Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-04-09
Origin Of Names.

III hAlmlJ4NS t4AeSI CO AHNl -.
Sayles, in the Connecticut Magazine,
We know men and women boasted Of
but one cognomen, as witness the Bib
lical records. 1t was not until the
eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, or even
the fourteenth century that surna mes
became really stationary.
The word was formerly written sir
name.
Williamson and Stevenson would
naturally be sir or sire names, equiv
alent to son OF William and Of Steven.
ID the same way the people of Rus
sia sffix the termination Of witz, as
Pietrowitz, son of Peter the Poles
employing SKY IN the same way, Pad
erewsky.
Among the Sa1ons We find the end
ing ing" denotes descent; to this or
iein ale due such names as Browning
Willing, Dering, etc. the patronymic
syllable Mac was used in similar man
ner; and 10 Ireland the 0 slgnihed
grandson, as O'Sulhvan.
The Welsh often put the fathers
name in the possessive case, as George
Williams, or, as it is now written,
Williams. To this origin may be
traced many names ending in =.
The Greeks bore a single name CIV
en- the tenth day after birth, and usu-
ally expressing some admirable fea-
ture, as Sophron, the wise.
The Romans were much less digni-
fed than the Greeks names were de-
rived from ordinary employments, as
Porcius, swineherd or from some per-
sonal popularity, as Naso, the long
nosed
History tells us that the early dwell
ers upon earth erected their shelters
upon shores Of lakes, along the banks
of rivers or close by the sea, from
which source so much Of their food
was drawn. And so today, the con-
nection being obvious, We have such
names as Fisher, Hook, Bate, Sholes,
Dolphin, Epl., Conger, Salmon, Bass,
Goldman. Pike, Roach, Herring and
Crabb. all Of them good English names.
Trades and occupations have given
names to more inhabitants Of the earth
than any other cause, as, for example,
the innumerable family Of Smith, de-
rived from the Anglo Saxon "smiten, "
to smite, originally including wheel
wrights, carpenters, masons, etc.
Some years ago philolOgist under
took to enligbten the public as to the
extraordinary extension Of this name {;
after 80 columns he threw down his
pen in despair
Trade also first gave names to the
Tavlors Carpenters. B .kers, Masons,
Brewers, Skaters, Sawyers, Chandlers
and Golfers.
It is said a Sussex family by the
name Of Webb has carried on the
trade of weaving since the thirteenth
century.
Spencer is from "dispensator, or
steward Grosvenor from "gros ven
eur, grand huntsman.
With these we might mention names
from signs of inns, as Will at the Bull
and George at the Whitehorse, which
were afterward simpliGed into Will
Bull and George Whitehorse.
From wood is derived Atwood, By
wood, Underwood, Nstherwood, etc.
Jenner is an old form Of joiner; Mil
ner, Of Miller: Banister is the keeper
of 2 bath. We find the name Pitcher
means "a maker of pitches, warm
kind of upper garment, the great coat
of the fourteenth century.
Crocker means a maker Of pottery.
from the word "crock, which in pro-
vincial dialect signifies a large jar.
Ward indicates keeper az Durwsrd,
Joorkeeper; Hayward, or Herewsrd
keeper Of the town cattle Woodward
forest keeper Millward, keeper Of a
mill; Kenward, dogkeeper.
Formerly, if one dwelt upon bill
he would style himself Attehill or At
hill; if near moor, Attmore. We
find color and complexion have given
rise to many surnames, as Black
Blsckman, Brown and Redman.
The color Of the hair must also have
been considered, as We find innumer-
able Blackhesds, Greys, Redheads and
Whiteheads. The form Of the head
added few Longbesds, Broadheads,
etc.
Not from the head alone have names
been taken; Longfellow, Tsllmanr
Prettyman, Freeman, Pullman and
Peunymsn cOnjure up for ne length,
height and pennies. The termination
lin Is diminutiye Timpkin meaning