Chapter 36

559.We may also mention ‘Gilbert le Covetiose’ (M.) and ‘Robert Would-have.’ We still say ‘much would have more.’ ‘Robert Would-have, sergeant-at-mace, witness in trial before the Mayor of Newcastle, March 23, 1662.’ (W. 16.)

560.‘William Rakestraw’ reminds us of ‘Piers Plowman’s ‘ratoner and rakyer of Cheape,’i.e., ratcatcher and scavenger of Cheapside. A still more objectionable name was that of ‘Adam Ketmongere’ (H.R.), Ket = filth, carrion. ‘Honorius le Rumonjour’ (Rummager) (N.) would seem to have followed a similar calling. These sobriquets would readily be affixed upon men of a penurious and scraping character.

561.‘William Wildeblood’ is found in a Yorkshire Roll (W. 9), and ‘Jordan Kite-wilde’ in the H.R.

562.Also ‘Agnes Gyngyvere’ in Riley’sMemorials of London. Like ‘John Vergoose’ (W. 13)i.e., vinegarish, they would seem to hit off the sharp temperament of their owners.

563.VideLower’sEnglish Surnames, i. 242.

564.Thus it is with our ‘Roses.’ The Rot. Fin. inTurri London. give us a ‘John de la Rose,’ while the Hundred Rolls furnish us with a ‘Nicholas de la Rose.’

565.‘Paid John of the hall, of tow (two) urchines, 0l.0s.4d.’ (Hist. and Ant. Staffordshire, i. 197.)

566.George Camel and Jane Camel were apprehended as Popish recusants, May 2, 1673. (Dean Granville’s Letters, p. 225.) ‘William Cammille’ (V. 4), ‘George Camil’ (W. 20).

567.‘1438.’ “Item, pro aula ‘Olefante,’ Magister Kyllynworth.” (Mun. Acad. Oxon.p. 522.) This hall or smaller college was so called from the sign over the door. Skelton has both ‘olyfant’ and ‘olyphante.’ He describes a woman in ‘Eleanor Rummyng’ as‘Necked lyke an olyfant.’

‘Necked lyke an olyfant.’

568.‘Herveus de Lyons,’ C., ‘Richard de Lyouns,’ M.

569.It was ‘Hugues le Loup’ the Conqueror appointed Second Count of the Cheshire Palatinate.

570.‘Lovel’ is the diminutive. ‘Maulovel’ will thus be ‘Bad-wolfkin.’

571.A Rascal was a lean, ragged deer; Shakespeare so uses it. Very early, however, the term was applied to the vulgarherdof human kind, but with far less opprobious meaning than now. Hall, quoting Henry of Northumberland, speaks of Henry IV. as having obtained his crown ‘by the counsaill of thy frendes, and by open noising of the rascale people’ (f. xxi.),i.e.the rabble. An extract from the Ordinances of Henry VIII. at Eltham says, ‘It is ordained that none of the sergeants at arms, heralds ... have, retain, or bring into the court any boyes or rascalles, nor also other of their servants.’ The surname was very common, and lasted a long time—‘John Raskele’ (H.), ‘Henry Rascall’ (Z.). Robert Rascal was persecuted for his religion in 1517 (Foxe). ‘Received for a pewe in the lower end of the churche set to Richard Rascalle, vis.’ (Ludlow Churchwardens’ Accounts, Cam. Soc.)

572.As we have Cock and Cockerell, Duck and Duckrell, so we have Buck and Buckerell—‘Peter Bokerel’ (A.), ‘Matthew Bokerel’ (A.). Cf. Mackarel and Pickerell.

573.Sometimes this is local, and a mere corruption of Beauvoir—‘Roger de Belvoir’ (M.).

574.‘Duncalf’ may be seen over a window in Oldham Road, Manchester. ‘William Duncalf’ (A.A. 1), ‘John Duncalf’ (A.A. 1).

575.Such names as Roger Runcy, Richard Palefray, John Portehors, or Ralph Portehos represent terms very familiar to our forefathers.

576.This word ‘beef’ as denotive of the living animal was in vogue in the seventeenth century at least. The plural ‘beeves’ is still to be found in our Authorized Version. For instance, Levit. xxii. 19, is translated, ‘Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.’ Shakespeare, also, has the word in this sense. He speaks in his ‘Merchant of Venice’ of the—‘Flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats.’We have here mutton used in the same manner. Edward the Second was accustomed ‘to breede upp beeves and motonnes in his parkes to serve his household.’ (Liber Niger, Ed. IV.)

‘Flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats.’

We have here mutton used in the same manner. Edward the Second was accustomed ‘to breede upp beeves and motonnes in his parkes to serve his household.’ (Liber Niger, Ed. IV.)

577.Apart from such entries as ‘William le Lamb,’ we find a ‘John Lambgrome’ in the Hundred Rolls. Though obsolete, we must set him by our ‘Shepherds.’ A brother-in-law of John Wesley bore the name of ‘Whitelamb.’ I am not sure whether this surname has died out or not. In theVisitation of Yorkshire, 1665, it is found in the person of ‘Isabel Whitlamb.’

578.‘Robert Spichfat’ (X.), ‘William Spichfat’ (W. 11.), from the old ‘spic,’ bacon, seem to refer to the greasy habits of their owners.

579.Christopher Pigg was Mayor of Lynn Regis in 1742.

580.An old political poem says the Italians bring in‘Apes and japes and mamusetts taylede,Nifles, trifles, that litelle have avayled.’

580.An old political poem says the Italians bring in

‘Apes and japes and mamusetts taylede,Nifles, trifles, that litelle have avayled.’

‘Apes and japes and mamusetts taylede,

Nifles, trifles, that litelle have avayled.’

581.Ratonis still the term in the North. Langland uses it, and in Chaucer the Potecary is asked by a purchaser—‘That he him would sellSome poison, that he might his ratouns quell.’

581.Ratonis still the term in the North. Langland uses it, and in Chaucer the Potecary is asked by a purchaser—

‘That he him would sellSome poison, that he might his ratouns quell.’

‘That he him would sell

Some poison, that he might his ratouns quell.’

582.‘Some bileve that yf the kite or the puttock fle ovir the way afore them that they should fare wel that daye, for sumtyme they have farewele after that they see the puttock so fleyinge.’ (Brand, iii. 113.)

583.Our present Authorized Version retains the term in Deut. xiv. 13, where mention is made of ‘the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind.’ Locally it is found in ‘Gledhill’ and ‘Gladstone,’ or more correctly ‘Gledstane,’ that is, the hill or crag which the kites were wont to frequent. A ‘William de Gledstanys’ is met with in the Coldingham Priory Records of the date of 1357, proving its North English origin. ‘Hawkstone’ and ‘Gladstone’ are thus synonymous.

584.‘Richard Sparhawke’ was Rector of Fincham in 1534. (Hist. Norf., vii. 358.)

585.‘Philip Chikin’ (A.), ‘John Chikin’ (A.). The name existed in the xviith cent., for one ‘George Chicken’ was summoned at Ryton ‘for not payeing his assessments, July 28, 1673.’ (Dean Granville’s Letters, Sur. Soc.).

586.‘Peter le Goos,’ F.F., ‘Walter le Gows,’ A., ‘Amicia le Gos,’ J., ‘John le Gos,’ M. The latter, as ‘Goss,’ is the present most common form.

587.This is as often from Joscelyn. ‘Gosceline fil. Gawyn,’ A., ‘Roger fil. Gocelin,’ A.

588.A tablet with the inscription ‘Sacred to the Memory of Priscilla Blackbird’ has been put up in Stepney churchyard within the last few years.

589.‘The bailiffs and commons granted to Robert Popingeay, their fellow citizen, all their tenement and garden in the Parish of St. Mary in the Marsh.’ 1371. (Hist. Norf., iii. 97.) ‘Richard Popingay,’ T.T. ‘To a servaunt of William ap Howell for bringing of a popyngay to the Quene to Windesore, xiiis.iiiid.’ (Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York, 1502.)

590.‘He turnede upso down the boordis of chaungeris, and the chayers of men that solden culvers.’ (Matt. xxi. 12. v. Wicklyffe.)

591.ThePrompt. Par.has ‘reyn-fowle, a bryd,’ so called, the Editor says, because its cry was supposed to prognosticate rain.

592.‘Thomas le Whal’ (B.), ‘Ralph le Wal’ (A.). As with Oliphant, over-corpulence would give rise to the sobriquet.

593.‘Reymund Heryng’ (M.). The diminutive is found in the case of ‘Stephen Harengot’ (D.D.),i.e., ‘Little Herring.’

594.‘Elizabeth Salmon’ (G.).It is said, a Mr. Salmon having been presented by his wife with three boys at one birth, gave them the names of ‘Pickled,’ ‘Potted,’ and ‘Fresh.’ I would call the reader’s attention to the italicised words that preface the statement.

595.Daniel Turbot was summoned ‘for not paying Easter reckonyngs, Aug. 23rd, 1674.’ (Granville’s Letters.Sur. Soc.)

596.‘Matthew Chubb,’ a member of the ‘Gild of Tailors, Exeter.’—21 Ed. IV. (English Gilds, 323 p.)

597.‘John Tenche’ (A.). Tenche is the name of one of the yeomen of the Guard to Queen Mary when Princess Mary. (Priv. Purse Exp.1543.)

598.Thomas Spratt was Bishop of Rochester in 1688.

599.This is doubtless but a feminine form of Odo.

600.‘Roger le Waps’ is found in a Sussex subsidy roll of 1296. (Lower, i. 242.)

601.In Ricart’sKalendar of Bristol(Cam. Soc.), William and Robert Snake are set down among the earlier ‘Prepositi.’

602.In 1433 it had got corrupted into ‘Querdling,’ a ‘Thomas Querdling’ occupying an official position in Norwich in that year. Of him the following rhyme speaks—‘Whoso have any quarrel or pie,If he but withstand John Hankey,John Querdlyng, Nic Waleys, John Belagh, John Meg,Sore shall him reweFor they rule all the court with their lawes newe.’(Blomefield, iii. 145.)I doubt not ‘Curling’ is the modern representative of this name.

602.In 1433 it had got corrupted into ‘Querdling,’ a ‘Thomas Querdling’ occupying an official position in Norwich in that year. Of him the following rhyme speaks—

‘Whoso have any quarrel or pie,If he but withstand John Hankey,John Querdlyng, Nic Waleys, John Belagh, John Meg,Sore shall him reweFor they rule all the court with their lawes newe.’(Blomefield, iii. 145.)

‘Whoso have any quarrel or pie,

If he but withstand John Hankey,

John Querdlyng, Nic Waleys, John Belagh, John Meg,

Sore shall him rewe

For they rule all the court with their lawes newe.’

(Blomefield, iii. 145.)

I doubt not ‘Curling’ is the modern representative of this name.

603.This name is not obsolete. Mr. Lower quotes a local rhyme thus—‘Worthing is a pretty place,And if I’m not mistaken,If you can’t get any butcher’s meat,There’s “hogs’ flesh” and “bacon.”’

603.This name is not obsolete. Mr. Lower quotes a local rhyme thus—

‘Worthing is a pretty place,And if I’m not mistaken,If you can’t get any butcher’s meat,There’s “hogs’ flesh” and “bacon.”’

‘Worthing is a pretty place,

And if I’m not mistaken,

If you can’t get any butcher’s meat,

There’s “hogs’ flesh” and “bacon.”’

604.‘William Wolfheryng’ occurs in a Sussex subsidy roll, 1296. (Lower, i. 242.)

605.‘Joan Blackdam’ occurs inHist. Norfolk. (Blomefield, v. Index.)

606.‘Anna Hellicate’ was called before the Archdeacon of Durham, for not coming to the Church, 27th July, 1673.’ (Dean Granville’s Letters, Surt. Soc.)

607.This most curious name appears in theManchester Directoryfor 1861.

608.This seems to have been a surname—‘John Drawlace’ (W. 18).

609.The President of the College of Physicians in 1665 was Sir Francis Prujean. Bramston, in hisAutobiography(Cam. Soc.), styles him ‘Prugean.’

610.The newspapers for June 6th, 1874, mention a ‘Mr. Youngjohn’ in connection with an election petition at Kidderminster.

611.We have already noticed that ‘Robin Hood’ had become in itself a surname. It is quite possible our ‘Little-johns’ have arisen in a similar manner. Little John, I need not say, was as carefully represented at the May-day dance as Robin himself or Maid Marian. Ritson has preserved us a rhyme on the subject—‘This infant was called John Little,’ quoth he‘Which name shall be changed anon;The words we’ll transpose, so wherever he goes,His name shall be called “Little John.”’

‘This infant was called John Little,’ quoth he‘Which name shall be changed anon;The words we’ll transpose, so wherever he goes,His name shall be called “Little John.”’

‘This infant was called John Little,’ quoth he

‘Which name shall be changed anon;

The words we’ll transpose, so wherever he goes,

His name shall be called “Little John.”’

612.‘Item, to Guillam de Vait, Guillam de Trope, and Pety John mynstralles, ivl.’ (Trevelyan Papers, ii. 20. Cam. Soc.)

613.We might be tempted to place our ‘Brownbills’ here, but I have recently shown them to be representative of the old and famous pikes known as ‘brownbills,’ used so commonly in war previous to the introduction of gunpowder.

614.Thus Desdemona says to Emilia (Othello, iv. 3)—‘This Lodovico is a proper man;’and the latter responds—‘A very handsome man.’

614.Thus Desdemona says to Emilia (Othello, iv. 3)—

‘This Lodovico is a proper man;’

and the latter responds—

‘A very handsome man.’

615.‘Apple-john’ must be looked upon as a nickname taken from the fruit of that name. An apple-john was a species of apple which was never fully ripe till late in the season, when it was shrivelled. Hence Shakespeare’s allusion in 2 Henry IV. ii. 4. ‘Sweet-apple’ will belong to this category.

616.‘Full-James’ must be looked upon as a corruption of Foljambe. I prefer the original, though that is not complimentary.

617.This name lingered on till 1674 at least, for one of the private musicians attached to the household of Charles II. was ‘John Godegroome.’ (VideChappell’sBallad Literature, p. 469.) ‘Robert le Godegrom’ had appeared three centuries before in the Hundred Rolls.

618.‘King’ I have already suggested as a sobriquet given to one who represented such a rank in some mediæval pageant. Peculiarities of stature, manner, or dress would readily give rise to the compound forms.

619.Archbishop Chichele, when founding All Souls’ College, purchased for this purpose the sites of ‘Beresford’s Hall, St. Thomas’s Hall, Tyngewyck Hall, and Godknave Hall.’ (Hist. Univ. Oxon, vol. i. p. 195.)Probably its founder bore that name.

Probably its founder bore that name.

620.‘Godfrey Mauclerk’ was mayor of Leicester in 1286. Also, ‘Walter Malclerk’ (P.P.). Corrupted into ‘Manclerk,’ this name still exists. (Cf.Clerical Directory, 1874.)

621.‘Johan le Redeclerk, hosier de Coventry.’ (V. 9, p. xxiv.)

622.The first ‘Littlepage’ I can light upon is in the case of ‘John Littlepage’ and ‘Joan Littlepage,’ persecuted for their religion in 1521. (Foxe’sMartyrology.)

623.‘Man’ in the sense of servant is found appended to several Christian names. Thus we come across such combinations as ‘Mathewman,’ ‘Harriman,’ and ‘Thomasman.’ The wonder is more are not to be met with. The customary way of registering servants in the old rolls is ‘William Matthew’s man,’ or ‘John’s man Thomas.’ Thus the surname arose. TheProceedings in Kent, 1640 (Cam. Soc.), contained the name of ‘Nicholas Hodgman,’ and ‘John Hobman’ was buried May 17th, 1649. (Smith’s Obituary.Cam. Soc.)

624.‘Grant to Henry Goodclerk for his services in the parts beyond the sea, 23rd Sep. 1485.’ (Materials for Hist. Henry VII., p. 557.)

625.‘Goodwife’ seems to have existed formerly. A ‘William Goodwyfe’ was Rector of Stapleford, Herts, in 1443. (Clutterbuck’sHertfordshire, vol. ii. p. 218.)

626.‘Alan Bondame’ represents the feminine (P.P.).

627.John Beaufitz was Sheriff of Warwick in 1485.

628.A curious circumstance happened, I believe, but a few years ago, causing the increase of a forename, unintended, we may feel sure, by those most immediately concerned. A child was taken to church to be baptized. The clergyman at the usual place turned to the mother and asked what name the infant was to bear. ‘Robert,’ was the reply. ‘Any other name?’ he inquired. ‘Robert honly,’ she answered, her grammar not being of the best description. ‘Robert Honly, I baptize thee, in the name,’ etc., at once continued the clergyman, and the child was therefore duly so registered.

629.A ‘Savage Bear’ was at large in Kent a few years ago. (Lower i. 177.)

630.‘Ivory Malet’ (D.D.) This, though registered in the xiiith, would seem to have anticipated the croquet of the xixth cent. ‘Ivray’ was a baptismal name at the earlier date.

631.‘More Fortune, bayliff of St. Martin’s, died May 17th, 1367.’ (Smith’s Obituary, p. 13.)

632.‘May 27th, 1805. River, son of River and Rebecca Jordan.’ (Christenings, St. Ann’s, Manchester.)

633.Several ‘Pine Coffins’ may be seen in the Clerical Directories of 1840–1850.

634.‘Jean Gottam,’ the Frenchman’s title for ‘John Bull,’ is old. A witness in the trial of Joan of Arc used the term ‘Godon,’ and explained it to be a sobriquet of the English from their use of the oath ‘God damn.’

635.A clever article in theEdinburgh Review, April 1855, suggests ‘Blood’ and ‘Death’ from ‘S’Blood’ and ‘S’Death,’ the abbreviated ‘God’s blood’ and ‘God’s death.’

636.Videpage 160. Camden says the Normans were so called because ‘at every other word they would swearby God.’

637.‘Henry Godsalve’ entered C.C. Coll. Cam. in 1614. (Masters’ Hist., C.C. Coll.)

638.‘Item, to Jannett God-send-us, I give a caldron, and a pare of tonges.’ (Extract of will of William Hardinge, Vicar of Heightington, 1584. W. 13.) The editor suggests she was a foundling.

639.TheSaturday Review, in a criticism of my book, mentions a Rogerus Deus-salvet-dominas in the Essex Domesday.

640.‘Mr. Gracedieu, Incumbent of St. James’s, Duke’s Place.’ (Strype, London.)

641.A curious heraldic name is found in the 17th cent. John Poyndexter, fellow of Exeter Coll., Oxford, was dispossessed. (Walker,Sufferings of the Clergy.)

642.Our ‘Olyfadres’ will similarly be the expletive ‘Holy-father,’ unless, like ‘Thomas Worthship’ (Z.), the name be but a title of respect to some ecclesiastic functionary.

643.‘Good-speed’ may belong to the same class as Swift, Golightly, Lightfoot, Roefoot, etc.—V. p. 388.

644.The Constable of Nottingham Castle in 1369 was one Stephen Rummelowe, or Rumbilowe, for both forms are to be found.

645.‘Fulco Twelvepence’ was perhaps related to ‘Robert Shillyng,’ found in the ‘Patent Rolls’ (State Paper Office).

646.A most anachronistic name is met with in the ‘Calend. Inquis. Post Mortem,’ 30 Henry VI., in the entry ‘Robert Banknott.’ A ‘knot’ was a small local prominence. On the bank or side of this the nominee doubtless dwelt.

Transcriber’s Notes:There are many instances of words and names that are hyphenated in the body of the book, but not in the index. There are a few that are hyphenated in the index, but not in the body of the book. The hyphenation was left as printed.Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected.Typographical errors were silently corrected.Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book.The footnotes have been gathered intoone sectionat the end of the book.

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