Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-27
no. XI1IL
English Surnzmes.


TO be found in an article in the last Edin6urg Re
view, on the derivation of English surnames.-
We wish we had room for its insertion in our col
umns. The vast variety of these names always
! seems mysterious, without some satisfactory &c
count of their origin. The article referred to.
throws much light upon this subject and accounts
; very pausbly for most of those names that are
susceptible Of classification. Eight leading cas-
ses are given.
lst. The Norman names brought into Eng
land by the invaders at the Conquest. Domesday
Book is the great authority for this class. They
are either preceded by the French particle de, re-
ierrng TO particular places in Normandy, by ie,
which implies some other distinction of the indi-
vidua. or they stand alone without a prefix
DE Valenee. lie Strange. Forteseue, are ilusira-
tions. Fit-, prefxed to Norman names, CORES
ponds 10 son, appended TO Saxon names. AS Faz
james-the son Of James, Fitz William, the son
of William. Some modern parvenus have expos-
ed both their vanity and their ignorance by using
the Norman and the Saxon form at the same time,
as Fits Harrison.
2nd. That large class Of names which have
local origin in England itself, such as Brook, Vck.
Street, Field. There is an old English couplst
that runs thus,
| In ford, in ham, in ley, and tun
| The most Of English surnames rum
An anccdote is told of former Lord Lytile;on,
that he joculary boasted the superior antiquity Of
his name over that of the Grenvilles. on the
ground that the lille to,cn existed before tho
grande rifle an anecdote that reminds the re-
viewer Of a more serious dispute that once arose
at Venice between the families of the Ponti and
the Canal. The former alleged that the bridges
were above the canals, the latter that the canals
existed before the bridges, and the Senate was
at las! obliged to nterpOse and settle the question
for them. Ia this connection, it is remarked that
in few instances, the names Of men have been
converted into words Of common import. as tanta-
lize, n,Gcadamize, sanduich, a tilbury, or 4
brOugham.
1t is an interesting fact connected with the To-
cal origin of names, that Fairfield, runs through
all the languages Of Europe, as Campbell, Ktm
Bile, Campo beltO, Beachamp, Schon0u.
8. The class of names derived from occups-
tons There are 55SS Smiths born annually in
England and Wales. The Taylors are next ia
number. In France the name of Leferre CORES
ponds to our Smith, and is derived from the Latin
faber. Turner'S, Cooks, and Shepherds, are 9th
er familiar examples of the class Of names now
referred to. The name of the poet Chaucer 10
supposed to be derived from chaussure, hose, and
is said to be the same as Hosicr. The derivation
of Napier is also interesting. In old times the
servant who at table held the napkin for the host
or guest was called napier. JNapery, observes
the reviewer, denotes table linen, hence, the off,
cial designation aud the surname derived from II.
King is very common English name. 1t exist
ed at Rome in the form of Rer, and is frsquenti Ia
France as Roi, and in Germany as Roenig.
A wish to get rid of vulgar name has induc-
ed many German scholars to adopt Greek and
Latin FORMS .Neander is translation Of .Neau-
mann, .Melancthen of Schwarizcrdt, Gro.ius Of
De Groot. An English physician, DR.. Key.
gave charter and his name, latinized, to Cains'
College, Cambridge, which is pronounced Key's
college to this day. For some similar reason per.
haps, son Of Monsieur Paque!in became cels.
brated as .Molere, and cadet of the family Ar
rom made himself famous under the surname Of
Voliaire. The name of Phiiipotts is a corruption
of Phihpot, diminutive of 81. Philip, and should
be SO written.
4th. Another large class consists Of those de-
rived from the christian names of parents, as from
Henry are derived Harrison, Harris. Herrie, Hal
kin, Hdices, and Hawkin,. .4p in Welch sgni.
fies son, and Thomas ZIP William. ZIP TIhomas,
ZIP Richard, ZIP Hoei, ZIP Euan, the actual name
Of Welch gentleman of former times, i, thus
easily understood.
5th. This class consists of descriptive namS
as Goodman. Vise, Moody.
9th. Those derived from the animal vegeta-
Bile. and mineral kingdoms, as Wolf. Steel. Ross.
9TH. These are derived from religion, as Par-
do Blood, 81. John.
9Th. These are the foreign names introduced
into England after the Conquest from Scotland,
ireland, and other countries of Europe. They
are too numerous and familiar to require lustrs-
tcn.
We would gladly enlarge further upon this en-
teraining investigation but time and space forbid.
We refer the reader to the article itself, which 10
suggested by several learned works on the subject
-Souti.ern Weekly Post