Chapter 5

"Rood upon arouncyas he kouthe" (A. 390).

InBridgeman,Pullman, it means the man who lived near, or had some office in connection with, the bridge or pool. But it is often due to the imitative instinct.Dedmanisfor the local Debenham, andLakemanfor Lakenham, whileWymanrepresents the old name Wymond, andBowmanandBeemanare sometimes for the local Beaumont (cf. the pronunciation of Belvoir). But the existence in German of the nameBienemannshows thatBeemanmay have meant bee-keeper.Slomanmay be a nickname, but also means the man in the slough (Chapter XII), andGodlimanisan old familiar spelling of Godalming. We of course get doubtful cases, e.g.Sandemanmay be, as explained by Bardsley, the servant of Alexander (Chapter VI), but it may equally well represent Mid. Eng.sandeman, a messenger, andLawman,Layman, are rather to be regarded as derivatives ofLawrence(Chapter VI) than what they appear to be.

THE SUFFIX -COCK

Many explanations have been given of the suffix -cock, but I cannot say that any of them have convinced me. BothCockand the patronymicCockingare found as early personal names. The suffix was added to the shortened form of font-names, e.g.Alcock(Allen), Hitchcock(Richard), was apparently felt as a mere diminutive, and took an -slike the diminutives in -kin, e.g.Willcocks,Simcox. InHedgecock,'Woodcock, etc., it is of course a nickname. The modernCoxis one of our very common names, and the spellingCock,Cocks,Cox, can be found representing three generations in the churchyard of Invergowrie, near Dundee.

The two namesBawcockandMeacockhad once a special significance. Pistol, urged to the breach by Fluellen, replies

"Goodbawcock, bate thy rage! use lenity, sweet chuck"

(HenryV.,iii, 2);

and Petruchio, pretending that his first interview with Katherine has been most satisfactory, says—

"'Tis a world to seeHow tame, when men and women are alone,Ameacockwretch can make the curstest shrew."(TamingoftheShrew,ii.1.)

How tame, when men and women are alone,Ameacockwretch can make the curstest shrew."(TamingoftheShrew,ii.1.)

(TamingoftheShrew,ii.1.)

These have been explained as Fr.beaucoq, which is possible, andmeekcock, which is absurd. As both words are found as surnames before Shakespeare's time, it is probable that they are diminutives which were felt as suited to receive a special connotation, just as a man who treats his thirst generously is vulgarly called aLushington.Bawcockcan easily be connected with Baldwin, whileMeacock,Maycock, belong to the personal nameMayorMee, shortened from the Old Fr.Mahieu(Chapter IX).

Although we are not dealing with Celtic names, a few words as to the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh surnames which we find in our directories may be useful. Those of Celtic origin are almost invariably patronymics. The Scottish and IrishMac, son, used like the Anglo-Fr.Fitz-, ultimately means kin, and is related to the -moughofWatmough(Chapter XXI) and to the wordmaid. InMacNab, son of the abbot, andMacPherson, son of the parson, we have curious hybrids. In Manx names, such asQuilliam(Mac William),Killip(Mac Philip),Clucas(Mac Lucas), we have aphetic forms ofMac. The Irish0', grandson, descendant, has etymologically the same meaning asMac, and is related to the first part of Ger.Oheim, uncle, of Anglo-Sax.eam(seeEames, Chapter XXI), and of Lat.avus, grandfather.Oeoroyeisstill used for grandchild in Scottish—

"There was my daughter's wean, little Eppie Daidle, myoe, ye ken"(HeartofMidlothian, ch. iv.).

The names of the Lowlands of Scotland are pretty much the same as those of northern England, with the addition of a very large French element, due to the close historical connection between the two countries. Examples of French names, often much corrupted, areBethune(Pas de Calais), often corrupted intoBeaton, the name of one of the Queen's Maries,Boswell(Bosville, Seine Inf.),Bruce(Brieux, Orne),Comyn,Cumming(Comines, Nord),Grant(legrand),Rennie(René), etc.

CELTIC NAMES

WelshAporAb, reduced from an olderMap, ultimately cognate withMac, gives us such names asProbyn,Powell(Howell, Hoel),Price(Rhys),Pritchard,Prosser(Rosser),Prothero(Roderick),Bedward,Beddoes(Eddowe),Blood(Lud, Lloyd),Bethell(Ithel),Benyon(Enion), whence alsoBinyonand the local-lookingBaynham.OnionandOnionsare imitative forms of Enion.ApplejohnandUpjohnare corruptions of Ap-john. The nameFloyd, sometimesFlood,isdue to the English inability to grapple with the WelshLl—

"I am a gentylman and come of Brutes [Brutus'] blood,My name is ap Ryce, ap Davy, apFlood."(Andrew Boorde,BookoftheIntroductionofKnowledge,ii7.)

"I am a gentylman and come of Brutes [Brutus'] blood,My name is ap Ryce, ap Davy, apFlood."

(Andrew Boorde,BookoftheIntroductionofKnowledge,ii7.)

While Welsh names are almost entirely patronymic, Cornish names are very largely local. They are distinguished by the following prefixes and others of less common occurrence:Caer-, fort,Lan-, church,Pen-, hill,Pol-, pool,Ros-, heath,Tre-, settlement, e.g.Carthew,Lanyon,Penruddock,Polwarth,Rosevear,Trethewy. Sometimes these elements are found combined, e.g. inPenrose.

A certain number of Celtic nicknames and occupative names which are frequently found in England will be mentioned elsewhere (pp. 173, 216). InGilchrist, Christ's servant,Gildea, servant of God,Gillies, servant of Jesus,Gillespie, bishop's servant,Gilmour, Mary's servant,Gilroy, red servant, we have the Highland "gillie." Such names were originally preceded byMac-, e.g.Gilroyisthe same asMacIlroy;cf.MacLean, forMac-gil-Ian, son of the servant of John. To the same class of formation belong Scottish names inMal-, e.g.Malcolm, and Irish names inMul-, e.g.Mulholland, in which the first element means tonsured servant, shaveling, and the second is the name of a saint.

CHAPTER VIIGODERIC AND GODIVA

"England had now once more (A.D. 1100) a King born on her own soil, a Queen of the blood of the hero Eadmund, a King and Queen whose children would trace to AElfred by two descents. Norman insolence mocked at the English King and his English Lady under the English names ofGodricandGodgifu."[Footnote:"Godricum eum, et comparem Godgivam appellantes" (William of Malmesbury,GestaRegumAnglorum).](FREEMAN,NormanConquest,v.170.)

(FREEMAN,NormanConquest,v.170.)

In dealing with surnames we begin after the Conquest, for the simple reason that there were no surnames before. Occasionally an important person has come down in history with a nickname, e.g. Edmund Iron-side, Harold Harefoot, Edward the Confessor; but this is exceptional, and the Anglo-Saxon, as a rule, was satisfied with one name. It is probable that very many of the names in use before the Conquest, whether of English or Scandinavian origin, were chosen because of their etymological meaning, e.g. that the name Beornheard(Bernard,Barnard,Barnett)was given to a boy in the hope that he would grow up a warrior strong, just as his sister might be called AEthelgifu, noble gift. The formation of these old names is both interesting and, like all Germanic nomenclature, poetic.

FORMATION OF ANGLO-SAXON NAMES

As a rule the name consists of two elements, and the number of those elements which appear with great frequency is rather limited. Some themes occur only in the first half of the name, e.g.Aethel-, whence Aethelstan, laterAlston;AElf-, whence AElfgar, nowElgarandAgar(AEthel- andAElf- soon got confused, so thatAllvey,Elveymayrepresent both AEthelwig and AElfwig, or perhaps in some cases Ealdwig);Cuth-, whence Cuthbeald, nowCobbold[Footnote:This is also the origin of Cupples, and probably ofKebleandNibbles. It sharesCobbettandCubittwith Cuthbeorht.];Cyne-, whence Cynebeald nowKimballandKemble, both of which are also local,Folc-, whence Folcheard and Folchere, nowFolkardandFulcher;Gund-, whence Gundred, nowGundryandGrundy(Metathesis, Chapter III);Os-, whenceOsbert,Osborn,

Other themes only occur as the second half ofthename. Such are -gifu, in Godgifu,i.e. Godiva, whenceGoodeve;-lacin Guthlac, nowGoodlakeandGoodluck(Chapter XXI); -lafin Deorlaf, nowDearlove;-wacerin Eoforwacer, nowEarwaker.

Other themes, and perhaps the greater number, may occur indifferently first and second, e.g.beald,god,here,sige,weald,win,wulforulf. Thus we have complete reversals in Beald-wine, whenceBaldwin, and Wine-beald, whenceWinbolt, Here-weald, whenceHerald,Harold,Harrod, and Weald-here, whenceWalter(Chapter I). With these we may compare Gold-man and Man-gold, the latter of which has givenMangles. So also we have Sige-heard, whenceSiggers, and Wulf-sige, nowWolsey, Wulf-noth, now the imitativeWallnutt, and Beorht-wulf, later Bardolph andBardell. The famous nameHavelockwas borne by the hero of a medieval epic, "Havelock the Dane," butDunstanis usually for the local Dunston. On the other hand,Winstonis a personal name, Wine-stan, whenceWinstanley.

These examples show that the pre-Norman names are by no means unrepresented in the twentieth century, but, in this matter, one must proceed with caution. To take as examples the two names that head this chapter, there is no doubt that Goderic and Godiva are now represented byGoodrichandGoodeve, but these may also belong to the small group mentioned in Chapter VI, and stand for good Richard and good Eve. AlsoGoodrichcomes in some cases from Goodrich, formerly Gotheridge, in Hereford, which has also givenGutteridge.

Moreover, it must not be forgotten that our medieval nomenclature is preponderantly French, as the early rolls show beyond dispute, so that, even where a modern name appears susceptible of an Anglo-Saxon explanation, it is often safer to refer it to the Old French cognate; for the Germanic names introduced into France by the Frankish conquerors, and the Scandinavian names which passed into Normandy, contained very much the same elements as our own native names, but underwent a different phonetic development. Thus I would rather explainBawden,Bowden,Boulders,Boden, and the dims.BodyandBodkin, as Old French variants from the Old Ger. Baldawin than as coming directly from Anglo-Saxon.Boydenundoubtedly goes back to Old Fr. Baudouin.

Practically all the names given in Gower's lines (Chapter V), and many others to which I have ascribed a continental origin, are found occasionally in England before the Conquest, but the weight of evidence shows that they were either adopted in England as French names or were corrupted in form by the Norman scribes and officials. To take other examples, ourTibbald,Tibbles,Tibbssuggest the Fr. Thibaut rather than the natural development of Anglo-Sax. Thiudbeald,i.e. Theobald; andRalph,Relf,Roff, etc., show the regular Old French development of Raedwulf, Radolf. Tibaut Wauter,i.e. Theobald Walter, who lived in Lancashire in 1242, had both his names in an old French form.

ANGLO-SAXON NICKNAMES

As a matter of fact, the various ways of forming nicknames or descriptive names, are all used in the pre-Conquest personal names. We findOrme,i.e. serpent or dragon (cf. Great Orme's Head), Wulf,i.e. Wolf, Hwita,i.e.White, and its derivative Hwiting, nowWhiting, Saemann,i.e.Seaman, Bonda,i.e.Bond, Leofcild, dear child, nowLeifchild, etc. But, except the case ofOrme,socommon as the first element of place-names, I doubt the survival of these as purely personal names into the surname period and regardWhite,Seaman,Bond,Leifchildrather as new epithets of Mid. English formation.Whitingisof course Anglo-Saxon, -ingbeing the regular patronymic suffix. Cf.Browning,Benning,Dering,Dunning,Gunning,Hemming,Kipping,Manning, and many others which occur in place-names. But not all names in -ingare Anglo-Saxon, e.g.BaringisGerman; cf. Behring, of the Straits; andJoblingisFr. Jobelin, a double dim. of Job.

I will now give a few examples of undoubted survival of these Anglo-Saxon compounds, showing how the suffixes have been corrupted and simplified. Among the commonest of these suffixes are -beald, -beorht, -cytel(Chapter VII.), -god, -heard, -here, -man, -mund, -raed, -ric, -weald, -weard, -wine,[Footnote:Bold, bright, kettle, god, strong, army, man, protection, counsel, powerful, ruling, guard, friend.]which survive inRumballandRumbold(Rumbeald),Allbright[Footnote:AIbert is of modern German introduction.]andAllbutt(Ealdbeorht,i.e. Albert),Arkle(Earncytel),AllgoodandElgood(AElfgod),Everett(Eoforheard,i.e. Everard), Gunter (Gundhere),Harman(Hereman),Redmond(Raedmund),[Footnote:Pure Anglo-Saxon, like the names of so many opponents of English tyranny.Parnellis of course not Irish (Chapter X).]Aldred,Eldred(AEthelraed or Ealdraed),Aldridge,Alderick,Eldridge(AEthelric or Ealdric),Thorold(Thurweald), and, through Fr. Turold,Turrell,Terrell, andTyrrell,HarwardandHarvard(Hereweard),Lewin(Leofwine).

In popular use some of these endings got confused, e.g.Rumboldprobably sometimes represents Rumweald, whileKennardno doubt stands for Coenweard as well as for Coenheard.Manandroundwere often interchanged (Chapter VI), so that from Eastmund come bothEsmondandEastman.Gormanrepresents Gormund, andAlmond(Chapter XI) is so common in the Middle Ages that it must sometimes be from AEthelmund.

Sometimes the modern forms are imitative. ThusAllchinisfor Ealhwine (Alcuin), andGoodyear,GoodierandGoodairmayrepresent Godhere.[Footnote:This may, however, be taken literally. There is a German nameGutjahrand a Norfolk nameFeaveryear.]Good-beer,Godbehere,Gotobedare classed by Bardsley under Godbeorht, whenceGodber. But in these three names the face value of the words may well be accepted (pp. 156, 203, 206). Wisgar or Wisgeard has given the imitativeWhiskerandVizard, and, through French, the ScottishWishart, which is thus the same as the famous Norman Guiscard.GarmentandRaymentare for Garmund and Regenmund,i.e. Raymond.

ANGLO-SAXON SURVIVALS

Other names which can be traced directly to the group of Anglo-Saxon names dealt with above areElphick(AElfheah), which in Norman French gave Alphege,Elmer(AElfmaer),Allnutt(AElfnoth),Alwin,Elwin,Elvin(AElfwine),Aylmer(AEthelmaer),Aylward(AEthelweard),Kenrick(Coenric),Collard(Ceolheard), Colvin (Ceolwine),Darwin(Deorwine),Edridge(Eadric),Aldwin,Auden(Ealdwine),Baldry(Bealdred or Bealdric),Falstaff(Fastwulf),Filmer(Filumaer),Frewineowine),Garrard,Garrett,Jarrold(Gaerheard, Gaerweald), but probably these are through French,Garbett(Garbeald, with which cf. the ItalianGaribaldi),Gatliffe(Geatleof),Goddard(Godheard),Goodliffe(Godleof),Gunnell(Gunhild),Gunner(Gunhere),[Footnote:It is unlikely that this name is connected withgun, a word of too late appearance. It may be seen over a shop in Brentford, perhaps kept by a descendant of the thane of the adjacent Gunnersbury.]Haines(Hagene),Haldane(Haelfdene),Hastings(Haesten, the Danish chief who gave his name to Hastings, formerly Haestinga-ceaster),Herbert(Herebeorht),HerrickHereric),Hildyard(Hildegeard),Hubert,Hubbard,Hobart,Hibbert(Hygebeorht),Ingram(Ingelram),Lambert(Landbeorht),Livesey(Leofsige),Lemon(Leofman),Leveridge(Leofric),Loveridge(Luferic),Maynard(Maegenheard),Manfrey(Maegenfrith),Rayner(Regenhere),Raymond(Regenmund),Reynolds(Regenweald),Seabright(Sigebeorht or Saebeorht),Sayers(Saegaer),[Footnote:The simpleSayeris also for "assayer," either of metals or of meat and drink— "essayeur, an essayer; one that tasts, or takes an essay; and particularly, an officer in the mint, who touches every kind of new Coyne before it be delivered out" (Cotgrave). Robertlesayer, goldsmith, was a London citizenc. 1300.]Sewell(Saeweald or Sigeweald),Seward(Sigeweard),Turbot(Thurbeorht),Thoroughgood(Thurgod),Walthew(Waltheof),Warman(Waermund),Wyberd(Wigbeorht),Wyman(Wigmund),Willard(Wilheard),Winfrey(Winefrith),UlyettandWoollett(Wulfgeat),Wolmer(Wulfmaer),Woodridge(Wulfric).

In several of these, e.g.Fulcher,Hibbert,Lambert,Reynolds, the probability is that the name came through French. Where an alternative explanation is possible, the direct Anglo-Saxon origin is generally the less probable. Thus, although Coning occurs as an Anglo-Saxon name,Collingsisgenerally a variant ofCollins(cf.Jenningsfor Jennins), and thoughHammondisetymologically Haganmund, it is better to connect it with the very popular French name Hamon.Simmondsmight come from Sigemund, but is more likely from Simon with excrescent -d(Epithesis, Chapter III).

In many cases the Anglo-Saxon name was a simplex instead of a compound. The simple Cytel survives asChettle,Kettle.[Footnote:Connected with the kettle or cauldron of Norse mythology. The renowned Captain Kettle, described by his creator as a Welshman, must have descended from some hardy Norse pirate. Many names in this chapter are Scandinavian.]Beorn is one of the origins ofBarnes.Brandalso appears asBraund,Grimiscommon in place-names, and from Grima we haveGrimes. Cola givesCole, the name of a monarch of ancient legend, but this name is more usually from Nicolas (Chapter VI). Gonna is nowGunn, Serl has given the very commonSearle, and Wicga isWigg. From Hacun we haveHackand the dim.Hackett.

To these might be added many examples of pure adjectives, such as Freo,Free, Froda, (prudent),Froude, Gods,Good, Leof (dear),Leif,Leaf, Read (red),Read,Reid,Reed, Rica,Rich, Rudda (ruddy),RuddandRodd, Snel (swift, valiant),Snell, Swet,Sweet, etc., or epithets such as Boda (messenger),Bode, Cempa (warrior),Kemp, Cyta,Kite, Dreng (warrior),Dring, Eorl,Earl, Godcild,Goodchild, Nunna,Nunn, Oter,Otter, Puttoc (kite),Puttock, Saemann,Seaman, Spearhafoc,Sparhawk,Spark(Chapter I), Tryggr (true),Triggs, Unwine (unfriend),Unwin, etc. But many of these had died out as personal names and, in medieval use, were nicknames pure and simple.

MONOSYLLABIC NAMES

Finally, there is a very large group of Anglo-Saxon dissyllabic names, usually ending in -a, which appear to be pet forms of the longer names, though it is not always possible to establish the connection. Many of them have double forms with a long and short vowel respectively. It is to this class that we must refer the large number of our monosyllabic surnames, which would otherwise defy interpretation. Anglo-Sax. Dodds gaveDodd, while Dodson's partnerFogghad an ancestor Focga. Other examples are Bacga,Bagg, Benna,Benn, Bota,Bootand dim.Booty, Botts,Bolt, whenceBolting, Bubba,Bubb, Budda,Budd, Bynna,Binns, Cada,Cade, Cobbs,Cobb, Coda,Coad, Codda,Codd,Cuffs,Cuff, Deda,Deedes, Duda,Dowd, Duna,Down, Donna,Dunn, Dutta,Dull, Eada,Eade,Edes, etc., Ebba,Ebbs;Eppa,Epps, Hudda,Hud, whenceHudson, Inga,Inge, Sibba,Sibbs, Sicga,Siggs, Tata,TateandTait, Tidda,Tidd, Tigga,Tigg, Toca,Tooke, Tucca,Tuck, Wada,Wade, Wadda,Waddy, etc. Similarly French took from German a number of surnames formed from shortened names in -o, with an accusative in -on, e.g. Old Ger. Bodo has given Fr. Bout and Bouton, whence perhapsourButtandButton.

But the names exemplified above are very thinly represented in early records, and, though their existence in surnames derived from place-names(Dodsley,Bagshaw,Bensted,Bedworth,Cobham,Ebbsworth, etc.) would vouch for them even if they were not recorded, their comparative insignificance is attested by the fact that they form very few derivatives.

Compare, for instance, the multitudinous surnames which go back to monosyllables of the later type of name, such as John and Hugh, with the complete sterility of the names above. Therefore, when an alternative derivation for a surname is possible, it is usually ten to one that this alternative is right.Dodsonisa simplifiedDodgson, from Roger (Chapter VI);Bensonbelongs to Benedict, sometimes to Benjamin;Cobbettisa disguisedCuthbertorCobbold(cf.Garrett, Chapter II);Downis usually local, at the down or dune;Dunnis medievalledun, a colour nickname; names inEad-,Ed-, are usually from the medieval female name Eda (Chapter VI);Sibbsgenerally belongs to Sibilla or Sebastian;Taitmust sometimes be for Fr.Tête, with which cf. Eng.Head;Tiddisan old pet form of Theodore; andWadeismore frequentlyattewade,i.e. ford. EvenEbbsandEppsare more likely to be shortened forms of Isabella, usually reduced to Ib, or Ibbot (Chapter X), or of the once popular Euphemia.

To sum up, we may say that the Anglo-Saxon elementinour surnames is much larger than one would imagine from Bardsley'sDictionary, and that it accounts, not only for names which have a distinctly Anglo-Saxon suffix or a disguised form of one, but also for a very large number of monosyllabic names which survive in isolation and without kindred. In this chapter I have only given sets of characteristic examples, to which many more might be added. It would be comparatively easy, with some imagination and a conscientious neglect of evidence, to connect the greater number of our surnames with the Anglo-Saxons.

ThusHoneyballmight very well represent the Anglo-Sax. Hunbeald, but, in the absence of links, it is better to regard it as a popular perversion of Hannibal (Chapter VIII). In dealing with this subject, theviamediaisthe safe one, and one cannot pass in one stride from Hengist and Horsa to the Reformation period.

"HIDEOUS NAMES"

Matthew Arnold, in his essay on theFunctionofCriticismatthePresentTime,ismoved by the case of PoorWragg, who was "in custody," to the following wail—

"What a touch of grossness in our race, what an original shortcoming in the more delicate spiritual perceptions, is shown by the natural growth amongst us of such hideousnames—Higginbottom,Stiggins,Bugg!"

But this is the poet's point of view. Though there may have been "noWraggby the Ilissus," it is not a bad name, for, in its original formRagg, it is the first element of the heroic Ragnar, and probably unrelated toRaggett, which is the medievalleragged.Bugg, which one family exchanged for Norfolk Howard, is the Anglo-Saxon Bucgo, a name no doubt borne by many a valiant warrior.Stiggins, as we have seen (Chapter XIII), goes back to a name great in history, andHigginbottom(Chapter XII) is purely geographical.

CHAPTER VIIIPALADINS AND HEROES

"Morz est Rollanz, Deus en ad l'anme es ciels.Li Emperere en Rencesvals parvient…Carles escriet: 'U estes vus, bels niés?U l'Arcevesques e li quens Oliviers?U est Gerins e sis cumpainz Geriers?Otes u est e Ii quens Berengiers?Ives e Ivories que j'aveie tant chiers?Qu'est devenuz li Guascuinz Engeliers,Sansun li dux e Anseïs li fiers?U est Gerarz de Russillun li vielz,Li duze per que j'aveie laissiet?'"(ChansondeRoland, 1. 2397.)[Footnote:"Dead is Roland, God has his soul in heaven. The Emperor arrives at Roncevaux… Charles cries: 'Where are you, fair nephew? Where the archbishop (Turpin) and Count Oliver? Where is Gerin and his comrade Gerier? Where is Odo and count Berenger? Ivo and Ivory whom I held so dear? What has become of the Gascon Engelier? Samson the duke and Anseis the proud?Where is Gerard of Roussillon the old, the twelve peers whom I had left?' "]

(ChansondeRoland, 1. 2397.)

[Footnote:"Dead is Roland, God has his soul in heaven. The Emperor arrives at Roncevaux… Charles cries: 'Where are you, fair nephew? Where the archbishop (Turpin) and Count Oliver? Where is Gerin and his comrade Gerier? Where is Odo and count Berenger? Ivo and Ivory whom I held so dear? What has become of the Gascon Engelier? Samson the duke and Anseis the proud?Where is Gerard of Roussillon the old, the twelve peers whom I had left?' "]

It is natural that many favourite names should be taken from those of heroes of romance whose exploits were sung all over Europe by wandering minstrels. Such names, including those taken from the Round Table legends, usually came to us through French, though a few names of the British heroes are Welsh, e.g.Cradockfrom Caradoc (Caractacus) andMaddoxfrom Madoc.

THE ROUND TABLE

But the Round Table stories were versified much later than the true Old FrenchChansonsdeGeste, which had a basis in the national history, and not many of Arthur's knights are immortalized as surnames. We haveTristram,Lancelot, whenceLance,Percival, Gawain inGavin, andKay. But the last named is, likeKey, more usually from the word we now spell "quay," thoughKeyandKeyscan also be shop-signs, as of courseCrosskeysis.Linnellis sometimes for Lionel, asNeil,[Footnote:But the Scottish Neil is a Gaelic name often exchanged for the unrelated Nigel.]Nealfor Nigel. The ladies have fared better.Vivian, which is sometimes from the masculine Vivien, is found in Dorset asVye, and Isolt and Guinevere, which long survived as font-names in Cornwall, have given several names. From Isolt comeIsard,Isitt,Izzard,Izod, and many other forms, while Guinever appears asGenever,Jennifer,Gaynor,Gilliver,Gulliver,[Footnote:There is also an Old Fr. Gulafre which will account for some of the Gullivers.]and perhaps also asJuniper. It is probably also the source ofGennandGinn, though these may come also from Eugenia or from Jane. The later prose versions of the Arthurian stories, such as those of Malory, are full of musical and picturesque names like those used by Mr. Maurice Hewlett, but this artificial nomenclature has left no traces in our surnames.

Of the paladins the most popular was Roland or Rowland, who survives asRowe,Rowlinson,Rolls,Rollit, etc., sometimes coalescing with the derivations of Raoul, another epic hero. Gerin or Geri gaveJeary, andOatesis the nominative (Chapter VIII) of Odo, an important Norman name. Berenger appears asBarringerandBellinger(Chapter III). The simpleOliveris fairly common, but it also became the CornishOlver. But perhaps the largest surname family connected with the paladins is derived from the Breton Ives or Ivon[Footnote:A number of Old French names had an accusative in -onor-ain. Thus we findOtes,Oton,Ives,Ivain, and feminines such asIde,Idain, all of which survive as English surnames.]whose name appears in that of two English towns. It is the same as Welsh Evan, and the Yvain of the Arthurian legends, and has given usIves,Ivison,Ivatts,etc. The modern surnameIvoryisusually an imitative form ofEveryorAvery(p,82). Gerard has a variety of forms inGer- andGar-,JerandJar- (seep.32). The others do not seem to have survived, except the redoubtable ArchbishopTurpin, whose fame is probably less than that of his namesake Dick.

Besides the paladins, there are many heroes of Old French epic whose names were popular during the two centuries that followed the Conquest. Ogier le Danois, who also fought at Roncevaux, has given usOdgers;Fierabras occasionally crops up asFairbrass,Firebrace;Aimeri de Narbonne, from Almaric,[Footnote:A metathesis of Amalric, which is found in Anglo-Saxon.]whence Ital. Amerigo, is in EnglishAmery,Emery,Imray, etc.; Renaud de Montauban is represented byReynolds(Chapter VII) andReynell.

The famousDoonde Mayence may have been an ancestor of Lorna, and the equally famous Garin, or Warin, de Monglane has given usGearing,Gearing,Waring, sometimesWarren, and the diminutivesGarnettandWarnett. Milo, of Greek origin, becameMiles, with dim.Millett, but the chief origin of the surnameMilesisa contracted form of the common font-name Michael. Amis and Amiles were the David and Jonathan of Old French epic and the former survives asAmes,Amies, andAmos, the last an imitative form.

We have alsoBernerfrom Bernier,Bartramfrom Bertran,Farrantfrom Fernand, Terry andTerrissfrom Thierry, the French form of Ger. Dietrich (Theodoric), which, through Dutch, has given alsoDerrick. Garner, from Ger. Werner, is ourGarnerandWarner, though these have other origins (pp. 154, 185). Dru, from Drogo, has givenDrew, with dim.Druitt(Chapter V), andDruce, though the latter may also come from the town of Dreux.WalrondandWaldronare for Waleran, usually Galeran, and King Pippin had a retainer namedMorant. Saint Leger, or Leodigarius, appears asLedger,Ledgard,etc., and sometimes in the shortenedLegg. Among the heroines we haveOrbellfrom Orable, while Blancheflour may have suggestedLillywhite;but the part played by women intheChansonsdeGestewas insignificant.

THE CHANSONS DE GESTE

As this element in our nomenclature has hitherto received no attention, it may be well to add a few more examples of names which occur very frequently in theChansonsdeGesteand which have undoubted representatives in modern English.Allardwas one of the Four Sons of Aymon. The name is etymologically identical withAylward(Chapter VII), but in the above form has reached us through French. Acard or Achard is represented byHaggard,Haggett, andHatchard,Hatchett, thoughHaggardprobably has another origin (Chapter XXIII).Harnessisimitative for Harnais, Herneis.Clarabuttisfor Clarembaut; cf.Archbuttfor Archembaut, the Old French form of Archibald,Archbold.Durrantis Durand, still a very common French surname.Elyis Old Fr. Élie,i.e. Elias (Chapter IX), which had the dim. Elyot.[Footnote:For other names belonging to this group see Chapter IX.]We also find Old Fr. Helye, whence ourHealey. Enguerrand is telescoped toIngram, though this may also come from the English form Ingelram.Fawkesis the Old Fr. Fauques, nominative (Chapter VIII) of Faucon,i.e. falcon.Galpinis contracted fromGalopin, a famous epic thief, but it may also come from the common noungalopin—

"Galloppins, under cookes, or scullions in monasteries."(Cotgrave.)

"Galloppins, under cookes, or scullions in monasteries."

(Cotgrave.)

In either case it means a "runner."Henfreyis from Heinfrei or Hainfroi, identical with Anglo-Sax. Haganfrith, andManserfrom Manesier.Neame(Chapter XXI) may sometimes represent Naime, the Nestor of Old French epic and the sage counsellor of Charlemagne.Richer, from Old Fr. Richier, has generally been absorbed by the cognate Richard.AubreyandAveryare from Alberic, cognate with Anglo-Sax. AElfric. An unheroic name likeSigginsmay be connected with several heroes called Seguin.

ANTIQUE NAMES

Nor are the heroes of antiquity altogether absent. Along with Old French national and Arthurian epics there were a number of romances based on the legends of Alexander, Caesar, and the tale of Troy. Alexander, orSaunder, was the favourite among this class of names, especially in Scotland.Cayzerwas generally a nickname (Chapter XIII), its later formCesarbeing due to Italian influence,[Footnote:Julius Cesar, physician to Queen Elizabeth, was a Venetian (Bardsley).]and the same applies toHannibal,[Footnote:But the frequent occurrence of this name and its corruptions in Cornwall suggests that it may really have been introduced by Carthaginian sailors.]when it is not an imitative form of the female name Annabel, also corrupted intoHoneyball. Both Dionisius and Dionisia were once common, and have survived asDennis,Dennett,Denny, and from the shortenedDyewe getDyson. But this Dionisius was the patron saint of France. Apparent names of heathen gods and goddesses are almost always due to folk-etymology, e.g.Bacchusis forback-houseorbake-house, and the ancestors of Mr. Wegg's friendVenuscame from Venice.

CHAPTER IXTHE BIBLE AND THE CALENDAR

" 'O Now you see, brother Toby,' he would say, looking up, 'that Christian names are not such indifferent things; —had Luther here been called by any other name but Martin, he would have been damn'd to all eternity' "(TristramShandy, ch. xxxv).

(TristramShandy, ch. xxxv).

OLD TESTAMENT NAMES

The use of biblical names as font-names does not date from the Puritans, nor are surnames derived from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob necessarily Jewish. The Old Testament names which were most popular among the medieval peasants from whom we nearly all spring were naturally those connected with the most picturesque episodes of sacred history. Taking as an example the father of all men, we find derived from the nameAdamthe following:Adams,Adamson,Adcock,Addis,Addison,Adds,Addy,Ade,Ades,Adey,Adis,Ady,Addey,Aday,Adee,Addyman,Adkin,Adkins,Adkinson,Adnett,[Footnote:Adenet (little Adam) le Roi was an Old French epic hero.]Adnitt,Adnet,Adnot,Atkin,Atkins,Atkinson, and the northernAitken, etc. This list, compiled from Bardsley'sDictionaryofSurnames, is certainly not exhaustive. ProbablyTaddyis rimed on Addy asTaggyis on Aggy (Agnes). To put together all the derivatives of John or Thomas would be a task almost beyond the wit of man. Names inAbb-,App-, may come from either Abraham or Abel, and fromAbbswe also haveNabbs. Cain was of course unpopular.Cain,Cane,Kain, when not Manx, is from the town of Caen or from Normanquêne, an oak.

Moses appears in the French formMoyes(Moïse) as early as 1273, and still earlier asMoss. Of the patriarchs the favourites were perhaps Jacob and Joseph, the nameJessopfrom the latter having been influenced by Ital. Giuseppe. Benjamin has sometimes givenBensonandBennett, but these are generally for Benedict (Chapter IV). The Judges are poorly represented, exceptSamson, a name which has obviously coalesced with the derivatives of Samuel. David had, of course, an immense vogue, especially in Wales (for some of its derivatives see Chapter VI), and Solomon was also popular, the modernSalmonnot always being a Jewish name.

But almost the favourite Old Testament name was Elijah, Elias, which, usually through its Old French form Élie, whenceEly, is the parent ofEllis,Elliot, and many other names inEl-, some of which, however, have to be shared with Ellen and Alice (Chapter X). Job was also popular, and is easily recognized inJobson,Jobling,etc., but less easily inChubb(Chapter III) andJupp. The intermediate form was the obsolete Joppe. Among the prophetic writers Daniel was an easy winner,Dann,Dance(Chapter I),Dannatt,Dancock, etc.Balaamis an imitative spelling of the local Baylham.

In considering these Old Testament names it must be remembered that the people did not possess the Bible in the vernacular. The teaching of the parish priests made them familiar with selected episodes, from which they naturally took the names which appeared to contain the greatest element of holiness or of warlike renown. It is probable that the mystery plays were not without influence; for the personal name was not always a fixed quantity, and many of the names mentioned in the preceding paragraph may have been acquired rather on the medieval stage than at the font.

This would apply with still more force to names taken from the legends of saints and martyrs on which the miracle plays were based. We even find the namesSaint,MartyrandPostill, the regular aphetic form of apostle (Chapter III), just as we findKingandPope. Camden, speaking of the freedom with which English names are formed, quotes a Dutchman, who—

"When he heard of English men called God and Devil, said, that the English borrowed names from all things whatsoever, good or bad."

The medieval name Godde may of course be forGood, Anglo-Sax. Goda, butLedieuis common enough in France. The name seems to be obsolete, unless it is disguised asGoad. The occurrence in medieval rolls ofDiabolusandleDiableshows thatDevilleneed not always be for de Eyville. There was probably much competition for this important part, and the name would not be always felt as uncomplimentary. Among German surnames we find not onlyTeufel, but also the compoundsManteufelandTeufelskind.

NEW TESTAMENT NAMES

Coming to the New Testament, we find the four Evangelists strongly represented, especially the first and last. Matthew appears not only in an easily recognizable form, e.g. inMatheson, but also asMayhewandMayo, Old Fr. Mahieu. From the latter form we have the shortenedMayandMee, whenceMayes,Makins,Meakin,Meeson,[Footnote:One family ofMeesonclaims descent fromMalvoisin.]and sometimesMason. Mark is one of the sources ofMarch(p, 90), as Luke is ofLuck, whenceLucock,Luckett,etc, though we more often find the learned form Lucas.

Of John there is no need to speak. Of the apostles the great favourites, Simon, or Peter, John, and Bartholomew have already been mentioned. Almost equally popular was Philip, whencePhilp,Phipps,Phelps, and the dim.Philpot, whence the apheticPott,Potts. Andrew flourished naturally in Scotland, its commonest derivative beingAnderson, whileDendyis for the rimed form Dandy. Paul has of course had a great influence and is responsible forPawsonorPorson,Pawling,Polson,Pollett, and most names in Pol-.[Footnote:This does not of course apply to Cornish names inPol- (Chapter VI)]It is also, in the formPowell, assimilated to the Welsh Ap Howel. Paul is regularly spelt Poule by Chaucer, and St. Paul's Cathedral is often calledPowlesin Tudor documents. Paul's companions are poorly represented, forBarnbyis local, while names inSil- andSel- come from shortened form of Cecil, Cecilia, and Silvester. Another great name from the Acts of the Apostles is that of the protomartyr Stephen, among the numerous derivatives of which we must includeStennettandStimpson.

Many non-biblical saints whose names occur very frequently have already been mentioned, e.g. Antony, Bernard, Gregory, Martin, Lawrence, Nicholas, etc To these may be added Augustine, orAustin, Christopher, or Kit, with the dim.Christieand the patronymicKitson, Clement, whence a large family of namesinClem-, Gervase orJarvis, Jerome, sometimes represented byJerram, and Theodore orTidd(cf.Tibbfron Theobald), who becomes in WelshTudor. Vincent has givenVince,VinceyandVincett, andBaseley,Blazeyare from Basil and Blaine. The Anglo-Saxon saints are poorly represented, though probably most of them survive in a disguised form, e.g.Priceis sometimes forBrice, Cuthbert has sometimes givenCubittandCobbett, and alsoCutts.Bottlesometimes represents Botolf,Neatemaybe for Neot, and Chad (Ceadda) survives asChattand in many local names. The CornishTangyeis from the Breton St. Tanneguy. The Archangel Michael has given one of our commonest names,Mitchell(Chapter IV). This is through French, but we have also the contractedMiall—

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