Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-25
ETYMOLOGY MADE INTERESTING.
The Origin and Curious Evolution of
Some English Surnames.


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
Snooks 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 a false supposition 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-often abbreviated-kin
and cock, and the Normans introduced
ct and OF, en- and on. From William we
have the pet names Will, Wilcock, Will
kin, Willett, Wiley, Willemot, Willen,
Bill and GULL Natin). From these we
get, in order, Williams, MacWilliam,
Williamson, Wills, Wilson, Wilcox, Will
kins, Wilkison, Wilkinson, Willet, Will
letson, Wilmot, 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, Richie, Richison, Dick,
Dixie, Dixon, Dickens, Dickenson, Hitch.
ins, Hitchison, Hitchcock and Hitchcock.
David has given as Davidson, Dodson,
Dodds, Davy, Dawson, Daw, Dawson,
Dawkins and ODowd. 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 thatcher. Malthus 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
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 Ap, son.
with Robert, has become Probert. Ap
Rhys has become Price, Ap Owen has
become Bowen, and Ap Hugh has be.
come Pugh. A prosperous Dublin snuff
dealer named Halfpenny has had his ap.
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, Macduff and Dow are
for Black. Glass is for Gray. Roy,
Cochran and Cochrane all mean red.
Our Mr.. Brown is in Celtic Mr.. Dunn or
Mr.. Donnan. Moore and Moran answer
to our Bigg. On the other hand, Beggs
is good Celtic for Little or Small. Oil
phant (elephanD is name derived from
a shop sign. The reader will perceive
that many of our Christian names and
surnames have had curious histories.-
Baltimore Sun.