The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-06-29
MARKING THE Man
Origin of Surnames In the Coed
Old Days of Long Ago.
MANY SOURCES OF SUPPLY.

When Trades and caIIings Were Ex-
hausted Then places and Events or
Objects and Personal Characteristics
Were Pressed Into Service.
1t cannot but be admitted that con-
siderable food for thoughtful refec-
ton is offered in the study OF the origi-
nation of names. 1t was all very well
when the world was young; but, as
writer says, "As the population in
creased and communication became
possible and easier the supply of sin
gle names was not equal to the de
mand, and people began to get midi
viduals bearing the same name mixed
1t was at this time that the surname
was thought of and adopted, so that
families might be distinguished one
from the other"
Trades and callings are in this day
represented In the names of Baker,
Carver, Shoemaker, Tyler, Chandler,
Mason, Cutler, Carter, Saddler, Slater,
Butcher, Draper, Thatcher, Fletcher,
Hooper, Cheeseman, Turner, Joiner,
Cooper, Glider, Mercer, Skinner, Cole
man, Sawyer, Tanner, Spicer, Cook,
Tutor, Miner, Driver, Weaver, Gard
ner, Archer, Merchant, Porter, Vain
wright, Taylor, Shepherd, Glover and
ever SO many others.
Says Cliffard Howard, who has de-
voted himself to this pleasant study:
"Such names as Hall, Stair, Carrot,
Kitchin and Chambers also record the
occupations of our forefathers, who in.
these cases were engaged in the house
holds of the nobility and had charge
Of such apartments as the names In
dicate. Others held higher Offices, and
from them we have the surnames
Page, Butler, Proctor, Forester, Stew,
ard, Baily, Fowler, and Woodward and
Hayward, the keepers, respectively, Of
the forest and the cattle"
In other localities it was usual to-
point out an individual by the place Of
his birth or residence, custom which
resulted in the adoption of such sur
names as French, Scott, Welsh, Eng.
lish, Dan, Burgoyne, Cornish and
CORVALLIS, Kent, York, Chichester,
Lincoln, Wells, Washington, Putnam.
Hurst, Buchanan, Preston and Ban.
croft. A great many of this sort were
originally the names of baronial es-
tates, which names the barons adopted.
as surnames.
Those who were not of such high
estate were forced to content them;
selves with humber titles. Thus John,
who lived by the brook, became John
Brook, and David, who lived by
giant oak, was called David Tree.
Richard, who lived at the end of
town, became Richard Townsend,
while his brother, who lived under the
brow of hill, became known as Peter
Underwood Those who lived near
the water took the name of Atwater.
At the time. family names began to
be used the shops Of the merchants
were not numbered as they are now,
but were known by their signs, which
were suspended at the front doors and
bore pictures of all sorts of animals,
vegetables. birds, flowers, fishes and.
insects 1t was customary to speak OF
an innkeeper, then, as John of the
Bear, or Dick Of the Swan, and, as
may be readily understood, these
names were soon converted into Bear
Hogg, Hart, Bull, Fox, Wolf, Colt,
Hare, Beaver, Lyon, Swan, Peacock.
Heron, Dove, Partridge, Cock, Finch,
Hawk, Crane and Drake, as well as
Burt, Chubb, Haddock, Herring, Pike
Perch and others. From vegetables,
trees, fruits and flowers we have Bean,
Broome, Clover, Birch, Ash, Haw-i'
thorne, Hazel, Peach, Flower, Nettle,
Vine, Plant, Budd. Branch and Root.
besides dozens more.
The shop signs bore other devices,
and from these we have such names
as Bell, Hammer, Coates, Mantell,
Jewel, Potts, Pipes and others.
A great many nicknames remained
fixed as family names, the most impor-
tant being those which referred to the,
color of hair or complexion, and from
these come such well known names as
Brown, Black, Gray, White, Reed red,
Blount fair). Others were given for
some personal attainment or char;uter-
istic. such as Armstrong, Mitchell
great, Singer, Whistler, Eatwell, Swim
dells, Strong, Weak, Small, Osgood
(well built, Longfellow, Crookshanks,
Longman, Whitehead. Broadhead, Swift.
Sober, Noble, Hardy, Doolittle, Good
man, Darling, Long, Short, Bachelor
Savage, Wise, Sweet, Moody and others.
To these might be added King, Queen,
Pope, Bishop, Knight, Prior, Abbot,
Squire, Earl, Duke, Baron, Lord, Prince
and others which were originally given
to individuals because Of their bearing
the titles or because of services they
may have rendered them.
There are many more which do not
come under any particular heading, but
owe their origin to some event which
the names appropriately indicate-Joy,
Bliss, Morrow. Winter, March, May,
Weeks and so on.-Exchange.
Making Sure.