The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-01-01
OFFICIAL PAPER OF ALLEN COUNTY,
The ORIGIN oE NAMES.
Some Interesting Information Concerning
the Derivation of Surnames.

Some Interesting Information Concerning
the Derivation of Surnames.
Like everything else in this world
names grew. In the beginning one
name was amply sufficient, as it is now
among barbaric and semi-civilized peo-
pies. With few exceptions, the char
acters in the Bible have but a single
name. and so in all ancient history.
In some cases where surname is used,
its derivation is readily discernible-as
Scipio Africanus, SO called from his con-
quest of Africa-but they were not in
general use.
There were no hereditary surnameS
in England before the time of the
Norman conquest. 1t is true that
surnames are given in "Domesday
Book" but these were for the most
part official and professional, and were
not transmitted as family names. As
early as the twelfth century 1t was
thought essential for persons Of rank
to bear Surname, and gradually the
use extended through all the lower
classes. Not, however, until the reign
of Edward II, in the fourteenth CEN
fury, was the use enforced by an act of
parliament.
The origin of the family names is
widely different, and yet upon exami-
nation the difference is not so great as
appears on the surface. Perhaps the
most common origin is that of son at
fixed to Christian name, the signifi-
canoe of which is at once obvious,
showing that when the name was first
used as a family name the father
was John, Thomas or William, as
the case might be. We find this
same custom among other nations.
The Russian terminal witch, the
Saxon prefix ing, the Jewish ben. the
Welsh ap, the Irish mac, the Polish ski
all osignify son, while the Irish o
signifies grandson. The trades furnish
many surnames-Smith taking the lead
although the old English rhyme rung:
But whence comes Smith, all be he knight or
squire,
But from the smith that forgeth at sho Ore.
1t is not quite true, for the word
originally applied to anyone who smote,
and included carpentry, masons and
others. Names derived from occupa-
ton usually end in er-potter, Painter,
Lorimer Ia maker of bits for brides
and spurs). Salter (the man who looked
after the salt, Spiller Ia maker of
spindles or lathes). The termination
ster usually denotes awomanS occupa-
ton. Webster is the feminine of Web
Der; Brewster of Brewer. Dexter was
q woman who worked by the day.
Many English surnames were formed
from words compounded of two or more
AnglO-SaXOn words. The termination
ham signifies home or place; Burnham
is the place of q burn or brook; Buch-
ingham is place suitable for beeches,
or place for soaking cloth in lye from
the ashes of the beech. Ton was first
an Enclosure, later 1t was village or
town; Leighton is a level town; Hilton
a hill town; Clayton and Newton are
obvious; Norton is the north town, SUIT
ton the south: Milton is the village
where the mill is situated; Kempton the
camp town, or soldiers village Ly
indicates a field; Stanley or Ston-
", strong field; Ashley
field favorable for ash trees; Oak
ly for oaks; Cowly a field for
cows BY or hi is Danish, and implies
a habitation; Byford is home at the
ford; Byfield is home in the meadow.
Knapp is the tOpof a hill, while Knowles
Is derived from knoll. Holme is
meadow surrounded with water; the
natural tendency to pluralize names
gives the familiar Holmes.
In a similar way we have Hawes from
nj Of in.
a word used in the old records to de-
scribe a narrow slip of ground. Shaw
is sometimes used alone as a surname,
and is sometimes the terminal in a COM
pound word. as Henshaw, Grimshaw. It ;
small wood or copse. Godfrey
IS Gods peace. Goodwin and Goodwin.
friend of God. iallivell is a holy well,
IS halliday is holy day, and holyoke ,
holy oak Doggett is probably the ,
same as the Anglo-Saxon dogod. which
is derived from a noun Signifying vir-
tue. The termination ward means
keeper. Hayward is the keeper of cat 4;
lie, Durward doorleeper, Woodward /!
a protector of the forest, Milward, {
keeper of the mill '
Cross was not derived from a mans !
disposition. 1t indicates one who lived
near a market cross or crossroads {
stone was originally given to some one :
who resided near druidical or other {
remarkable stone. Peter likewise {
means stone, being derived from Greek j
Allied to Peter or Peters, which |
5 the usual form of the sur q
lame, are Pierce, Pierson and S
'ther names whose meaning at 9
'nce becomes obvious. Roche is rock. 5
coming from Latin through French |
1ar means army; lIarbert. famous |
Irmy; Harnan, man of the army: Har- 1
-ey, an army from war. WOolley '
comes from the Anglo-Saxon Wulfheh, 4
md literally means a wolf on "a high or Y
Elevated place. Willard is from old
German, will and hard, will having the
ense of resolution. and hard meaning
or strong. Wiley. Williams
md Wilmot are of kindred origin.
The church has furnished a great va
iety of surnames-Pope, Parsons, Vi
ar, Bishop, Dean, Deacon, Clark and d
PRIEST. With the prefix Mac came Mae
Hickey, MACPHERSON, while Priest leads
O Priestly and others. The names of I
aints have been popular as surnames.
It. Clair is sometimes changed to Sim
lair, Augustine is contracted to Aus I
in, Benedict to Bennett. St Mature be- o
ONES Seymour. The Crusades opened '
he way for Palmer. the pilgrim who Z
listed the Holy Land and bore a
ranch of palm as token thereof, Y
'ayne, it is claimed, was the name e
'iven to some paynim or Mussulman
sho mbraced the Christian faith dur