The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-18
ETyMoLoeY MADE INTERESTING.
The Origin and Curious Evolution OF
Some English Surnames.

The Origin and Curious Evolution OF
Some English Surnames.
A magazine article by Sir Herbert
Maxwell presents in very readable
form the derivation of number of
common names. 1t will be news, for
example, to many of our readers that
Shocks was once known as Sevenoakes
Some persons are not aware that Eliza
beth is to be accounted an uncouth form
of Isabel, which was formed from Isa
beau on false superstition that Isabeau
was masculine. Eliza, it is stated, is
not shortened form of Elizabeth, but
is the equivalent of Alice. Marion, we
know, is in line with Marie, Mary and
Maria.
Patronymics have been much multi
piled through pet names. The Saxons
formed pet names by adding to the
original name-oftap abbreviated
and cock, and the Normans introduced
ct and OF, en- and on. From William we
have the pet names Will, Wilcox, Viii
kin, Willett, Wiley, Willemot, Willen.
Bill and Gull Uatin). From these we
get, in order, Williams, Macmillan.
Williamson, Wills, Wilson, Wilcox, Will
kins, Wilkison, Wilkinson, Willet, Viii
letson, Wi4Mot, Willing, Bilson, Gill.
ellison, Gilkins, Gilkison, Gillon and
elliott. Robert-through Robin, Dobb
Hob, Rob and Hobkin-gives us Rob
erts, Robertson, Robins, Robinson, Rob.
ison, Probyn, Dobbs, Dobson, Hobbs
Hobson, Robbs, Robson, Hopkins and
Hopkinson.
Philip gives us Phipps, Philpot and
Philpots. Richard has been distorted
by affection into the pet names Rich
Richie, Dick, Diccon, Hitchin and Hitch
cock. From these in turn we have
Richards, Richardson, Richards, Pritch.
ard, Rixon, Ritchie, Richison, Dick
Dixie, Dixon, Dickens, Dickinson, Hitch
ms, Hitchison, Hitchcock and Hitchcock
David has given as Davidson, Dodson
Dodds, Davy, Dawson, Daw, Dawson
Dawkins and O'Dowd. We have from
Henry the derivations Hal, Hallet
Harry, Harriet and Hawkins.
From John we get Jack and Jenkins.
from Simeon, Simkins. Thackeray's
ancestor was a thatcher. Nautilus got
his name from malthouse and the com
mon family name of Bacchus would be
more correctly spelled bakehouse. Mac
pherson means parsons son. Vickers
was the wears son. Wallace means a
Welshman, and Bruce is Norman
name. Sinclair, Montgomery, Hay and
Vance are, like Bruce, names derived
from lands in Normandy. Many English
surnames end in ford, ham (house), lea,
ton farm) and by (dwelling), from the
old practice of naming persons after
their native place. Aylesford, Grim.
ston, Habersham and Ormsby are ex.
amples.
Winslow is from words that mean
Wines hill. From Lea we get Lee,
Leigh and Leigh. The Welsh APP, son,
with Robert, has become Probert Ap
Rhys has become Price, APP Owen has
become Bowen, and APP Hugh has be,
come Pugh. A prosperous Dublin snuff
dealer named Halfpenny has had his APP.
pellation shortened, it is narrated, to
Halpen, and then enlarged to an impos.
ing McAlpin. 1t is interesting in this
connection to know that Finn and Find.
lay are Celtic surnames equivalent to
our White. Duff, Macdutf and Dow are
for Black. Glass is for Gray. Roy,
Cochran and Cochrane all mean red
Our Mr.. Brown is in Celtic Mr.. Dunn OF
Mr.. Donnan. Moore and Moran answer
to our Bigg. On the other hand, Begg&
is good Celtic for Little or Small. Oil.
plant (elephant) is a name derived from
shop sign. The reader will perceive
that many of our Christian names and
surnames have had curious HISTORIES
Baltimore Sun.