Origin and popularity of the name ANN

Origin

Ann : English:: 1: habitational name from Abbots Ann in Hampshire named for the stream that runs through it which is most probably named with an ancient Celtic word meaning ‘water’.2: possibly from the Middle English female personal name Ann(e) which is normally a pet form of Agnes (Middle English Annes) since the Biblical homonym was not common before the 15th century.

Addleton : possibly like the surname Adlington from one of the places called Adlington. Sarah Ann Addleton birth recorded 1882 in Dudley (Staffs) appears to be the same as Annie Smith formerly Haddleton born Cradley Heath (Census 1901) and Sarah Ann Smith formerly Addlington child's birth recorded 1904.

Annunziata : Italian: from a short form of the Marian name Maria l'Annunziata referring to the Annunciation by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of her impending motherhood (Luke 1:20–38). The festival of the Annunciation has been celebrated since the 5th century. It was at first kept on Ember Wednesday during Lent but was later moved to 25 March exactly nine months before Christmas Day replacing pagan festivals celebrating the vernal equinox.

Answorth : 1: variant of the Lancs name Ainsworth as illustrated by Adami Answorth 1573 Thomas Ainsworth 1603 in IGI (Bolton Lancs). The name probably migrated to the London area and to SW England. With the early bearers cited below compare Samuel Ainsworth 1714 in IGI (Hemel Hempstead Herts); Nathaniel Ainsworth 1739 in IGI (Yatton Somerset); Ann Ainsworth 1792 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs). 2: variant of the WR Yorks name Hainsworth though some of the following early bearers could alternatively belong with (1).

Blant : altered pronunciation of Blunt. Compare John Blant 1610 William Blunt 1626 in IGI (Witherley Leics) and Robert Blount 1624 Elianor Blunt 1699 Ann Blant 1779 in IGI (Elford Staffs).

Brentley : late variant of Brenkley. Compare Robert Brantley 1758 Margaret Brankley 1791 in IGI (Aldbrough ER Yorks); Mary Ann Brenkley 1840 John Brentley 1840 in IGI (Kirkby Ravensworth NR Yorks).

Caller : 1: in Kent and Somerset chiefly a variant pronunciation of Callow (2) or (3). Compare John Callowe 1592 Susanna Caller 1754 Mary Callow 1775 in IGI (Canterbury Kent); Thomas Caller 1744 Josiah Callow 1748 in IGI (Durston Somerset); Josephi Caller 1717 William Callow 1772 in IGI (Wedmore Somerset); Henry Callow 1710 Joan Caller 1712 in IGI (Wilton Somerset); Ann Callow 1774 Ann Caller 1760 in IGI (Tenterden Kent). 2: from Middle English callere ‘maker of cauls’ (baskets nets women's close-fitting caps or headdresses for covering tied-up hair) a derivative of Middle English calle (Old English cawl) ‘basket net’. See Call and compare Keller.for someone who lived by or worked at a sheep pen or pigsty (Middle English calle) synonymous with atte Calle; see Call. This type of name consisting of a topographical term + -er was particularly common in Sussex Surrey Hants and Kent.

Camping : variant of Campion. Compare Mary Campion 1684 Robert Camping 1687 in IGI (Dartmouth Devon); John Campion 1729 Richard Camping 1782 in IGI (Lawshall Suffolk); Ann Campion 1757 Will Camping 1760 in IGI (Donington in Holland Lincs); Catharine Camping 1766 John Campion 1770 in IGI (Stamford Lincs).

Canvin : from the ancestor of the Welsh male given name Cynfyn the first element of which comes from the original stem of ci ‘hound’. Compare Ann Cynvin 1722 in IGI (Grosmont Monmouths). Morgan and Morgan report the name in this spelling also from Herefs Cheshire Radnors and Cumb.possibly to be associated with the unexplained eastern England name of Nichs. Convyn 1568 in IGI (Mistley Essex) and Alice Convine 1817 in IGI (Littleport Cambs).

Charrett : late variant of Cherrett or Cherritt variants of Cheesewright. Compare John Cherrett 1786 John Charrett 1786 in IGI (Chichester Sussex); Ann Cherrett 1823 Ann Charrett 1824 in IGI (Christchurch Hants).

Cleife : variant of Cliff. Compare Edward Cleve 1588 John Cliffe 1595 John Cleife 1600 in IGI (Paignton Devon); Ann Cliffe 1770 Thomas Clife 1806 Thomas Cleife 1807 in IGI (Alverstoke Hants).

Cliffen : reduced form of Clifton; compare Ann Cliffton 1725 Ann Cliffen 1732 Sarah Clifon 1744 in IGI (Bromsgrove Worcs); Thomas Clifton 1737 Thomas Cliffen 1743 Thomas Cliften 1751 in IGI (Gedney Lincs).

Complin : variant of Camplin. Compare John Camplin 1740 Ann Complin 1751 in IGI (Beverley ER Yorks).

Crickard : reduced form of McCrickard. Joannes (i.e. John) Crickard and Anna (i.e. Ann) Gartlan are identical with Joannes McCrickard and Anna McGartlan in the 1860s registers of Saint Wilfred's in Bishop Auckland.

Cringle : from Knickol a reduced form of Gaelic Mac Niocoil ‘son of Nichol(as)’ (see Nicholl Nicholas). Through dissimilation Knicol locally became Cringal in the Isle of Man. Kneen notes that Ann Knickle wife of Robert Curphey 1786 1790 died in 1812 when she is recorded in the Parish Register as Ann Curphey alias Cringal wife of Robert Curphey.

Daguanno : Italian: patronymic from Aguanno from aguanno ‘this year’ (from Latin hoc anno) used as a personal name or from a form of registration (compare Dell'Anno).

Daldry : apparently a variant pronunciation of Daltry see Dawtrey. Compare Ann Dawtry 1698 in IGI (Hadleigh Suffolk).

Danna : 1: Italian (also D'Anna): metronymic with (fused) preposition d(e) ‘of’ from the personal name Anna. This surname is also found in southern France.2: French (mainly Nord): probably a cognate of Danis.3: Americanized form of French Danis. Compare Donna.

Death : apparently from Middle English deeth deth Old English dēaþ ‘death’ perhaps for someone who played the part of Death in a local pageant.The figure of Death occurs for example in the Chester mystery cycle. The traditional pronunciation of this surname in modern times is /di:θ/ (Deeth) which would be a normal development of Old English dēaþ besides the usual modern pronunciation of the word as /dɛθ/. In Middle English Kent dialect the word is also found as diath. The spellings with an apostrophe de'Ath de Ath D'Eath De Aeth etc. are modern introduced perhaps to dissociate the name from the negative connotations of the word and to give it an appearance of gentry status. Sir Thomas D'eath 1723 in TNA was MP for Canterbury and Sandwich and 1st Baronet D'Aeth of Knowlton (Kent). He is perhaps descended from the Death family that is recorded in the Farnborough and Dartford area since the 16th century. Such re-spellings became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sampson Death aged 30 miller in Census 1841 (Roydon Essex) appears as Sampson De'Ath aged 71 born in Roydon (Essex) in Census 1881 (Bishop Stortford Herts). Martha Ann Death born in Great Waldingfield Suffolk in Census 1841 (Alpheton Suffolk) appears as Martha A. De'ath in Census 1881 (Buckingham Bucks).

Delahooke : variant of Hook (1) with French preposition and definite article added in modern times. Compare the 1839 bearer listed below with Ann Hooke 1747 James Hook father of James Hook 1794 in IGI (Wembury Devon). The 1911 bearer is probably to be identified with Edmund Arthur Hook born in Canterbury in Census 1881 (Canterbury Kent) who also changed the sequence of his forenames.

Dellow : probably denoting someone who lived at a place named The Hoo from Old English hōh Middle English Ho ‘hill spur promontory’ (see Howe) prefixed with Anglo-Norman French del or de la (‘of the’ or ‘at the’). The source of the medieval surname cited below is The Hoo in Great Gaddesden (Herts) which is recorded as la Hoo in 1325. The later Dellow family of Great Hormead may have descended from the de la Hoo family of Great Gaddesden but this is unproven. In the modern period the name was sometimes pronounced /dɛlə/ and spelled Deller or Dellar as in Mary Dellar or Dellow 1744 in IGI (Great Hormead Herts). See Deller for more examples. The name may sometimes have been reduced to Hoo Hoe or Howe. Compare Henry Howe 1558 in IGI (Ware Herts) with the 1651 bearer below and Water Howe 1560 in IGI (Bassingbourn Cambs) with Ann Dellow 1793 in IGI (Bassingbourn Cambs) but these could be coincidental occurrences of different family names.

Dewitt : 1: variant pronunciation of Devitt a name well evidenced in Nether Whitacre and Nuneaton (Warwicks) and in Bedford (Beds). 2: occasionally an anglicization of De Witt ‘the white(-haired) fair or pale-skinned one’ from Middle Dutch witte + the definite article de. The 1820 bearer below might be related to one or more of Ann Deuitt 1699 Jacobi Dewitt 1760 Thomas Henry Devitt 1814 Mary Devett 1821 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London) but these bearers have been treated as examples of Irish or English Devitt.

Dewland : apparently a variant of Dowland. Compare Ann Dowland 1747 Edward Dewland 1752 in IGI (Melksham Wilts); Thomas Dowland 1804 Sarah Dewland 1809 in IGI (Sherborne Dorset).

Dorks : probably a late variant of Dawkes. Compare Daniel Dorks 1739 Daniel Dawks 1777 in IGI (Haversham Bucks); Wm. Dorks 1788 Ann Dawkes 1793 in IGI (Great Staughton Hunts).

Drackett : late variant of Draycott. Compare Samuel Draycott 1704 Ann Drackett 1777 Richard Dracott 1780 in IGI (Leicester Leics); Robert Dracott 1821 Robert Drakitt 1823 in IGI (Ordsall Notts).

Emby : probably a late variant of Embley with loss of -l-. Compare Ann Embley 1809 in IGI (Bentham WR Yorks) with the 1816 bearer below.

Ennett : 1: variant of Annett which Kneen records in IoM as Annatt in 1798 along with Ennett in 1825. Compare Dinah Annatt 1648 John Ennett 1661 in IGI (Stepney Middx); Peter Annet 1776 Archd Ennett 1858 in IGI (Braddan IoM); Catherine Annatt 1803 Ann Ennett 1809 in IGI (Douglas IoM). 2: see Hinett.

Gilders : 1: variant of Gilder or Gelder with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare Ric. Gelder 1566 in IGI (Barton upon Humber Lincs) Nicholas Gilder 1589 in IGI (Saint Ann Blackfriars London) Jeremie Gilder 1592 in IGI (Islip Oxon) and Anne Gilder 1769 in IGI (Alresford Essex) with the bearers cited below. 2: perhaps for an officer of a town's guild-house (Middle English gild-ho(u)s). However it is uncertain that the Middle English surname became hereditary as post-medieval forms like Gildas and Gildus are likely to be quasi-phonetic spellings of Gilders or Gelders in which /r/ has been assimilated to the following /s/. The 1688 spelling Gildhouse is probably a hypercorrect form of Gildus by folk etymology. All the post-medieval examples listed below may therefore belong at (1).

Gramson : of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of Grandison with change of -n- to -m-. Compare Ann Elizabeth Grandson 1820 in IGI (Bermondsey Surrey) with the 1821 bearer below.

Haggith : probably a variant of Haggitt itself a variant of Hackett. Compare Johathan Charloner Haggeth 1788 James Haggeth 1814 Sarah Ann Haggitt 1818 in IGI (North Walsham Norfolk).

Hallybone : 1: variant of Alban. Compare Roberta Alban 1709 in IGI (Westminster Middx) with the examples below. 2: variant of Hollebon with an unrounded main vowel as shown by Ann Hollebone 1746 Thomas Hollybone 1750 Thomas Holybone 1753 Thomas Hallybone 1773 in IGI (Gosport Hants).

Halshaw : apparently a late variant of Halmshaw with loss of -m-. Compare Sarah Halmshaw 1750 Ann Halshaw 1818 in IGI (Kirkheaton WR Yorks).

Hamey : variant of Amey with prosthetic H-. Compare Ann Amey 1760 Ann Hamey 1760 in IGI (Great Staughton Hunts).

Hawcock : 1: apparently a variant of Awcock (itself a variant of Alcock) with prosthetic H-. Compare William Hawcock 1776 Ann Awcock 1780 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks); Thomas Hawcock 1789 Ann Awcock 1792 in IGI (Doncaster WR Yorks); William Hawcock 1802 Phoebe Awcock 1822 in IGI (North Carlton Lincs); Charles Awcock 1836 William Hawcock 1839 in IGI (Ingham Lincs). 2: perhaps from a pet form of the Middle English personal name Haw(e) (see Haw) with the hypocoristic suffix -cok. Some of the post-medieval bearers below may belong under (1).

Hefford : variant of Hayford. This is sometimes a dialect pronunciation of Hawford or Hawforth (see Halford and Alford) as suggested by William Hefford 1610 Elizab Hawford 1617 in IGI (Peatling Magna Leics); Robert Heyford 1627 Nathaniel Halford 1629 Samuell Heferd 1675 Ann Heford 1733 in IGI (Husbands Bosworth Leics); Nathaniel Halford 1702 John Hawford 1706 John Heffer 1719 in IGI (Wellingborough Northants). The variation in the vowel would have arisen from the common change of -aw- to -ay- shortened to -e-.

Hilland : variant of Hyland. Compare Ann Hyland 1683 Eliz. Hilland 1720 William Highland 1753 in IGI (Wadhurst Sussex); John Hilland 1611 Thomas Highland 1762 in IGI (Tenterden Kent); and with the Cornwall examples below compare John Hyland 1589 in IGI (Linkinhorne Cornwall).

Hings : 1: variant of Hing with post-medieval excrescent -s.variant of Ings with prosthetic H-. 2: perhaps also a variant of Hinks with voicing of /k/ to /g/. Compare Ann Hinks 1764 in IGI (Austrey Warwicks); Ann Hinks 1769 in IGI (Wappenbury Warwicks); John Hinks 1773 in IGI (Polesworth Warwicks) with the early bearers below.

Hodger : 1: of uncertain origin. Perhaps an altered form of Hodge; compare Phillip Hodge 1615 Phillip Hodger 1616 in IGI (Witheridge Devon); Jonet Hodge 1634 Jonet Hodger 1655 in IGI (Edinburgh Midlothian). 2: apparently sometimes an irregular variant of Hedger. Compare John Hodger 1723 Ann Hedger 1724 in IGI (Shipley Sussex); Elizabeth Hedger 1782 John Hodger 1785 in IGI (Angmering Sussex); Joseph Hedger 1783 Sarah Hodger 1784 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Robert Hedger Robert Hodger 1786 in IGI (Heyshott Sussex).

Hotine : probably a late variant of Howting; compare John Howtin 1689 Thomas Howting 1775 in IGI (Boughton under Blean Kent); Ann Hotin 1728 in IGI (Westminster Middx).

Hughesman : 1: apparently a late irregular variant of Heasman. Compare Sophia Hesman 1780 Mary Ann Hughesman 1826 in IGI (Gillingham Kent); Sophia Hesman 1797 Amy Hughesman 1803 in IGI (Tonbridge Kent). 2: perhaps denoting ‘Hugh's man Hugh's servant’ but it is not clear if this surname has survived. See Hugh.

Knevett : 1: see Knivett. 2: in E Anglia perhaps sometimes also a post-medieval variant of Nevard as implied in John Knevett 1800 Ann Nebard 1813 in IGI (Eye Suffolk). See Neobard. The names would easily have been confused as both occur in Essex on the border with Suffolk: John Knyvet 1337 in Colchester Court Rolls (Essex); Rogerus Nevard 1377 in Poll Tax (Colchester Essex). 3: in Cheshire and Lancs perhaps a variant spelling of Nevett.

Ledgeway : apparently an altered form of Leadsway of uncertain origin. Neil Mackay (personal communication) notes from the Knaresborough Parish Registers (N Yorks Record Office) that John Ledgway born on 9th October 1785 was the son of Mark and Ann Ledgway who are identical with Mark Leadsway (born about 1760) and Ann Thompson whom he married in Knaresborough (WR Yorks) on February 7th 1785.

Lelliott : perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English female personal name *Liliot *Liliet or *Leliot pet forms of Lily (see Lilley).see Lillywhite. Compare Thomas Lelliott 1730 James Lelliet 1755 Francis Lillywhite 1775 Ann Lillewhite 1795 in IGI (Portsea Hants). The Lillywhite/Lelliott correlation in Portsea may show confusion of two different names rather than proof that one developed from the other.

Lorriman : altered form of Lorimer as shown in Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames citing John Lorymore or Loryman (1460) in Beverley (ER Yorks) William Lorymer William Loryman (1523–40) and Edward Lorrymer Edward Loriman cordwainer (1552–8) in York Freemen's Register; and George Loriman Ann Lorimer (1672) in Hearth Tax (Knapton ER Yorks).

Mammatt : 1: perhaps from Middle English maumet mamet ‘idol doll puppet’ also ‘pixie’ (Old French mahomet).perhaps from an unrecorded Old French personal name *Mamot or *Mamet pet forms of Old French Mame the name of a French saint. The possibility is strengthened by the existence of the double diminutive pet forms Maminot and Maminet as the surname of a Norman family with lands in Kent and Lincs: Gilbert Maminot 1086 in Domesday Book (Kent); Emma Maminet 1130 in Pipe Rolls (Kent); Wauchelin Maminot 1157 in Templars Records (Lincs). However although Maminot may have alternated with *Mamot the Maminot family appears to have died out in the male line in about 1190. 2: variant of Memmott. The post-medieval bearers under (1) may alternatively belong here. Compare Mary Mamotte 1727 Ann Memmott 1782 Hannah Mommott 1791 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks); Elizabeth Mommot 1775 William Memmott 1814 in IGI (Aston WR Yorks).

Mapleston : variant of Mapleson with intrusive -t-. Compare Margareta Mapleson 1563 Ann Mapleston 1694 Fisher Maplestone 1699 in IGI (Fleet Lincs); Henry Mapleson 1634 Robert Mapleston 1677 Wm. Maplestone 1696 in IGI (Sibsey Lincs); John Mapleson 1666 John Mapleston 1694 in IGI (Frampton Lincs).

Markillie : probably a local (SE Lincs and N Cambs) pronunciation of Markley as explicit in Susanna Markillie 1768 Susan Markley 1825 in IGI (Wisbech Cambs); Samuel Markillee 1747 John Markley 1813 in IGI (Holbeach Lincs); John Markillie 1765 Ann Markley 1794 in IGI (Spalding Lincs). Compare Markwell.

Mathlin : late variant of Maflin itself a variant of Mifflin. Compare Mary Ann Mafflin 1784 William Maflin 1786 in IGI (Bedminster Somerset) with Thomas Mathlin in Census 1871 (Bedminster Somerset).

Maywood : apparently a variant of Mainwood with loss of -n-. Compare Mary Ann Mainwood 1806 Samuel Maywood 1806 in IGI (Wanstead Essex).

Midworth : variant of Midwood itself a variant of Middlewood. Compare Jonathan Midworth 1681 Joshua Midwood 1696 in IGI (Mirfield WR Yorks); John Midwood 1707 John Midworth 1721 in IGI (Thornhill WR Yorks); Sally Midwood 1777 Joanna Midworth 1784 in IGI (Dewsbury WR Yorks); Ann Midwood 1785 Ann Midworth 1788 in IGI (Kirkheaton WR Yorks).

Mirley : apparently a variant of Morley. Compare Arthur Mirley 1610 Arthur Morley 1613 in IGI (Kirkham Lancs); John Mirley 1763 John Morley 1784 in IGI (Harrogate WR Yorks); William Barber Morley 1816 Ann Mirley 1832 in IGI (Denby Derbys).

Morle : perhaps a reduced form of Morrell. Compare John Morrell 1768 Ann Morle 1769 in IGI (Tiverton Devon).

Musham : variant of Muschamp; compare Ann Muschamp 1664 William Musham 1735 in IGI (Weston WR Yorks); William Musham 1741 Joseph Muschamp 1751 in IGI (Guiseley WR Yorks); Isabella Mushchamp 1791 Benjamin Musham 1804 in IGI (Marton cum Grafton WR Yorks).

Powling : 1: perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English *polling a derivative of Middle English polle ‘head hair of the head’ or pollen ‘to cut (hair) shave (someone's head)’ + the noun-forming suffix -ing. It may have been given to someone with a distinctive head of hair or who had a shaven head. Compare Topping. 2: from Poling (Sussex) which is recorded as Paling(e) and Palyng from the 12th to 16th centuries Palinges in 1199 and Polynge in 1305. The place-name derives from Old English pāl ‘stake pole’ (or from a nickname derived from pāl) + the group-name suffix -ingas. This surname may have been confused with Pullen in (3); compare Baltazer Pullen 1639 Elizabeth Polling 1747 in IGI (Petworth Sussex). See also Poland. 3: variant of Pullan and Pullen; compare Ann Polling 1736 Richard Pullan 1789 in IGI (Bury Lancs).

Ridgeon : variant of Rigden with the consonant cluster /gd/ simplified to /ʤ/ giving Ridgeon Ridgen etc. and with lowering of the vowel Re(d)gin Region and Regent. Compare Thomas Rygdon 1461–2 in Canterbury Wills (Probate) (Lower Hardres Kent) with William Ridgen 1661 in Kent History Centre (Lower Hardres Kent) and Anne Rigdenn 1628 with Ann Ridgen 1743 both in IGI (Chislet Kent).

Ruler : variant of Rowley (or Rooley) with -ley pronounced -ler as in some other northern surnames such as Huller for Hulley. Compare Wm. Rowley 1752 William Ruler 1766 in IGI (Riccall ER Yorks); Abraham Rooley 1747 John Rooller 1773 John Rowley 1776 in IGI (Campsall WR Yorks); Mary Rowler 1774 George Ruler 1776 Samuel Rouley 1779 in IGI (Snaith WR Yorks); John Ruler 1776 Robert Rowley 1785 in IGI (Hatfield WR Yorks); Hannah Rowley 1788 William Ruler 1791 in IGI (Whitkirk WR Yorks); William Roolah 1797 Ann Rooley 1802 in IGI (Hemsworth WR Yorks). This variant seems mostly to belong to the name from Rowley near Bardsey (WR Yorks) which is not far from Riccall and Skipwith but the Surrey example below is from Rowly (Surrey) about five miles from Shalford.

Ryde : 1: from Middle English ride rede rude (Old English *rīed *rēod *rȳd) ‘clearing’. The surname may be for someone who lived in or near a clearing or who lived at one of a number of places so named including Rede Court in Strood (Kent) Rides in Eastchurch (Kent) Ride Way in Ewhurst (Surrey) and Reed Farm in Wadhurst (Sussex). The word is particularly common in the south-eastern counties from Kent to the Isle of Wight. See also Rider and Reader. 2: from Middle English rithe ‘small stream’ also recorded as ride in Sussex and Hants. The 1524 1588 and 1599 early bearers are associated with Ryde Farm in Send (Surrey) recorded as Ryde in 1541 (Place-Names of Surrey 148). There is a small stream to the west of the farm which may have given rise to the place-name. Alternatively the place-name and the surname belong with (1) above. See also Rider. 3: away from SE England if the name is not from (1) or (2) by migration it may be a spelling variant of Wride unless Wride itself is a reverse spelling of Ride. A tendency not to pronounce initial /w/ before /r/ began in the 15th century after which the spellings wr- and r- were interchangeable. Compare Samuel Ride 1701 John Wride 1708 in IGI (Mugginton Derbys); Samuel Wride 1734 Ann Ride 1778 in IGI (Bedminster Somerset).

Santanna : 1: Italian (mainly Sicily): habitational name from any of the places so named with reference to a local church or shrine dedicated to Saint Anna (Sant'Anna in Italian).2: Hispanic: altered form of Spanish and Portuguese Santana.

Scribbins : possibly a variant of Scrivens itself a variant of Scriven; compare the 1681 early bearer below with Ann Scrivens 1750 in IGI (Westerham Kent).

Scruse : a late development of Cruse or Croose with prosthetic S-. With the bearers listed below compare Oliver Cruse 1794 in IGI (Orcheston Saint George Wilts); Bartholomew Cruse 1803 in IGI (Bedminster Somerset); Lizzie Ann Cruse 1864 in IGI (Westbourne Sussex).

Semaine : perhaps a variant of Seaman. Compare William Semaine turner born in Gosport Hants and registered in Shoreditch (Middx) in Census 1851 with Wm. Seaman 1781 in IGI (Gosport Hants) and with Ann Seyman 1824 in IGI (Shoreditch Middx). However the change of vowel and stress in the final syllable is difficult to explain. The 1232 given name might be a medieval copyist's error for Middle English Seman the personal name that lies behind Seaman.

Thornborough : 1: from any of various places including Thornborough in Allerton Mauleverer (WR Yorks) Thornbrough in South Kilvington (NR Yorks) Thornbrough in Corbridge (Northumb) and Thornborough (Bucks). The WR Yorks and Northumb place-names derive from Old English þorn ‘thorn’ + burh ‘fortress’ or ‘manor’. The NR Yorks and Bucks place-names derive from Old English þorn + beorg ‘hill mound’ and would naturally also develop Middle English forms in -berry so it is unsurprising that the derived surname also developed to Thornberry or Thornbury as illustrated by Ellen Thornberry 1711 Geo. Thornbury 1726 in IGI (Bedale NR Yorks) and Robert Thornberry 1747 Ann Thornborough 1769 in IGI (Howden ER Yorks). Some of the bearers below from NW England may belong with (2). 2: in NW England sometimes a variant of Thornber as illustrated by Elizabeth Thornber 1767 Alice Thornborough 1802 in IGI (Brough Westm). 3: adopted for various Irish names containing an element meaning ‘thorn’; compare Thornton.

Warrant : variant of Warren with excrescent -t. Compare Crristopheri Warren 1540 Ann Warrant 1614 in IGI (Awre with Blakeney Gloucs) and see Warrand.

Warvill : perhaps from Ouarville in Eure-et-Loir (France). Brissot de Warville is thought to have adopted the name de Warville in an effort to ‘pass himself off as a gentleman’ and is said to have claimed that his father held land in Ouarville (see Notes and Queries 1854 p. 480).alternatively perhaps a variant of Worvell; compare Ann Worville 1725 Mary Warvill 1732 in IGI (Bredon Worcs).

Wellerman : 1: apparently from Middle English *weller *willer a derivative with -er of Old English wellan wiellan ‘to boil’ + man but no early bearers can be found. Compare Weller (2). 2: perhaps a variant of Wellman. Compare Lawretta Alice Wellman 1838 Sarah Ann Jane Wellerman 1846 in IGI (Bermondsey Surrey).

Whalebone : of uncertain origin. Perhaps an altered form of Welbourn; compare Ann Whaleborn 1814 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London).

Willbond : late variant of Welbourn. Compare Alce Willborn 1719 in IGI (Ashby Folville Leics); Ann Wellborn 1736 in IGI (Scarborough NR Yorks); Richard Willbourn 1743 in IGI (Hungerton Leics); and Richard Willbon 1774 in IGI (Birstall Leics) with the bearers below.

Windust : probably a variant of Windus itself a variant of Windows with excrescent -t. Compare Ann Windus 1799 Thomas Windust 1832 Henry Windust 1849 in IGI (Lambeth Surrey)

Wothers : apparently an irregular variant of Withers. Compare Thoms. Wothers 1733 Wm. Withers 1754 in IGI (Corley Warwicks); Joseph Withers 1757 Joseph Wothers 1762 in IGI (Rostherne Cheshire); Robert Withers 1797 Mary Wothers 1800 in IGI (Holbeach Lincs); Mary Ann Withers 1852 Daniel Wothers 1854 in IGI (Burntwood Staffs).

Wraith : 1: variant of Wroth from northern Middle English wra(i)th ‘angry’. 2: variant of Wraight Middle English wregh(t) wrethe ‘carpenter’ in which th represents one of several Middle English and early Modern English pronunciations of Middle English gh and ght. Compare Nicholas Wrayte 1575 John Wraight 1583 Alice Wraite 1585 Anthonye Wraith 1591 in IGI (Elham Kent); John Wryght 1613 Ann Wreth 1751 in IGI (Uffculme Devon).

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Geographic distribution of the 15,671 individuals with the name ANN on Geneanet.

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