# Patronymica Cornu-Britannica/B

B.
BAKE. From an estate of the same name in St. Germans, now or late in the possession of the Moyle family. Pryce renders Bake "the beak or stretching out."
BALHATCHET. Said from bal, a parcel of tin works; from valas, to dig. Gilbert gives the local name Ballachize, but he is probably speaking of Ireland.
​BANDRY. From ban-dre, the high dwelling; or ban-dreath, the high gravel.
BARAGWANATH, BARAGWANETH. Pryce renders bara-gwanath wheaten bread; but the name is rather from bar-gwanath, the top of the wheat (field?).
BARGUS, BURGUS. From Bargus in Perran Arwathal; from bargus, the top of the wood. Hals says St. Issey was taxed either under the jurisdiction of Polton or Burge, now Burgus, i. e. Turris.
BARICOAT. This name may be from Bary Court, in Jacobstow; from bar-i-coat, over the wood.
BARNACOTT, BARNECOAT, BARNECOTT, BARNICOAT, BARNICOTT. From barna-cot, the barn cot.
BARSOU. From bar-seu, the black top or summit. Pryce gives Bursue as the name of a village.
BASTARD, found BASTARDE. This name may not always refer to illegitimacy; viz., from bast-ard, base-descended. The Cornwall Directory contains as many persons of this name as do the London Directories. There is indeed a place called Bastard near St. Genny's, the last syllable of which may be from arth, ard, high.
BASWEDNACK. From the manor of Baswedneck, in Zennar; from bos-gwydn-ack, the white house. Pryce renders To-wedn-ack, Ty-widn-ick, the white dwelling near a port.
BATH. When of Cornish origin, perhaps from bedh, beth, a grove. There is a place called Bath Pool.
BATHER. Lower renders this name the keeper of a bath; Ferguson, a baptiser; from A. S. bœzere, bezera, from bœd, bœth, a bath. As a Cornish name, it may be ​from bather, bathor, a coiner, banker, exchanger of money; from bâth, a coin.
BATTEN, BATTIN, BATTING. From Battin or Batten, an estate in the parish of North Hill; from pedn, bedn, a hill, head.
BAUDEN, BAWDEN. Pryce renders Bowden, Bawden, a sorry fellow, bad man, nasty place. There is a place called Bawden in Duloe; and there is Bawdens in Gwennap. Vawden, Voaden, and sometimes Bowden and Boaden, may be the same name.
BAWDRY. From bow-dry, the bad or nasty dwelling; but the last syllable may be from dreath, draith, gravel, sand. Baudree was the name of a French Protestant family, and would seem to be from Baldric.
BEANBULK. From pen-buch, the cow's head (probably local).
BEDACK or BESSAKE. From the manor of Bedocke or Bessake in Ladoch; from bez-ack, the birch-tree place (bedho, bezo, a birch-tree).
BEDDOE, BEDDOW. This name seems to be from Bezo, anc. Bedou, in St. Peran Arwithel; from bedho, bezo, a birch-tree. Cf. the Welsh name Beddoes, from bedw, a birch-tree.
BEHANNA, BEHENNA. See Bohenna.
BELITHO. See Bolitho.
BEMROSE. Another orthography of Penrose, q.v.
BENALECK, BENALLACK, BENALLICK, BENELLICK, BENNALACK, BENNELLICK, BENNALLACK, BONALLECK (U. S. Bennellick). From Benalleck, in Constantine or Constenton, formerly Banathlek, Bennathlick; from benathal-ick, a place of broom.
​BENNEY, BENNY. See Pen.
BESSAKE. See Bedack.
BESWARICK. From bos-war-ick, the house upon the rivulet.
BESWETHERICK. From bos-bither-ick, the house by the meadow place, or the house in the meadow by the creek. There is however a place in Constantine called Boswathick. From Boswetherick we may have by corruption Bosmetherick.
BEVETTO. From bo-veth, the dwelling by the grave; or bo-verth, the green house. Pryce renders Trevetho, in Lelant, the town of graves.
BEWES. From Mab or Ap-Hughes, son of Hughes. Cf. the Welsh name Bew, from Ap-hugh.
BICE. See Bose
BICTON. From manor in St. Eve held by the family in Norman times. (Gilbert.) The name, if of Cornish origin, may mean village on the hill, or the little enclosure.
BIDDICK. From bidn, vidn-ick, the meadow place. Fiddick, Fidick, Viddicks, are different orthographies of the same name.
BISCOE, BISCOW. From boscrou, the dwelling by the cross; or the same as Pasco, q.v.
BISSICKS. Most probably from Bissick, near Truro; from bez-ick, the place for birch-trees.
BLAMEY. From blaidh-mez, the wolf's meadow; or pleû-mêz, the parish meadow.
BLEKENNOCK. "Turris Blekennok ab antiquo prope Lastydyall nuper Hugonis Curtenay," is found in William of Worcester's Itinerary. The name may be from pleû-gonock, the downy parish; or from le-gonnoc, the downy place.
​BLETSHO. From bleit-tshei, the dwelling of the wolf; or bledzhan, a flower-blossom. A correspondent suggests that the name may have been corrupted from that of Bolitho.
BOADEN. See Bawden.
BOAS, BOAZ. See Vose.
BOCARNE. From Bocarne in Bodmin, which Hals renders cows, kine, cattle, and white spar-stones, comparatively rocks! but the name is rather from bo-carne, the dwelling on or by the rocks; Boscarne would seem to be the same name.
BOCHYM. "At the time of Domesday (1087) the district of Cury or Curye was taxed under the jurisdiction of Büchent, now Bochym, i. e. the cow, kine, or cattle house or lodge, which place gave name and origin to an old family of gentlemen, surnamed de Bochym, temp. Henry VIII., who were lords of this manor and barton, till such time as John Bochym, tem. Edward VI., entered into actual rebellion against that prince....The arms of Bochym were, Argent, on a chief Sable, three mullets pierced of the Field" (Hals). Pryce also renders the local name Bochim, the oxen-house. It may also be derived from bo-cheim, the house on the ridge of the hill or promontory. Cf. Trekein in Creed, the dwelling on the ridge.
BOCONNOCK. From Boconnoc in West hundred. Hals says, "For the compound name Boconnoc, it is taken from the barton and manor of land still extant there, with reference to the beasts that depastured thereon, and signifies prosperous, successful, thriving, cows, kine, or cattle"! Tonkin says Bo-con-oke is Gaulish-Saxon, and signifies the town or village of Stunt Oke. The name is rather from bo-gonock, the downy place.
​BOCUNYAN. From Bocunyan, in Helland; from bo-gûn-an, the house on the down.
BODANAN. From Bodanan, in St. Teath; from bod-hân-an, the summer dwelling.
BODCARME. A name mentioned by C. S. Gilbert in a list of members of Parliament who have represented Bodmin. From bod-carn, the dwelling on the high rock.
BODCUIKE. From bod-quick, the house by the bay or creek.
BODDEY, BODDY. See Body.
BODDINAR. See Bodinnar.
BODECASTLE. From Boscastle, near Launceston. See Boscastle.
BODELSGATE. An ancient name. It may come from bod-als-coit, the dwelling on a cliff by the wood; or bod-alz-coit, the dwelling on the woody ascent.
BODENICK, BODENCK. From Bodenick in Lanteglos juxta Fowey, the same as Leland's Bodeneck and Bodennck. Pryce gives Bo-dinick, the dwelling by the river; but denick, thenick, means hilly; Cf. Tredenick, Trewarthenick, &c.
BODEWORGY. From Bodeworgy, in St. Columb Major; from bod-wor-gy, the house above the river. (I have been favoured with ths name, but I am not aware whether it is found as a surname.)
BODGENER. From bod-gûn, the dwelling on the down. But see Tregenno.
BODILY, BODILLY. From Bodily Veor (great), or Bodilly Vean (little), in the parish of Gwendron, in Kerryer hundred; from bod-egliz, the house by the church. Bod-yly, would signify the house of cure.
​BODINEL, BODINIEL. From an estate in Bodm⟨in⟩ anciently possessed by this family; the first part of the name is from bo, bod, a dwelling, and the last part is doubtless that of the owner. C. S. Gilbert writes the name Bodiniel.
BODINNAR, BODDINAR, BORDINNER. From bo-din-ard, the dwelling upon the high hill.
BODKIN. Lower says, "a younger son of the Fitzgeralds of Desmond and Kildare settled in Connaught in the thirteenth century, and obtained, as was not then uncommon, a sobriquet which usurped the place of a surname, and so was handed down. This was Bawdekin, probably from his having affected to dress in the costly material of silk and tissue of gold, so popular in that age under the name of baudkin. (See Halliwell.) The Bodkins still use the 'Crom-a-boo' motto of the Fitzgeralds." Ferguson seems to think Bodkin a diminutive from A. S. boda, a messenger. It may also come from body-kin, which would signify a little man; but the name is possibly of Cornish origin; from bod-kyn, the head abode or house; or bod-kein, the house on the promontory.
BODLEAT. From Castle Bodleet, mentioned in William Worcester's Itinerary; from root of Boleit, q. v.
BODMAN, BODMIN. From Bodmin in Trigg hundred (which Tanner, Not. Monas. writes Bodmin or Bodmanna); from bod-min, the stone dwellings. Tonkin renders Bodmin, Bodman, a priest or preacher (bode man).
BODMER. From bod-mer, the great house.
BODREGAN, BODRIGAN, BODRIGHAM, BODRUGAN, BODRUGON. From Bodrigan or Bodrugan, an estate in Gorran, where the family resided temp. ​Edward I. Pryce translates Bodrugan the "oak downs" (bo-dru-gan, bo-dara-gûn). Gilbert says, the barton of Bo-drig-han or Bod-rig-an, also Botrigan in Goran, gave name and original to an old family of gentlemen surnamed de Bodrigham or Bodrigan, also Botrigan, who flourished here in great fame wealth and reputation for several descents; and in particular there lived Otho de Bodrigan, temp. 17 Edward II. Polwhele renders Boddrugan the druid's house (bod-dru-den). Hence perhaps the surname Brodrigan.
BODY. From bod-wy, the dwelling by the water. This name however may sometimes be the same with the Anglo-Saxon Boda; from boda, O. N. bodi, a messenger. Qy. the names Boddy, Boddey.
BODYMELL. A name mentioned by C. S. Gilbert in a list of gentlemen who have represented Bodmin. Qu. from bod-mêl, the dwelling of honey; or bod-veal, the calves' house. There is a place called Bodivial in Crowan.
BOGER. From bo-geare, the green or flourishing dwelling.
BOGGAN, BOGGANS, BOGGON. From bo-gûn, the dwelling on the down. Hence the name Vogan.
BOGGAS, BOGGIS. From bo-gasa, the dirty dwelling; or bo-gas the house of trouble. There is a place called Boga in Lanreath.
BOHAY. See Bowhay.
BOHELLAND. Perhaps the dwelling of Helland, q. v.; or from bo-hellan, the habitation among the elms. There is Bohelland Farm in Gluvias, which has excited much curiosity for two centuries as being the scene of a dreadful murder related in D. Gilbert, ii. 100.
​BOHENNA, BOHENHA, BEHENNA, BEHANNA. From bo-heân, the old house. Heân also signifies a bay, port, or haven.
BOISRAGON. From bos-ar-gûn, the dwelling on the plain or down.
BOKELLY. From Bokelly in St. Kew, formerly the dwelling of the Carnsews; from bo-kelly, the house in the grove.
BOKIDDICK. From a village of the same name in Lanivet parish; from bo-kidiorch, the dwelling of the roebuck; or bo-coid-ick, the house in the woody place.
BOLAND. See BOLLAND.
BOLASE. From bo-glase, the green dwelling; or a corruption of Borlase, q. v.
BOLEIT, BOLLEIT. From bo-lait, the milk cot or dairy. But see Bolitho.
BOLIGH. A family that possessed property in Lansalloes. The name is from bo-hellik, the dwelling by the willows; or it may be the same name as Boleit, q. v.
BOLITHA. Perhaps from Bolotha in Kea; from root of Bolitho, q. v.
BOLITHO, BOLYTHO. From Bolithe, a hill in Crowan; from bol-ithig, the great belly (i. e. the great hill). Polito, Pollitto, Belitho are most probably the same name; and Bolitha may be from the same root.
BOLLAND, BOLAND. From polan, a pool or standing water. Pryce gives Bulland, Bullen, Pollan, clay enclosure; nom. fam. (bol-lan). Bollen, Bullun, Pollen, Poland, Polund may be the same name.
BOLLEIT. See Boleit.
BOLLEN. See Bolland.
BOLYTHO. See Bolitho.
​BONADY. From bon-duy, the house of God; or bon-dew, the black dwelling. Hence perhaps the surname Boundy.
BONAFORD. From bo'n-vordh, the dwelling on the way or road.
BONALLECK. See Benalleck.
BONE. From Bone in Madron; from bo-hân, the summer house.
BONEALVY. From bo'n-hâl-vy, the house on the hill or moor by the river. "It occurs as a local name in an abstract from the Augmentation Office relating to the Priory of Launceston." D. Gilbert, ii. 430.
BONETTO. From root of Bonithon, q. v.; or from bon-ithig, the great belly (i. e. the great hill).
BONIFANT. This name may mean the dwelling at the source or fountain (bo'n'y-font), or the dwelling in the bottom or valley (Armor, font, a bottom).
BONITHAN, BONITHON, BONYTHON. From Bonithon or Bonython, now Bonithin, an estate in the parish of Cury; from bo'n'y-thon, furzy dwelling.
BONTHRON. From bo'n-i-tron, the dwelling on the promontory or headland.
BONYTHON. See Bonithon.
BONYTHORN. A corruption of Bonthron, q. v.
BORASTON. From bora's-ton, the boar's hill; or Bora's-don, the hill of Bora.
BORDEN. From bor-den, the fat, i. e. fruitful, hill.
BORDENY. From Bordeney Abbey in St. Cleather; from bor-den-y, the fruitful hill by the river.
BORDINNER. See Bodinnar.
BORLASE, BORLAS. From Borlase, in the parish of ​St. Wenn; from bur-glase, the green summit or top. Hence the names Burlas and Burlace.
BORMAS. from bor-mas, the fat or fruitful meadow.
BORTHY (DE). From Borthy, one of the names under which S. Enodor was taxed in Domesday. "One Ralph de Borthy held in Dinbegh in Pidre, in 3 Henry IV., by the tenure of knight service, a small knight's fee." (Carew.) The name is from bar-thew, the black bunch or rising ground; or bor-thewy, the rising ground by the water. There is a place called Bortho in Crowan. "Berthy is still the voke lands of a manor pertaining to Penrose, now Boscawen and others." (Hals.)
BOSANKO, BOSANKOE, BOSANQUET, BOSANQUETT. From bos-ancou, the house of grief or sorrow. Lower suggests that this name is of French origin. He says, "Pierre Bosanquet, of Lunel in Languedoc, at the period of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, had seven children, two of whom, John and David, sought refuge in England, and from the latter the various English branches are descended. The name is local and was formerly prefixed with De." This may be so, and still the family may have been originally from Cornwall.
BOSAVERN, BOSAVERNE, BOSSAVERNE. From bos-wern, warne, the house by the alder-tree.
BOSCASTEL, BOSCASTLE. From Boscastle in Lesnewth. "The manor and honour of Bottreaux Castle, now called Boscastle, was the chief seat of the baronial family of De Bottreaux, until its extinction in the male line." (C. S. Gilbert) But see Botreaux.
BOSCATHNOE. From bos-codna, the house on the neck or promontory.
​BOSCAWAN, BOSCAWEN, BOSCOAN. From an estate called Boscawenrose in Burian; from bo-scawen-rose, the house in the valley of elders. Busscowen would seem to be the same name.
BOSCREEGE, BUSCREEGE. From bos-creeg, the dwelling by the creek; or bos-cryk, the dwelling by the barrow or hillock.
BOSCUMB. See Buscomb.
BOSENCE. From Bosence in St. Earth; from bo-sents, the saints dwelling.
BOSEUSE. Probably from Bowsawsen. D. Gilbert and others render Tresawsen or Bosawsen, in Perranzabuloe, "the house of the Saxon, or the English town or dwelling." (Zawsen, olim Sausen and Sawsneck, an Englishman.)
BOSHER. Lower thinks Bosher may be the same as Norman Bourchier. If of Cornish origin, the name may be from vos-hir, the long ditch, entrenchment, wall, or fortification. Trevosher or Trevosa is the name of two places in St. Petherwin.
BOSINNEY. From root of Bosithney, q. v.
BOSISTO, BOSISTOW, BOSSISTOW, BOSUSTOW. From the village of Bosistow, in St. Levan; from bo-stoc, the house near the stock of a tree.
BOSITHNEY. From Bossiney, Bosithney, Bosythny, alias Tintagel; from bo-sethe, the house in the bishop's see. (Sithney is the name of a parish in Kerrier hundred.) I do not find this surname, but have been favoured with it. See also Tresithney.
BOSKEA. From bos-kea, the enclosed dwelling; or bos-kè, the dwelling enclosed with a hedge.
BOSKEDNAN. From Boskednan, which Borlase ​mentions as one of four circles in Penrith hundred, having nineteen stones each; from bos-codna, the house by the promontory (codna, neck).
BOSKENNA. From Boskenna in Burian, which Pryce renders the house upon an ascent. Bos-kein would mean the dwelling on the ridge of a hill or promontory.
BOSMETHERICK. See Beswetherick.
BOSPER. See Vosper.
BOSAWSEN. D. Gilbert gives the local name Tresawsen, alias Bosawsen, in Perranzabuloe; which he renders "the English town or dwelling."
BOSCARNE. See Bocarne.
BOSPIDNICK. From bos-pedn-ick, the house at the head of the creek (ick); or from Baswedneck or Boswednack; the dwelling of St. Wednack or Wynnock. Cf. the local name Landewednack, signifying the church of St. Wednack. Pryce however renders the local name Towednack, Tywidnick, the white roof, white dwelling near a port.
BOSSAVERNE. See Bosavern.
BOSSISTOW. See Bosisto.
BOSSOWSACK. From Bossawsack in Constenton; from bos-sawsack, the healthy dwelling; or perhaps rather from bo-sawsneck, the dwelling of the Englishman.
BOSUSTO. See Bosisto.
BOSVARTHICK, BOSWARTHICK. From Boswarthick in Constantine; from bos-warth-ick, the house or dwelling in the high place.
BOSVEAL. See Busveal.
BOSVIGO. From Bosvigo in Kenwyn; from bos-guîk, the dwelling in a bay or creek.
​BOSWARTHA. From bos-warth, the high house; or bos-wartha, the higher house. There is a place called Boswarthen in Madron.
BOSWARTHICK. See Bosvarthick.
BOSWARVA. From Boswarva in Madron; from bos-wavas, the winterly dwelling; from guâv, guaf, winter.
BOSWAYDEL. From Boswaydel or Boswidle (in Ladock), which Tonkin renders "a house in an open place, or one easy to be seen." But the name means rather "the house in the woody place" (W. gwyddle).
BOSWELLICK. From the manor of Boswellick, which Tonkin translates "the house by the mill river" (bos-mel-ick).
BOTADON. From bod-din, the dwelling on the fortified hill, or on the steep hill.
BOTALLACK. From Botallock in St. Just, near Penzance; from bo-tall-ack, -ick, -ock, the highly situated dwelling.
BOTHERAS. From bod-thres, the barren dwelling.
BOTREAUX, BOTREUX, BOTTREUX, BOTTREAUX, BOTTERELL, BOTTERILL, BOTTRALL, BOTTRELL. Lower says William de Botreux held great possessions in Cornwall temp. Henry I., the chief of which was Botreux's Castle; by contraction, Boscastle; and that the family were Norman, and doubtless came from Les Bottereaux, near Evreux. Others derive the name from bo-treaux, the castle on the sea, or the castle on the water. As a Cornish-French compound (bor-ar-eaux), the name would translate "the dwelling upon the waters." Botterell, Bottrall, Bottrell, and Botterill, may be the same name, or from the same root.
​BOUNDY. See Bonady.
BOWDEN. See Bawden.
BOWHAY, BOHAY. From bo-hay, the enclosed dwelling. Cf. the local names Bowijack, Bowithick, and Bowjheer.
BRABYN. From bray-bigham, the little hill. There is a place called Brabins in Lanreath.
BRAIMER, BRAMER. From bray-mêr, the great hill.
BRANNELL. From the manor of Brannel (St. Stephen's) in Powder, which Tonkin considers to be the Bernel of Domesday. Whitaker says "the name Bernel, Beranel, Brannel speaks its royal relationship at once; brenhin or brennin in Welsh being a king; brennyn, brein, brenn in Cornish royal; Bran being the Welsh name for the famous Brenhind, and consequently brennol in Cornish signifying kingly or royal." The name however may be the same with the O. G. name Bernal.
BRAY, BREE. Some families of this name are from an estate in the parish of St. Just, near Penzance. Hals says, "Bray have name and origin to an old family of gentlemen surnamed De Bray, who held in this place two parts of a knight's fee of land, 3 Henry IV. I take the Lord Bray of Hampshire to be descended from this family." Pryce gives Bray, Brê, Brea, the hill; nom. fam.; and De Braye and Bree are doubtless the same name. Bray is the appellation of places in Alternun and Morval; and there is Brea in Illogan, and Bray's Tenement in Landulph.
BREEN. From bryn, a hill. Preen may be the same name.
BRENDON, BRENTON. From an estate in St. ​Dominick possessed by the family in early times; from bran-don, crow's hill. Hals mentions a Henry Brenton of St. Wenn, weaver, who died temp. George I., 103 years of age.
BRICE. See Price.
BROCKHILL. From brock-hill, badger's hill. Pryce gives "Brockhill, Brocks, Brocka, badger's hill. Nom. fam." There is a place called Brockel in South Petherwin.
BRODRIGAN. Bodregan.
BROS, BROWSE, BRUSH. From brâs, great, hodie braos, brawse.
BRYDON. From bry-don, the clay hill. "Brydon, Prydon, clay hill. Nom. fam." (Pryce.) Cf. Prye.
BUCKTHOUGHT. From buch-tor, the cows' hill.
BUDOCK, BUDOK. From Budock in Kerrier hundred, in Domesday Bowidoc; according to Hals, "from bud, a bay, cove, creek, haven, or inlet of waters; and oak, according to the ancient natural circumstances of the place." Pryce renders Budock, Bythick, oak haven; or the border or skirt of the harbour. Budocus was the name of a saint.
BULLAND, BULLEN. See Bolland.
BULLIVANT. This name has been derived from Norm. bel enfant, fine child, like Bellamy from bel amy; but Bullivant and Pillivant are possibly from Pollaphant in Alternun; or Pollyfont, Pollifont in Lewannick; or Polyfunt, Polyvant in Trewen parish, which Hals renders, "the top spring or fountain of water, called from some spring of water that rises in some high lands of that tenement;" but the name rather means the head of the spring (pol-y-font).
​BULLUN. See Bolland.
BURGAN. From bur-gan, the top of the down.
BURGESS. From berges, burges, a citizen, townsman; a Cornish form of the Fr. bourgeois.
BURGUS. See Bargus.
BURLACE, BURLAS. See Borlase.
BUSCOMB, BUSCUMBE, BOSCUMB. From bus-coomb, the dwelling in the valley.
BUSCREEGE. See Boscreege.
BUSSCOWEN. See Boscawan.
BUSVARGUS. From Busvargus in St. Just; from bus-var-gûs, the house or dwelling on the top of the wood.
BUSVEAL, BOSVEAL, BUSWELL. From Busveal in Gwennap; from bus-veal, the calves' house.
BUZZA. From bos-zâh, the dry dwelling; or bod-sau, the healthy abode.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse