ORIGIN OF NAMES, SURNAMES, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 83, 4 October 1924, Page 13

ORIGIN OF NAMES, SURNAMES, ETC.

(By H. Mackenzie, M.A., Professor: of English Language and Literature, Victoria College).

All names, surnames, etc., have been bestowed upon, or acquired by, their owners for some definite reason, and, therefore, have some particular meaning, though it is often difficult to determine their origin or meaning. In primitive times a single name sufficed to establish the identity of an individual. As the family developed into the community, and the community into the nation, the range of human interest, acquaintance, and relationship steadily widened, and it became increasingly necessary to attach some qualifying attribute—a cognomen or agnomen—to the originally one-worded names, which sufficed to establish the identity of individuals.

In Roman times a systematic and accredited method of conferring names obtained. A Roman's "npmen" was the name of the Gens (or clan) to which he belonged; his "praenomen" was his personal name, his "cognomen" was his family-name and his "agnomen" was a -supplementary name—what we would call a nick-name (that is an-eked-out name) complimentary or uncomplimentary in purport. Until comparatively recent times, personal names of the order of Peg,' Mill, Nell, Tom,' Dick, and Harry, sufficed for the vast majority of ordinary individuals. Until late medieval times, only people of considerable importance or. distinction had acquired permanent surname's. An early English device for the formation of surnames was the adding—"ing" (the oldest of our patronymics) to the personal name of the father. For example: William was abbreviated to "Will," then "Willing" would mean the son of Will. .Wills, Wilkins, Willis, Willett, Willies, Williamson, Wilsons, etc., etc., are all ultimately derived from "William," or Wilhelm, which' is the Old English for the "helmet of Resolution" (the will to protect or defend). "Tun," in early English, meant fin enclosure, or homestead; later a village; and, more recently, _ town, Wellington, probably, means the town of the sons or descendants of Will (iam). It might, however, mean "the town near the well in the low-lying meadow." Ing, or Inge, meaning' a low-lying meadow, is also found in. early English. In most languages there are' to be found prefixes like Mac, Gille, Fitz, and o', and suffixes like -ing, -kin, -el, or -ol; -et, or -ot; and -in, or -on, that convey the idea .pf "son of," or "wee," or "young" somebody. AH these prefixes and suffixes have come to be equivalent in import to 'son of or 'descendant of somebody.

Biblical names were'only on the rarest occasions in use in England before the Norman Conquest. A few generations later, however, names like Simon, Peter, Philip, Thomas^ John, Bartholomew, represented nearly one-third of the personnel male-names in use in England. It has been calculated that by the year 1300 there would be, approximated, an average (in every one .hundred of the population) of twenty Johns and fifteen Williams; next in popularity came the Biblical names: Thomas, Bartholomew, Nicolas, Philip, Simon,' Peter, and Isaac, and the names of Teutonic origin: Richard, Robert, Walter, Henry, Guy, Roger, and Baldwin. In "Domesday Book" (1086) "there are 68 Williams, 48 Roberts, 28 Walters to 10 Johns. In 1347 "out of 133 common councilmen for London, 35 wero John, 17' William, 15 Thomas, 10 Richard, 8 Henry, and 8 Robert." In Puritan times, Biblical and what are known as "Grace" names abound—in fact, they almost completely superseded the old names of Latin or Teutonic origin. In the case of. females, names like Faith, 'Hope, Charity, Grace^ Prudence, Comfort, etc., etc., were the order of the day. Personal names like "Praise-God," thanks," "Abuse-not," "Live-well," and innumerable others of the same order were not uncommon.

Fantastic freak namos (with religious or allegorical implications) became fashionable—such' as "Saved-for-certain Maranatha" ; "Fight-the-good fight-of-Faith Taylor," etc., etc.

An illiterate Puritan is said to have named his ,dog "Moreover" after a dog mentionod in the Scriptures. He had heard from tho pulpit that "Moreover, tho dog (s) came and licked his sores" (Luke xvi., 21). Sin-names (other than those indicated abovo) were in origin for most part. (1) Local—That is they aro derived from the town, district, locality, or from some physical feature in the neighbourhood of one's ancestral domicile; for example : At-wood, Stanley (stony-lea), "At ten Ash" (middle English for at the ash-ti-eo (or trees), has become Nash; Coventry (Conventry). (2) Occupativo (that is trade and profession names) for example—Fletcher, an arrow-maker, Flesher a butcher (the two are often confused), Loitch, Old English a doctor. Often the occupativo name is derived from tho mother's occupation—as for example: Baxter, the female baker; Webster, the female weaver; Brewster, the female brewer; Spinster, the femalo spinner, etc. Metronymics (nanjes indicating descent from an ancestral "mother") were not uncommon—Morison (Mary-son), Beatson Beaton, and Beattie (from Beatrice, or from Betty), Widdow-son, Anson, represents both Anns-sou and Andrewson (Anderson).

(3) Colour or complexion names: Reid (rev) Donne and Dunn (Gaelic for Brown); Boyd, Buie, and Bowie (Gaelic for Yellow); Bain and Bean (Gaelic for White).

(4) Some physiological characteristic: Cruickshank Campbell (Gaelic for dry mouth); Cameron (Gaelic for wry nosepresumably Roman-nosed); Sullivan, Gaelic for White (or Gray) eyed. (5) Pet-names and nick-names (complimentary or uncomplimentary): Fairbairn, Good fellow; Boileau (Drink Water), Shake-spear. (6) Various epithets or attributes suggesting distinction or notoriety, etc.: Wight (valiant); Slight (German Schlect) bad; Gabbit, faithful; Gabbit (talkative).

Well, every name, place-name, personal name, surname has a history, although through .the abrasion or attrition, to which it has been subjected, ;'t has often been done out of its identity. The elision of letters, the transposition > of- letters, and the infinite variety in the 'matter of possible spellings, employed to represent the word to the ear. all too often "disguise the history of a name. Now, by way of illustrating what the study of such nomenclature involves, let us take a few prominent names and see what we can make of their possible or presumable origin and history. Jellicoe. —It is suggested that this name is a variant of Jauicot (the French diminutive for "Jean" (John). It is more likely, however, to represent tlm earlier form Gentilcorps (1301), whir.li would mean something like: 'Of nobln person or descent.' Jellicour. and even Jericho, are found as surnames. As the letter "r"' was often substituted in middle English timos for "1" (as in Hal of Hall for Henry, and Mall, or Aloll, for \ Mary) t it is not inconceivable l_a_4'Jgri-

cho" is the original of the name. Middle English "jolU'J and "Cofa" (thatia, haiipy home, or happy family") might also be suggested. Popular etymology might, find "jolly-cove" good enough or near enough to serve ."bur: purpose.- ■ Massey (Massie) is, almost certainly, a GaUicised or Kelticised "Matthew?' The Gaelic speaking '■ people had great-diffi-culty in articulating the .'.'th"....'sound heard in "thin," and made it into "s." Thus, "north" and "south"- were pronounced as "noi-s" and "sous." ... The Germans and French make .the "th" a t-sound ; The Greeks seem to, have had the same kind of difficulty with "t',' and "s"—they recognised either in certain' words:,as "thalatta" .or—"thalassa" for sea,.and "glbtta".or. "glbssa." for tongue. The French Mas; Masse, Masset, Massenet, and Massillon are said- to be apathetic or decapitated forms of (Tho). mas. A local or territorial origin of the name Massey has been suggested: Mace (sur-Orne), or Macei (both in France). We have a record of a Robert do' Macey (Cheshire, 1353), and of a James Massye 1583). The .probability is that the territorial name itself is derived ultimately, from "Matthew" (which in Hebrew meant: Gift of the Lord"). No doubt popular etymology, in its haste, might suggest that the word "Mass," or even "Mess," in one or other of their meanings, would account for the name ! Bell has had, in all probability, several origins: "le bel" (Anglo-French for "the beau"). Bellamy (found in Chaucer) means: "Good (or handsome) friend." Bell is also a metronymic from Bell (Isabella, ultimately Elizabeth). Elizabeth represents in Hebrew, "God Hath Sworn," or "Oath of God." Again, there is reason to believe that, in some instances, the name Bell has been acquired- as a nickname for bellman,- or bell-maker, or one living near bells. Parr is the French and early English Pierre for Peter. -Parry, Perry, Pearson, Perrin, Perren,- "Parrin, ' Parkin, Parkinson, Peterson, Paterson, Patrick. Patty, Pat, Petrie,-Parrot,: and- Perrot are all derived from Peter. Parrot and Perrett may be, in some instances, ta nickname of obvious import. Parrot (the bird) is represented as from Italian Parrochetto, a little parson! Gilfedder is Gaelic for Peter's lad or servant (gillie) or son—equivalent to Peterson. Rhodes is from Northern English: a reclamation' or clearing in a wood; The root is,seen in..riddance and 'the Scottish "red-up" to "tidy up"—ultimately from Old Hraldan to rescue or recover. The old English for road was "rad.V so that it is highly improbable that the name Rhodes or Rhoads (which is also found) is in any way connected with road or (cross)-roads, as is often suggested. Coates (Coate, Coats also, found) is derived from Cot (cottage)./or -cots (a hamlet). (Northcot, - Southcot seem to indicate the origin unmistakably). As a nickname for a tailor it might pass ! ' Anderson is Andrewson. Andrews is often found as Anders—ultimately from Aner (Greek, a man)., Downie Stewart: Dowrie, Gaelic Dorm, dark (-complexiohed), and-"Stew-ard," the, keeper of the stock-yard. Sty ward, in Early English, meant. one who was in charge of sheep, cattle,- and horses, as well ■ as-pigs. -The-word "hogs" included all these .original:*. Downie might, like don and dominie, represent1 "dominus," a lord or master. Nosworthy (Norsworthy is also found) is probably for Northworthy. Worthig, and Worth, meant in - Old English an enclosure or courtyard (even castle and grounds). Nosworthy may, therefore, mean simply North-farm, or it may represent Old English Nose, a promontory;, and farm, or enclosure, or castle on a cliff.

Pomare. I "hae my doots". about this name. It looks as if it should mean a Night-Expectorator, or one who cough-ed-up night, or one whom night coughedupl It is possibly from "Pumahara. '• shrewd, "canny"'l

MacLeod. This is a hybrid: "mac,'" Gaelic, a son; and "Leod," Old English and Norse, a chief or hero.

Wilford is, possibly, a variant of "Wilfrid," which means, in Early English, the Will to Peace (not to war). "Willa," will, and,Frither or Fridu, peace. It is more likely to represent "Wolf-heard," a fierce wolf. The names of Anglo-Saxon warriorß and heroes were often in this order. Wilford, it has been suggested, may mean simply Wilfrid's or William's ford compressed 'into Wilford.

Ward is warden, or guardian. The words ward, yard, garden, garth all mean a place .for guarding something. The Normans had a "w" where the Southern French had "gu." This accounts for such forms as ward, guard, warranty, guarantee, war - (guerre), wile, guile,'-etc..,- etc. - - - ■■

Holland: Possibly, originally, from the country Holland that is Holt-land, or bush-laud (rather than Hollowlandl. Holt in Old English meant a'"wood." Thcro are two Hollands in Lancashire, which may owe their name to ah early Hollander settlement, - but more likely represent land in a hollow or hollycovered (land, Haliglang, holy land (not Palestine) is also, a possible derivation. * . '. ■ .'."--

Fraser (Frazer):: Old English Frithu (Peace or Freedom). It appears also a3 "Frizzle"; in. Gaelic it has become Froysell or Friseal. Hero we have one more instance of the Kelts substituting an "s" for a "th" in pronunciation. The foregoing suggestions as to the origin of the names of -a few of our prominent public men. should serve to give somo idea of the problems that arise in connection with the history of all names, as of all .words „.. I may state in conclusion that doublenames (personal or Christian names) were rare in England before the reign of Charles I: What are known as conjoined, or agglutinated, names, like Fannasibilia, or Johhamaria, are to be found in the seventeenth century; while hyphenated names became fashionable after the time of Queen Anne.