, the shore, and heer, lord or master ; he that 
 must have his due of a stranded ship. 
 
 OSWALD. (Sax.) From hus, a house, and wdldj a ruler — a 
 house-ruler or steward ; a king of Northumberland. 
 
 OTIS. (Greek.) From urbc, the genitive singular of dvc, the 
 ear, a name given from quick hearing. 
 
 O'TOOLE. Originally O'Tuathal— the descendants of Tuaihai^ 
 which signifies " the lordly." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. ^13 
 
 OTTER. Local. OitiVj Gaelic, a low promontory jutting into 
 
 the sea, a shoal. 
 OUDEKIRK. (Dutch.) Local. From a town of the same 
 
 name in Holland, and signifies the old church, jfrom oude, 
 
 old, and herh, a church. 
 OUSELEY. Local. From the river Ouse, in England, and 
 
 %, a field or place — a place on the river Ouse. The name 
 
 Ouse is derived from the Gaelic uisge, water. 
 OUTHOUDT. (Dutch.) Local. The old wood. 
 OWEN. (Celtic.) The good ofispring. Oen^ Welsh, and 
 
 Gaelic, uan, a lamb. 
 OXFORD. Local From Oxford, in England, on the Isis, 
 
 the seat of the celebrated university founded in 806 ; from 
 
 Or, Anglo-Saxon, water, corrupted by the Angles or Danes 
 
 from the Gaelic uisge or isk, and ford, a pass or way — the 
 
 ford across the Isis. 
 Bailey derives it from Oxen-ford, " the ford of the oxen," like 
 
 the Greek Bosphorus, or fi:om the river Ouse, and ford. 
 
 The name of the river On^e is derived from uisge, water. 
 
 PADDOCK. (Old EngHsh.) A meadow, croft or field; an 
 
 inclosure in a park. 
 PAGE, Child, and Yarlet, were names given to youtlis between 
 
 seven and fourteen years of age while receiving theu* educa- 
 tion for knighthood. 
 PAINE. Paon, Fr., a peacock. Payne, a pagan, unbaptized ; 
 
 a rustic. 
 PAISLEY. (Welsh.) Local. From Plas, a pass, and lli^ a 
 
 stream — the place of crossing the river. 
 PALMER. A pilgrim, so called from the palm-branch, which 
 
 he constantly carried as a pledge of his having been in the 
 
 Holy Land. 
 
 " Here is a holy Palmer come, 
 From Salem first, and last from Rome." 
 
 Scott'b Mabmioht. 
 
214 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 PANCOST. A corruption of Pentecost, the fifteenth day after 
 Easter, a name probably given to a child born on that day. 
 
 PANaBOUKN. Local. A town m Berkshire, England; 
 hourn, a brook, a river. 
 
 PARDIE. A name given to one who was in the habit of 
 swearing Par-dku. Lower says, it is not a Httle curious 
 that the French oath, '■^Par Dieu" has become naturalized 
 among us, under the various modifications of Pardew, Par- 
 doe, Pardow, and Pardee. So also we have the Norman 
 name Bigot, from the habit of swearing ^^Bv-Ood^ 
 
 PARSALL. Local Park-hall, the same as Parshall. Par- 
 cell may be fi-om par-del, " by heaven," a name given for the 
 same reason as the preceding one. 
 
 PARIS. Local. The metropolis of France, on the Seine, an- 
 ciently called "Lutetia Parisiorum," Lutum, mud, from its 
 situation in a marshy place, A place where the Pars or 
 Peers met in Congress. Paro, to make civil or military 
 arrangements; Paries, a wall, a walled town; Peri, an 
 island. 
 
 PARKE. A piece of ground inclosed, and stored with deer 
 and other beasts of chase. 
 
 PARKER. The keeper of a park. 
 
 PARKMAN. The sarSe as Parker, 
 
 PARNELL, The same as Pernell, from PetroniUa, Italian, 
 pretty stone, A wanton, immodest girl 
 
 PARRET or PERROT. Local From Peraidd, Welsh, the 
 sweet or delicious river, now the Bee. 
 
 PARRY. (Welsh.) Probably a contraction of Ap Harry, the 
 son of Harry. In the Welsh it also signifies ready, prepared, 
 equal, like ; Para, endurance, one capable of enduring. The 
 name may be local, from Parys, a mountain in Wales, so 
 called from parhotts, inexhaustible (mines) ; or Pres, brass, 
 copper, ore. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 215 
 
 PARSHALL. Local. Park-haU, the hall, or mansion m the 
 Park. 
 
 PAESON. We suppose that its first founder was a clerical 
 character or parson. From the Latin Persona, that is, the 
 person who takes care of the souls of his parishioners. 
 
 PATRICK. From the Latin Pairidus^ noble, a senator ; the 
 name of the tutelary saint of Ireland. 
 
 PATTERSON or PATTISON. Patrick's son, the son of Pat- 
 rick. 
 
 PAUL. Signifies Httle, small. Latin, Paulm, Greek, nav2,og, 
 
 PAXTON. Local. From the town of Paxton, in Berwick- 
 shire, Scotland. 
 
 PAYNE. Local. From a place called Payne, in Normandy. 
 
 PEABODY. There is an ancient tradition (we give it for what 
 it is worth), that this name was derived from one Boadiej 
 a kinsman of Queen Boadicea, who assisted her in her re- 
 volt against the Romans. After the Britons were subdued 
 by the Romans, Queen Boadicea dispatched herself by 
 poison, and Boadie, with a remnant of the Britons, escaped 
 to the mountains of Wales. Boadie, among the Cambri or 
 Britons, signified a man or a great man, and Pea signified a 
 large hUl, a mountain, from which Boadie came to be called 
 Peabodie, or the Mountain man, wb'ch became the name of 
 the tribe. 
 
 PEACOCK. Taken fi-om the name of the well-known fowl ; 
 pea, contracted fi-om the Latin, pavo, Saxon, pawa, French, 
 paon, — a name given from a fondness of display. 
 
 PEARSON or PIERSON. Pi&rre-son, the son of Pierre or 
 Peter. 
 
 PEDIN. Local. Pedn, Cor. Br., is a hill ; the head of any 
 thing. 
 
 PEEBLES. Local. From the town and shire of Peebles, m 
 Scotland. Pohl, Welsh, people, and lie, a place; PdbvM^ 
 Gaelic, people, and eis, many ; the place of many people. 
 
216 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 PEELE. Local. A tower, a castle, a spire, a steeple, as Camer- 
 pehj the spire rock. Pefe, Fr., a bald-pated man. 
 
 PELHAM. Local. From the lordship of Pelham, in Hertford- 
 shire, England, either from peele, a tower, castle, or from 
 poo\ a small lake, and ham^ a village. 
 
 PELL, according to Bailey, is a house ; in the Welsh it signi- 
 fies, far off, at a distance, 
 
 PELLETIER. (Fr.) A furrier, or skinner. 
 
 PELLYN, now PILLINQS. (Cor. Br.) The distant pool 
 Pyling^ an old word denoting a superstructure, 
 
 IPENDLETOK Local The summit of the hill, aaelic, from 
 pendle, the summit, and dun, a hilL Pen-dal-ton, the town 
 at the head of the valley. 
 
 PENaiLLY. (Cor. Br.) The head of the grove. 
 
 PEKN". (Cor. Br.) The top of a hill; the head. 
 
 PENNANT. (Cor. Br.) From Pew, a head, and nant, a vale, 
 or dingle ; the head of the dingle ; the principal mansion of 
 the family, Bychton, in Wales, being situated at the head of 
 a considerable dingle on the old family estate. 
 
 PENNINGTON, Local Derived from the manor of Pen- 
 nington, in Lancashire, England, anciently Penitone, written 
 in the Doomsday-Book, Pennegetwm. 
 
 PENEY. Local A town in Savoy ; the head of the water, 
 from pen and eau, also a pinnacle. 
 
 PENNY or PINNY. The top of a mountain or hiU. A 
 mountain in Spain is called by the inhabitants " La Penna 
 de los Enamorados," or the Lover's Rock. The word has 
 the same meaning as the English pinnacle. 
 
 PENNYMAN or PENNYMON. (Welsh.) Local Pm-y- 
 mon, the top of the mountain. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 211 
 
 PEKCY, PIERCY, PEROEY. Local. The renowned famUy 
 of Percy, of Northumberland, England, derived their name 
 from Percy Forest, in the Province of Maen, Normandy, 
 whence they came, which signifies a stony place, from 
 pierre. It may signify a hunting place, from pirsen, Teu- 
 tonic, to hunt ; percer, French, to penetrate, to force one's way. 
 
 PEREJNS. From Peir or Peter, and the patronymic or di- 
 minutive termination ins, — httle Peter, or the son of Peter. 
 
 PERRIG-0. Local. From Per^ewaj, a tovni of France. 
 
 PERRY. If not synonymous with Parry, it is local, from 
 Pierre (Fr.), a stone, signifying a stony place, abounding 
 in rocks. 
 
 PEYENSEY. liocal. A village in Sussex, England, the land- 
 ing place of William the Conqueror, in 1066, derived from 
 Pau, Welsh, a tract of pasture land, and aven(s), a river, and 
 aig, the sea, standing at the mouth of a river, near the sea. 
 The name is also Gaelic, and has the same meaning. Biad- 
 hahhainisg, or Pababhainisg. 
 
 PEYTON. Assumed by the proprietors of Peyton, a small 
 town near Boxford, in Suffolk, England. They were de- 
 scendants of WUliam Mallet, one of the favorites of William 
 the Conqueror. 
 
 PHELPS. Supposed to be the same as PhiUips (which see). 
 The name may come from the Danish, Hvalp ; Swedish, 
 Vdlp, a whelp. 
 
 PHILIP.x (Grreek.) A lover of horses, from ^i/lof, and lizTtog. 
 PHIPPEN. A corruption of Fitz Penn, from the Norman, 
 
 Fitz, a son, and Penn. The son of Penn. 
 PHYSICK. The art of heahng diseases. A name given to a 
 
 physician. 
 
 PICKERING. Local. A market town of north Yorkshire, 
 
 England, with the remains of a castle. 
 PICKERSGILL. Local. The stream inhabited by pike or 
 
 pickerel, 
 
 10 
 
218 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 PIEECE. The same as Piercy or Percy (which see). 
 
 PIERPONT. (Ft.) Be Pierre Pont, from the stohe bridge ; 
 in Latin, I>e Petra Ponte. 
 
 PIGGOT and PICKETT. Pitted with the smaU-pox, spotted 
 in the face, from the French PicoU. 
 
 PIGMAN. A dealer in pigs. A man by the name of John- 
 son, in Staffordshire, England, who followed this occupation, 
 was generally called Pigman, and he willingly recognized 
 this cognomen. 
 
 PILCHER. A maker of pikhes, a kind of great coat or upper 
 , garment, in use in the fourteenth century. 
 
 " After gret heat cometh cold, 
 No man cast hia pylch away."— Chaucer. 
 
 PILLESTGS. Same as Pellyn (which see). 
 
 PITTMAN, PUTMAN. A man Hving near a well or spring; 
 Saxon, pit; Danish, put, a weU or spring. 
 
 PLAYEAIR. Local. The play ground, a place where fairs 
 were held, and holidays kept. 
 
 PLAYSTED. The place appropriated to amusement, or any 
 exercise intended for pleasure. 
 
 PLEASANTS. Local. From a suburb of the city of Edin- 
 burgh, called " The Pleasants," where anciently was a priory 
 of nuns, which was dedicated to St. Mary of Placentia, of 
 which the name " Pleasants" is a corruption. 
 
 PLYMPTOK Local (Cor. Br.) From Plym, a river, and 
 ton, a town. The town situated on the river Plym, in Dev- 
 onshire, England. 
 
 POLK. An abbreviation of Pollock (which see). Mr. Polk, the 
 late President, is third in descent from a Mr. Pollock. 
 
 POLLARD. A tree having its top cut off; a fish; Poularde, 
 French, a fat chicken; Pol, Dutch, a loose or lewd man, 
 and ard, disposition. Poule-ard, chicken-hearted. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 219 
 
 POLLEY. Local. From Poilley, in the province of Orleans, 
 France, whence the family originally came. 
 
 POLLOCK. Local. Derived from the parish of Pollock^ in 
 Eenfrew^shire, Scotland. The name is from the Gaelic Pol- 
 lag^ " a littie, pool, pit, or pond," a diminutive of pol, a pool. 
 It is vulgarly pronounced Pock or Polk. 
 
 POMEROY. (Fr.) Pomme-roi, a kind of apple, the royal 
 apple, king's apple, or king of apples; a name probably 
 given to a gardener for his skill in raising them, or a name 
 of place vv^here such apples were raised. 
 
 POIN'DEXTER. (Fr.) The same as Hotspur, or spur the 
 steed ; poin being derived from pungo, to pierce, to prick, 
 and deader, right, as opposed to left ; a word expressive of 
 readiness of limbs, adroitness, expertness, and skill. 
 
 POITEYIN. A name given to a native of Poitou, France. 
 
 POOLE. Local. A small collection of water in a hoUow place, 
 supplied by a spring ; a small lake. " John at the Pool," be- 
 came " John Pool." A town in Dorsetshire, England. 
 
 POPE. Greek and Latin, Papa, father. 
 
 PORCHER. This name originated with Simon Le Porcher, 
 hereditary grand huntsman to Louis Capel, Eang of France, 
 from whose ofl&cial duty of slaying the hoar, the name is 
 derived. 
 
 PORSON. The same as Parson, or a corruption of Power-son, 
 the son of Power. 
 
 POWERS. (Welsh.) From Powyr, a descendant of Leod, 
 
 who was the father of Mandebrog or Mandubratius. 
 POWELL. A contraction of the Welsh Ap HoweU, the son of 
 Howell. It may also be deduced from Paul, of which it was 
 a former orthography : 
 
 " After the text of Crist, and Powel, and Jon." 
 
 "Weight's Chaucer, '7229. 
 POTTER. One who makes earthen vessels. 
 POTTINGER. An apothecary is so called in Scotland. 
 
220 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 POULTOK Local From the town of Poulton, in Lancashire, 
 England, also a place near Marlborough, in Wiltshire, so 
 called from Poo\ a small lake, and ton, a town. 
 
 POYNDER. A bailiff, one who distrains. 
 
 PEATT. From the Latin Pratum, a meadow. Prat, in the 
 Dutch, signifies proud, arrogant, cimning. 
 
 PRESCOT. (Welsh.) Local From Prescot, a small town in 
 England, so called from Prys, a coppice, and cwt, a cottage. 
 
 PEESSLEY. Local A coppice, from the Welsh Prys, 
 shrubs, brushwood ; GaeHc, preas, bushes, shrubs, and Zfe, a 
 place, meadow or pasture lands. 
 
 PEESTON. Local A town m Lancashire, England. The 
 town in the coppice, or the bushy hill, from Prys and ton ; 
 also, Preston, the town where brass is* found or manufac- 
 tured, from Pres, brass, Welsh. 
 
 PEICE. (Welsh.) A corruption of Ap Bice, the son of Eice. 
 
 PEICHAED. (Welsh.) A contraction of Ap Richard, the 
 son of Eichard. 
 
 PEIDEAUX. (Fr.) From PresdJeaux, near the water. 
 
 PEINDLE. A croft or smaU field. 
 
 PEING-LE. Local PrencyU, a hazel-wood, from prem,, Welsh, 
 a wood, and cyU or coll, hazel Pringle, an obsolete Scottish 
 coin. 
 
 PEODGEES, PEOaEES, or PEOQEE. A contraction of ^p 
 
 Roger, the son of Eoger. 
 PEOVOOST or PEOOST. A name of office, a president of a 
 
 college ; the chief magistrate of a city. 
 PUG-H or P YE. A contraction of Ap Hugh, the son of Hugh, 
 
 " u" having in Welsh the sound of " y." 
 PUTNAM. (Dutch.) From Put or Putten, a well, and ham, 
 
 a house or town. Welltown, or the house by the well. 
 PUTZKAMMEE. (Grer.) A dressing-chamber, a room for 
 
 dress and ornaments ; a chamberlain. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 221 
 
 PYE. A contraction of Ap Hugh (see Pugh) ; also, a bird ; 
 
 there was an old sign of a pye over an inn in London called 
 
 Pye Corner. 
 QUACKENBOSS. (Dutch.) Quickenhosch, a thicket, a grove 
 
 of roan-tree, mountain-ash, a species of service-tree. 
 
 QUENTIN or QUINTIN. From the Latin Quintus, "the 
 fifth," a name given to the fifth son. Quentin, a town in 
 Cotes du Nord, France, so called fi-om St. Quentin, who died 
 there. 
 
 QUIGLY. Gaelic, Cuigealach, of or belonging to a distaflf or 
 hand rock ; perhaps a thrifty person, or from resembling a 
 distafi" in bodily peculiarity. 
 
 QUIN. Local From Quin, a village in Clare county, Ireland* 
 
 EADCLIFF. Local. A place in Lancashire, England, so 
 called from a clifi" of red rock. 
 
 EADFORD. (Cor. Br.) The fern way. 
 
 RADLAND. (Cor. Br.) The fern land. 
 
 RADNOR. (Cor. Br.) The enclosure of ferns. 
 
 RAFFLES. (Danish.) From Eaefel, long-lubber, lath-back, 
 
 inactive, sluggish. 
 RAINSFORD. Local. A corruption of Ravensford. 
 
 RALEIGH. Rhawlaw, in the Welsh, signifies a lieutenant, a 
 vicar ; and Rheoli, to govern, to rule. It may be local, from 
 Ral, Raoul or Ralph, and leigh, or ley, a field or place. 
 
 RALPH. (Sax.) From Rod, counsel, and ulph, help, French, 
 Raoul, Latin, Rodolphics, a helper, a counselor. 
 
 RALSTON. Local. Ralph, one of the descendants of Mac 
 Dufi", Thane of Fife, obtained a grant of land in Renfrew- 
 shire, and, as was common in those days, called the place 
 after himself, Ralphstown, which was softened into Ralston. 
 
 RAMAGE. Branches of trees ; a coppice where birds sing. 
 
222 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 EAMSEY. Local. From Ea^ Saxon, water, or an isle, and 
 Ram, Ram's Isle, a place in Huntingdonshire, England; 
 where the family originated, and afterward settled in Scot- 
 land. Ramus, Latin, branches, young trees — the isle of un- 
 derbrush, branches, or young trees ; a place where cattle 
 browse. Reomasey, Saxon, from Reoma, the rim, edge, ex- 
 tremity, a border, and ey, an island. 
 
 EAMSDEK (Sax.) Local The winding valley, or the ex- 
 tremity of the valley. 
 
 RAN. (Sax.) Pure, clear. 
 
 RAND. (Dutch.) The border, a borderer. 
 
 RANDAL, RANDOLPH, or RANDULPH. , (Sax.) These 
 names, have the same signification. Fair-help, from Ran, 
 fair, and ulph, help. 
 
 RANDER. Local, (aaehc and Welsh.) A tract of land on 
 a point or promontory. Rand, Danish, the rim, border, 
 edge. 
 
 RANKIN. This name may be derived from the Danish Rank, 
 right, upright, erect. If the name is GaeHc, it would come 
 from Roinn, a promontory, share, or division, and Ceann, 
 head ; the head of the promontory, a name of place. Ran^ 
 hen, in the Dutch, signifies pranks, tricks. 
 
 RANNEY. Local. Renaix, Reinow, or Renais, a town of 
 Switzerland. Ren6 (Latin, renatus), renewed, born again, 
 regenerated. 
 
 RANSOM, RANSOME. The price paid for redemption fi:om 
 captivity or punishment. 
 
 RATHBONE. (Sax.) An early gift. 
 
 RAPP. Rap, in Danish, is swift, nimble. Rap, Dutch, nimble, 
 quick ; " rap gasten," a nimble feUow. 
 
 RAWDON. Local. From the lands of Royden, near Leeds, 
 in Yorkshire, England. 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 228 
 
 RAWLEY. (Welsh.) Rhawlaw, a vicax. (Evans.) 
 
 RAWLIlSTGrS. From Raou\ French for Ralph, and the pa- 
 tronymic termination ings ; — Ralph's son. 
 
 RAWLmSON, The son of Rawlings. 
 
 RAWSOK A corruption of Ravenson, or it may be Ralph's 
 son. 
 
 RAT. This name may have several origins. Ruadh and 
 Reagh, Gaelic, swarthy, red, sandy complexioned. Re, the 
 moon. Ray, a beam of light, luster. Re, from ruo, to rush, 
 applied to a stream, rapids, whence the river Reay, in Caith- 
 ness, Scotland. Rea, Cor. Br., wonderful, strange. Rhe, 
 Welsh, a run, Rhedu, to run. Rhae, Welsh, a battle, the 
 place of a battle ; a chain. 
 
 RAYMER. (Dutch.) Roemur, one who extols, praises, boasts. 
 Raumer, German, a person employed in clearing or cleaning. 
 
 RAYMOND. (Teut.) From Rein, pure, and mund, mouth ; 
 pure mouth, one who abstains from wanton discourses. 
 Raymund, German, quiet peace. 
 
 RAYNER. (Danish.) Raner, a leader of the Danes, who in- 
 vaded Britain ; a pirate, a robber, a term given to a warrior. 
 
 RECORD. The same as Rikerd, or Richard, of which it is a 
 corruption, liberal-hearted, rich in disposition. 
 
 REDDEN or RODDEK Local. (Cor. Br.) A place of ferns. 
 Rodon, a town in Bretagne, France. 
 
 REDDENHURST. Local. Reddon, Cor. Br., fern, and hurst, 
 Saxon, a wood or grove. 
 
 REED and READ. (Sax.) From Rede, advice, counsel, help, 
 or from the fenny plant, a reed. 
 
 REESE, RHEESE. (Cor. Br.) Pushing, violent ; a strong or 
 powerful man. Riese, in German, signifies a giant Welsh, 
 s, a rushing. Rees, a town of Germany, on the Rhine. 
 
224 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 REEVES. From Reeve^ a bailiff, provost, or steward, Shire- 
 reeve, Wood-reeve, (Sheriff, Woodruff.) 
 
 EEmARD and REYNARD. (Teut. or Sax.) From i2em, 
 pure, and ard, nature, disposition ; honest, incorrupt. 
 
 KEINHART. (Dutch.) A pure heart, from rein, pure. 
 
 BENARD. (Fr.) A fox, cunning. 
 
 EETZ. Local A town in Moravia. 
 
 REYNOLDS. (Sax.) Sincere or pure love from, ETiem, pure, 
 and hold, the old English for love. It also may signify 
 strong or firm hold. 
 
 REYNOLDSON. The son of Reynolds. 
 
 BHEFELDT. The deer-field, from the Dutch rhee, a roe, and 
 feldt, a field. 
 
 RHODES. Local From the island of Rhodes, in the Mediter- 
 ranean Sea. Rhodes, a town in Guienne, France. 
 
 RIAN. Gaehc, Ria, a provincial chief. Rian, manner, order, 
 arrangement, sobriety, good disposition. 
 
 RICE. Another form of Rys, Welsh, to rush, a rushing ; figur- 
 atively, a hero, a brave, impetuous man. The same as 
 Rees. 
 
 RICH. Wealthy, opulent ; anciently, great, noble, powerful 
 
 RICHARD or RIO ARD. (Sax.) Of a powerful, rich, or gen- 
 erous disposition, from ric, rich, and ard, nature or disposi- 
 tion. 
 
 RICHARDSON. The son of Richard. 
 
 RICHMOND. (Sax.) From ric, rich, and mimd, mouth — 
 rich-mouth; figuratively, eloquent. 
 
 RICKETTS. A corruption of Rimrds, from Richard (which 
 
 see). 
 RIDDELL, Local. From lands in the county of Yorkshire, 
 
 formerly called the Ryedcdes. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 226 
 
 BIDDER and RITTER. The same as Ruyter, a knight, a 
 chevalier. 
 
 RIGGrS. From the Danish rig^ wealthy, rich; or the name 
 may be local, and denoting a steep elevation, a range of 
 hills, or the upper part of such a range. 
 
 RING". (Dutch.) Local. A Canton; a district of an eccle- 
 siastical congregation. 
 
 RINGE. ^Danish.) Mean, low, small, little; a ring, circle. 
 Local, a round place. 
 
 RINGGOLD. (Welsh.) Local. Rhingol, a cleft, cM*, or 
 steep bank. 
 
 RIPLEY. Local. A market-town in west Yorkshire, Eng- 
 land, from the Saxon rypan^ to divide or separate, and ley^ 
 uncultivated lands, a pasture. 
 
 ROBERTS. (Sax.) From Rod^ counsel, and lert or herichf, 
 bright or famous — ^famous in counsel 
 
 ROBY. (Danish.) From Ro, rest, repose, and hy, a town — 
 the peaceftil town. 
 
 ROCHESTER. Local. From a city in Kent, England, so 
 called from Roche, French, a rock, and Chester, from the 
 Latin castrum., a city or castle ; an uneven, rough, and stony 
 place. Reoh, Saxon, and Rauh, German, signify rough, rug- 
 ged, uneven. (See Chester.) 
 
 ROCHFORT. Local. A town of France—" the strong rock." 
 
 ROE. (Gaelic.) Red-haired. Nor. Fr., Rou, Rufus. 
 
 ROEMER. (Dutch.) From Roem, glory, renown; a praiser, 
 
 a boaster. 
 ROGER. (Teutonic.) Rhu, rest, quiet, peace, and gard, a 
 
 keeper; or Rhu-geren, one desirous of rest; Rodgarus, all 
 
 counsel or strong counsel. 
 ROLAND, ROLLIN, and RODLAND. (Sax.) Counsel for 
 
 the land. 
 
 20* 
 
226 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 EOMAINE. The same as Roman, from Rome ; also, strong. 
 
 ROMANNO. Local. From lands in the county of Peebles, 
 Scotland, so called from a Roman military way, leading from 
 the famous Roman camp at Line to the Lothians, which 
 passed through the middle of those lands, from which they 
 were called Romanno. 
 
 ROOF. Probably the same as Reeve, an ofl&cer or steward. 
 Ruf^ German, reputation, famous, renowned. 
 
 ROORBACK. (Dutch.) Noisy brook. A town in Bavaria, 
 G-ermany. 
 
 ROOT. Local A place lying low, the base, foot, or bottom 
 of a mountain, the lower part of land. 
 
 ROSENCRAlSrS. (Danish.) RosenJcrands, a garland of roses ; 
 in Dutch, the place of rose-trees. 
 
 ROSEYELDT. (Dutch.) The field of roses. 
 
 ROSS. (G-aelic.) Local A shire of Scotland. Ros, a penin- 
 sula, an isthmus, a promontory. Rhos, in Welsh, is a moor, 
 a bog. Ros, in Cor. Br,, is a mountain, a meadow, a com- 
 mon. Rose and Rosh signify a valley or dale between hills. 
 
 ROSWELL. Rosveldt, the rose-field ; Rosville, the town on 
 the heath or promontory. 
 
 ROTH. (G-erman.) Red color. 
 
 ROTHSCHILD or ROSCHILD. From a town in Denmark, 
 which is said to take its name from a river with which it is 
 watered that drives several mills. Roe, in the ancient 
 Danish language, signifies a king, and kiUe, a stream of 
 water or brook, i. e., the king's brook. Some have given 
 the signification " Red-shield" to the name, fi-om Roth, red. 
 
 ROUSE. (Fr.) Red, red-haired, same as Rufiis. 
 
 ROTJSSEAIJ. (Fr.) One having reddish hair, carrot color. 
 Ritisseau, local, a brook. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 227 
 
 ROWE. Local. A river that overflows its banks. Rowe, 
 Rue, Fr., a street ; Roe, Gaelic, red-haired. 
 
 ROWEL. Local From the river Rouel, in the Netherlands. 
 
 ROWEK Local. A town in Bohemia; Rouen, a town in 
 France ; Rowan, a tree, the mountain-ash. 
 
 ROWLE. (Cor. Br.) Rule, order, law; Rheol, Welsh, rule, 
 law. 
 
 ROWLEY. (Sax.) Local. From Row, sweet or pleasant, 
 and ley, a field. 
 
 ROWNTREE. Rowan-tree, the mountain-ash, so named fi-om 
 that kind of tree growing near the premises. 
 
 ROY. (G-aelic.) Ruadh, Roe, Roy, red-haired ; also Roye, a 
 town in England. Roi, French, king, whence Le Roy. 
 
 RUFTJS. (Fr.) Red, from the color of the hair. 
 
 RUE. Local. From Reaux, in Hainault, Netherlands. Fr., 
 Rus, a street. 
 
 RUG-GLES. Local A town of France, on the Eure. 
 
 RUNDELL. A contraction of Arundle (which see). Rundle 
 also signifies a sparrow. 
 
 RUNNION or RUNON. (Gaelic.) A small hiU. 
 
 RUSBRIDGE. Local From the town of Rousbrugge, in 
 Germany. 
 
 RUSS. A Russian, so called in Holland. 
 
 RUSSELL. (Fr.) Red-haired, somewhat reddish; carrot- 
 color. 
 
 RtrSSEY. Local A town in Doubs, France. 
 
 RUTGERS. (Dutch.) Rudgert, the same as Roger, quiet, 
 tranquil; one desirous of rest, a keeper of rest; RodgaruSj 
 strong counsel 
 
228 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 EUTHERFORD. Local. From the lands of Rutherford on 
 the river Tweed, in the parish of Maxton, Roxburgshire, 
 Scotland. The name is derived from the Welsh Buthr, 
 rushing, swift, andjffbrdj a ford or way. 
 
 RUTHYEK From the lands and barony of Ruthven, in 
 Perthshire, Scotland ; a river of the same name ; " Ruithah- 
 hainn,'" i. e., the rushing or swift stream. 
 
 RUYTER. A knight or chevalier, in the Dutch or German, 
 and sometimes written Ritier, having the same signification 
 as the Enghsh Rider. 
 
 RYDER. A forest officer, being mounted, and having the 
 supervision of a large district. In the ballad of WiUiam of 
 Cloudesly, the king, rewarding the dexterity of the archer 
 who shot the apple from his child's head, says : 
 
 " I give thee eightene pence a day, 
 And my bowe thou shalt here ; 
 And over all the north coimtre 
 I make thee chyfe rydere.^^ 
 
 RYE. (French.) Local. From Rive, a coast, a shore, a bank, 
 border. 
 
 RYNDERS. Local. A town in North Jutland ; the same as 
 Rander. 
 
 SACKVILLE. A corruption of the Latin De Sicca viUa, that 
 is, from the dry town. 
 
 SAFFORD. Local. A corruption of Seaford, a town of Sus- 
 sex, England. 
 
 SALES. SahJ, or sadlj in German, signifies a hall or court 
 French, salle. The name may be local, and derived from 
 the river Sale, in France, or Saal, a river in Bavaria. 
 
 SALISBURY or SARISBURY. (Sax.) Local A city and 
 capital of Wiltshire, England. The town of health ; the dry 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 220 
 
 town. Tlie old town of Salisbury anciently stood upon a 
 hill where there was no water, but it is now situated in a 
 valley, and a little brook runs through the streets. The 
 name was sometimes written Salusbury, that is, the healthy 
 hOl or town. 
 
 SALTER. A name of trade, one who sells salt. 
 
 SANDFORD. Local. From Sandford, a place in Westmore- 
 land, England — the sand-ford. 
 
 SANDS. (Danish.) Sense, wit; or it may be from Scmd^ 
 Sandy, a Scottish abbreviation of Alexander. 
 
 SANG-STER. (Scottish.) A song-maker or singer. 
 
 SANXAY. (Fr.) Local. From the town of Sanxay, in 
 Poitou, France. 
 
 SATERLEE. Local. A place in England where Saturn was 
 worshiped by the pagan Saxons. 
 
 SAXE. A Saxon, so called in HoUand. In Athelstan's song 
 of victory, given in the Saxon Chronicles, a.d. 938, secce sig- 
 nifies a fight; secga, a warrior ; seax or secce, a sword, any 
 sharp instrument. Latin, sica, a dagger. 
 
 SAXTON. An under officer of the church, the same as Sexton. 
 Local, Saoc-town, a town of the Saxons. 
 
 SCARBOROUGH. (Sax.) Local. From the seaport and 
 borough of Scarborough, in Yorkshire, England, fi:om scear^ 
 a sharp rock or hill, and burgh, a town or fort ; hterally, a 
 hill, from hergh. The town or fort on or by the sharp- 
 peaked rocks. 
 
 SOARRET. Local Scear, a rocky clifi". Scarard, the high 
 clifi"; Leskerret, a market-town in Cornwall, England. The 
 old part of the town stands upon rocky heights. 
 
 SCARDSDALE. A valley in Devonshire, England, so called 
 from the Saxon scearres, indented or sharp disjointed rocks 
 called scars, and dale, a valley. 
 
230 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SOHAFFER. (Dutch.) He that dishes up or provides vic- 
 tuals. Shaffer, G-erman, a shepherd, a pastor, a swain. 
 
 SCHELL. (Old English.) A sprmg. 
 
 SCHELLDEK (Old Enghsh.) The spring in the vaUey, from 
 schdl, a spring, and dene, a valley. SkeU is also a vrell^ ia 
 the old northern English. 
 
 SCHENCK. (G-er.) From schenke, an inn or public house ; a 
 name of place. 
 
 SCHERMERHORN. (DutcL) From Shermer, a fencer, and 
 hoorn, a horn, which emblematically expresses strength or 
 power. 
 
 SOHOONHOVEK (Dutch.) From the name of a town in 
 South Holland, and signifies fine gardens or courts, from 
 schoon, beautiful, and hof, plural, hoven, gardens or courts. 
 
 SCHOONMAKER. (Dutch.) From Schoenmalcer, a shoe- 
 maker. 
 
 SCHUYLER. (Dutch.) Van Schuykr, from the place of 
 shelter. Schuiler, a hider; Schuil, a shelter, a hiding- 
 place. Schuler, German, a scholar. 
 
 SCOTT. A native of Scotland. Nennius uses both Scythes 
 and Scotti indifierently. Strabo considers Scythce and Nb- 
 mades synonymous terms. The original word in Ossian is 
 Scuta, which literaEy signifies " restless wanderer," hence 
 the propriety of the name Scuite or Scot. 
 
 SCRANTON. (Dutch.) From schrantsen, to tear, seize, or 
 break, so named, perhaps, from his warlike propensities. 
 
 SCROGGS. Local. From Scrog, a stunted shrub, bush, or 
 branch, given probably from the location of the dwelling. 
 
 SEAFORD. Local. From a seaport town of that name in 
 Sussex, England. 
 
 SEAFORTH. Local The name of a projection of the sea on 
 the east coast of Lewis, on the Long Island, Scotland — " the 
 forth or frith of the sea." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 231 
 
 SEAYER. (G-aelic.) Saihher, rich; Sever, local, a town in 
 France. 
 
 SEAMAN. A sailor, one who follows the sea. 
 
 SEARS. (Cor. Br.) From sair, a carpenter or sawyer; 
 Welsh, saer ; G-aelic, saor, a carpenter. 
 
 SEATON. Local. That is, sea-town, a parish in Perthshire, 
 formerly called Errol. (See Seton.) 
 
 SEBRIGHT. From Se, Saxon, used the same as the article 
 the, and bright. The illustrious, the renowned. 
 
 SEDGWICK. The town or harbor abounding with sedge, 
 wick, a town or harbor. 
 
 SEGUR. (Ger.) Powerful, victorious, from sieg, victory. 
 Dutch, zege. 
 
 SEIX. Local. A town in Arriege, France. 
 
 SELBT. Local. A market-town in west Yorkshire, England, 
 on the Ouse. Danish, Seile, to sail, to navigate, and hy, a 
 town, Seil, a sail. A place of boats or sails. 
 
 SELKIRK. Local. A borough town of Scotland. CeWdrh, 
 a religious house. A cell was anciently that part of a tem- 
 ple within the walls. Sel-carrik, Cor. Br., the high rock ; 
 Sel, a view, a prospect, Welsh, syllu, to look, and carrik or 
 craig, a rock. 
 
 SELLENGER. A corruption of St. Leger, and that from St. 
 Leodeger. 
 
 SELLICK. (Cor. Br.) Local. A name of place, and signifies 
 in open view, remarkable, conspicuous. CrugseUick, in 
 Verian, the barrow in open view, from sel, a view. 
 
 SEMARD. A corruption of St. Medard. 
 
 SEMPLE or SIMPLE. A corruption of St. Paul. 
 
2S2 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SETON. Local. From lands of that name in Haddingtonshire, 
 Scotland, which were so called because the town thereof 
 was situated close upon the sea, and which gave name to 
 the family of Seton, so renowned in Scottish annals. 
 
 SEVERN. Local. A river rising in the mountam Plynlimmon, 
 in "Wales. 
 
 SEVERINS. Local Mountains in Languedoc, France. 
 
 SEWARD. High admiral, who kept the sea against pirates, 
 from sea, and ward, a keeper. 
 
 SEWALL and SEWELL. Probably from sea and wall, a 
 structure of stone or other materials intended for a defense 
 or security against the sea. This name, though seemingly 
 local, may have various significations ; suil, in the G-aelic, is 
 a willow ; suail, small, inconsiderable. Su, south, and wold, 
 wald, wild, well, an uncultivated place, a wood, a plain, a 
 lawn, hiUs without wood : Suwold, SuwdU, SuweU. 
 
 SEYMOUR. A corruption of St. Maurus. 
 
 SHADDOCK or SCHADECK. Local. The name of a lord- 
 ship in G-ermany. 
 
 SHAN". (Celtic.) Old ; shanty, an old house. 
 
 SHANACH. (Gaelic.) Sionnach, a fox. 
 
 SHANE. The Celtic for John. 
 
 SHANNON. (GraeHc.) From the Shannon, a river of Ireland. 
 The tranquU, gentle river, from sen, gentle, and abhain, a 
 river. Shan-eon, the tranquil river. S before a vowel, in 
 the Gaelic, has the sound of sh. The river Seine, in France, 
 has the same signification. Shanon — the ancient river, from 
 sean, old, and oun or ohhain, a river. 
 
 SHAW. (Scotch.) A lawn, a plain surrounded by trees, or an 
 open space between woods. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 233 
 
 SHELDON. (Cor. Br.) Local. The spring in the valley, 
 from scheU^ a spring, and dene^ a small valley. 
 
 SHELLEY. Local. Derived from Shelley, in Essex, Suffolk, 
 and Yorkshire, England, from Schelly a spring, and ley, a 
 field. 
 
 SHEPPY. Local. From an island in the county of Kent, so 
 called from the Saxon Sceajp-JEa, or Sceap-Ige, that is, the 
 Sheep's Isle, because sheep abundantly multiphed there; 
 called also Ovini, from the Latin ovis, a sheep. 
 
 SHERARD. Said to be derived from one Scirrard, who came 
 with William the Conqueror, and obtained lands in Chester 
 and Lancaster, England. As a local name, it may signify in 
 Anglo Saxon, a high cliff; rocky heights, from Scearard. 
 
 SHERLOCK. (GaeUc.) From Saor, pronounced as with " W* 
 after the "/S^" signifying clear, and hch, a lake, the clear 
 lake. 
 
 SHERMAN". A shearman, one who used to shear cloth. 
 
 " Yillain, thy fether was a plasterer, and thou thyself a shearmcm?^ 
 Stafford to Jack Cade. Shaks. Henry VL 
 
 SHERWOOD. From the Saxon sTwr (scir), clear, and wood, a 
 clearing in the wood, or the cleared woods ; or as Bailey gives 
 the word, ^^ Sheer-wood, in Nottinghamshire." It may be 
 derived from shire, (Sax.) sdre, (Ger.) schier, to divide, a 
 portion or division of land; of which divisions there are 
 forty in England, twelve in Wales, and twenty-four in Scot- 
 land. 
 
 SHIEL. Local. A river and loch or lake, in the south-west 
 of Inverness-shire, Scotland. Shiels were shepherd's huts, a 
 term used by the Northumbrian Saxons, to denote the tem- 
 porary shelters of shepherds. 
 
 SHOLTIS. (G-er.) Schultheiss, a mayor, magistrate. 
 
 SHORT. Alluding to stature, not talL 
 
234 ETTMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SHREWSBURY. Local. A town in Shropshire, England, 
 from the Saxon Scrube, a shrub, a small tree, and hurgh, a 
 town. 
 
 SHRIEVES. A sheriJBF, from sdr and reeve, the bailiflf of a 
 eJiire or division. The shire-reeve. 
 
 SHUCK. (Dutch.) Signifies twelve or a dozen, and is ap- 
 phed to sheaves in a harvest field. 
 
 SHUCKBURan. Local A place in Warwickshire, England. 
 From Saxon, soc, an immunity, privilege, baronial or royal 
 court, and hurgh, a town or city — a privileged place, or 
 place possessing a particular court or jurisdiction. 
 
 SHURTLIFF. Local The "short clifif;" separated, cut oflF, 
 fi:om the Saxon, sceort, short, and clif. 
 
 SHUTE. Local From the castle of Shute, in Normandy, 
 
 France. 
 SIDDONS. (Welsh.) From syddyn, a farm— a farmer. 
 SIGrURD. The same as Segur, powerful 
 SIKES. Local A small spring well 
 SIMEOK (Heb.) Hearing. 
 SIMMONS. A corruption of Simeon or Simon. 
 SIMS. A contraction of Simeon or Simon, the son of Sim. 
 
 SINCLAIR. A corruption of St Clair, and that fi-om St 
 Clara, from the Latin clarus, pure, renowned, illustrious. 
 
 SINGEN and SINDEN. A corruption of St John, which is 
 generally pronounced Singen. 
 
 SISSON. Local Derived fi-om Sissonne, a town in France. 
 
 SKEFFINGTON. (Sax.) Local. From sceap, a sheep, and 
 ton, a town. The sheep-town. The name of a small village 
 in England. 
 
 SKELTON. (Sax.) Local The hiU of separation or bound- 
 
OP FAMILY NAMES. 
 
 235 
 
 SKEIlTE. Some derive their names, as well as their arms, from 
 some considerable action, and thus, it is said, a second son 
 of one Struan Eobertson, for killing a wolf in Stocket Forest, 
 Athol, Scotland, with a dirh, in the king's presence, got the 
 name of Skene, which signifies a dirk, Gaelic, Sgian, and 
 three dirk-points in pale for liis arms. Skians, Cor. Brit., 
 implies witty, skillful, knowing. 
 
 SKIDMORB or SCUDMORE. (Cor. Br.) From scondh, or 
 scidJi, the shoulders, and mor, big, large. — ^Broad shouldera 
 , ,., ,, , „ Slnhpidmuur. Dntch. a partition or division waJL 
 like all the Smiths in general and the iflustrioua L ^^ . i, 
 John m particular, derive your name from the P^^^^ '^®^^- 
 
 nTon !r«''t \ ^";^f r '°^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ \ «% of ground between 
 j n yon are, perhaps the following table, exhibiting T ^ ^ 
 the births, marriages and deaths of your tribe for 
 one year in England, and as contrasted withthoae 
 of other familiar names, may prove interesting • 
 
 ^»iith 6688 
 
 ^*J.lo^; 2647 
 
 S"^^* 1398 
 
 y*'fcer 1324 
 
 ^^"'•"ei- 1217 
 
 Cooper 1103 
 
 ^^^^■- 1096 
 
 ^^H**"" • 1033 
 
 gof 910 
 
 barker 824 
 
 ^ftbs- Deaths. Marriages 
 
 40ii 
 2276 
 1142 
 1070 
 1011 
 950 
 952 
 839 
 742 
 694 
 
 300S 
 1518 
 729 
 754 
 680 
 640 
 635 
 513 
 483 
 471 
 
 mountain, a mountaineer. 
 )r one who carries goods 
 
 surnames, and might of 
 volume. The word is de- 
 %n, to smite or strike. 
 
 be he knight or squire, 
 at the fire ?" 
 
 Verstegan. 
 
 The great number of the family of Smiths ac- 
 cording to the Westminster Review, seems tJ be 
 owing to this, that the Smith of the age when 
 suruamcs first became hereditary, included in his 
 mystery the work which Wheeler, Cartwrirrht and I'ith ranked third in dignity 
 other Wrights afterwards performed Tfaa°fi,™;i^ Ji • r -r^ 
 
 of Lefevre in French, is m'uch ^numerous than H^^^f ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^P<^^«' 
 that of the English Smiths. The generic name '^^® ^^ ^^6°^' 
 
 FranP«^fnr?hl''' ^.S^'^^l^l ''"^ ^^ *^^ «««fcl^ of iS which a viUain (tenant) 
 
 prance for this northern Schmidt or Smith, is do- u .1 ^ ^ i.- i a 
 
 nved from the Latin Faber, and became a Bur ^ ^ consent of his lord, 
 
 name as Lefevre; so also Favre, Faure, and Fabri' 
 
 _ An old writer quaintly and truly says : "Touchl 
 
 SfitrV'!^^''?.'^"^" Burnames of occupations, as 
 
 toh.A ?t^°J'j!^?'^^°'^ such others, it is not 
 
 to be doubted but their ancestors have first gotten 
 
 them by uaing such trades, and the children of such 
 
 parents being contented to take them upon them! 
 
 their after-commg posterity could hardly avoid 
 
 them, ana so in time cometb it righUy to be said • 
 
 ••From whence came ^w.1%, all be he knight or sauira' 
 
 But from the Smith, that forgeth at the Sre! '' ^ ' 
 
 A proof of the preeminence of the Smiths in Phi- 
 ladelphia may be observed in the fact that on the 
 Post Office pigeon-hole for advertised letters, while 
 other names are simply indicated by A, B, C, &c. 
 Smith ha^ an entire box to himself. ' ' 
 
 ^-r 
 
 rraft. This was one of the 
 a<l a more comprehensive 
 me. The smith must have 
 ;nt branches of knowledge 
 ely, such as raising the ore, 
 
234 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SHREWSBURY. Local. A town in Shropshire, England, 
 from the Saxon Scruhe, a shrub, a small tree, and burgh, a 
 town. 
 
 SHRIEVES. A sheriff, from scir and re&ve, the bailiff of a 
 sJiire or division. The shire-reeve. 
 
 SHUCK. (DutcL) Signifies twelve or a dozen, and is ap- 
 phed to sheaves in a harvest field. 
 
 SHUCKBURQH. Local A place hi Warwickshire, England. 
 From Saxon, soc, an immunity, Ftior SiisJ ^♦^^'^'^'^^ or royal 
 court, and hurgh, i, town or «^jJi,'''{™S'S!°'He"lfe-.';''|™ ^ 
 place possessing a parUcular courlt.h, wj°the 'S^, mimj^^^-^k^" 
 
 SHTJETLIFP. Local The "Bhorto^ilS,,^J'ro'?f,',,';?|'?i,-P^^^^^^ 
 from the Saxon, eceort, short, ancC?^«i^?,l.T.S*hir<t^''i ,„ „ 
 
 SHUTE. Local From the castleS?o°5i,1d£mSaS'S.°4"lS=°"' »^° 
 
 SIDDONS. (Welsh.) From «yd*'!'^'SeV.tt^rr,f pol^S^ii^r 
 SIGURD. The same as Segur, Po^lHSiHSf T '' 
 SIKES. Local A small spring w'ltr/.ir.''JrJ'lS'«^rr^^ 
 BB.O.. (Heh.) Hearing. ^3^1?^^ 
 SIMMONS. A eoiTuption of Sim^^'^™ ?.^Jl^J,'M-,."f„f,n' 
 SIMS. A contraction of Shneon ot^! '^^i.J^^X^'i'-- \^'^po'u 
 SmCLAIR A com^ption of S^H^Hi "-S^.'H 
 
 Clar, from the Latin c..™, ^^:B^^^^ ^t^ 
 SINGEIT and SINDEN. A corru «f "r $30, .0^011 iS^ h" wo„m'T"^k, 
 
 generally pronounced iSi«gm. C ^t:\t.1,»t"acti;f,i„fpt-.5'|"i". 
 SISSOK Local Derived from .^° «ar.S?'.l!S^i"IS{!^^ 
 SKEFFINGTON. (Sax.) LocalitCMr'^"';!.''',- £''-»>"« «ou.j« 
 
 ^. a ,«wn. The sheep-town.?, t-.*o;,a^. S'S^FS-rT " 
 
 m England. 'sV^oSA''"^'"^^^'^ sSj^. - 
 
 SKELTON. (Sa.) Local Th,£rB||Sr "''="- 
 
 .mUversary Of the Order of Unit, 
 Americans. "* 
 
 [From the Newark AdverHaer, 25th Mav 7 
 ae Seventh Anniyersary of tbe Order of UntV ^ 
 
 »th 'Set' it Wro^rsf^^ T"' "' "" 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 235 
 
 SKE!N^. Some derive their names, as well as their arms, from 
 some considerable action, and thus, it is said, a second son 
 of one Struan Kobertson, for killing a wolf in Stocket Forest, 
 Athol, Scotland, with a dirh, in the king's presence, got the 
 name of Skene, which signifies a dirk, Gaelic, Sgian, and 
 three dirk-points in pale for liis arms. SJcians, Cor. Brit., 
 implies witty, skillful, knowing. 
 
 SKIDMORE or SCUDMORE. (Cor. Br.) From scoudh, or 
 scuih, the shoulders, and mor, big, large. — ^Broad shoulders. 
 Scheidmuur, Dutch, a partition or division waU. 
 
 SLACK. Local. A valley, or small shallow dell. 
 
 SLADE. Local. A long flat piece or slip of ground between 
 
 hills. 
 
 SLAVEN. (Celtic.) From sliahh, a mountain, a mountaineer. 
 
 SLEEPER. (Dutch.) A cartman, or one who carries goods 
 on a sledge. 
 
 SMITH. The most common of aU surnames, and might of 
 itself furnish matter enough for a volume. The word is de- 
 rived from the Anglo-Saxon Smitan, to smite or strike. 
 
 " From whence comes Smith, all be he knight or squire, 
 But from the Smith that forgeth at the fire ?" 
 
 Yerstegan. 
 
 Among the Highland clans, the smith ranked third in dignity 
 to the chief, from his skiU in fabricating military weapons, 
 and his dexterity in teaching the use of them. 
 
 In Wales there were three sciences which a villain (tenant) 
 could not teach his son without the consent of liis lord, 
 Scholarship, JSardism, and Smithcraft. This was one of the 
 hberal sciences, and the term had a more comprehensive 
 sense than we give to it at this tune. The smith must have 
 imited in this profession, different branches of knowledge 
 which are now practiced separately, such as raising the ore, 
 converting it into metal, etc. 
 
S55q etymological dictionary 
 
 The term was originally applied to artificers in wood as well 
 as metal, in fact, to all mechanical workmen, which accomits 
 for the great frequency of the name. 
 
 The New York City Directory for 1856 (in which the names 
 of the heads of families only, are given,) contains the names 
 Df more than eighteen hundred Smiths, of whom seventy- 
 four are plain James Smiths, and one hundred and seventeen, 
 John Smiths 1 
 
 We see in the papers, that John Smith dies, is married, hanged, 
 drowned, and brutally murdered, daily ! John Smith doesn't 
 identify anybody, and is therefore no name at all. 
 
 This numerous family is the subject of many laughable anec- 
 ^ dotes and witty sallies. A wag, on a certain occasion, 
 coming late to the theater, and wishing to get a seat, 
 shouted at the top of his voice, '' Mr. Smith's house is on 
 fire 1" The house was thinned five per cent, and the man 
 of humor found a snug seat. 
 
 In many neighborhoods the name is so frequent that it is neces- 
 sary to append some soubriquet to identify the person. 
 
 " Can you tell me where Mr. Smith fives, mister ?" " Smith — 
 Smith — ^what Smith ? there are a good many of that name 
 in these parts — ^my name is Smith." " Why, I don't know 
 his t'other name, but he's a sour, crabbed sort of fellow, and 
 they call him '.Crab Smith.' " "Oh, the deuce! s'pose I'm 
 the man." 
 
 But the best piece of humor relating to the name is the fol- 
 lowing which we take firom Lower, which appeared some 
 years since in the newspapers, under the title of 
 
 "The Smiths. 
 
 " Some very learned disquisitions are just now going on in the 
 journals touchiug the origin and extraordinary extension of 
 the family of ' the Smiths.' 
 
 " Industrious explorers after derivatives and nomiaal roots, they 
 say, would find in the name of John Smith a world of mys- 
 tery; and a philologist in the Providence Journal, after 
 
OF FAMILY NAME8. 237 
 
 having written some thirty columns for the enlightenment 
 of the public thereanent, has thrown down his pen, and de- 
 clared the subject exhaustless. 
 
 " From what has hitherto been discovered, it appears that the 
 great and formidable family of the Smiths are the veritable 
 descendants, in a direct Une, from Shem, the son of Noah, 
 the father of the Shemitish tribe, or the tribe of Shem ; and 
 it is thus derived — Shem, Shemit, Shmit, Smith. Another 
 learned pundit, in the Philadelphia Gazette^ contends for the 
 universality of the name John Smith, not only in Great Britain 
 and America, but among aU kindred and nations on the face 
 of the earth. Beginning with the Hebrew, he says, the He- 
 brews had no Christian names, consequently tliey had no 
 Johns, and in Hebrew the name stood simply Shem or 
 Shemit ; but in the other nations John Smith is found at 
 full, one and indivisible. Thus, Latin, Johannes Smithius ; 
 Itahan, Giovanni Smithi; Spanish, Juan Smithas; Dutch, 
 Hans Schmidt ; French, Jean Smeets ; Greek, 'lov 'ZK/utrov ; 
 Eussian, Jonloff Skmittowski ; Pohsh, Ivan Schmittiwciski ; 
 Chinese, Jahon Shimmit; Icelandic, Jahne Smithson; 
 Welsh, lihon Schmidd ; Tuscarora, Ton Qa Snuttia ; Mex- 
 ican, JontH F'Smitti. 
 
 "And then, to prove the antiquity of the name, the same 
 savant observes, that ' among the cartouches deciphered by 
 Rossehni, on the temple of Osiris in Egypt, was found the 
 neime of Pharaoh Smithosis, being the nintli in the eight- 
 eenth dynasty of Tlieban kings. He was the founder of the 
 celebrated temple of Smithopolis Magna.' We heartily con- 
 gratulate the respectable multitude of the Smiths on these 
 profound researches — ^researches which bid fair to explode 
 the generally received opinion that the great family of the 
 Smiths were the descendants of mere horse-shoers and 
 hammer-men !" 
 
 SNELL. (Dutch.) Snel, agile, swift nimble. 
 SNODGRASS. Local. Grass trimmed and smooth; short 
 
238 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SNOW. (Dutch.) From Snoo, cunning, subtle, crafty, sly. 
 
 SNYDER. (G-er.) From Schneider, a tailor. 
 
 SOLDEN. Local. A town in Westphalia, Germany. 
 
 SOMER. Alluvial land. G-aelic and Welsh, so for swl or sa\ 
 soil, and mer, a lake, water, the sea. 
 
 SOMERVILLE. The village near a marsh or lake ; So wer, a 
 marshy soU, near water or the sea. So, for swl, sal, the 
 earth, soU, land. Samhradh, GaeHc, summer, from Samh, 
 the sun. Somerset may have been so called because the 
 primitive inhabitants had an altar to the sun, samh, or 
 because the country lay to the south. 
 
 SOMMER. (Fr.) From sommer, to sum or cast up ; one who 
 directs or cormnands. Summere, Dan., to sum up. 
 
 SOULll. Local. A small territory in France, between Beam 
 and the Lower Navarre. 
 
 SOUTHCOTE. The south cot; so ^os^cott and Wesl-coU. 
 
 SOUTHWELL. Local. A town in Nottinghamshire, Eng- 
 land. The south well or plain. 
 
 SPALDLNTG. Local. From the town of Spalding, in Lincoln- 
 shire, England. Spalding, a ravine, from the German spalte^ 
 a ravine. 
 
 SPARK. To disperse, to scatter, to sparkle. 
 
 SPAAREN. Local. A river in North Holland. 
 
 SPELMAN. panish.) From Spillemand, a fiddler. SpiUe, 
 to game, to play. 
 
 SPENOE. An abbreviation of Spencer. 
 
 SPENCER. (Nor. Fr.) Le Despenser, a steward. The an- 
 cestor of the family assumed the name Le Despenser (Latin, 
 dispensator), from being steward to the household of Wil- 
 liam the Conqueror. 
 
 SPICER. A name of trade, a grocer. 
 
OF FAMILY IfAMES. 239 
 
 SPIEaEL. (Dutch.) A looking-glass. 
 
 SPIER. Spere, to ask, to inquire ; a word used formerly in 
 Scotland and the north of Ireland. The name may be from 
 ^ear, a long-pointed weapon used in war, and given for 
 some exploit in battle, or taken from a sign over an inn. 
 " John at the Spear." 
 
 SPINK. A bird, a finch. 
 
 SPOOR. (Dutch.) A spur ; that which excites ; a locality, as 
 the spur of a mountain; whatever projects; the track or 
 foot-prints of beasts. 
 
 SPOTTEK (G-er.) To mock, deride, ridicule. 
 
 SPRAGrUE. From Spradky Dutch, speech, language, — ^figura- 
 tively, eloquent. 
 
 ST. ALBANS. Local A town in Hertfordshire, England, so 
 named from a Pagan deity, Alban, which name signifies a 
 high hill, the Verulam of the Romans. Offa dedicated a 
 church to Alban, the proto-martyr of Britain, in the time 
 of Diocletian. 
 
 STAATS. Stoats is the nick-name in Dutch for Eustace, or 
 Eustatius, which is derived from the Greek ev, and iarrifiif 
 well-established, firm, unyielding. 
 
 STACY. A seeming form of the Latm Statins, from Sto, to 
 stand, stationed, standing still, fixed. 
 
 STAINES. An old word for stones ; a market town in Mid- 
 dlesex, England. 
 
 STAIR. Local. (Gaelic.) Stepping stones in a river ; a path 
 made over a bog. 
 
 STAIRN". (Gaelic.) Din, noise. Stym, Saxon, stubborn, se- 
 vere. 
 
 STALKER. A fowler who goes warily and softly in pursuit 
 of his game ; one who walks on stilts over ditches in pursuit 
 of moor-fowl. 
 
240 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOJffART 
 
 " The fowler is employed his limed twigs to set, 
 One underneath his horse to get a shoot doth stalk, 
 Another over dykes upon his stilts doth walk," — ^Deayton. 
 
 STANHOPE. Local. From the town of Stanhope, in the 
 bishopric of Durham, England. From stan^ stone, and hope, 
 the side of a hill, or low ground amid hills. 
 
 STANLEY. Local. A market-town in Gloucestershire, Eng- 
 land. The place of a tin mine, start, tin, Welsh, ysfaen, and 
 fey / or from the Saxon, stan, a stone, and ley — the stony 
 place. 
 
 , STANTOK From stan, a stone, and ton, a hill or town. 
 
 STANWOOD. (Saxon.) From stan, a stone," and wood — ^the 
 stony wood. 
 
 STAPLETOK (Saxon.) From stapel, stapol, stapula, a staple, 
 fastening, stake, and ton, — a town inclosed or fenced round 
 with stakes. 
 
 STARK Anglo Saxon, Stare, Grerman Starch, strong, firm, 
 confirmed to the utmost degree. 
 
 STARKE Y. Strong of body, fi-om Siarh. 
 
 STARR. (Ger.) Stifi", rigid, inflexible. 
 
 STEAD. A place enclosed, a station or standing place. Siad, 
 and stede, in Dutch, signifies a town. 
 
 STBAISrE or STEEN. (Danish and Dutch.) A stone. 
 
 STEARNS or STERN. Severe in look, harsh, bold. Stierne, 
 Danish, a star. 
 
 STEBBINS or STUBBINS. Local From a town of the 
 same name called Stebbings, originally Stubing, in Essex, 
 England. So called from stub, Saxon, styobe, Latin stipes^ 
 the stump of a tree, and ing, a field or meadow. 
 
 STEELE. A name given, in all probability, to a person who 
 was inflexible, hard, firm, or enduring. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. . 241 
 
 STEIN. Local. A town in the isle of Sky, Scotland. Stein^ 
 German and Danish, a stone. 
 
 STELL. (Grer.) A place, station, office. 
 
 STEMME. (Dan.) Voice, vote, suffrage; also to tune, to 
 agree, to accord. 
 
 STENNETT. (Dan.) Local From stenet, stony, rocky. 
 
 STJETSON. Stedson, in Danish, is a stepson. 
 
 STEVENS. From Stephen, from the Greek 'ZTi(l>uvo^, a crown« 
 
 STEWAKT. Walter, the son of Fleance, and grand-son of 
 Banquo, was created, by Malcom III. Lord High Steward 
 of Scotland, from which office his family afterward took and 
 retained the name of Stewart, and from them descended the 
 royal family of Stuart. 
 
 STILL. Quiet, calm, silent. A vessel used in the distillation 
 of Hquors. " John at the StiUJ' 
 
 STIMANDS. (Dan.) From StiTnand, a robber, highwayman. 
 
 STIELING. Local. From the city of Stirling, the Gaehc 
 name of which is Strila, by some supposed to signify "the 
 place of strife," from Stri-thraUa. 
 
 A Mr. StirUng, who was minister of the barony church of Glas- 
 gow, during the war maintained against the insatiable am- 
 bition of Louis XIV., in that part of his prayer wliich re- 
 lated to pubHc affairs, used to beseech the Lord that he 
 would take the haughty tyrant of France, and shake him 
 over the mouth of hell , " but good Lord,^' added the worthy 
 man, " dinna let him fa' in.'' This curious prayer having 
 been mentioned to Louis, he laughed heartily at this new 
 and ingenious method of punishing ambition, and frequently 
 afterward gave as a toast, " The good Scotch parson." 
 
 STOCKER. One who stocks, stores, or supphes. Stalker, one 
 who stalks, a fowler who goes warily and softly in pursuit 
 of his game. 
 
 11 
 
242 . ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 STOCKING". Local From Stoc^ Saxon, a place, and ing, low 
 land, a meadow. 
 
 STOCKTON. Local. A town in Durham, on the Tees, Eng- 
 land, from stohej a place, a settlement, and ton, a town. 
 
 STODDARD. Concerning the origin of this name there is 
 a tradition, that the first of the family came over with 
 William the Conqueror, as standard-bearer to Viscompte De 
 Pulesdon, a noble Norman, and that the name is deriied 
 from the office of a standard-bearer, and was anciently writ- 
 ten De La Sicmdeprd, corrupted to Stodard or JStodart 
 
 STOKES. Local. A parish in Buckinghamshire ; also, towns 
 in Suffialk and Gloucestershire, England. The name signifies 
 a place, a settlement. Sfuge, Danish^ a ravine. 
 
 STOKESBY or STUKEBY. Local. Stugehy, the viUage in 
 tlie ravine. 
 
 STONE. Local. A town in England. The name was proba- 
 bly given to an individual who resided near or by some re- 
 markable stone, or at a place called Stone. " Will at the 
 Stone." 
 
 STORE. (Dan.) From sforre, greater, larger, stout, strong. 
 
 STOUGHTON. Local. This family derive its name frona 
 Boche or Stoke^ a place in Surrey, England, and tun, a word 
 signifying an inclosure. 
 
 STOVER. (Dan.) A flteet hound, a name given for swiftness 
 or love of hunting. ' 
 
 STOWE. A fixed place or mansion^ a town, a garrison. 
 
 STRACHAN. (GaeHc.) Local. From the parish of Strachaa 
 in Kincardmeshire, Scotland, formerly Stratham. The- 
 name may come fi-om stra or strath, a vale, from the root 
 strath, a valley, through which a river runs, and chan or- 
 ceann, the- head,, meaning " the head of the valley," or " a 
 httle valley," from Strathan, 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 243 
 
 STKAIN. Local. A town in the north of Scotland, written 
 Strang. It may be a contraction of Strachan, a little strath 
 or valley. 
 
 STRATTON, STRETTOK (Cor. Br.) Local. The hiU fuU 
 of fresh springs. 
 
 STRICKLAND. This name came from Strick-land or Stirk- 
 Ixmd^ that is, " the pasture ground of young cattle," called 
 stirks or steers^ in the parish of Moreland, Westmoreland Co., 
 England, where the family once had considerable posses- 
 sions. 
 
 STRINGER. One who made or fitted the strings to the bows 
 in the time of archery. 
 
 "In war if a string break, the man is lost and is no man, and 
 his weapon is gone, and although he have two strings put on 
 at once, yet he shall have small leisure and less room to bend 
 his bow, therefore, God send us good stringers both for war 
 and peace." — Ascham. 
 
 STRYKBR. (Dan.) From strige, to strike, to roam, to travel, 
 hence a worker at a trade, a traveler. 
 
 STUKLEY or STUKLY. (Gaelic.) Local. From stuc, a Ut- 
 tle hill jutting out from a greater, a cliff, and %, a place. 
 Stugley, Danish, a ravine, a place near a cKff. 
 
 STYLES. A very common name " At the Style" — John Atte 
 Style — John Styles. (See Noakes.) 
 
 SULLIVAN. (Celtic.) From suil, eye, and ban, fair — the 
 fair-eyed. 
 
 SULLY. (Fr.) Local. From the town of Sully, m the prov- 
 ince of Orleans, France. 
 
 SULT. (Gaehc.) Suilt or Sult^ comeliness, beauty, fat. 
 
 SUMMER. So called, probably, from the season summer. The 
 word is derived from the Saxon Sumer ; Celtic or Gaelic, 
 samh, the sun. Summer^ one who casts up an account 
 The name may be a corruption of Sitmner. 
 
244 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SUMNER, SOMKER, SOMPNOURE. One whose duty con- 
 sisted in citing delinquents to the ecclesiastical courts ; an 
 apparitor ; Hterally, a summoner. 
 
 " Sim Somnor, in hast, wend thou thi way, 
 Byd Joseph and his wyfif, be name, 
 At the coort to apper this day, 
 Hem to pourge of her defame." 
 
 CoYENTEY Mysteries. 
 
 Chaucer gives us a description of the Sompnour in his Canter- 
 bury Tales. 
 
 SUMPTER. A teamster or groom who drives beasts of bur- 
 den. A " sumpter-horse," a horse which carries necessaries 
 for a journey. 
 
 SUNDERLAND. Local A seaport town in the county of 
 Durham, England. Land separated, divided, parted. 
 
 SURTEES. Local. From Sur-Tees, that is, on the river Tees 
 or Tay, in the county of Durham, England, where the first 
 of the family settled. 
 
 SUTPHEN. (Dutch.) Originally Yan Zutphen, that is, fi:om 
 the city of Zutphen, in G-ermany. 
 
 SWARTWOUT. (Dutch.) The same as the EngHsh Black- 
 wood, from Zwart, black, and woud, a wood. 
 
 SUTER, SUTTER, and SHUTER. A shoemaker, one who 
 sews or stitches. 
 
 SUTTON. Local A town in Devonshire, England— the 
 south town. 
 
 SWAIM. Local From Schwavm, a town in Lower Bavaria. 
 
 SWANE. (Dan.) A swan. Swain, a youth, a servant, a 
 herdsman. 
 
 SWEET. Swede, a native of Sweden. Sunt, of Switzerland. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 245 
 
 SWETTENHAM. A name of place, from sweeie, pleasant or 
 agreeable, and ham, a village. 
 
 SWEYNB Gaelic, Sean; Cornish, Swoen ; Welsh, Swyn^ a 
 charm. 
 
 SWIFT. Local. A name given for swiftness in moving. It 
 may be local, from Swift, a river of England. 
 
 SWINBURN. Local. Sweyne's hum or boundary, from hourn, 
 a boundary. 
 
 SWITS. A native of Switzerland, so called in Holland. 
 
 SWITZER. A Swiss, a native of Switzerland. 
 
 SYLVESTER. Belonging to the forest, a woodman, from 
 Sylva, Latin, a wood. 
 
 SYMES. Supposed to be a variation of Sims, from Simon or 
 Simeon. 
 
 SYMINGrTOK Local. From a parish by that name in the 
 north-west of Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland ; originally Sym/ms- 
 town, so called from Simon Lockard or Lockart, who held 
 the lands under Walter, the first Stewart. 
 
 TABOR. Local Tabur or Tobar, Gaelic, a spring-well, water, 
 a river. Tabor, a city in Bohemia, which the Hussites for- 
 tified and made the seat of their war for twenty years ; on 
 this account they were caUed Taborites. The family may 
 probably derive their name from this city. 
 
 TAGOART. Tycwrdd, Welsh, a meeting-house. Tagair, 
 Gaelic, to plead a cause, claim as a right, to reason, to 
 debate. 
 
 TAITE or TATE. (Gaehc.) Pleasure, dehght. Tate, learned. 
 Tad, in Welsh, is a father, and Taid, a grandfather. 
 
 TALBOT. Amastifil 
 
246 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 TAPPAN. (Welsh.) Local. The top of the hanging rock, 
 from %?, a hanging rock, and perij top or head. 
 
 TASKER. A thrasher. 
 
 TATTBRSALL. Local. From the town of Tattersall, in Lin- 
 colnshire, England. 
 
 TAYLOR. A name of trade. We find this name modified to 
 T&jleure, the orthography having been changed by the 
 bearers to hide what they thought the lowness of its origin. 
 So Smith is changed to Smyth, Turner to Tumour, etc. — 
 as Camden says, ''Mollified ridiculously lest their bearers 
 should seem vilhfied by them." 
 
 A Mr. Taylor, who, from this false pride, had changed his name 
 to Tajleure, once haughtUy demanding of a farmer the name 
 of his dog, the man replied, " Why, sir, his proper name is 
 Jowler, but since he's a consequential kind of puppy, we 
 calls him JouJeure /" 
 
 TEDDIXaTOK Local. A place on the Thames, so caUed 
 from the tide ending there, before the building of London 
 bridge — " tide-ending town," corrupted to Teddington. 
 
 TEFFT or TEFT. Local A piece of ground where there has 
 been a house. 
 
 TELFAIR. (Italian.) Tagliaferro, pronounced ToUifer. Fr., 
 tailler, to "cut, and fer, iron. It is said that the first of the 
 name was so called from having cut a bar of iron in two 
 with his sword. A smith. 
 
 TELFORD. Local. The narrow or straightened pass or way, 
 from the Welsh tel, tight, and ford, a way. Anglo-Saxon, 
 Tillford, at the ford or shallow place in a river. " At-iil- 
 ford," corrupted to Tilford. 
 
 TEMES. Local. Thamesis, the Thames, so called from the 
 meeting together of the rivers Ihrne and Ms, the chief river 
 of Britain. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 247 
 
 TEMPLE. From the manor of Temple, in Wellesborough, 
 Leicestershire, which name was given by the old Earl of 
 Leicester, one of the Knights Templars, who usually gave 
 the name of Temple to their lands. 
 
 TENBROOK. (Dutch.) nn, at, and broele, a brook, a stream, 
 or marsh — the house or place at the brook. 
 
 TENEYCK. (Dutch.) Ten oaks, or at the oaks. 
 
 TENNANT. Tenant, a person holding lands under another, 
 from Teneo, Latin, to hold Local, H^n, Welsh, a stretch, 
 and nant, a ravine. 
 
 TENNISON and TENNYSON". From Tenesone, a place in 
 Gottespunt or Cazdee, in Switzerland. If the name be not 
 local, it is probably a corruption of Dennison. 
 
 TERRIL, TIEREL. Local. The Httle tower. 
 
 TERWILLIGER. Dutch, "X>er Willikeur;' a by-law, a stat- 
 ute. " Der wiUige-waar,^' serviceable ware, or ware that 
 sells well 
 
 TEW. (Welsh.) Fat, a corpulent person. 
 
 THEOBALD. God's power ; but in the Saxon ITieohaM signi- 
 fies powerful or bold over the people. In the Saxon Psalter 
 theod is the same as gentes, and the English nation is often 
 caUed Engla-Theod. See Tibbits. 
 
 THOMAS. (Heb.) A twin. 
 
 THOMLIN, and THOMLINSOK From Thom or Thomas, 
 and ing or ling, a child or descendant — the son of Thomas. 
 
 THOMS. An abbreviation of Thomas ; Tom, local, Gaelic and 
 Welsh, a round hiUock or knoll, a rising ground, an emi- 
 nence, any round heap, a tumulus. 
 
 THOMSON. The son of Thomas. 
 
 THORN. Local A town in England ; a tree or bush armed 
 with spines or sharp shoots. " Will at the Thom." 
 
248 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 THORPE. A village. Dutch, Dorp. 
 THRASHER. One who thrashes grain. 
 
 THROCKMORTON. A corruption of At Roch-moor-town, " -^ 
 town on a rock in a moor," in the vale of Evesham, Flad- 
 bury, Warwickshire, England, whence the name was de- 
 rived. 
 
 THURSTON. Local. The hill or town where the Saxon god 
 Thor was worshiped by the Anglo-Saxons. 
 
 THWAITE and THWAYTES. Local. A piece of ground 
 cleared of wood, from the Anglo-Saxon thweotan, to cut. 
 In some places in England the word signifies a rivulet; 
 marshy ground ; also, a meadow. 
 
 TIBBITS. Has the same signification as Theobald, of which it 
 is a corruption. Theobald is in the French fheohaud, pro- 
 nounced Tibbo, whence Tibhauds or Tibbitts. Theobald is 
 derived by Camden fi:om Theod, the people, and bald, brave 
 or bold, that is, powerful or bold over the people. B. Rhe- 
 nanus derives it from Theos, G-od, and bald — God's power. 
 
 TICE. (Dutch.) A familiar abbreviation of Matthias. 
 
 TICH!BOURNE. Anciently At lichen-bourne, that is, a person 
 settled at the head of a fountain of the river Itchen. The 
 river Itchen is in Southampton county, England. At the 
 head of the river, near Alresford, the first ancestor of this 
 family resided, long before the Conquest. 
 
 TICHENOR. Local. Probably a corruption of At Itchenor, 
 
 'T Itchenor, from the river Itchen; the name of a village in 
 
 Sussex, England. 
 TIERNAY. (Gaelic.) Tighearna, a lord, a judge, a landed 
 
 proprietor. (See Tournay.) 
 TIFFANY. A maker or vender of silk. Tiffany was a sort 
 
 of light silk used by painters to trace the outHnes of a picture 
 
 through. 
 TILMAN. One who works a farm. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 249 
 
 TILL. Local. The name of a river in England. 
 
 TILLING-HAST. Local. A place where auctions are held ; 
 
 buying, selling, dividing, paying over. German, theilen; 
 
 Dutch, deelen, to separate, divide, pay over. A dealing 
 
 house. 
 TILLY. Local. A town of France. 
 TILMONT. Local. A town in Brabant, Netherlands. 
 
 TILTON. Local. Derived from TUton, a village in England, 
 probably an ancient place of tilting, or tents. TiU, Saxon, 
 a tent. 
 
 TINGr. Local. Among the ancient Graels or Celts the place 
 where courts were held, and justice administered, was called 
 ^ng, i e., to surround; the circle, the temple, or round 
 hill. The Tings at first were only judicial, but, in process 
 of time they became legislative. The most remarkable ob- 
 ject of this kind is tlie Tynwald, in the Isle of Man. Thing, 
 Saxon, a cause, meeting, a council; German, ding, a court. 
 Dutch, Dinger, a pleader. 
 
 TEESDALE. Local. The dale on the Tees, a river of Eng- 
 land, that separates the counties of Durham and York, and 
 enters the German ocean below Stockton. 
 
 TOBY. The Welsh for Thomas. 
 
 TODD. Tod, a Scotch word for a fox. 
 
 TOLLMACHE. (Nor. Fr.) Tolling of the beU. 
 
 TOLMAN. A collector of toU. In Dutch, Taalman is an in- 
 terpreter, from Taal, language, tongue. " Constantine Tol- 
 maen,^' in Cornwall, is an ancient place of Druid worship. 
 Tolmaen is usually applied to a stone that is perforated, 
 from tol, a hole, and maen, a stone ; twll mwn, Welsh, a 
 mine, shaft, or pit. 
 
 TORE.Y. Local, Torr, Gaelic, a conical hill or mountain, a 
 mound, a grave, a tower ; piled up, formed into heaps ; to 
 heap up, to bury. 
 
 11* 
 
260 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 TOUCEY. Local. From the town of Toucey in the province 
 of Champagne, France. 
 
 TOURNA Y. Local. From Tournay, a town in Artois, France, 
 and may signify the tower or castle near the water. Ihrna, 
 in G-aelic, written Tighearna, means a landlord, a lord, or 
 judge, and was applied to all great men, and is derived, ac- 
 cording to Dr. MacPherson, from te or ti, an old word for 
 one, and even, land, as implying a landed gentleman; I 
 think the root of the name is Tir, land, and earr or earran, a 
 division, share, or portion. 
 
 TOWERS, Peels, and Castles, were places of defense. Tower 
 is derived from tor, G-aelic and Saxon, French tour, Welsh, 
 twr, a heap or pile, applied to conical hills, and to round 
 buildings erected for strength or security. 
 
 TOWNER. A dweUer in a town. 
 
 TOWNSEND. Local. One who Uved at the end of the town. 
 
 TRACY or TRACEY. Local. A viUage in the Department 
 of Oise, France. E. Tracy came with William the Con- 
 queror into England. Sir WiUiam Tracy was most active 
 among the four knights that killed Thomas a Becket, on 
 which account tradition reports, it is imposed on the Tracys 
 for miraculous penance, that whether they go by land or 
 water, the wind is always in their faces, hence an old say- 
 ing, 
 
 "The Tracys have always the wind in their faces." 
 
 " If this were so," says Dr. Fuller, " it were a favor in a hot 
 summer to the females of that family, and would spare them 
 the use of a fan." The word may signify a rampart, a ter- 
 race. 
 
 TRAILLE. (Graelic.) A servant, sloven, slave. 
 
 TRAIN. (GaeHc.) Treun, brave, vaUant, bold. 
 
 TRAINEUR. (Fr.) A straggler. 
 
Oi' FAMILY NAMES. 261 
 
 TRELAWNEY. Local (Cor. Br.) The open town near the 
 water; from Tre, a town, luwn^ open, and ey, water. 
 
 TREMAINE. Local (Cor. Br.) The town on the shore or 
 sea-coast, from Tre^ a town, and mayne — ^the stone town, 
 the river or passage town. 
 
 TRENOR, TRAINOR, TRAINER, (aaehc.) Treunmhor, 
 very brave ; Treun, Gaelic, brave, valiant ; er or or, the ter- 
 mination of fear, a man. 
 
 TREVELYAN. Local (Cor. Br.) Trevellyan, the town of 
 the mill. Welsh, Tremelin, or Frevelin. 
 
 TREVOR. Local (Cor. Br.) From Trevear, the great town. 
 
 TRIPP. According to tradition, this name was given to Lord 
 Howard's fifth son, at the siege of Boulogne. King Henry 
 V. being there, asked how they took the town and castle. 
 Howard answered, " / tripped up the walhy Saith his ma- 
 jesty, " Tripp shall be thy name, and no longer Howard," 
 and honored him with a scaling-ladder for his coat of arms. 
 
 This tradition, as well as many others I have given, is not very 
 probable, but I give them insertion because they are curious 
 and amusing, and some of them may be founded on actual 
 occurrences. 
 
 TROTTER. (Ft.) Trotteur, a person always on the trot; a 
 rambler. 
 
 TROUBLEFIELD. Local A corruption of the Norman 
 name Tuberville. 
 
 TROWBRIDOE. Local A town in England. The name 
 signifies " through the bridge ;" perhaps given for some feat 
 of daring, or bodily courage. 
 
 TRUAX. (Cor. Br.) The place on the waters, from Tre, a 
 town, and aux, waters ; or, if from the French, " the three 
 waters.^' 
 
 TRUE. Local From Trieu, a river in Bretagne, France. Tre 
 signifies a town. 
 
262 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 TRULAN. (G-aelic.) TruaiUean, a pitiful person, a sneak. 
 
 TRULL, A slutj a vUe wench, a strumpet ; a name derived 
 from the mother. 
 
 TUDOR. The Welsh for Theodore, or in old English, pious, as 
 Tudor Belin, the pious king. 
 
 TUPMAN. A breeder of rams, which are called, in some 
 places in England, Tups. 
 
 TUPPER. According to the celebrated poet by this name, 
 Martin Farquhar Tupper, it is a corruption of part of the 
 motto of the family, " Tout perdie." 
 
 TURCOTTE. (Welsh.) Turcwt, a craggy, abrupt pinnacle, or 
 , tower, from Tur, a tower, and cwt, abrupt, cut off, implying 
 defense. Tor, or Tur, a Saxon deity, and cot, a house, 
 Thorcot. 
 
 TURNBULL. This name had its origin in some feat of per- 
 sonal strength or courage. There is the following tradition 
 of its origin : A strong man of the name of Ru^l, having 
 turned a wild bull by the head, which violently ran against 
 King Robert Bruce in Stirling Park, received from the king 
 the lands of Bedrule, and the name of TurnbuU. 
 
 TURNOUR. There is a tradition that this family derive their 
 name from their ancient place of settlement in Normandy, 
 which being a black castle, was called Le tour noir, whence 
 the lords thereof were called Les Sires de Tournoir, and by 
 contraction Tournor. One of the family went with William 
 the Conqueror into England. It is probably the same as 
 Turner, a name of trade, tlie orthography being changed. 
 
 TURTON. From Turton, in the hundred of Shelfold, in Lan- 
 cashire, probably so called from Saxon, Tur or Tor, a tower, 
 or Thur, or Tlior, one of the Saxon deities., and ton — either 
 a town having a tower, or sacred to Thor. 
 
 TUTHILL or TUTTLE. Local. A town in Caernarvon, 
 Wales, near the coast. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 253 
 
 TWICKENHAM. Local. A village of Middlesex, England. 
 Tweywicken, the " two imcheins,^' or wares on the river, and 
 ham, a village. 
 
 TWEN'Gr. (Danish.) From Twinge, to force, master, subdue ; 
 or a name perhaps given from his dexterity in archery. At 
 Wing, may be abbreviated to Twing. 
 
 TWOPENNY. From the Flemish Fupigny, from Tup, a ram, 
 and ign or ine, quality, disposition, the same as igniis, in 
 Latin. 
 
 TYNG. (See Ting.) 
 
 TYNTE. Tradition gives the following derivation: In the 
 year 1192, at the celebrated battle of Ascalon, a young 
 knight of the noble house of Arundel, clad all in white, with 
 his horse's housing of the same color, so gallantly distin- 
 guished himself on the field, that Richard Coeur de Lion re- 
 marked pubUcly after the victory, that the maiden knight 
 had borne himself a lion, and done deeds equal to those of 
 six croises (or crusaders). Whereupon he conferred upon 
 him for arms, a lion on a field, between six crosslets, and 
 for his motto, 
 
 ^^Tinctus crurore Saraceno." "Stained with Saracen blood." 
 
 Whence his descendants assumed the name of Tynte, and 
 settled in Somersetshire, England. 
 
 TYSON. The son of Tys, an abbreviation, among the Dutch, 
 of Matthias. 
 
 UDINE. Local. A town in the north-east of Italy. 
 
 UHLAN or ULINE. May come fi:om UUn or Ulms, a place 
 now called Flensburgh, in Denmark ; a name given from 
 the sound made by the ebbing and flowing of the sea. 
 
 IJLMAN. (Ger.). AU man. 
 
 ULMER. Allmer, aU famous, renowned. Ollmor, Welsh, the 
 whole sea. 
 
254 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 UNDERHILL. Local. Under the hilL 
 
 UNDERWOOD. Local. Under the wood. 
 
 UNWIK (Dan.) Invincible. 
 
 UPHAM. Local The house or town on a height. 
 
 UPTON. Local The high hill, or the town on the height 
 
 URRAN. (Cor. Br.) From urrian, the border, boundary, or 
 Umit of a country. 
 
 USHER. An officer of a court who introduces strangers ; the 
 under-master of a school 
 
 USTIOK. Studious, affectionate, learned. 
 
 VACHER. (Pr.) A cow-herd ; a keeper of cows. 
 
 VALE. Local Low land between hills, a valley. 
 
 VALENTINE. From the Latin Valeniinus^ a name derived 
 from valens, able, puissant, brave. 
 
 VALK. (Dutch.) A hawk, a falcon. 
 
 VAN ALSTYNE. Local From the old or high stone, 
 Dutch. 
 
 VAN AMEE, VAN NAMEN, and VAN NAME. Local 
 From the city of Namen or Namur, in the Netherlands. 
 
 VAN ANTWERP. (Dutch.) Local From the city of Ant- 
 werp, which signifies the wharfs or the place of wTiarfing^ 
 casting anchor, or tying up the ships. 
 
 VAN ARDEN, VAN AERDEN, and VAN ORDEN. Local 
 From Aerden, a town in Holland. 
 
 VAN ARNHEM, VAN ARNUM, VAN ORNUM. Local 
 From Arnheim, a city in G-uilderland, Holland. 
 
 VAN BUREN. (Dutch.) Local From the town of Buren, 
 in Holland. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 255 
 
 VATT BUSKIRK. From the church in the wood, from Bos, a 
 wood, and kerk, a chm-ch. 
 
 VAN CLEVE or VAN KLEEP. From the city of Cleve or 
 Cleves, in Westphalia, Germany. 
 
 VAN CORTLANDT. (Dutch.) From the short land; kort, 
 short, and landt, land. 
 
 VAN CUREN or VAN KEUREN. (Dutch.) Local. From 
 the territory of an elector in Germany. Keur, German, an 
 elector. 
 
 VAN DAM. Local. From the town of JDam, in Holland, 
 which signifies a mole or bank to prevent inundations, and 
 where towns were frequently built, as Amsterdam (Am- 
 stel-dam), Rotterdam. 
 
 VANDENBURGH. (Dutch.) From the hiU. 
 
 VANDENHOFF. (Dutch.) From the garden ; hof also sig- 
 nifies a court as well as a garden, so that it may be, firom the 
 court. 
 
 VANDERBILT. (Dutch.) Byl, in Dutch, signifies a hatchet 
 or bill. Byltye, a little hatchet or bill. Die Byltye was a 
 nickname given to ship-carpenters at Amsterdam, hence 
 Van de Bylt. 
 
 VANDERBOGART. (Dutch.) From the orchard. 
 
 VANDERHEYDEK So named from Heyden, an ancient 
 town in Holstein, Denmark. 
 
 VANDERLINDEN. Corrupted to Van O Linda— fi:om the 
 linden-trees or grove of linden. 
 
 VANDERLIPPE. Local. From the town of Lippe, in Ger- 
 many. 
 
 VANDERMARK. (Dutch.) From the Mark. Mark was 
 the denomination of a kind of county which made the 
 bound or limit of a country — like the British marches. 
 Hence mark-graaf, marquis, the keeper of the marks or 
 marches. 
 
256 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 YANDERPOEL. From the marsh or lake. 
 
 VANDERSPEIG-LE. (Dutch.) From the looking-glass ; fig- 
 uratively, neat, fine, spruce. 
 
 VANDERVEER. (Dutch.) From the ferry ; Veer signifying 
 a ferry. Veere, or Ter Veere^ is the name of a town in Hol- 
 land, whence probably the name originated. 
 
 YANDERWERKEK (Dutch.) From the workers ; werhm, 
 plural of werJe ; werher, a worker. 
 
 YANDERZEE. (Dutch.) From the sea; a child being bom 
 at sea during a violent storm, his parents gave him the name 
 of Storm Vanderzee. 
 
 YAN DOUSEN and YAN DUZEK (Dutch.) From the 
 town of JDoesen, in Lower Saxony. 
 
 YAN" DYCK. (Dutch.) From the dyke ; a bank or mound 
 thrown up to prevent inundations from the river or sea. 
 
 YAN EPS. Local. From the town of Eep, in Holland. 
 
 YAN HOOYEN. Local. From Hoeven, a town in Holland. 
 
 YAN HORN and YAN HOORK Local. From the town of 
 
 Horn or Hoorn, in Holland. 
 YAN HUISEN, YAN HOOSEN, and YAN HUSEN. Local. 
 
 From Huizen, a town on the Zuyder Zee, in HoUand. 
 
 YAN INGEN. Local From Ingen, a town in Holland, near 
 
 the river Lech. 
 YAN LOON. Local From Loon, a town on the river Maes, 
 
 in Holland. 
 YAN NESS. Local. Naze, a cape or promontory. Yan 
 
 Naze or Yan Ness, from the Cape. 
 
 YAN NORDEN. Local. From Naarden, a town in Holland. 
 
 YAN NOSTRAND. Properly Vayi Ostrand (which see). 
 
 YAN OSTRAND. From the east shore ; oost, east, and strand, 
 shore or coast. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 257 
 
 VAN PATTEN". Local. From Putten, a town in Holland. 
 
 VAN RENSSELAER. Local. Van rand Soleure, i. e., from 
 the border of Soleure, a canton of Switzerland ; Yan^ from, 
 rand^ border, margin. 
 
 VAN STANTVOORDT. Local. From Zandvoort, a town in 
 
 North Holland. 
 VAN SCHAACK, VAN SCHAIOK, VAN SOHEYK Local. 
 
 From the town of ScheyJc^ in Holland. 
 
 VAN SCHOONHOVEN. (Dutch.) Local. From the town 
 of Schoonhoven, in South Holland, which signifies " fine 
 gardens;" from schoon, fine, and hof^ a garden or court, plural 
 hoven. 
 
 VAN SLYCK. Local. From the channel called Ret Slaec\ 
 in the Netherlands, which makes Tohn an island. Slyh^ 
 Dutch, signifies dirt, mire. Van SlyJc, " fi:om the dirt." 
 
 VAN STEINBURaH. (Dutch.) From the stone-hiU. 
 
 VAN TESSEL or VAN TASSEL. (Dutch.) From Tessel or 
 Texel, an island in North Holland. 
 
 VAN TIEL. Local. From the town of Tiel, in Holland. 
 
 VAN VECHTEN. (Dutch.) From Vechten, on the river 
 Vecht, in Holland. 
 
 VAN VLECK. (Dutch.) From the town of Vleck, in Hol- 
 land, which signifies a httle open town. 
 
 VAN VOLKENBURa. Local. From Valkenburgh, a town 
 on the river Greuse, Netherlands. 
 
 VAN VORST or VAN VOORST. Local From the town of 
 Vorst, in Holland. Vorst, in Dutch, signifies a prince; 
 Forst, German, a forest 
 
 VAN VRANKEN. (Dutch.) From Franhenhurgh, an old 
 town of the Franhi, or free men. 
 
 VAN WESTKLE. Local From the town (rf Winkel, in Hol- 
 land. 
 
258 ETYMOLOOICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 VAN WOERT and VAN WORT. Local. From Woert, a 
 town in Holland. 
 
 VAN WORDEN. Local Prom Woerden, a town in Hol- 
 land, 
 
 VAN WYCK. Local From Wyck, a town on the river 
 Lech, in Holland. 
 
 VAN ZANDT. (Dutch.) From the sand ; or from Zante, an 
 island in the Mediterranean, 
 
 VASSER. (Fr.) A corruption of Vavasour^ one who holds 
 an estate next to a lord. 
 
 VAUGH AN. (Welsh.) The same as Bychan or Vychan, little, 
 small in stature. 
 
 VEDDER or VEEDER. (Dutch.) Father, or literally begetter, 
 feeder. 
 
 VENTON. (Cor. Br.) A sprmg well 
 
 VERBECK (Dutch.) From ver, far, distant, and heeJc or hecJe, 
 brook. The distant brook. 
 
 VERNON. Local From Vernon, a place in Normandy. 
 
 VESEY. Local Wet or fenny land, near the water, subject 
 to inundation; the same as Fossey. Oor. Br., Vosey, the 
 ditch or fort near the water. 
 
 VIBBARD. (Dutch and Danish.) From w, or wi, holy, sa- 
 cred, and hard, a poet. 
 
 VICKERS. Vicar, the incumbent of a benefice ; one who per- 
 forms the functions of another. Vicar, Cor. Br., a sovereign 
 lord. 
 
 VIELLE or VELAY. Local A town of France, in Langue- 
 
 VILLIERS. Local From a place so called, in France. 
 
 VINE. Local Taken from the plant that bears the grape ; a 
 vineyard. " Will at the vine." " Will Vine." 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 259 
 
 VIPONT. De Veteri Ponte, from the old bridge. 
 
 VIRGrO. (Latin.) A maid, a damsel. Virago, a stout woman. 
 Virgo, local, Latin, a Roman aqueduct. 
 
 YIVIAN". (Welsh.) Vyvian, the small water. 
 
 VOG-EL. (Dutch.) A bird, a duck; figuratively, a cunning 
 fellow, a fine young blade. 
 
 VOORHEES or YOORES. (Dutch.) From voorhuis, the 
 fore-room of a house below, a hall. 
 
 VROOMAN. (Dutch.) From vroom, honest, valiant, religious, 
 and man — an honest or valiant man. 
 
 WADE. (Dutch.) From weide, a meadow or pasture. 
 
 WADSWORTH. The same as Woodsworth, the farm or place 
 in the wood. 
 
 WAITE. Local. The same as Thwaite, a piece of ground 
 cleared of wood, a meadow. 
 
 WAKEFIELD. Local. A market-town in west Yorkshire, 
 England — the watch-field. 
 
 WAKEMAIST. A title given to the chief magistrate of Rippon, 
 in Yorkshire, England ; a watchman. 
 
 WALDG-RAYB. (Sax.) From wald, a forest, and grave, a 
 ruler or lord. 
 
 WALDEK (Sax. and Ger.) A wood, a woody place, 
 
 WALDROK Wald, Saxon, a wood. 
 
 WALES, WALLIS, WALSH. A native of Wales, a name 
 given by the Anglo-Saxons to the Britons who originally 
 came from Gaul, which the Saxons pronounced Wedlas, 
 Wales, Welsh, and Wallia. A principaHty of Great Britain, 
 on the west of England, one hundred and twenty milea 
 long, and eighty broad. 
 
M 
 
 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 WALKER. In the north of England and south of Scotland a 
 fuUing-mill is still called a walk-mill. This name may signify- 
 either a fiiUer or an officer whose duty consisted in walking 
 or inspecting a certain space of forest ground. 
 
 WALL. " John at the WaU"— John WaU. 
 
 WALLACE or WALLIS. The same as Wales or Welch, and 
 formed thus — Gaulish, WaUish, Wallis, and also Welsh or 
 Welch, a name given to the Britons by their Danish and 
 Angles invaders, because they originally came from G-auL 
 
 WALLER. A Gauler or Waller, a foreigner, from the Anglo- 
 Saxon '■^ waller-went,^^ foreign men, strangers. 
 
 WALLOCK. In G-aehc, Ouah, is a mountain projection, and 
 loch, a lake. WaUoch, a highland dance. QuaUah, Cor. Br., 
 a brag, a boaster. 
 
 WALLOP. Local. From the town of WaUop, in Hampshire, 
 England. 
 
 WALPOLE. Local. From Walpoh, a town in Norfolk, 
 England. 
 
 WALSH. A Gaul, which the Germans pronounce with a 
 "w," asWallic for Gauhc. WaUis, Wallish, Walsh. The 
 Welsh were originally from Gaul. (See Wales and Wal- 
 lace.) 
 
 WANDS. Local. A place where Woden was worshiped by 
 the Anglo-Saxons, from which we have Wodensday or 
 Wednesday. Wand, Danish, water; wansted, Danish, a 
 watering-place. 
 
 WALTER. A wood-master or keeper of the wood. 
 
 WALTON. Local. The name of several villages in England, 
 from wald, a wood, and ton. 
 
 WAMPLE or WEMPLE. Local. A river of England, from 
 wem or uiam, a cleft, a cave, a low place, GaeKc ; and poll, a 
 small lake, a pond, and the same in Welsh. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 261 
 
 WARBUKTON. Local From a township in Cheshire, Eng- 
 land, spelled in the Doomsday Book Werhurghtune, so called 
 from a monastery there situated dedicated to St. Werbergh. 
 
 WARE. Local. A town in Hertfordshire, England, so named 
 from the wear in the river Lee, at that place. 
 
 WARD. A keeper, one who guards or defends. 
 
 WARDLAW. Local. The parish of Kirkhill, in Moray, Scot- 
 land, was formerly called Wardlaws, because the garrison 
 of Lovat were accustomed to keep watch or ward on the 
 law or hiU. 
 
 WARNE. An alder-tree, a ship's mast. 
 
 WARREN. From Ouarenna or Yarenna, in the county of 
 Calais, in Normandy, whence they came into England with 
 WiUiam the Conqueror. The primary sense of the word is 
 to stop, hold, or repel, to guard, keep off. 
 
 WARRENDER. From Warren, and der, from the old British 
 dour, water, probably given to a Warren who hved near 
 some water or river. 
 
 WARWICK. Local The county town of Warwickshire, 
 England. Camden derives it from guarth, Cor. Br., a safe- 
 guard, a garrison, and wick, Saxon, a port or city. Somner 
 says it was formerly called " wearing-wkk," from wear and 
 
 WASHINGTON. Local. Originally Wessyngton or De Wes- 
 syngton. The name was taken from the place in England 
 where the family originated; from weis, a wash, a creek 
 setting in from the sea, the shallow part of a river, ing, a 
 meadow or low ground, and ton^ for dim, a hill or town — 
 the town on the wash or salt river or creek. 
 
 WASSEN. Local. From Wessen, a town in Switzerland. 
 Worsen, in Dutch, signifies to grow, increase. 
 
 WATCOCK. The son of Wat or Walter^ cock signifying, Uttle. 
 
 / 
 
262 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 WATERS. Local. A name given to one wlio navigated the 
 waters, or resided near them. 
 
 WATKINS. From Wat, and the patronymic termination hins; 
 
 the son of Wat or Walter. 
 WATKINSON. The son of Watkins. 
 WATSON and WATTS. The son of Walter. 
 
 WAY. Local. A road or passage of any kind ; a name given 
 to one who resided there. " Will o' the Way." 
 
 WAYLAND, WETLAND. Local. From the Dutch, " W&il- 
 
 and" pasture-ground, meadow-land. 
 WEBSTEE. A maker of webs, a weaver. 
 
 WEEDEN. Local. So named from Weedon, a town in North- 
 amptonshire, on the river Nen. Gwid-ton, the woody hill. 
 
 WEIDMAN. (Dutch.) From Weid, a pasture or meadow, 
 and man, — a herdsman. 
 
 WELBY. Local. From Wecdd-hy, which signifies a habita- 
 tion in a wood or grove. 
 
 WELD. A wood, sometunes written Weald, the woody part 
 of a country. 
 
 WELDEN. Local. From Weald, woody, a wood, and <few, a 
 valley. 
 
 WELLER. (Ang. Saxon.) WeUere, a hoUow or gulf. Prob- 
 ably the same as Waller (which see). 
 
 WELLS. Local. A name given to a person who resided 
 there. " John, at the Wells" — John Wells. A bishop's see 
 in Somersetshire, so called from the wells or springs there. 
 
 WEMPEL. Wampull, a river in England. Wimpole, a place 
 in London, a flag-staff. Wem, a town in England, also in 
 Scotland, and signifies a hollow place, a cave ; Wempool, the 
 pool in the hollow or low place. 
 
 WEMYSS. Local. First assumed by the proprietors of the 
 lands anciently called Wemyss-shire, in Fife-shire, Scot- 
 
OF FAMILY NAitES. 263 
 
 land, which contained all that tract of ground lying between 
 the lower part of the waters of Ore, and the sea. These 
 lands received their name from the great number of caves 
 that are there, all along the sea-coast. A cave in the old 
 Gaelic or Celtic, was called vumhs or uamh ; from that these 
 lands received the name of Vumhs-shire — Wemys-shire. 
 The family of Wemyss derive their origin from the family 
 of Macduff, Maormor of Fife, in the reign of Malcom Can- 
 more. The lands now forming the parish of Wemyss, are 
 said to have been part of the estate of Macduff, Shakespeare's 
 well-known Thane of Fife. 
 
 WENDELL. (Dutch.) Wandekmrj a walker, hence a travel- 
 er. The name may be local, and derived from WandU^ a 
 river ia Surrey, England. 
 
 WENTWORTH. Local. The Worth, farm, or place, on the 
 river Went, in Northumberland, England. 
 
 WERDEN. (Ger.) Local. From Wehr, a fortification, and 
 den, a hill ; a town in the Netherlands called Woerden. 
 
 WESTALL. Local. The West-Hall 
 
 WESTCOTT. The west cot; so Eastcott, and Southcote. 
 WestmacoU, Saxon, a banker, a money lender. 
 
 WESTMORELAND. Local. A comity of England; the 
 " West-moor-land." 
 
 WESTERYELDT. (Dutch.) The west field, from We&ter, 
 west, and veldt, a field. 
 
 WESTON. The west town. Derived from a small village in 
 England. 
 
 WETHERBY. Local. A town in west Yorkshire, England; 
 the wide or extended village ; Weider, Dutch, a herdsman, 
 Weideri, the place of fattening cattle, and hy, a village. 
 
 WETHERSPOON, WITHERSPOON, WODDERSPOON. 
 Local. A grazing-place in the spur of a mountain or hill j 
 Weider, Dutch or Saxon, and span, to unite, bend, extend. 
 
264 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOKARY 
 
 WETHERWAX. (Dutch.) WeiderwacM, from wdder^ a 
 herdsman, and wacht, a watch, a guard ; weide, a pasture, a 
 meadow ; weideri, a pasture for fattening cattle. 
 
 WETSEL. Local. From Wezel, a town on the lower Rhine. 
 
 WHALLE Y. Having greenish white eyes ; wall-eyed. This 
 name is also local, and is the name of a village in Lan- 
 cashire, England. 
 
 WHEADEN and WHEDEN. An old English west country 
 term for a silly fellow. Also the name of a small village in 
 England, whence the name may be derived. 
 
 WHEALDON or WHIELDON. Local (Cor. Br.) A place 
 
 where mines are worked. Whecd is frequently applied to 
 signify a mine, and dun or din, a hill. 
 
 WHEATON. Local So called from a place of the same 
 name on the river Nen, Northamptonshire, England. 
 WTiiUorbj Saxon, the white hill. Whiddon, Cor. Br., white. 
 
 WHEELER A name of trade. 
 
 WHEELOCK From a village in Cheshire, England, of the 
 same name. 
 
 WHITBY. That is "White-town," or bay; a town in York- 
 shire, England. 
 
 WHITE. A name given from the color of the hair, or com- 
 plexion. The name may be also local, derived from the Isle 
 of Wight, on the coast of Hampshire, so called from the 
 Welsh, Qwydd, wood, from its primitive forest 
 
 WHITma. (Sax.) The white or fair offspring. The Saxon 
 termination ing, denoted offspring or child, as Cuthing, the 
 child of Cuth, Dun-nmg, the brown oflfepring, &c. 
 
 WHITLOCK. (Sax.) Fair hair. 
 
 WHITFIELD. Local The white field. 
 
 WHITFORD. Local The white ford. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 265 
 
 WHITMAN. From wight, in old English, Uvely, quick, and 
 man, or from the Dutch, w^ht, weighty, ponderous, WigJit- 
 man, a stout man, or it may be, after aU, simply White-man. 
 
 WHITNEY. (Sax.) From Hwit, white, and ea, watei, or ige^ 
 an island ; a town in Oxfordshire, England. 
 
 WHITTAKER. Local. The north part of a graveyard allot- 
 ted to tlie poor was called whittaher, from wite, a penalty, and 
 acre, — a place of burial for criminals. A culprit who could 
 not discharge the penalty or wite became a " witetheow," and 
 was buried in the wite-acre. Bailey defines Whittaker " the 
 north-east part of a flat or shoal — ^the middle ground." 
 
 WICKER. A man of the creek or bay, from Wick, a creek, 
 bay, a village. Uahher, Danish, valiant, brave. 
 
 WICKHAM. (Sax.) From wic, the vdnding of a river or 
 port, and comh, a valley. A town in Buckinghamshire, 
 England — the sheltered, place, house, or town. 
 
 WICKLIFF. (Sax.) From Hwic, white, and Uif, a rock or 
 cliff; or rather from wic, a Saxon word for borough or vil- 
 lage, the town on the cliff; a village six miles from Rich- 
 mond, in Yorkshire, England, from which the family derive 
 their name, and of which they were possessed from the 
 time of the Conquest by William the Conqueror till the 
 year 1606. Wycliffe translated the Bible in 1338, and one 
 half of the nation before his death are said to have em- 
 braced, in a greater or less degree, his opinions, which 
 spread with rapidity over Europe. 
 
 WIG-AN and WIG-GIN. Local. From Wigan, a town on 
 the river Douglass, Lancashire, England. 
 
 WILBERFORCE. Local. That is, Wild-boar-foss, a dike, a 
 ditch. Wilr-hurgh-foss. 
 
 WILBRAHAM. For Wilburgham or Wild-hurgh-ham. Local 
 A town in Kent, England. 
 
 WILBUR or WILBOR. A contraction of Wildboar. 
 
 12 
 
266 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 WILCOX. From Will, and cock, which signifies, little. Will's 
 son, Williamson. "A willcock," one rather obstinate. 
 
 WTLDEE. A traveler, foreigner, or pilgrim, the same as 
 Waller, from the Saxon vyealh, a traveler, or one who in- 
 habits the forest or grounds micultivated. 
 
 WTLEJNS. From WU, and the patronymic termination hinSj 
 
 the son of William. 
 WILKmSON. The son of Wilkins. 
 
 WILLAKD. One who has a determined disposition, from 
 will, choice, ccmimand, and ardj the Teutonic of art^ strength, 
 nature, disposition. 
 
 WILLET. Little William, or the son of WiUiam. 
 
 WILLIAM. From the Belgic Cfuild-Jtehn, harnessed with a 
 gilded hehnet; cTj as others say, from Welhelm, the shield 
 or defense of many. 
 
 WILLIAMSON. The son of WiUiam. 
 
 WILLIS. Willy's, the son of WiUy, the " &'' being added for 
 son. 
 
 WILLOUGHBY. Local From the lordship of Willoughby, 
 in Lincohishire, England, given to a Norman knight by 
 William the Conqueror. — The town or habitation by the 
 willows. 
 
 WILMOT. May be a corruption of Guitlemot, a name frequent 
 in France in early timies, derived from QuUhmm, William. 
 
 WILSON. The son of William or Will, 
 
 WILTON. Local. From a town in Wilt^iire, England, so 
 called from the river WWey, and ionj a town. 
 
 WILTSHIRE. Local. A county in England j Welsh, 5'i(;2/Z?^, 
 a wild, foresty a desert^ and sMre, a division, a county. 
 
 WIMPLE. (Dutch.) A streamer, pendant. 
 
 WINCH. Local A place in the county of Norfolk, England 
 Tnyis, Welsh^ an island. 
 
OS FAMILY NAMES. ' 267 
 
 WINCHCOMBE. (Sax.) Local. From wincely a corner, and 
 comb, a valley — a valley encompassed on each side "with 
 hUls. 
 
 WINCHEL. (Dutch.) From Winschaal, a wine-bowl, a wine- 
 shop ; German, WeinsaM, a wine-hall or shop. 
 
 WINCHESTER. Local. A city of Hampshke, England, 
 called Caerwynt by the Britons, from Caer, a city, town, or 
 fortified place, and gwint, wind, from its being a windy place. 
 The Welsh gwin signifies wine, as if called the " Wine City" 
 So Howel, in his Londonopohs, quotes fi^om old Robert of 
 Glo'cester : 
 
 " In the country of Canterbury most plenty of fish is; 
 And most chase of beasts about Salisbury I wis, 
 And London ships most, and wine at Winchester, 
 Soap about Coventry, and iron at Glo'cester ; 
 Metal, lead, and tin in the county of Exceter, 
 Euorwick of fairest wood, Lincoln of fairest men, 
 Cambridge and Huntingdon most plenty of deep venne, 
 Ely of fairest place, of fairest sight, Rochester." 
 
 Bailey defines it the "White City," from the Welsh "Coer 
 guenifj' because it is built upon a chalky soil. 
 
 WINDHAM. Local A town in the county of Norfolk, Eng- 
 land, said to be a corruption of Wimwnd-han, " the home or 
 village of Wimund." 
 
 WINDSOR. Local. A town m Berkshire, England. The 
 name is a corruption of Wind-shore, from the winding shore 
 of the Thames in that place. . 
 
 WINEG-AR. (Dutch.) From Wyngaard, a vine. 
 
 WINEKOOP. (Dutch.) Something to drink upon the bar- 
 gain. 
 
 WING-. Local. A village in the county of Buckingham, 
 England. 
 
268 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 WING-FIELD. Local From the manor of Wingfield, in Suf- 
 folk, England. 
 
 WINNE. (Welsh.) The same as Qwynne, white. 
 
 WINSHIP. Probably the same as Wineshop. Saxon, Win, 
 German Wein, and JSceapian, Saxon, to make, furnish; a 
 maker or vender of wine. 
 
 WESTSLOW. Local From the town of Winslow, in Buckmg- 
 hamshire, England. 
 
 WESTTERTON. Local From the village of Winterton, in the 
 county of Norfolk, England, so called from its cold situation. 
 
 WINTHROP. Local. A corruption of Wmthorp, or Wine- 
 thorpe, the wine village, jfrom luin, wine, and thorp, a village. 
 
 WIRE, WEIR, WARE. Local. A market town of Hertford- 
 shire, England. Saxon Waer, to defend, to hold, protect. 
 Wear, a fence of stakes or rods set in a stream for catching 
 fish; a dam. 
 
 WISE, and WISEMAN. A name given for the quality of 
 wisdom. 
 
 WISHART. Some ancient writers say, that Robert, son of 
 David, Earl of Huntingdon, took on him the cross, and dis- 
 tinguished himself in the Holy Land, where, fi"om his gallant 
 exploits against the Saracens, he received the name of Gfuis- 
 hart, that is, Wise-?ieart, now Wishart. 
 
 WISWALL. Local. From WeisweU, a town in Baden, on the 
 Rhine, Germany. 
 
 WITHERINQTON. A contraction of Wooderington. From 
 Saxon wyderian, to wither, and dun, a hill. The withered 
 or dry hill. A place in Northumberland, England. Weid^ 
 erington, the place of pasturing cattle, Dutch, Weide, a pas- 
 ture, weider, one who takes care of cattle, a herdsman. 
 
 WITTER. (Dutch.) A whitener, a fuUer, bleacher. 
 
OF FAMILY NAMES. 269 
 
 WOLSEY or WOOLSEY. Local. That is, the WoUs-ley, 
 from wold, a wood, a lawn, and sometunes a plain, and lie, 
 or ley, a place. 
 
 WOOD. A surname very ancient in Scotland, first called De 
 Bosco. The family bore trees in their coat of arms. 
 
 WOODRUFF. Woodroof, from Wood-re&ve, the governor or 
 keeper of a wood, a forester. 
 
 WOODWARD. Wood-ward, a forest-keeper or ofl&cer, who 
 walked with a forest-bill, and took cognizance of all offenses 
 committed. 
 
 WOODWORTH. Local. The farm or place m the wood.. 
 
 WOOL. One having short, thick hair. It may be a corruption 
 of Wolf, or WiU. 
 
 WOOLLEY. Local. WoU-ley, uncultivated landa> bills with- 
 out wood. 
 
 WOOSTER. A corruption of Worcester (which see). 
 
 WORCESTER. Local. A county and city of England, which 
 Bailey derives from Sax. Were, a forest, and Cester, a camp or 
 city. I prefer deriving it from Warcester, the city or castle 
 of strife, from the Saxon Woer, war, strife, with which the 
 ancient British name agrees, called Caerwrangon, the castle 
 or fort of strife and contention. It was a boundary for 
 many years between the Britons and Saxons. (See Chester.) 
 
 WORTH. (Sax.) Local. A court, farm, possession, place, 
 field or way ; the place valued, sold, or granted. 
 
 WYLIE. A form of WiUie or William ; or wily, artful, sly. 
 
 WYMAN. (Dutch.) From Weiman, a huntsman, a hunter; 
 one who shoots the game. 
 
 YAG-ER. (G-erman and Danish.) Jager, a huntsman. Togere, 
 also signifies a sweet-heart 
 
2*70 DICTIONARY OF FAMILY NAMES. 
 
 YALE. Local. From a lordship of the same name in Wales. 
 
 YAEE. (Sax.) Ready, dexterous, eager. 
 
 YARROW. A plant; the millfoil, or plant of a thousand 
 leaves. 
 
 YATES. An old word for Gate. The same as Grates. 
 
 YEOMAN. A man free-bom, a freeholder ; one next in order 
 to the gentry. 
 
 YETT. A gate, a way, a passage, the same as Yates. 
 
 YORK Local. A city in England next in esteem to London. 
 Verstegan derives its name from Eure-ric or Eovsr-ric, of 
 Euere^ a wild boar, and rye, a refuge ; a retreat from the 
 wild boars which were in the forest of Gautries. The 
 Romans called the city Ehoracum; it is memorable for the 
 death of two emperors, Severus and Constantius Ohlorus, 
 and for the nativity of Constantine the G-reat. 
 
 YOUNGHUSBAND. A surname borrowed from the social 
 relations. 
 
 YOUNGLOVE. Given on account of his age, and tender af- 
 fection. 
 
 YULE. (Sax.) Christmas, borrowed from this festival, or the 
 time of nativity. 'TAe, Greek, a wood, a forest. 
 
CHEISTIAN NAMES. 
 
CHRISTIAN NAMES. 
 
 NAMES OF MEN. 
 
 AARON. (Heb.) Signifies a mountameer^ a mount dS 
 strength. 
 
 ABDALLAH. (Turkish.) The servant of God. 
 
 ABEL. (Heb.) Signifies vanity, breath. 
 
 ABIATHAR (Heb.) ExceUent father. 
 
 ABIEZBE. (Heb.) My father's help. 
 
 ABIJAH. (Heb.) The will of the Lord, or the Lord is my 
 father. 
 
 ABISHUR. (Heb.) My father's attention. 
 ABNER. (Heb.) The lamp or son of the father. 
 ABRAHAM* (Heb.) The father of a great multitude. 
 
 ABSALOM. (Heb.) A father of peace. 
 
 ADAM. (Heb.) Taken out of red earth. L\. fl^ ..--T^r.^^V'^iS^ 
 ADIEL. (Heb.) The witness of the Lord. 
 ADOLPHUS or ADOLPH. (Sax.) From Ead, happiness, 
 and ulphj help — ^happy help. 
 
 ADRIAN. (Latin.) Local. From the city of Hadria. Oesner 
 derives it fi-om the Greek a6pog, great or wealthy. 
 
 .^aTEAS. (Lat.) Laudable. 
 
 12* 
 
274 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 AGrRIPPA. (Lat) ^ger-parius^ one that causeth pain at 
 his birth, who is bom with his feet foremost. 
 
 ALAN. Is thought by Julius Scaliger to signify a hound in 
 the Sclavonian, and Chaucer uses Aland in the same sense. 
 
 ALBERT, (aer.) AH bright or famous. 
 
 ALEXANDER. (Greek.) An aider or benefactor of men, a 
 powerful auxihary, from dAefw, to aid, assist, and dv^p, a 
 man. 
 
 ALFRED. (Sax.) AU peace. 
 ALMOND. AUemand, — a Grerman. 
 ALPHONSO. (Gothic.) Our help, from Return. 
 
 ALWIN. (Sax.) From alU, all, and win, a victor — all vic- 
 torious. 
 
 AMASA. A forgiving people. 
 
 AMBROSE. (Greek.) From 'Afi^poaZoc, immortal 
 
 AMOS. Loading, weighty. 
 
 ANDREW. (Greek.) A brave man. 'Avdpeia, courage, 
 bravery, manhood, from 'Avifp, a man. 
 
 ANTHONY. (Greek.) From 'Avdog, a flower, flourishing, 
 beautiful, graceful. 
 
 APOLLOS. One that destroys or lays waste. 
 
 ARCHIBALD. (Ger.) A powerful, bold, and speedy learner 
 or observer. 
 
 ARIEL. (Heb.) Light or Zion of God. 
 
 ARNOLD. (Ger.) According to Camden, signifies honest, 
 but the Germans write it Ernold. Prdbvs in Latin. 
 
 ARTEMAS. Holy, agreeable. 
 
 ARTHUR. (Br.) A strong man. (See fuller derivation in 
 Pictionary of Surnames.) 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 2^4 
 
 ASA. Physician or cure. 
 
 ASAETEL. The work or creature of G-od. 
 
 ASENATH. (Heb.) PerH or misfortune. 
 
 ASHER (Heb.) Happy, blessed. 
 
 AUaUSTUS. (Lat) Noble, royal, ImpeiiaL 
 
 AUG-USTINE and AUSTIN. (Latin.) A contraction of 
 Augustine, from Augustinus^ imperial, royal, great, or re- 
 nowned. 
 
 AZARIAH. Assistance. 
 
 BALDWIN. (G-er.) The speedy conqueror or victor, from 
 haldj quick or speedy, and wvn^ an old word signifying 
 victor or conqueror. 
 
 BAPTISTE. (Greek.) BaTrrtffT^f, a baptizer, the title of St 
 John. 
 
 BARDULPH. (Ger.) The same as Bertulph, fair help. 
 
 BARNABY and BARNABAS. (Heb.) Son of consolation. 
 
 BARNABAS. Son of the prophet, or consolation. 
 
 BARTIMEUS. (Heb.) The son of Tuneus. Timeus signifies 
 perfect, honorable, admirable. 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW. (Heb.) The son of him who maketh the 
 waters to mount 
 
 BARZILLAI. (Heb.) Made of iron, or the son of contempt 
 
 BASIL. (Grreek.) From Baaaedc, a king ; royal, kingly. 
 
 BENEDICT. (Latin.) From Benedictm, blessed, well spoken 
 o^ or a person wishing all good. 
 
 BENJAMIN. (Heb.) The son of the right hand. 
 
 BENNET. A contraction or rather a corruption of Benedict, 
 from the Latin, Benedicim, blessed. 
 
21 6 ETTMOLOaiCAL DICTIONARY ^ 
 
 BENONI. (Heb.) Son of my grief, sorrow. 
 
 BEEIAH. (Heb.) In feUowship. 
 
 BERNARD. (Teutonic.) Of a child-like disposition. 
 
 BERTRAM. (Sax.) Fair and pure. 
 
 BEULAH. (Heb.) Married. 
 
 BOAZ. (Heb.) In strength, a pillar. 
 
 BOKTFACE. (Lat.) WeU-doer. 
 
 BOTOLPH. (Sax.) Help-ship or sailor. Sailors in that age 
 were called Botescarles. 
 
 BRIAN and BRIANT. (Fr.) Shrill-voiced. 
 
 C-(ESAR. (Latin.) From ccedo, to cut, — a name said to have 
 been given to one who was cut from his mother's womb. 
 Ccesaries, a head of hair. 
 
 CAIUS. Parents' joy. 
 
 CALEB. A dog, cow, or basket. 
 
 CALISTHENES. (Greek.) Beautiful and strong. 
 
 CARADOO. (Br.) Dearly beloved. 
 
 CARLOS. The same as Charles. 
 
 CHARLES. (Grer.) From carl, strong, stout, courageous, 
 valiant. 
 
 CHESTER. A surname, now used as a Christian name. From 
 the city of Chester, so called from the Latin casirum, a forti- 
 fied place, a camp. Chester was the principal encampment 
 of the Romans in Britain. 
 
 CHRISTIAN. The derivation of this name is evident. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER. (Qreek.) From XpioTog, Christ, literaUy, 
 anointed, and <j>epo), to bear ; Christ's carrier. 
 
 CLARENCE. (Lat) From Chrus, clear, bright. 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. — 27 Y 
 
 CLAUDIUS. (Lat.) Erom Ckivda, the name of an island 
 near Crete. A name given to a native of that island. It 
 signifies a broken or a weeping voice. 
 
 CLEMENT. (Lat.) Ohmms, meek, gentle, kind. 
 
 . CONRAD. (Ger.) Able counsel. 
 
 CONSTANTIKE. (Lat.) Consfantinus, fast, firm, unyielding. 
 
 CORNELIUS. (Latin and Greek.) From cornu, a horn, and 
 ^Aiof, the sun. 
 
 CRISPIN. (Lat.) Crispinus, from crispus, having curled hair. 
 
 CUTHBERT. (Sax.) Famous, bright, of clear skiU or knowl- 
 edge. 
 
 CYPRIAN. (Greek.) From the isle of Cyprus. 
 
 CYRUS. An heir, or miserable. 
 
 DANIEL. (Heb.) Judgment of God. 
 
 DAVID. (Heb.) Beloved, dear. 
 
 DEMETRIUS. (Greek.) Belonging to Ceres. ^^ 
 
 DENIS, or DENNIS. A contraction of Dionysius (which 
 
 see). 
 DERRICK, DERICK, and DIRK. (Dutch.) An abbreviation 
 
 of Theodorick (which see). 
 
 DIODORUS. (Greek.) From Aibg, Jove or Jupiter, and 
 Supog, a gift — ^the gift of Jove. 
 
 DYONYSIUS. (Greek.) A name of Bacchus, the god of 
 wine. 
 
 DIOTREPHES. (Greek.) Nourished by Jupiter, from Aide, 
 genitive of Ze-ug, Jupiter, and Tpe(l)o, to feed, to nourish. 
 
 DOMINICK. (Lat.) From Dominica, the Lord's day ; Sun- 
 day, from Dominus, the Lord. A name given to a child 
 born on Sunday. 
 
6Y8 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOUTARY ^^ 
 
 DUNSTAN. (Sax.) Fronl dun, a hill, and staiij a ston©— a 
 name of place. 
 
 EBENEZER. (Heb.) The stone of help. 
 
 EDMUND. (Sax.) From Eadj blessed, and mund, peace — 
 blessed peace. 
 
 EDWARD. (Sax.) From Eadj blessed, and ard, nature or 
 disposition. 
 
 EDWIN. (Sax.) From Bad^ blessed or happy, and «;m, a 
 conqueror. 
 
 ELD AD. (Heb.) Loved or favored of God. 
 
 ELEAZER (Heb.) The help or court of God. 
 
 ELL (Heb.) The oflfering or lifting up. 
 
 ELIAB. (Heb.) God, my father. 
 
 ELIAS. (Heb.) God the Lord, or the strong Lord. 
 
 ELIHU. (Heb.) He is my God himself. 
 
 ELIJAH. (Heb.) The same as Elias (which see). 
 
 ELIPHALET. (Heb.) The God of deUverance. 
 
 ELISHA. (Heb.) Salutation of God. 
 
 ELIU. (Heb.) The same as Elihu. 
 
 ELIZUR. (Heb.) God is my rock, or strength. 
 
 ELON. (Heb.) Oak, or grove, or strong. 
 
 ELYMAS. In Arabic signifies a magician. 
 
 EMMANUEL. (Heb.) God with us. 
 
 ENEAS. (Greek.) Laudable, from alveu, I praise, prudent, 
 discreet, in Gaelic, Aongaos, 
 
 ENOCH. (Heb.) Dedicated, disciplined, well-regulated. 
 
 ENOa (Heb.) Fallen man. 
 
 1 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 2t9 
 
 EPAPHRAS. (Heb.) Covered with foani. 
 
 EPHRAIM. (Heb.) That brings fruit, or that grows. 
 
 EEASMUS. (G-reek.) 'Epdai/ioc, amiable, lovely, same as 
 Erastus. . 
 
 ERASTUS. (Greek.) From 'Epaarbg, lovely or amiable. 
 
 ERNEST. (Sax.) Eornest, earnest. 
 
 ESEK. (Heb.) Contention, violence, or force. 
 
 ETHELARD. (Sax.) Noble disposition. 
 
 ETHELBERT. (Sax.) Noble-bright, or nobly renowned. 
 
 ETHELSTAN. (Sax.) Noble-jewel, precious stone, or most 
 
 noble. 
 ETHELWARD. (Sax.) Noble keeper. 
 ETHEL WOLD. (Sax.) Noble governor. 
 ETHELWOLE. (Sax.) Noble helper. 
 .ETHAN. Strength. 
 
 EUaENE. (Greek.) From Evyev^g, nobly bom. 
 EUSTACE. (Greek.) From Evarae^Q, standing firm, resolute. 
 EVERARD. (Sax.) Always honored. 
 EZEKIEL. God is my strength. 
 EZRA. A helper. 
 
 FABIAN. (Lat.) From FaUus, a kind of bean. 
 
 FELIX. (Lat.) Happy. 
 
 FERDINAND. (Ger.) From Fred, peace, and randj pure, 
 that is, pure peace. 
 
 FRANCIS. From Franc, free, not servile, or bond. 
 
 FRANKLIN. A freeholder. (See Dictionary of Surnames.) 
 
 FREDERICK. (Ger.) Rich peace, or peaceable reign. 
 
S^^ ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 FTJLLBERT. (Sax.) FuU-bright. 
 
 FULKjE. (Sax.) Some derive it from the G-erman VoUg, 
 noble and gallant, but Camden from Folc, the English-Saxon 
 word for people, folk ; like the Roman Puhlius, beloved of 
 the people and commons. 
 
 GABRIEL. (Heb.) A man of God, or God is my strengiL 
 
 GAITJS. (Greek.) Earthly. From Talog, corruptible, mortal 
 
 GALLIC. Milky. 
 
 GAMALIEL. (Heb.) Recompense of God. 
 
 GARRET. A corruption of Gerard (which see). ■ 
 
 GEDEOK (Heb.) He that bruises and breaks. 
 
 GEFFREY. (Ger.) From G^aw,joyftd, and /re(?, peace; joy- 
 ful peace. 
 
 . GEOFFREY. (Sax.) From Gau, glad, and fred, peace. 
 
 GEORGE. (Greek.) A husbandman, from Tcupybg. 
 
 GERARD. (Sax.) From Gar, all, and ard, nature. 
 
 GERMAIN. (Ger.) AU victorious. 
 
 GERVAS. (Ger.) All sure, firm, or fast. 
 
 GIFFORD. (Ger.) Liberal disposition. 
 
 GILBERT. (Ger.) Bright pledge, from Gisle, a pledge; or 
 gold-like bright, from the Saxon, Geele, yeUow. 
 
 GILES, ^gidius, Latin of A/y^f, Greek, a goat's skin; so the 
 old writers derive it, but it is more probably from the Ger- 
 man Gisel, or Gese\ a companion. 
 
 GOD ARD. (Sax.) From God, God or good, and ard, nature 
 — endowed with a divine disposition. 
 
 GODFREY. (Ger.) God's peace, godly. 
 
 GODWIN. (Sax.) Converted, or victorious in God. 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 281 
 
 GEACCHUS. (Lat.) Thin. 
 
 GREGORY. From the Greek Tpeyopeu, to watch, watchfiil, a 
 
 shepherd. 
 
 GRIFFITH. (Br.) Strong faith. 
 GUILBERT. The same as GHberL 
 GUY. A guide, leader, or director. 
 
 HADRIAN, and ADRIAN. (Lat.) From the city Hadria, 
 whence Hadrian the Emperor had his origin. Gesner de- 
 rives it from the Greek "ASpog^ wealthy. 
 
 HAMOK (Heb.) FaithM. 
 
 HANNIBAL. Gracious lord. 
 
 HAROLD. (Sax.) Leader of the army, or love of the army* 
 
 HAZEL. (Heb.) One that sees God. 
 
 HEBER. One that passes, anger, wrath. 
 
 HECTOR. (Greek.) Defender. 
 
 HEMAN. (Heb.) Their trouble, tumult, in great numbers. 
 
 HENGIST. (Sax.) Horseman. 
 
 HENRY. (Sax.) From Mnrich^ ever rich, or from Honori- 
 cuSj honorable. 
 
 HERBERT. (Sax.) From Here, an army, and leorU, bright, 
 — the glory of the army. Verstegan derives it from Here, 
 an army, and the Teutonic bericht, instructed, — an expert 
 soldier. 
 
 HERMON and HARMON. (Ger.) General of an army. 
 
 HERCULES. (Greek.) Glory or illumination of the air. 
 
 HEZEKIAH. (Heb.) Strong in the Lord. 
 
 HIEL. (Heb.) God lives, or the life of God. 
 
 HILDEBERT. (Ger.) Bright or famous lord. 
 
 HIRAM. (Heb.) Exaltation of Hfe. 
 
 HOMER. (Greek.) "Ofijjpog. A hostage, a pledge or security. 
 
282 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 HORACE. From Latin, Eoratius. (See below.) 
 
 HORATIO. (Lat.) EoratiziSj from the Greek, Spdrdcj or 
 dpariKhc^ of good eyesight, 
 
 HOSEA. (Heb.) Salvation. 
 
 HUBERT. (Sax.) Of clear, bright color. 
 
 HUGH. High, or exalted 
 
 HUMPHREY. (Sax.) From Hum-freA^ house-peace. 
 
 lOHABOD. (Heb.) Where is the glory. 
 IRA. (Heb.) City watch, or heap of vision. , 
 ISAAC. (Heb.) Laughter. 
 ISAIAH. (Heb.) Salvation of the Lord. 
 ISRAEL. (Heb.) A prince of the strong God. 
 IVAN". The same as John in G«,elic and Welsh. 
 
 JACOB. (Heb.) He that supplants, a supplanter. 
 
 JAEL. (Heb.) A kid, ascending. 
 
 JAMES. (Heb.) The same as Jacob. 
 
 JARED. (Heb.) One that rules or descends. 
 
 JASPER. (Greek.) From 'laamq^ a precious stone of a green 
 color, transparent, with red veins. 
 
 JASON. (Greek.) 'Idauv, He that cures, from 'Ido/iai, to heal. 
 
 JEDEDIAH. (Heb.) Beloved of the Lord. 
 
 JEREMIAH. (Heb.) Exaltation or grandeur of the Lord. 
 
 JEREMY. (Heb.) High of the Lord. 
 
 JESSE. (Heb.) My present, or who is to be. 
 
 JOAB. (Heb.) Paternity. 
 
OP CHRISTIAN NAMES. 28S 
 
 JOB. (Heb.) He that weeps. 
 
 JOEL. (Heb.) One that wills or commands. 
 
 JOHN. (Heb.) Signifies the grace or gift of the Lord. 
 
 JONADAB. (Heb.) Liberal, one who acts as a prince. 
 
 JONAH and JONAS. (Heb.) A dove. 
 
 JONATHAN. (Heb.) The* gift of the Lord. 
 
 JOSCELIN. A diminutive from Jost or Justus, just. 
 
 JOSEPH. (Heb.) Increase, addition. 
 
 JOSHUA. (Heb.) The Lord, the Saviour. 
 
 JOSIAH. (Heb.) The fire of the Lord. 
 
 JUDAS. (Heb.) Same as Judah, praise of the Lord. 
 
 JULIUS. (Greek.) Soft haired, or mossy-bearded. 
 
 JUSTIN. (Lat) From Justus, just, virtuous. 
 
 KENARD. (Sax.) Kind disposition. 
 KENHELM. (Sax.) Defense of his kindred. 
 KENNETH, (aaelic.) From Ceann, the head— a chieftain. 
 
 LAMBERT. (Sax.) Fair lamb. 
 LAWRENCE. (Lat.) Flourishing. 
 LAZARUS. (Heb.) Lord's help. 
 LEGrER. (Ger.) Leodegar, gatherer of peoples. 
 LEMUEL. (Heb.) God is with them. 
 LEO. (Lat.) A lion. 
 LEOFSTAN. (Sax.) Most beloved. 
 LEOFWIN. (Sax.) Win love, or to be loved. 
 
284 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 LEONAED. (Sax.) Lion-like disposition. 
 
 LEOPOLD. (Qer.) Defender of the people. 
 
 LEVI. (Heb.) One who is held and associated. 
 
 LEWIS. A contraction of Ludovicics, Latin for the Teutonic 
 Ludwig, from Leod or I/ud, the people, and wich, a castle — 
 the safeguard of the people. 
 
 LINUS. Nets. • 
 
 LIONEL. (Lat.) LioneUus, little lion. 
 
 LOUIS. (Ft.) Contraction of Ludovicus or Ludwig. (See 
 Lewis.) 
 
 LUCIUS. (Lat.) From liuc, light A name first given to 
 children born at the dawning of the day. 
 
 LUKE and LUCAS. (Oreek.) Luminous. 
 
 MADOC. (Br.) Gtood. 
 
 MALICHI. (Heb.) My messenger or angel 
 
 MANOAH. (Heb.) Rest, or a gift. 
 
 MARCELLUS. (Lat.) From J/ar5, the god of war — ^martial, 
 warlike. 
 
 MARCUS and MARK. (Lat.) A name first given to chil- 
 dren bom in the month of March. Marcus also means 
 polite, shining. 
 
 MARMADUKE. (G-er.) From MermachUg, which in old 
 Saxon signified more mighty. 
 
 MARTIN. (Lat.) From Martius, Mars, the god of war. 
 
 •MATTHEW. (Heb.) The gift of God. 
 
 MATTHIAS. (Heb.) The gift of the Lord. 
 
 MAXIMILIAN. A name devised by the Emperor Frederic 
 the Third, who composed it for his son and heir from the 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 285 
 
 names of the two Eomans whom he most admired, Q. Fah- 
 ius Maximus, and Scipio uEmiHanus^ with the hope that his 
 son would imitate their virtues. 
 
 MICHAEL. (Heb.) Who is like God? One of the names 
 of Christ. 
 
 MILES. (Lat.) Milo, from Milium, a kind of grain called 
 millet. Some think it to be a contraction of Michael. 
 
 MORDECAI. (Heb.) Bitter contrition. 
 
 MORG-AIT. (Br.) A seaman, from mor, the sea; like the 
 Latin, Pelagius, Marius. 
 
 MORICE. From the Latin, Mauritius, and that from Maurus, 
 a moor. 
 
 MOSES. (Heb.) Drawn forth. 
 
 NAOMI. (Heb.) Beautiful, comely. 
 NATHAN. (Heb.) O-ivon. 
 NATHANIEL. (Heb.) The gift of God. 
 
 NEAL. (Fr.) From the Latin nigeUus or ni^el, black or 
 
 swarthy. 
 
 NERO. (Lat.) Strong. 
 
 NICHOLAS. (G-reek.) Victorious, from vixdco, to conquer. 
 
 NIGrELi From the Latin NigeUus, black, swarthy. 
 
 NOAH. (Heb.) A ceasing or rest 
 
 NOEL. (Fr.) The same as the Latin natalis, given first in 
 honor of the feast of Christ's birth to such as were born on 
 Christmas day. 
 
 NORMAN. From Normandy, so called from the Northmen 
 who settled there from the north of Europe. 
 
286. ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 OBADIAH. (Heb.) Servant of the Lord. 
 
 OLIVER. From the Latin Oliva^ an olive-tree, an emblem of 
 peace. 
 
 OSBBRK (Sax.) House-child. 
 
 OSBERT. (Sax.) Domestic brightness. 
 
 OSMUND. (Sax.) House-peace. 
 
 OSWOLD. (Sax.) House-ruler or steward. 
 
 OTHO. A faithful reconciler, according to Petrus Blesensis. 
 
 OWEN. (Celtic.) The good offspring. 
 
 PASCAL. From Pascha, the passover. 
 
 PATRICK. (Latin.) From Pairicius, a peer, a noble, a name 
 given first to senators' sons. 
 
 PAUL. (Lat.) From paulus, little, humble, small in stature. 
 
 PAYNE. From the Latin Paganm, now out of use, meaning 
 a man exempt from military service. 
 
 PEL ATIAH. (Heb.) Deliverance or flight of the Lord. 
 
 PERCIVAL. (Nor.) From Percheval, a place in Normandy. 
 
 PEREGRINE. (Lat.) A stranger, a foreigner. 
 
 PETER. (Q-reek.) From Trerpog, a stone or rock. 
 
 PHILEBERT. (Qer.) Much bright fame, very famous. 
 
 PHILEMON. (G-reek.) f^av/iuv. A kiss or loving. 
 
 PHILIP. (Greek.) From ^i^og, a lover or Mend, and ImroCj 
 a horse — a lover of horses. 
 
 PHILETUS. (Greek.) $a^r5f. Beloved or amiable. 
 
 PHINEAS. (Heb.) Face of trust or protection. 
 
 PIUS. (Lat.) Pious. 
 
 POMPEY. (Lat.) Poinpostw, full of pomp. 
 
OF OHBISTIAN »AMES. 28^ 
 
 QTJINTIN". (Lat.) From quintuSj the fifth, a name given ta 
 he fifth bom. 
 
 EALPH. (Sax.) Contracted fi:om Rodolph or Rodolphus, fi:oni 
 Bode, counsel, and ulph, help. 
 
 RANDAL. (Sax.) Corrupted fi*om Randulph, fi-om rein, pure, 
 and ulphj help. p 
 
 RANDOLPH. The same as Ranulf or Randal 
 
 RAPHAEL. (Heb.) The healing of God. 
 
 REUBEN. (Heb.) The son of vision. 
 
 REUEL. (Heb.) Shepherd or fi:iend of God. 
 
 REYNOLD. (Sax.) Sincere or pure love, firom rein, pure, and 
 hold, love. 
 
 RICHARD. (Sax.) Prom nc, rich, wid ard, nature or dispo- 
 sition — of a hberal disposition. 
 
 ROBERT. (Sax.) Famous in counsel, fi-om Rode, counsel, 
 and heorht, bright. 
 
 ROBIN. Same as Robert. 
 
 RODERICK. (Sax.) Rich in counsel, fi:om Bode, counsel, and 
 ric, rich. 
 
 ROGER. (Ger.) Quiet, desirous of rest. 
 
 ROLAND. (Ger.) Counsel for the land. 
 
 RUFUS. (Nor. Fr.) Red. 
 
 RUPERT. Probably the same as Robert. 
 
 SALATHIEL. (Heb.) I besought God. 
 SALMON. (Heb.) Peaceable. 
 SAMSON. (Heb.) His sun or his ministry. 
 SAMUEL. (Heb.) Heard of God, a prophet. 
 SAUL. (Heb.) Asked or lent of the Lord; also a grave. 
 SEBASTIAN. (Greek.) From ^e(3acTbc, reverend or 
 tical, the same as the Latin Augustus. 
 
288 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 SETH. (Heb.) Set as a foundation. 
 
 SIGISMUND. (Sax.) From sige, victory, and mund^ peace, 
 one who procures peace yet so as by victory. Verstegan 
 and Junius derive it from the Teutonic Siege, victory, and 
 mund, mouth, one who conquers by good words : so Sig- 
 helm, victorious defense ; Sigebert, victorious fame. 
 
 SIMEON. (HeB.) Hearing, obeying. 
 
 SIMOK Same as Simeon, 
 
 SOLOMOIsT. (Heb.) Peaceable, perfect, or that recompenses. 
 
 STEPHEN. (Greek.) From Sre^avof, a crown or garland; 
 honor, distinction. 
 
 SWITHIK (Sax.) From the old English smtheahn, very 
 high, like the Latin Celsus. 
 
 SYLVANUS, (Lat.) Wood-man, or rather wood-aod. 
 
 SYLYESTER. (Lat.) Woodman.''^ 
 
 TERENCE. Lat, Termtius, tender. 
 
 TERTULLUS. A liar or impostor. 
 
 THEOBALD. (Sax.) From theod, the people, and bald, bold, 
 — ^bold over the people ; sometimes corrupted to Tibald of 
 Thibald. 
 
 THEODORE. (Greek.) From Oebg, Qrod, and i&pov, a gift— 
 the gift of Grod. 
 
 THEODORIO. (Sax.) From l%eod, the people, and ric, rich 
 — ^powerful or rich in people ; contracted to Terry with the 
 French, and Derick and Dkch vsdth the Dutch. 
 
 THEOPHILUS. (Greek.) From Qebg, God, and faog, a 
 ' lover or friend — a lover of God. 
 
 THOMAS. (Heb.) A twin, double, called in Greek M&u[iog^ 
 of two hearts, because of his doubting. 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 9^ 
 
 TIMEUS. (Grr.) From rtjulog, perfect, honorable, admirable, 
 
 TIMON. (Gr.) Honorable, worthy, from Tifiuv. 
 
 TIMOTHEUS. (areek.) An honorer of God, from Tljucov, 
 one who honors, and Qebg, God. 
 
 TIMOTHY. (Greek.) Same as Timotheus, an honorer of 
 God. 
 
 TITUS. (Lat.) Honorable. 
 
 TOBIAS and TOBIAH. (Heb.) The goodness of God. 
 
 TOBY. A corruption of Tobias". It is also the Welsh for 
 Thomas. 
 
 TEISTRAM. (Lat.) From 2^istus, sad, sorrowful 
 
 UCHTRED. (Sax.) High counsel. 
 TJEBAK (Lat.) Civil, courteous. 
 URIAH. (Heb.) The fire of the Lord. 
 
 YALENS. (Lat.) Puissant, brave, able. 
 YALENTINE. (Lat.) The same as Yalens. 
 -VICTOR. (Lat.) A conqueror. 
 VINCENT. (Lat.) Victorious, a conqueror. 
 
 WALTER. (Sax.) WaUher, from Wald, a wood, and heer, a 
 master — the master or lord of the wood, like the Latin, Syl- 
 vanus, or 
 
 WIBERT. (Sax.) From Wi, holy, and hert, bright— holy, 
 and bright or shining. 
 
 WILDRED. (Sax.) Much fear. 
 
 WILFRED. (Sax.) Much peace. 
 13 
 
290 DICTIONARY OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 
 
 WILLIAM. (Gter.) Wilhdm. Some derive it from the Bel- 
 gic, Cfuild-helm, harnessed with a gilded hehnet, and others, 
 with more probability, from WU-helmj the shield or defense 
 of many, wel^ and wil, being used by the Germans in the 
 sense of many or much, as in Wildred and Wilfred above ; 
 Wilibert, and Wilwald. 
 
 WIMUND. (Sax.) Sacred peace, or holy peace, from M, 
 holy or sacred, and mund, peace. 
 
 WISCHARD. (Nor.) Wily, crafty, a shifter. Sometimes 
 written, Cfuiscard. 
 
 WOLFERT. A corruption of Wulpher, helper. 
 
 WOLSTAN. (Sax.) Comely, decent 
 
 WTTLPHER. (Sax.) Helper. 
 
 ZACHAR Y and ZACHARIAH. (Heb.) The memory of the 
 Lord. 
 
 ZADOO. (Heb.) Just, justified. 
 
 ZERAH. (Heb.) East or brightness. 
 
 ZOPHAR. (Heb.) Rising early. 
 
 J 
 
NAMES OF WOMEN". 
 
 ABiaAIL. (Heb.) The father's joy. 
 
 ADA. (Sax.) A corruption of Eade, an old Saxon name, fflg- 
 nifying happiness. JSadith, now JEJdith, and 7da, are from 
 
 the same. (See JEdith.) 
 
 ADELAIDE. (Sax.) Noble, from Addiz, the same as Alice, 
 ADELINE. (Sax.) Noble, descending from nobles. 
 AGATHA. (Qreek.) Gk>od, from 'Ayddij, 
 AGNES. (Greek.) Chaste, from Ayv^. 
 ALETHEIA. (Greek.) Truth, from 'AXedeia. 
 
 ALICE. (Sax.) Abridged from Adeliz, noble, the same as 
 
 Adeline and Adelaide. 
 The French make it def&ndress^ by turning it into >dfem, in 
 
 their language. 
 
 AMY. (Fr.) Amie^ beloved, from the Latin, aTuata. 
 
 ANASTASIA. (Greek.) Given in remembrance of Christ's 
 glorious resurrection, and ours in Christ, from avdardaig^ the 
 act of rising up — the resurrection. 
 
 AISTNE and ANNA. (Heb.) Gracious or merciftil. 
 
 ANNETTE. A diminutive of Ann ; Uttle and pretty Ann. 
 
 ANTOINETTE and ANTONIA. Feminine of Antony or 
 Anthony, from the Greek, dvdoc, a flower. 
 
 ARABELLA. (Lat.) A fair altar, from ara^ and hdla. 
 
292 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 AUEELIA. (Lat.) Feminine of Aurelius, golden — ^little 
 golden dame. 
 
 AUKORA. The morning, the dawn; as if ^^Aurea hora^^ the 
 golden hour. 
 
 BARBARA. (Q-reek.) Strange, of unknown language, a bar- 
 barian. 
 
 BEATRICE. (Latin.) From leatrix, blessed, happy. 
 
 BERTHA. (Sax.) Bright and famous. 
 
 BLANCHE. (Fr.) White or fair. 
 
 BRIDGET, (aaelic.) Brighid, "fiery dart." The name of 
 the muse who was beheved to preside over poetry in pagan 
 times, in Ireland. Brighid, m the Graelic, also signifies a hos- 
 tage, a pledge of security. 
 
 CAROLIKE. (Ger.) The feminine of Karl., or Charles, the 
 manlike, the strong, the daring. 
 
 CASSANDRA. (Greek.) Inflammg men with love. 
 
 CATHERINE. (Greek.) Pure, chaste, from Yiadapbg. 
 
 CECILIA. (Latin.) Grey-eyed. 
 
 CHARLOTTE. The French feminine of Charles. 
 
 CHLOE. (Greek.) The verdant, springing, blooming; an 
 epithet of Ceres, the goddess of husbandry, from Chloe^ 
 springing grass or corn. 
 
 CHRISTINE. Feminine of Christian. 
 
 CLARA. (Lat.) Clear, bright, renowned, illustrious — the 
 feminine of Clarence, 
 
 CLAUDIA and CLAUDINE. (Latin.) Feminine of Claudius. 
 
 CLEMENTINE. (Lat) Feminine of Clement, kind, gentle, 
 merciful, from Clemens, 
 
 i 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 203 
 
 CONSTANCE. (Lat.) Constant, firm, unyielding. 
 
 CYNTHIA. (Gr.) An epithet of Diana. Apollo was called 
 Cynthius, and Diana Cynthia^ from CynthuSj a mountain in 
 the island of Delos, in which they were bom. She was 
 called also Delia, from the name of the island. 
 
 DEBORAH. (Heb.) A bee. 
 
 DELIA. (Lat.) A name given to the goddess Diana fi:om 
 being born on the island of Delos (manifest, conspicuous), so 
 called because having previously been hidden under water, 
 it was brought to the surface and made manifest, in order 
 that ApoUo and Diana might be born upon it. 
 
 DIANA. (G-reek.) Jove's daughter, from Awf, the genitive 
 of Zet)f, Jove, — ^the ancient name of the moon or the moon- 
 goddess. She was called also Delia, Phoebe, and Cynthia. 
 Some have derived it from Dianus, Janus, fem., Diana, a 
 Roman god with two faces, symbohzing the sun and moon. 
 
 DIDO. A Phoenician name signifying a manlike woman. 
 
 DORCAS. (Greek.) A doe, a roe-buck. Lucretius says that 
 by that name amorous knights were wont to call freckled, 
 warty, and wooden-faced wenches. 
 
 EDITH. (Sax.) From Eadith or Fade, an old Saxon name 
 signifying happiness or blessed, from Eadig, happy, blessed, 
 honorable. It has been corrupted to Ada and Ida. 
 
 ELEANOR. The same as Ellen or Helen, pitiful, compas- 
 sionate. 
 
 ELIZA. A contraction of Elizabeth. 
 
 ELIZABETH. (Heb.) The oath of God, or God hath sworn. 
 
 ELSIE. A corruption of AUce. 
 
294 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 EMMA. (G-er.) From Amme, a nurse, one who nurses, cares 
 for, and watches over another, tender, affectionate, the same 
 as Eutrophine^ among the Greeks. Emma, daughter of 
 Eichard, the first Duke of Normandy, was called in Saxon 
 Blgiva, help-giver. It was sometimes written Imma, the 
 name of the daughter of Charlemagne. Some have derived 
 it from imme, a bee, busy, industrious. 
 
 EMMELINE. A diminutive of Emma, Httle Emma. 
 
 EMILY. The same as Emmehne. 
 
 ESTHER. (Heb.) Secret or hidden. 
 
 ETHEL. (Sax.) Noble. 
 
 EUGENIA. The feminine of Eugene, which is from the Greek 
 kvyev^g, nobly born. 
 
 EYE and EYA. (Heb.) Life-giving. 
 
 FANNY. A corruption of Frances. 
 
 FELICIA. The feminine of Felix (Lat.), happy, fortunate. 
 
 FLORENCE. (Lat.) Flourishing, prosperous, from Florens. 
 
 FRANCES. The feminine of Francis, from Frank, free, not 
 servile or bond. 
 
 GEORGINA and GEORGIANA. Feminine of George, which 
 see. 
 
 GERTRUDE. (Ger.) AU truth, amiable. 
 
 GILLIAN. A corruption of Julian, feminine of Julius, Greek, 
 soffc-haired. 
 
 GOODITH and GOODY. Contracted from Good-wife. King 
 Henry the First was nicknamed Goodith, in contempt. 
 
 GRACE. The signification of this name is weU known. 
 
 GRISHILD. Gray lady. 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 2^ 
 
 HAaAR. (Heb.) A stranger. 
 
 HANNAH. (Heb.) Gracious, merciful. 
 
 HARRIET. The feminine of Harry or Henry; the same as 
 Henrietta. See Henry. 
 
 HELEN. (Greek.) Pitiful, compassionate. Ellen is a differ- 
 ent form of the same name. It is often contracted to Nelly 
 and Nell. 
 
 HENRIETTA. The feminine of Henry, which is derived from 
 the German Mnrich, ever rich. 
 
 HONORA. (Lat.) Honorable, graceful, handsome. 
 
 HULDAH. (Heb.) The world. 
 
 IDA. The same as Ada and Edith. From JEade, or Eadith, 
 Saxon, happy, blessed. 
 
 lONE. (Greek.) From the island Ionia. 
 
 ISABEL. (Spanish.) The same as EHzabeth with the Span- 
 ish, as they always translate Elizabeth into Isabel. It is 
 also said to signify olive-complexioned or brown. 
 
 JANE. Anciently Joane, the feminine of John, gracious. 
 
 JANET. A diminutive of Jane, little and pretty Jane. 
 
 JEMIMA. (Heb.) Handsome as the day. 
 
 JOSEPHINE. (Heb.) The femmine of Joseph, which signi- 
 fies increase, addition. 
 
 JUDITH. (Heb.) Praising, confessing. 
 
 JULIA and JULIANA. (Lat.) The feminine of Jidius, 
 Greek, soft-haired. 
 
296 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY 
 
 KATHAEINE. (areek.) Pure, virtuous, jfrom Kaddpog. 
 KATHLEEK (Celtic.) Little darHng. 
 
 LAUEA. (Lat.) Bay or laurel, crowned with laurel, from 
 Taurus; corresponding to the Q-reek name Daphne. The 
 feminine of Lawrence. 
 
 --LETITIA. (Lat.) Erbm IcBtitia, joyfulness, mirth. 
 
 LETTICE. A corruption of Letitia. 
 
 LETTY. A corruption of Lettice and Letitia. 
 
 LOUISA. The feminine of Louis or Lewis. (See Lewis.) 
 
 LUCRETIA. (Lat.) The feminine of Lucretius, from ?wcrww, 
 gain, a name proper for a good housewife. 
 
 LUCY. (Lat.) Erom lux^ light, hghtsome, bright, a name 
 given first to children that were born when daylight first 
 appeared. 
 
 LYDIA. (Greek.) Erom Lydm, in Asia, because bom in tiiat 
 region. 
 
 MABEL. Erom the French ma heUe, my fair maid. Camden 
 thinks it a contraction of the Latin, amahilis, lovely, amiable, 
 as it used to be written in old deeds, Amabilia, and Mabilia. 
 
 MADELINE. The same as Adeline (which see). 
 
 MAQDALEK (Heb.) MajesticC 
 
 MARaARET and MARGERY. (Greek.) From Ma/jyaptref, a 
 pearl, precious. 
 
 MARIA and MARIAN". The same as Mary, exalted. 
 
 MARTHA. (Heb.) Bitter. 
 
 MARY- (Heb.) Exalted. It is a famous name in both sacred 
 and profane history j in all ages it has literally been exalted. 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAlifES* UfWf 
 
 Some derive the name from maria, bitter, a drop of salt 
 water, a tear. 
 
 MATILDA. (Ger.) A noble or honorable lady. (See Maud.) 
 
 MAUD. A corruption of Matilde or Matilda. From the Ger- 
 man Matildis or Mathildis, Latin, Matilda, noble or honor- 
 able lady. 
 
 MELICENT and MELICENT. (French.) Honey-sweet 
 
 MIRIAM. (Heb.) Bitterness of ajBQiction, exalted, bitterness 
 of tiie sea. 
 
 NAiTOT. A corruption of Ann. 
 
 NANETTE and NEsTON. (BV.) Nan, Nancy, same as Aim, 
 httle Ann. 
 
 NIOIA. (Greek.) Victorious, from viktj, a victory, a triumph. 
 
 OLIVIA and OLIVE. (Lat) The feminine of Oliver. From 
 the Latin Oliva, the ohve tree, an emblem of peace. • 
 
 OLTMPIA. (Greek.) Heavenly, from 'OAvytzTrof, heaven. 
 
 PAULINE. The feminine of Paul, from the Latin, Paukut, 
 httle, small in stature. 
 
 PENELOPE. (Greek.) The name of a kind of bird, with a 
 purple neck. The name of the most patient, true, constant^ 
 and chaste wife of Ulysses, given to her because she care- 
 fully loved and fed those birds. 
 
 PERNEL. (Fr.) From Fetronilla, pretty stone. 
 
 PHCEBE. (Greek.) The feminine ofPhcebus, from the Greek 
 (l)olf3ocj light, splendid, radiant, a name of Diana. Phoebus, 
 denoting Apollo, or the sun; Phoebe, Diana, or the moon. 
 13* 
 
298 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY ^ /| 
 
 PHILIPPA. (Greek.) Feminme of PhiHp (which se^^/) ''^'^^^ 
 
 PHILLIS. (Greek.) Lovely, dear, cherished from ^ihj. 
 
 POLYXENA. (Greek.) One that will entertain many guests 
 and strangers, from ttoAAo^, many, and ^evol, strangers, 
 guests. 
 
 PEISOA. (Lat.) Ancient. 
 
 PEISCILLA. (Lat.) A diminutive from Prisca, — little, ancient 
 dame. 
 
 PRUDENCE. (Lat.) Prudentia, wisdom, corresponding to 
 the Greek name, Sophia. 
 
 RACHEL. (Heb.) A sheep. 
 
 REBECCA. (Heb.)- Eat and frill 
 
 REGIN'A. (Lat.) The queen, queen-like. 
 
 RHODA. (Greek.) A rose, from l>66ov. 
 
 ROSALTA. (Lat) From Rosa, fair as a rose. 
 
 ROSALIND. The same as Rosalia, from jRosa, a rose. 
 
 ROSAMUND. Rose of the world, from rosa, and mwndi; or 
 from rosa, Latin, and mund, Saxon, a mouth, from her roay- 
 colored lips ; a name made famous by Fair Rosamund, mis- 
 tress of Henry the Second. 
 
 ROSE. (Lat.) From that fair flower, like a rose. 
 
 ROWENA. (Sax.) From Rouw, Dutch, peace, and rinnaUy 
 Saxon, to acquire. The name of the beautiful daughter of 
 Hengist, a renowned leader of the Saxons, " who, having 
 the Isle of Thanet given him by King Yortigern for assisting 
 him against the Picts and Scots, obtained as much ground 
 as he could encompass with an ox-hide, on which to build 
 a castle, which being finished, he invited King Vortigern to 
 a supper. After supper Hengist calls for his daughter Row- 
 
OF CHRISTIAN NAMES. 299 
 
 ena, who, richly attired, enters the room with a graceful 
 mien, with a golden bowl full of wine in her hand, and 
 drinks to King Vortigern in the Saxon language, saying, 
 'Be of health, lord, king,' to which he replied, 'Drink 
 health,' which, I think, is the first health we find in history, 
 and claims the antiquity of about 1400 years. Yortigem, 
 enamored with her beauty, married her, and gave her and 
 her father all Kent." 
 
 ETJTR (Heb.) Satisfied. 
 
 SABINA. (Lat.) As chaste and religious as a Sabine, a peo- 
 ple who had their name from their worshiping of Grod. 
 
 SAEAH. (Heb.) Lady, mistress, or dame. 
 
 SOPHIA. (Greek.) Wisdom, from ccxjtia. 
 
 SOPHRONIA. (Greek.) Modest and temperate; prudent, 
 from ao^poavv^, modesty, chastity. 
 
 SYBIL. G-od's counsel; others derive it firom the Hebrew, 
 signifying divine doctrine. 
 
 STLYIA. (Lat) From Sylva, a forest — ^belongmg to the 
 forest. 
 
 TABITHA. (Heb.) Roe-buck. 
 
 THEODORA. The feminine of Theodore, Greek, the gift of 
 God. 
 
 THEODOSIA. The same as Theodora, the gift of God. 
 
 URANIA. (Greek.) Heavenly, from Ovpavdc, heavenly. 
 
 URSULA. (Lat.) A Httle bear. The name of the virgin 
 saint of Britain, martyred under Q^d's scourge, AttUa, king 
 of the Huns. 
 
800 DICTIONARY OP CHRISTIAN NAMES. 
 
 VENTJS. (Lat.) Coming to all, as Cicero derives it, from 
 veniendo. In Greek, Venus was called Aphrodite, some say 
 from the foam of the sea whence she sprung, but Euripides 
 says from Aphrosune, mad folly. 
 
 VIOLA. (Lat,) Vwh, a violet, pretty and modest. 
 
 VIRGrlNIA. (Lat.) Virgin-like, chaste, maidenly. 
 
 WILHELMmA. (Ger.) The feminine of Wilhebn or Wil- 
 Ham. (SeeWUham.) S^^-^*^^ <V ^\3>^<*n, - .v- 
 
 WINIFBED. (Sax.) From Win, and fred, get peace. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 COMMENTAKIES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, 
 BY REY. AUGUSTUS NEANDER, D.D. 
 
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 cross.' 
 
 " While, however, Neander was an historian, he excelled also as an Expounder of the 
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 to face.' " 
 
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 ther on the First Epistle to Jolm— a work published since the Author"? death. We cannot 
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 THE LIFE, CHARACTER, AND ACTS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, 
 
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 " Rarely have we read a more beautiful sketch of female loveliness, devoted piety, mis- 
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 GILFILLAN'S NEW WORK. A Third Gallery of Portraits, by George 
 
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 CONTENTS : 
 
 A Cluster of New Poets. 
 Sydxev Yexdys, 
 Alexander Smith, 
 J. Sta.vyo.v Bigg, 
 Gerrald Massey. 
 
 Modern Critics. 
 
 HAZI-rtT AND Hallam, 
 JbFFKEY AND COLERlDQE, 
 
 Dklta, 
 
 Thackeray, 
 
 T Babingtox Macaulay. 
 
 Miscellaneous Sketches. 
 Carlile axd Sterling, 
 
 Neal and Buntan, 
 Edgar A. Poe, 
 Edmond Bcrke, , 
 
 Sir Edw, Lytton Bulwbb, 
 Benjamin Eisraeu. 
 Prof. Wilson, 
 Henky Rogers, 
 ^schylus, promktheua 
 
 Bound and Unbound, 
 Shakspeare, a Lecture. 
 
 File of French Revolutionists. 
 Mirabeau, 
 Marat, 
 Robespierre, 
 Danton, 
 Vergxiaud, 
 Napoleon, 
 
 ComtdlaC n of Sacred Authors. 
 
 Edward Irvlng, 
 
 Isaac. Taylor, 
 
 Robert Hall, 
 
 Dr. Chalmers. 
 
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Books Published by Sheldon, Blakeomin Sf Co. 
 
 THE WORKS OF HERMANN OLSHAUSEN, D.D. 
 
 In Pre$8t 
 
 AlTD 8H0BTLT TO BS PUBLISHED, 
 
 COMMENTARIES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, 
 
 BT 
 
 PKOF. HEKMAlSriSr OLSHAUSEN, D.D., 
 
 I.ATE PX0FE8S0B OS* THXOLOOT VX THE TTiayBBSnT OT EBLAKOKir. 
 
 Th«re hav« appeared— 
 
 Thx Gobpbls, Oobinthianb, £phe8iaits, 
 
 The Acts, Hkbbbws, Colossians, 
 
 EoMAiTs, Galationb, Thessaloniaki, 
 
 Phiuppianb, Trnjs, Thiotht. 
 
 These Invaluable commentaries will be giren to the public at short Intervals, oonv- 
 menclng ivith the Gospels, which will be ready in May, 1856. 
 
 Perhaps no modem commentator has been received with more confidence and affection 
 by the pious and intelligent student of the Bible, than Olshausen, while in America the 
 «xpensiveness of the English edition has been the only reason which has prevented a 
 very large class from enjoying the results of his vast researches in Biblical criticism. 
 
 The present edition will be superior to all others, embodying as it does all of Eberhard'a 
 Yalnsble additions, and having received the careful revision and editorship of 
 
 THE RET. A. C. KENDRICK, D.D., 
 
 or THB urtlvJiBSITT OF XOOHXSTEB, 
 
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 Us great Biblical attainments and his proficiency in the native language of Olshavsen 
 •re knows. 
 
Books Published by Sheldon, Blakeman '/ Co. 
 
 A NEW SCHOOL HISTORY. 
 
 A CHRONOLOGICAL SCHOOL HISTORY OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES, illustrated by painted Plates of the four last Centuries, prepared on the prin- 
 ciple of Bem's Chaet op Univeesal Histoey, by Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody. 1 voL 
 12mo. Price 
 
 The publishers would invite the attention of all wishing to commence classes in the 
 history of the United States, to the following flattering commendation, given after having 
 read the work in manuscript, by Prof. J. H. EATMOND, LL.D., late of the Univeesity 
 OF EocHESTER, and now Principal of the Polytechnic School, Brooklyn. 
 
 "It affords me peculiar satisfaction to learn that Miss Peabody has undertaken to pre- 
 pare a work on the history of the United States for the use of schools. I certainly know 
 of none who combines in such large measure, the rare talents and acquirements, both 
 natural and mora!, which such an undertaking requires. The chronological method of 
 Bern, which she incorporates in her plan, I have long regarded as OIJT OF SIGHT 
 SUPEEIOE to any other scheme of Ohronological MneinonicH ever invented. I think 
 you cannot do a better thing for schools— I should also hope for yourselves — than to put 
 it in type." 
 
 The venerable Dr. NOTT, of Union College, having also examined the manuscript, 
 and expressed his cordial approbation of the history, adds, — " The plan of this work is 
 calculated to excite and sustain the imagination, not merely by appealing to the eye, in 
 impressing its chronology, but also by a graphic outline ot the history of each Colony, 
 and of the Federal Union, in such a manner as to preserve their respective individuali- 
 ties and peculiar spirit" 
 
 We are also prepared to furnish 
 
 BEM'S CHARTS OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY, with tlie Manual pre- 
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 of Marietta College, Prof. Gregory, of Detroit, now editdr of the Michigan Journal of 
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 University of New York, Dr. J. Eomayn Beck, late of Albany, Dr. W. B. Sprague, of 
 Albany, and many others who have used it, especially ladies of the first class of teachers. 
 
 HISTORICAL & CHRONOLOGICAL TABLES : for use in Elementary 
 Instruction in HISTORY. By Dr. Charles Peter, Director of the Gymnasium in 
 Auckland. Translated from the German (3d Ed.). 
 
 Prefatory Note. 
 It would be difficult to compress within a smaller space and in a more convenient form, 
 the amount of historical information that is comprised in the following pages. They am 
 prepared by a distinguished German scholar, who has great experience in the preparation 
 of larger and smaller works for Schools on history. This little manual is translated in 
 the hope and belief that it will prove extensively useful as an outline and rcsum6 of his- 
 torical facts i'l their chronological connections, in both higher and lower seminaries of 
 Instruction in Vmerlca, and also an excellent companion to private students in history. 
 
 A. C. KENDKICK, 
 
 University of Eochbstml 
 
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 The following is the table cf contents, and •will indicate the character and ecopo of the 
 iook: 
 
 LECTURE I.— The Marriage Institution. 
 
 LECTUEE II.— Duties of the Husband. 
 
 LECTURE IIL— Duties of the Wife. 
 
 LECTURE IV.— Duties of Parents to Children. 
 
 LECTUEE V. — Duties of Children to Parents. 
 
 LECTURE VI. — Duties of Brothers and Sisters. 
 
 LECTURE VII.— Mutual Dutees of Householders and Servants. 
 
 LECTUEE VIII. — Duties of Pkincipals to Clerks and Apprentices. 
 
 LECTUEE IX.— Duties of Young Men to their Employees. 
 
 LECTUEE X.— The Use and Abuse of Amusements. 
 
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 LECTUEE XIL— The Self Governed Man. 
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 EGYPT, ARABIA PETR^A, AND THE HOLY LAND. A Journax 
 
 of Travels in Egypt, Arabia Petrsea, and the Holy I.and. By Davto lIitLARD, Professor 
 of Biblical Antiquities and Sicred Geography in the Theological School, at MeadviUe, Pa. 
 1 vol. 348 pp.; embossed binding. 8vo. price $2; 12mo. price $1. 
 
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 A more interesting Avork of the kind, we think, lias rarely ever been brought before the 
 public. The subject treated upon recommends itself, and those who wish to save time and 
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 the writer — here, however, we find the whole happily condensed within reasonable hmits. 
 and with language so well chosen that the reader may intellectually follow the guidance of 
 the author. The writer thinks, and we agree with him, ' that no volume of equal dimen- 
 sions can be found to contain more information on the countries of which it treats than 
 this.' We have no personal acquaintance with the author, and know not his religious sen- 
 timents, but we are persuaded tliat, while all readers will find something in the book that 
 will please them, no Christian will find that with whch he will have cause to be displeased " 
 Religious Bearrder. 
 
 " We deem this volume the most interesting book of travels relating to the countries of 
 which it treats, that has come under our inspection. Its condensed form, and concise maii» 
 ner, together with the ttalmess of its matter, render it a raluaWe work." — Monroe EepMican 
 
Books Published by Sheldon, Blakeman Sf Co. 
 
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 MRS. CONANT'S 
 
 ENaLISH BIBLE. 
 
 FromtTieir&w Yorh EvangeUst. 
 
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 From the Christian Times, Chicago. 
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 From the Nenjo York Examiner. 
 
 " There was room for such a work as Mrs. Conant has undertaken, and the Yolnme 
 she has given us will be generally welcomed, as supplying the deficiency." 
 " The work is one we should be glad to see in every Christian family." 
 
 From the Louisville Jowrnal. 
 
 •' The work Is not only an admirable sketch of the early English versions and revisions 
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 effect. 
 
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 us, we must not omit to give our humble tribute to the learning, historical research, 
 soundness of judgment, and masculine energy of style, which characterize its composi- 
 tion. The claims of the author to an enviable place in literature, which her previous 
 efforts have suggested, are unquestionably made good in the composition of this 
 volume." 
 
 From the Cambridge Chronicle. 
 
 " The work shows on almost every page, the evidence of learned investigation, and thor* 
 ough research. 
 
 " The style is firee from the dry and harsh characteristics which render the volumes 01 
 Anderson, Lewis, and other writers, so repulsive to all but the antiquary and the pro- 
 fessed student of liistory. i 
 
 " Mrs. Conant's style is easy and elegant ; she seizes the strong points and presents them 
 vividly to the reaier. "VT 3 can do no better service to our friends and readers, of all 
 Si'cta, than to advise them to purchase this volume," 
 
Books Published by Sheldon, Bldkeman «^ Co. 
 
 SEKMONS 
 
 OF THB 
 
 REV. C. HE. SPCrjRGEOJS^, 
 
 OF LONDON. 
 
 TTitA a/n Introduction and Sketch o^ his LifCy ty the Bern. E. L. Magoon, DJ). 1 vol., 
 12 mo, 86T pages. "With a finb LrrHoaiiAPH Pobtbait. Price $1. 
 
 "THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PREACHER m LONDOK" 
 
 "THE HENEY WAED BEEOHER OF ENGLAND." 
 
 " THE MODERN WHITFIELD." 
 
 Such are some of the terms used in speaking of the celebrated clergyman, author of the 
 Sermons in this volame. 
 
 " Never, since the days of George Whitfield and Edward Irving, has any minister of 
 religion acquired so great a reputation as this preacher in so short a time. There is no 
 man in Great Britain who can draw such immense audiences ; and none who, in his hap- 
 pi3st efforts, can so completely enthral the attention and delight the minds of his hear- 
 ers." — Correspondent of the Independent. 
 
 From the True Union, Baltimore. 
 
 " Barely have we seen a more clear exhibition of the way of Salvation through a cruci- 
 fied Redeemer — ^more striking figures and illustrations — more home appeals to the heart 
 and conscience. We do not think the perusal of these Sermons can fail to affect favorably 
 the preaching of ministers who may study them," 
 
 From the OhrijMa/n Herald. 
 
 " That these Sermons show Mr. Spurgeon to be of a mind of manly and true evangeli- 
 cal tone, as well as of lofty and most eloquent utterance, we have only to read them to 
 be satisfied." 
 
 From the Mew lork Sun. 
 
 "With a boyish countenance and a figure under the middle size — owing nothing to his 
 personal appearance, the ingenuity of critics has been taxed, to solve the problem of his 
 extraordinary infiaence: one ascribes it to the rich melody and perfect modulation of his 
 voice ; another to his rare powers of observation and assimilation - or to his knowledge 
 of nature, and his attainments in literature and science ; another to his mastery over the 
 graces of elocution. He himself says: 'I am a child, having little education, little learn- 
 ing, ability or talent. Without the Spirit of Ood I feel I am utterly unable to speak 
 to you.' " 
 
 From the Christian Times, Chicago. 
 
 " These Sermons show evidence of a wonderful power of illustration and appeal, as well 
 as a clear conception and profound experience of evangelical truth. One reads them with 
 the most intense interest, and readily understands with what power they must have 
 come to those who originally heard them, with the accompaniments of the voice and 
 manner of the true orator. A likeness of the preacher faces the title page. We hope 
 these sermons will have a wide circulation. They will, assuredly, and we cannot but 
 hope that, as their delivery was the means of conversion to great numbers, so their peru- 
 sal may be equally blessed to numbers more." 
 
 From the Albany State Register. 
 "It certainly is refreshing to get hold of at^ook of Sermons like this. The old, worn-out ana 
 stereotyped phrases that are met with in ninety-nine out of a hundred of every book of 
 sermons you take up are here lacking. Instead of which you find fresh, piquant language, 
 embodying thought that may have been struggling in your mind years past for an ex- 
 pression, and the sublime truths of Christianity brought home to you with a truthfulneaf 
 and a force you cannot in any manner resist." 
 
PnhH.skcd hy Sheldon, Blalcejnan 5f Co. 
 
 THE CHURCHES AND SECTS OF THE UNITED STATES : Contain- 
 
 JDg a brief accouut of the Origin, History, Doctrines, Church Government, Mode of Wor 
 ship, Usages and Statistics of each Religious Denomination, so far as known. By Rev. P. 
 Douglass Gokpje. Price 63 cents. 
 
 "It will be found and prized as a valuable and convenient book of reference. " — Christian 
 Ciserver. 
 
 " It is a book for all the world, and will, we predict, be found in every library throughout 
 'English Christendom.' " — JV. F. Weekly Chronicle. 
 
 " The author has studied brevity, comprehensiveness and accuracy ; and we know of no 
 •work so fairly and fully describing the history, doctrines, and present state of all the differ 
 ent denominations of the country as this." — N. Y. Evangelist. 
 
 CHRISTIAN GREATNESS; A discourse on the death of Friend Ham 
 
 phrey. By AVilliam Hague, D. D. Price 12| cents. 
 
 COMPENDIUM OF THE FAITH OF THE BAPTISTS. Paper. Price 
 
 4 cents. — Every Church should get a supply for its members. 
 
 LORENZO DOW'S COMPLETE WORKS. The dealings of God, Man, 
 
 and the Devil ; as exemplified in the life. Experience, and Travels of Lorenzo Dow, in a 
 period of over half a century. Together with his Polemic and Miscellaneous Writinss. 
 complete; to which is added 
 
 THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE. By Peggy Dow. 
 
 " Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. — David." 
 With an introductory Essay, by the Rev. John Dowung, D.D., of New York, author of 
 History of Romanism, d-c. Two vohimes in one. 8vo. 350 pp. Embossed binding, embel- 
 lished with Steel Portraits of Lorenzo and Peggy Dow. Price $2 50. 
 One month he would be heard of laboring for the good of souls, in his own pecuUar way, 
 In the neighborhood of his native New England home ; the next, perhaps, braving the frost 
 and snow of a Canadian winter; the next on his way to Ireland or to England, in the prose- 
 eecution of the same benevolent purpose ; and six months afterwards, perhaps, encounter- 
 ing the dangers and hardships of a Georgia or Kentucky wilderness, or fleeing for his life 
 from the tomahawk or the Scalping-knife of the Indian savage, in the then untrodden wilds 
 of the great Valley of the West. 
 
 Pale, sallow, and somewhat consumptive in the appearance of his countenance ; dressed 
 in the plainesi attire, with his single-breasted coat, often worn thread-bare — and in his later 
 vears wearing a long flowing patriarchal beard ; his whole appearance was such as to awaken 
 a high degree of curiosity and interest. 
 
 ■rhen the suddenness and the promptitude of his advent in a town or village, at the very 
 h.->\\T and minute he had appointed, perhaps some twelve or eighteen months before, the 
 boldness with which he would attack the ruling vices, and denounce wickedness — either :n 
 h gh places or low — the general adaptation of his dry and caustic rebukes to the sin and fol- 
 lies prevalent in places he visited, and which he seemed to know almost intuitively ; to- 
 gether with the biting sarcasm and strong mother-wit that pervaded his addresses ;— all 
 served to invest the approach to any place of the '' crazy preacher," (as he was frequently 
 called), with an air of singular and almost romantic interest. 
 
 Scarcely a neighborhood, from Canada to Georgia, or from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, 
 that has not some tradition to relate, or some tale to tell of the visit and the preaching of 
 Lorenzo Dow : and scarcely an old man in all those regions that has not some one or more 
 j)t the witty Ra> mgs of Lorenzo Dow to relate to his children and his grand-children. — Extrad 
 from (he IrUrodudion. 
 
 O 
 
Books Published by Sheldon, Blakeman S^ Co. 
 
 THE ENGLISH BIBLE ; Or, History of the Translation of the Holy 
 
 Scriptures into tbe English Tongue. With Specimens of the early English Versions, and 
 Portraits of WicklifiFe and Tyndale. By Mrs. H. 0. Con ant. 1 vol., 8vo. Price $1 25. 
 This work presents a continuous view of the progress of Bible-translation, in the English 
 language, from the first version by Wickliffe in 1380, to the last, made by order of King 
 James in ICll ; giving an account of the successive English versions of Wicklifie, Tyndale, 
 Coverdale, Taverner, Cranmer, theGenevan Exiles, the Bishops, the Douay (Catholic ver- 
 sion, and King James' Eevision, and of the relation of the earlier versions to the one now in 
 use. The subject embraces the leading epochs of Anglo-Saxon civilization and freedom. 
 
 C O N T E N T8 : 
 
 separated from the Papacy. Anne's influ- 
 ence in favor of the Bible. 
 
 Chaptee X.— EflForts by King and Clergy 
 to entrap Tyndale. His imprisonment 
 and martvrdom. 
 
 Chaptee 1:I.— Triumph of the Principle. 
 Tyndale's Bible authorised to be read in 
 public and in private, without restriction. 
 
 Chapter XII. — Coverdale's Bible. 
 
 Chaptee XIII. — Taverner's Bible. 
 
 Chapter XIV. — Cranmer's Bible. The 
 Anglican Church. liise of Puritanism in 
 the Church. 
 
 Chapter XV .—The fieign of Terror. Cha- 
 racter of Bloody Mary. Protestant Mar- 
 tyrs and Exiles. 
 
 Chapter XVI.— The Genevan Version. Its 
 superior Scholarship. Its influence on 
 the development of Puritanism in the 
 Church. The Family Bible of England 
 for nearly a centurv. 
 
 Chapter XVII. — the Bishop's Bible. 
 Queen Elizabeth's Policy with reference 
 to the Church. Conflict between Prelacy 
 and Puritanism. 
 
 Chapter XVIII.— The Bishop's Bible- 
 continued. Motives of its projector. Arch- 
 bishop Parker. First English Version of 
 the Scriptures bearing the impress of 
 party. 
 
 Chaptee XIX.— Khemish or Douay Bible; 
 the Catholic Version. Its Origin, Charac- 
 ter and Influence. 
 
 Chapter XX.— The Common Version. State 
 of Parties in the Cluirch at James' Acces- 
 sion. Hampton Court Conference ; tri. 
 umph of the prelatical party. Proposa 
 for a Eevision of the Church-Bille favor- 
 ably received by the King. His motives. 
 His plan for the work. 
 
 Chapter XXI.— The Common Version — 
 continued. The Kings liberal arrange- 
 ments for securing and rewarding compe- 
 tent revisers. Principles of translation 
 prescribed by the King; their influence 
 on the character of the Version. Its Scho- 
 larship. Contemporaneous criticism. Ob- 
 stacles to its reception within and without 
 the Church. The just claims of the Com- 
 mon Version. 
 
 Chapter XXII.— Eetrospcct. Leading cha- 
 racteristics and influence of English Bible, 
 Translation. New and brilliant era of 
 Sacred Learning, Progress in evely 
 branch of Biblical knowledge. Eestora- 
 tion of the Original Text for the use of the 
 learned. Present state of Scholarship two 
 centuries in advance of the En 'lish Bible. 
 
 TABLE OF 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 ENGLAND WITHOUT THE BIBLE. 
 Chapter I.— The Bible the People's Char- 
 ter. Relation of Wicklifi'e to his age. 
 Chapter II.— Eeign of Priestcraft The 
 
 Papal Array in England. 
 Chapter III. — Counter-influences; their 
 
 inefiiciencv. 
 Chaptee IV.— Wickliff'e, the Bible- Apostle. 
 CnA.PTEE V. — Persecution of Wicklifife by 
 
 Papal Clergy. 
 Chapter VI. — Wickliife's Views of the 
 New-Testament Ministry. Character and 
 influence of his " poore priestes." 
 Chapter VII.— Wicklifl'e attacks the strong- 
 hold of Popery. Silenced as Theological 
 Professor at Oxford. 
 Chapter VIIL— Concentrates his labors on 
 the enlightening of the common people. 
 Originates Ecligious Tracts. 
 Chapter IX. — Wicklife's BihU. Its per- 
 manent influence on English Chrstianity, 
 andon the English language and literature. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 AGE OF BIBLE TRANSLATION IN 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 1525-1611. 
 
 Chapter I. — Continued Influence of Wick- 
 liff'e's Bible among the people. Revival 
 of classical and sacred learning In the 
 schools. Opposition of the Clergy. 
 
 Chapter II.— William Tyndale's New Tes- 
 tament. Proscribed by Church and State. 
 
 Chapter III. — Tyndale's Reformatory 
 Writings. 
 
 Chapter IV. — Persecution of Tyndale by 
 ' Cardinal Wolsey. 
 
 Chapter V.— The New Antagonist. Cha- 
 racter of Sir Thomas Moore. His early 
 connection with the cause of Church-Re- 
 form. 
 
 Cn.APTER VI. — ^The theoretical Reformer 
 becomes the practical Conservative. Dis- 
 trusts the Ecformation as revolutionary 
 in its tendency. Grounds of his condem- 
 nation of Tyndale's New Testament. 
 
 Chapter VII.— Sir Thomas Moore as Lord 
 Chancellor. The civil power now the 
 leader in persecution. Tyndale's New 
 Testament proscribed by royal manifesto. 
 Bible-burning at Paul's Cross. 
 
 Chapter VIII.— Frith Tyndale^s youthful 
 assistant in Bible-translation. His brilliant 
 and heroic character His martyrdom. 
 
 Chapter IX. — Anne Boleyn, the Royal Pa- 
 troness. The King's Divorce. England 
 
^^':. 
 
 
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