ROMANCE OF NAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 5

ROMANCE OF NAMES

THEIR ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OCCUPATIONS AND PLACENAMES Peculiar family names of times give rise to conjecture as to the origin and it is interesting to trace some of the surnames that are to be found in use to-day. It is a well-known fact that approximately 900 years ago names were not fixed, the majority being derived either from place-names or physical peculiarities of the persons concerned. The Romans are responsible for first bringing family names to England as w-e know them but the Britons did not adopt the style of nomenclature used by the invaders in spite of four centuries’ occupation. The advent of the Normans meant the disbandonment of the old system and institution of fixed family surnames. Names in the Doomesday Book are still in common use, although in many cases considerably modified. The numerous other invaders of Britain have been responsible for many names and we find such as Harold (fairhair), Sigred (proud), Gamel (old) from the Vikings. Many names have terminations expressive of son-ship, or descent from. In Old Northumbria the . Wilsons, Thompsons, Johnstons and many others are of Norse ancestry. William the Conqueror ’was very friendly with the Jews and they settled in the larger towns of Britain during his reign but were later persecuted to such an extent that many became extinct. Such names as Gowan, Cowen (Cohen), Nathan, David, Jacobs and Abram came from this source. Place names of Britain as well as trades and professions, have provided many family names. Examples of this are to be found in the following: Chaucer (hosier), Nasmyth (knifemaker), Poynter (pin-maker), Poyser (scale-maker), Hillyer, Hailman and Thacker (hatcher), and Mather and Messer, who remind us of sickle and scythe. The maker of the bow was Bower or Bowyer, Arromsmith, Fletcher and Horner were the specialists who made the arrow. Names such as Allabaster, Bolestur and Bannister originate from the arbalastor, or cross-bow man. The cross-bow maker was a boulter, or Bolt as we have it to-day. Lorimer made bridles, Homer helmets, and Armour the coat of mail. Ostler and Runciman looked after the horses, while Arkwright and Wainwright made the old chests and drays,

still so plentiful in old farm houses of the Alotherland. Physical peculiarities were th© source of many names, hence we have Crookshanks, Barebones, Armstrong, Black, White, Brown, Red (Reid and Reed), Alour (big), Begg (little), alsq King, Duke, Earl, Pope, Bishop, Priest, Sherriff and Purser. It is ob-< vious that no sources were overlooked to supply the 40,000 names that comprise the Empire’s people. Here a few names of especial interest: Stokes. —A not uncommon day; a place-name. In more than 60 parishes and towns of England Stokes forms part of the name. It means a defensive position fortified by a wooden palisade. Baldwin—A very famous Norman Christian name. A line of Baldwins were kings of Jerusalem in Crusader times. It is the parent of such names as Ball and Baldy. Askew.—This is Danish or Norse. Hollier.—From helum (Saxon) thatcher. Hodge.—From Rodger, once more popular than John for a Christian name in England. Rowley. —A descendant of Rolls or Ralph, meaning pure help. Randall is derived from the same root. Payne.—From De Pagan (a country man). Saunders. —Son of Alexander. Boyd.—Yellow, or fair-haired. Crow. —From Le La Croix (Nor-man-French), a cross. Bruce. From the place-name Bruis, in Normandy. Bruce is no more a true Scottish name than h Wallace. Brice.—From St. Brice, Bishop of Tours in 399. Hyslop, Hislop.—A place name. Withers.—A worker in Wyths. Crother.—A Saxon fiddler (six strings). Cunningham.—The home of the kind. Bristow. From Brig-stow, the settlement by the bridge. Leach. —Medical doctor of the middle-ages. Hay.—Saxon for Hedge. Duncan.—Brown head (Gaelic). Anderson.—Son of Andrew. Merson.—Matthew’s son. The printing press has done much to fix names and it will be found that in the last 200 years little change have + aken place.