Origin
Mary : 1: English: from the Middle English and Old French female personal name Marie Latin Maria. Compare Marrison Marion Marriott Markin. — Note: It is likely that in the population figure published by the US Census Bureau (which dropped from 2215 in the year 2000 to 1547 in the year 2010) the female personal name Mary of some American bearers is also counted as a surname. Some of these bearers may be from countries such as Indonesia where (hereditary) surnames are not in general use; their personal name was thus registered as a surname only after their immigration to the US.4: French: from a variant of the female personal name Marie.2: French: habitational name from any of the places in Saône-et-Loire Seine-et-Marne and Nièvre named Mary from Gallo-Roman Mariacum ‘estate of Marius’.3: French: from a vernacular form of the personal name Marius.
Accleton : of uncertain origin; perhaps an unvoiced variant of Eggleton. Compare Mary Eggleton 1779 in IGI (Chatham Kent) with the 1833 bearer below.
Allaby : reduced form of Allenby. Compare Thomas Allenby 1687 Aimie Allanby 1698 Elizabeth Allamby 1751 William Allaby 1754 in IGI (Owston Lincs) and possibly compare Robte. Allerby 1600 in IGI (Gedney Lincs) with Wm. Allensbye 1596 in IGI (Gedney Lincs).alternatively a variant of Ellerby. Compare Alice Ellerby 1636 Mary Allerby 1759 in IGI (Sibsey Lincs).
Amparo : Spanish and Portuguese: from a short form of a Marian name Spanish María del Amparo or a title Spanish Nuestra Señora del Amparo from amparo ‘protection refuge’. The surname may also be a reference to a local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary bearing this title.
Angeles : Spanish (Ángeles):: 1: from a short form of the Marian name María de los Ángeles ‘Mary of the Angels’ from the plural form of ángel ‘angel’. The surname may also be a reference to a local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary bearing this title.2: habitational name from a place called Ángeles (in A Coruña province) or Los Ángeles (for example in the provinces of Córdoba and Cádiz); see 1 above.
Annal : 1: probably in many cases a reduced form of Arnald; see Arnold and for the assimilation of -r- to the following -n- and loss of final [d] see Ennals. With the examples cited below compare Bessie Arnald 1571 in IGI (Dunfermline Fife); Isabell Arnell 1681 in IGI (Saint Andrews and Saint Leonards Fife); Thomas Arnold 1626 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Thomas Arnold 1763 in IGI (Well NR Yorks); John Arnold 1585 in IGI (Chichester Sussex); Tho. Arnold 1709 in IGI (Deal Kent). However some of the bearers listed below may belong with (2). 2: alternatively in Warwicks and Kent the name could be a reduced form of Hanwell from Hanwell (Oxon) or Hanwell (Middx). A surname from the Oxon place-name is on record in Oxon and Warwicks since medieval times. Compare John Hanwell 1607 William Anwell 1761 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Robert Hanwell 1573 in IGI (Borden Kent); Sten Handwell 1582 in IGI (Willesborough Kent); Xpo Handwell 1584 in IGI (Staplehurst Kent); Mary Handwell 1600 in IGI (Sandwich Kent); Will'm. Anwell 1629 in IGI (Ashford Kent). However Anwell and Han(d)well may be hypercorrect expansions of Annall from Arnold in (1).
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.
Arger : variant of Orgar. Compare Eales Orger 1577 in IGI (Hythe Kent) with Sarah Argar 1628 Thomas Arger 1629 in IGI (Newington next Hythe Kent); Elizabeth Orgar 1615 Thomas Orgar 1631 Mary Argar 1669 in IGI (Postling Kent).
Ashbrook : 1: English: habitational name from any of the places called Ashbrook e.g. in Marston Mortaine (Bedfordshire) and in Ampney Saint Mary (Gloucestershire). Ashbrook in Gloucestershire is from Old English ēast + brōc ‘stream’ whereas the Bedfordshire example is from Old English æsc ‘ash tree’ + brōc ‘stream’.2: Americanized form (translation into English) of German Eschbach.
Ashplant : probably a variant (by folk etymology) of Absalom via Aspland. It may have migrated to Devon from another county in the 17th century. Aspland is particularly common in Cambs where the palatalized pronunciation Ash- is evident in the name of Johnies [sic] Ashplonde or Ashpilon 1492 in PROB 11 (Whittlesey Saint Mary Cambs). Compare also Francis Ashbland 1619 in IGI (Stepney Middx).
Asuncion : Spanish (Asunción): from a short form of the Marian name María de la Asunción or title Nuestra Señora de la Asunción ‘Our Lady of the Assumption’ from asunción ‘assumption’. The surname may also be a reference to a local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary bearing this title.
Ave : 1: North German: habitational name from a place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania so named.2: Galician: nickname from ave ‘bird’ or Latin Ave Maria ‘Hail Mary’ (see 3 below).3: French (Avé): nickname for a precentor from Latin Ave Maria ‘Hail Mary’ the angelic salutation to the Virgin Mary used as a devotional recitation with the addition (in more recent times) of a prayer to the Virgin as Mother of God.4: French (Avé): variant of Havet from Old French havet ‘hook pick’ hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made picks or worked with a pick.
Averley : variant of Haverley (see Habberley) with loss of initial H-. This is explicit in Mary Averley or Aberley 1625 Edward Aberley 1708 in IGI (Rugeley Staffs) and in Edwd Habberley 1702 Edward Haverley 1708 Charles Aberly 1732 Eleanor Joyce Averley 1815 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London).perhaps from Aversley Wood in Sawtrey (Hunts now Cambs) with loss of medial -s-. The place-name is recorded as Ailbrittesle in 1209 Aylbritesle in 1245 and Albrichelee in 1290 and derives from the Old English personal name Æðelbeorht (genitive Æðelbeorhtes) + lēah ‘open woodland’. A(i)lbrit(s)ley will have been simplified to something like Aber(s)ley and Aver(s)ley but it is not known when. If the spelling of his surname is reliable it is conceivable that John de Averle 1279 in Hundred Rolls (Hunts) provides early evidence for it and it could account for the surname in 17th-century Cambs but the absence of any medieval spellings of the place-name with Aber- or Aver- makes it difficult to assess its plausibility.perhaps a variant of Aveley with -er- as an inverted spelling of medial unstressed -e-. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs) but spellings with -er- occur much earlier for the Soham family name for which Aveley is more likely to be a late spelling of Averley.
Baigent : possibly a colloquial pronunciation of Beauchamp or Beecham. Old French Beau- often appears as Be(e)- Bea- and Bay- in English surnames. The -ch- has been voiced and an excrescent -t has been added. Compare John Beauchamp 1700 Mary Baigeant 1784 in IGI (Chobham Surrey); Aaron Baigent 1703 Sarah Beecham 1738 in IGI (Guildford Surrey); Samuel Beecham 1725 John Baijent 1772 in IGI (Gillingham Kent).perhaps the French name Beaujean Flemish Beaujan(t) Bejean from Old French bel Jehan ‘handsome John’ + excrescent -t. It could have been introduced to England in the 15th or 16th century by Flemish migrants.
Bavister : Titford suggests that this is a late variant of Vavasour. It would be a dissimilated form of Vavister and Vavester variants of Vavasour that are evidenced in Lincs also in Cambs whence the name spread into Beds. Compare Willa Vavister 1579 in IGI (Scopwick Lincs); Thomas Vavister 1615 in IGI (Cranwell Lincs); Mary Vavester 1708 Joseph Vavisor 1738 in IGI (New Sleaford Lincs).
Benefer : variant of Bedingfield.at least sometimes probably a form of Benningfield despite the explicit equation of Bennifer and Bedingfield in some Norfolk sources; note John Benyngfelde or Benyngfeld 1546 in PROB 11 (Wiggenhall Saint Mary Norfolk) - the Wiggenhalls are just south of Kings Lynn; and Thomas Benningfield 1679 in IGI (Thetford Norfolk).
Bickford : English: habitational name from either Beckford Farm in Membury (Devon) Bickford Town in Plympton Saint Mary (Devon) or Bickford in Staffordshire. Beckford Farm is from the Old English personal name Becca + Old English ford ‘ford’ whereas the other two examples are derived from the Old English personal name Bicca + ford ‘ford’. The surname is more common in Devon and Cornwall.
Binding : of uncertain origin; perhaps in Somerset. a variant of Bindon. Compare Barbara Bindon or Byndon 1646 in PROB 11 (Taunton Saint Mary Magdalene Somerset).
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).
Bures : 1: Czech and Slovak (Bureš): from a pet form of the old personal name Burian.2: English (Essex): habitational name from Mount Bures (Essex) and adjacent Bures Saint Mary (Suffolk) both meaning ‘the cottages’ from Old English būr plural būras.
Burlow : apparently an altered form of Burley. Compare Edward Burley 1733 Richard Burlow 1772 in IGI (Tickhill WR Yorks); James Burley 1756 James Burlow 1768 in IGI (Dymock Gloucs); Mary Burley 1763 Richd. Burlow 1792 in IGI (Sutton cum Lound Notts).
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).
Candelaria : Spanish:: 1: habitational name from Candelaria in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) or from any other place which has a celebrated sanctuary dedicated to (Maria de la) Candelaria. The Marian epithet refers to the Catholic feast of the Purification of the Virgin from Latin candela ‘candle’ since on this day candles were blessed by a priest and then lit to invoke the protection of the Virgin Mary.2: from a short form of the Marian name María de la Candelaria (see 1 above).
Capell : 1: English: variant of Chappell ‘chapel’ from a Norman form with hard c- applied as a topographic or occupational name or as a habitational name for someone from any of several minor places called with this word such as Capel in Surrey Capel le Ferne in Kent or Capel Saint Andrew and Capel Saint Mary in Suffolk.2: English: from Middle English capel caple capul(le) ‘stallion gelding; warhorse cart horse riding horse’ denoting someone thought to resemble a horse in some way or possibly someone whose occupation involved horses.3: Catalan: from capell ‘hat hood’ as a nickname for someone who habitually wore a hat or hood or a metonymic occupational name for someone who made hats or hoods.
Cardus : see Carruthers. The existence of Mary Caradus 1706 in IGI (Kendal Westm) and John Cardus 1717 in IGI (Grasmere Westm) supports the connection.
Carlick : variant of Garlick with devoicing of initial /g/ to /k/. Compare Mary Garlick 1834 Horaus Carlick 1871 in IGI (Leyland Lancs).
Chassels : apparently an altered form of Cassells; compare Mary Cassells 1731 Janet Cassels 1764 John Chassels 1770 in IGI (Carnwath Lanarks); Janet Cassels 1767 Janet Chassels 1797 in IGI (Lesmahagow Lanarks).
Choak : apparently a late variant of Chalk. Compare Semer Choak 1756 Mary Chalk 1759 in IGI (Purley Berks); Charles Chalk 1767 Charles Choak 1799 in IGI (Mawgan in Meneage Cornwall).
Cleal : probably a reduced form of Clayfield with loss of -v- in the variant pronunciation Clevel; compare Elizabeth Clavel 1759 Mary Clevel 1757 William Clavil 1768 in IGI (Wareham Dorset).
Colloton : Possibly English or Irish. It could be a habitational name from Collaton Saint Mary in Devon named with the Old English personal name Cola + tūn ‘farmstead’ ‘settlement’. However the modern name is recorded in Cheshire and Ireland only suggesting a different source is probably involved.
Conceicao : Portuguese (Conceição): from a short form of the Marian name Maria da Conceição or title Nuestra Senhora da Conceição ‘Our Lady of the Conception’ (see Concepcion) alluding to the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.
Concepcion : Spanish (Concepción):: 1: habitational name from any of numerous places called La Concepción (see 2 below).2: from a short form of the Marian name María de la Concepción or title Nuestra Señora de la Concepción ‘Our Lady of the Conception’ from concepción ‘conception’ (from Late Latin conceptio genitive conceptionis) alluding to the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. The surname may also be a reference to a local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary bearing this title (compare 1 above).
Corah : local pronunciation Cory. Compare William Cory 1668 Sarah Cawrey 1676 Mary Caurah 1680 Nickolas Corah 1696 in IGI (Shepshed Leics).
Cray : 1: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Craobhaigh ‘descendant of Craobhach’ a byname meaning ‘curly(-headed)’ or ‘prolific’ (from craobh ‘branch bough’). Compare Creevy.2: English: habitational name from Foots Cray North Cray Saint Mary Cray Saint Paul's Cray all in Kent and all named from the River Cray which is named with a Celtic word meaning ‘fresh clean’; or less likely from Cray in Buckden Yorkshire which is probably named with the same word.3: Americanized form of German Krey and perhaps also Kray and Dutch Kraaij or Kraij (see Kraai).
Da Graca : Portuguese (Da Graça):: 1: from the Christian religious epithet da Graça meaning ‘of mercy’ and forming part of the Marian name Maria da Graça ‘(Holy) Mary of Grace’.2: perhaps also a habitational name for someone from any of several places in Portugal called Graça (from the dedication of their churches to the grace of God or to the Virgin Mary; see 1 above).
De Maria : Italian; Spanish (De María): metronymic from the female personal name Maria (Spanish María) or a nickname for a devotee of the Virgin Mary with the preposition de ‘of’.
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.
Dockham : English: habitational name from Dockham in Donhead Saint Mary Wiltshire named in Old English with docce ‘dock’ (the plant) + hamm ‘water meadow’. This surname has died out in England.
Dolor : Hispanic (Philippines): from the Spanish word of Latin origin dolor ‘state of great sorrow pain grief’ probably an allusion to the Mater Dolorosa Our Lady of Sorrows a very popular image of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines.
Dolores : Spanish: from the female personal name Dolores a short form of the Marian name María de los Dolores ‘Mary of the Sorrows’ a reference to the seven sorrow which according to Roman Catholic belief afflicted the Virgin Mary during her life on earth. Dolores became established as a very popular female personal name in Spain from the Middle Ages onward and has since spread to other languages and cultures.
Domleo : apparently an altered form of Dimelow. Compare George Dummelow 1725 Mary Domleo 1791 in IGI (Sutton Bonington Notts).
Dummett : English (Somerset and Devon): habitational name from Dommett in Buckland Saint Mary Somerset. The etymology of the placename is unknown.
Dummitt : English: variant of Dummett itself a habitational name from Dommett in Buckland Saint Mary (Somerset). This form of the surname is now rare in Britain.
Dunkey : of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of Dunkley as suggested by the bearers Mary Dunkly 1740 Thomas Dunkey 1741 in IGI (Winwick Hunts) but the main location of Dunkey is in the West Midlands where the surname may have an alternative unknown origin.
Dunkling : perhaps a variant of Dunkley as seems to be evidenced in Pheby Dunkley 1754 Mary Dunkling 1772 in IGI (Enfield Middx).
Dutchman : 1: from Middle English Ducheman ‘Dutchman German’; compare Dutch. 2: occasionally perhaps an altered form of Ditchman. Compare Mary Ditchman 1715 Robert Dutchman 1729 in IGI (Elsing Norfolk).
Edwicker : apparently from the Middle English personal name Edwaker (Old English Ēadwacer a compound of elements denoting ‘prosperity’ and ‘watchful’) although the time gap between the 14th and the 18th-century evidence is too great to be sure that there is a link beween them.apparently also a variant of Earwaker as illustrated in the following examples: William Edikar 1744 John Earwicker 1782 in IGI (Chalton Hants); Henry Earwaker 1763 Mary Earwicker 1805 William Edwicker 1834 in IGI (Tillington Sussex); Mary Earwaker 1769 Robert Edwaker 1770 in IGI (Up Marden Sussex). Either the two surnames co-existed in E Hants and W Sussex leading to their confusion or perhaps Erriker the common modern pronunciation of Earwaker was heard as Edicker and re-formed in more formal speech as Edwakerand Edwicker.
Elsby : variant of Helsby with loss of initial H-. Compare John Helsby 1702 and Mary Elsby 1743 in IGI (Runcorn Cheshire).
Encarnacion : Spanish (Encarnación): from a Christian religious byname or a female personal name from encarnación ‘incarnation’ (from Latin incarnatio from incarnare ‘to make flesh’ a derivative of caro genitive carnis flesh) forming one of the epithets of the Virgin Mary (María de la Encarnación ‘Mary of the Incarnation’). The surname may also be a reference to a local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary bearing this title.
Endall : perhaps a variant with an intrusive -d- of the now extinct name Ennall (see Ennals) which is probably in most cases from the Middle English personal name Ernold (see Arnold). Compare Edward Arnold 1561 Edmund Ennall 1616 James Endell 1708 John Andell 1712 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London); Edward Arnold 1644 Mary Endall 1673 Simon Arnol 1724 in IGI (Wantage Berks); Joseph Arnold 1707 Mary Endell 1730 in IGI (Ross on Wye Herefs). However these surnames may be coincidental occurrences of different names in the same parish and are no proof that the families were genealogically or onomastically related.
Ennals : presumably a variant of the now extinct surname Ennall + post-medieval excrescent -s. Parish registers record entries such as Thomasyn Ennell 1604 in IGI (Tedburn Saint Mary Devon) Edmund Ennall 1616 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London) and Temperance Hennal 1705 in IGI (Belaugh Norfolk). Ennall is likely to be a reduced form of the well used Middle English personal name Ernold (see Arnold) or possibly the rarer Ernulf (Old English Earnwulf Old Scandinavian Arnulfr or of Continental Germanic Arnulf). Compare Walter Ernald 1338–9 in Norwich Freemen (Ranworth Norfolk) Johannes Ernald 1379 in Poll Tax (North Elmham Norfolk) Nicholaus Ernolf 1381 in Poll Tax (Witton Norfolk) and Edward Arnold 1561 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London). Assimilation of -r- to the following -n- and loss of final -d or -f would be quite normal in later Middle English and naturally result in spellings like Ennal and Ennel. Compare Annal.
Epsom : apparently from Epsom (Surrey) but no evidence for a local Surrey or Kent surname from this place has been found. It is more likely an altered form of Empson influenced by false association with the place-name as illustrated perhaps in Joseph Empson 1692 Joseph Empsom 1697 Elizabeth Epsom 1706 in IGI (Saint Dunstan Stepney Middx). Alternatively Epsom and Epson might be pronunciations of Ebbison itself a variant of either Ibbotson or Hebson. Compare Margrett Ebbison 1661 Mary Eberson 1662 Jo Ebbeson 1673 in IGI (Saint Dunstan Stepney Middx).
Everall : 1: post-medieval variant of Averill. Compare Walter Averell 1607 Nicholas Everell 1652 Jeoffry Everall 1675 in IGI (Beeston Norfolk); Mary Everall 1665 Mary Averell 1682 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London); Abraham Averell 1716 William Everill 1771 in IGI (Wolverhampton Staffs). 2: perhaps from the rare Middle English female personal name Everil(d) representing either Old English Eoforhild (from eofor ‘boar’ + hild ‘battle’) or an unrecorded Old French form of its Continental Germanic equivalent Eburhild. As a post-Conquest given name it is apparently attested in a minor place-name Hevereldsshaghe 1439 in Place-Names of WR Yorks 3 p. 191 at Everill Shaw in Hebden Bridge. The 1379 WR Yorks surname cited below if derived from the personal name is unlikely to have any link with the post-medieval Shrops and Staffs surnames cited under (1). 3: perhaps a variant of Deverell the initial D- being dropped as though it were a reduced form of the Anglo-Norman French preposition de ‘of from’. However Deverell and its variants are solidly SW England especially Wilts with no presence in Shrops or Staffs where Everall and Everill are concentrated.
Eyland : variant of Ealand Eland or Elland. Compare John Eyland 1623 Tho. Eland 1653 in IGI (Hurst Berks); Mary Eland 1658 Eliz. Eyland 1681 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs).
Fairwood : from Great Fairwood in Tedburn Saint Mary (Devon) which is recorded as Feyrwod in 1244 and Fairewode in 1275 and Fairwood in Bishopston near Swansea (Glamorgan) which is recorded as ffairewood in 1583. The place-names derive from Old English fæger ‘fair beautiful’ + wudu ‘wood’.
Floate : 1: from Middle English flote flout floit flute ‘stream river’ (Old English flot ‘a body of water’) for someone who lived by a stream or some other body of water or who lived at a place so called such as Floyte (in Tedburn Saint Mary Devon). Compare Flood and Flutter. Some early bearers may alternatively belong with (2). 2: from Middle English flote flout floit flute ‘(flat-bottomed?) boat’ (Old English flota) for a boatman or sailor. Compare Floater Flodman.from Middle English flote ‘tool for smoothing the surface of something’ such as a bow or a pewter vessel for someone who makes or uses a float. Compare Floater.
Foss : 1: English: either topographic name from Middle English foss ‘ditch’ (from Old English foss ‘ditch’ Latin fossa) or a habitational name from one or more of the many places so named such as Voss in Plympton Saint Mary and Great Fossend in Burlescombe (both Devon) the River Foss (North Yorkshire) Foss Beck (East Yorkshire) and the Fosse Way a Roman road running between Lincoln (Lincolnshire) and Axminster (Devon) via Leicester (Leicestershire) Cirencester (Gloucestershire) and Bath (Somerset) named in the Old English period from the ditch that ran alongside it.2: Danish: from fos vos ‘fox’ applied as a nickname for a sly or cunning person or as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a fox.3: Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead so named from Old Norse fors ‘waterfall’ examples of which are found throughout Norway.4: North German: variant of Voss. This surname is also found in the Netherlands.
Fulford : English:: 1: habitational name from one or more of the numerous places so named in Devon such as Fulford in Tiverton Great Fulford in Dunsford Fullaford in High Bray Fulford Bridge in Shebbear Fullaford in Sampford Courtenay and Fullaford in Buckfastleigh.2: habitational name from one or more of the various places so called elsewhere in England such as Fulford (Staffordshire) Fulford in Kingston Saint Mary (Somerset) Gate Fulford and Water Fulford (both East Yorkshire) Fulfords Farm in Itchingfield (Sussex) and Fulforth in Witton Gilbert (Durham). All places in 1 above and 2 are named from Old English fūl ‘dirty muddy’ + ford ‘ford’.
Gabriel : English Scottish French German Spanish Portuguese Romanian Polish Czech Slovak Slovenian West Indian (mainly Haiti) African (mainly Nigeria and Tanzania) and Jewish; Hungarian (Gábriel): from the Hebrew personal name Gabri’el composed of the elements geber ‘man’ and El ‘God’ hence ‘man of God’. This was borne by an archangel in the Bible (Daniel 8:16 and 9:21) who in the New Testament announced the impending birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38). It has been a comparatively popular personal name in all parts of Europe among both Christians and Jews during the Middle Ages and since (compare Michael and Raphael). In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Slovenian Gabrijel and also their patronymics and other derivatives e.g. Slovenian Gabrijelčič Greek Gabrielis and Gabrielidis.
Gidman : probably a variant of Goodman with fronting and unrounding of the vowel. Compare Symo. Goodman 1627 Elisabeth Gedman 1706 in IGI (Lewes Sussex); Euerardus Goodman 1695 Mary Gidman 1721 in IGI (Sandbach Cheshire) and Thomas Goodman 1731 James Gidman 1762 in IGI (Liverpool Lancs).
Giltrow : though probably of Scottish origin from a Galloway variant of Gilruth; compare James Giltroch 1743 Mary Giltroth 1757 in IGI (Dalry Kirkcudbrights).
Glean : from Middle English glene glein ‘head of a cereal grain bundle of cereal heads sheaf’ for someone who grew or sold cereals. The surname may have been confused with Glen; compare Mary Glean 1703 Major Glen 1733 in IGI (Candlesby Lincs); David Glean 1729 Mary Glen 1733 in IGI (Horncastle Lincs).
Gracia : 1: Spanish; Catalan (Gràcia): from a short form of the Christian religious epithet de la Gracia meaning ‘of mercy’ and forming part of the Marian name Maria de la Gracia ‘(Holy) Mary of Grace’ from Spanish gracia Catalan gràcia ‘grace mercy’.2: In some cases possibly also an altered form of Spanish García (see Garcia).
Grunnill : 1: in Lincs a metathesized variant of Gurnhill. 2: elsewhere a variant of Greenhill alias Grinnell with substitution of -u- for -i- and occasionally with metathesis of the -r- to give forms like Girnill and Gurnall. Compare Mary Grynell 1614 Sarah Greenhill 1651 Robert Grunell 1657 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent); Mathew Grinill 1630 Henry Girnill 1633 in IGI (Little Shelford Cambs); Millycent Girnill 1681 John Greenhill 1696 in IGI (Pershore Worcs); Thos. Grunnell 1726 Thomas Greenhill 1751 in IGI (Ridge Herts); John Grunnell 1781 John Greenhill 1793 in IGI (Thundridge Herts).
Guadalupe : Spanish:: 1: habitational name from the town of Guadalupe in Cáceres province named with Hispano-Arabic wādī-al-lubb which is most likely from Arabic wādī ‘valley riverbed’ and Latin lupi ‘wolves’ thus meaning ‘the valley of the wolves’.2: from a short form of the Marian name María de Guadalupe or title Virgen de Guadalupe ‘Virgin Mary of Guadalupe’ a reference to the placename Guadalupe (see 1 above) the site of a Hieronymite convent founded in the 14th century which possesses a famous image of the Virgin Mary.
Guiver : perhaps a variant of Gifford (see Giffard) with voicing of /f/ to /v/ and weakening of the final syllable to -er as apparently seen in Sara Gyfforde 1576 Thomas Guyver 1611 Mary Giver 1622 in IGI (Ware Herts). For the Gui- spelling compare Robt. Gifford 1704 John Guiford 1738 in IGI (Hadleigh Suffolk); Marye Guifforde 1567 William Guifford 1633 Beniamin Gifford 1659 in IGI (Warminster Wilts).
Hackworthy : from Great and Little Hackworthy near Tedburn Saint Mary (Devon). The place-names derive from the Old English personal name Haca + Old English worðig ‘enclosure’.
Hayesmore : apparently a late altered form of Heasman. Compare Thos Hasemore 1790 Thos Haseman 1795 in IGI (Tonbridge Kent); Maria Haisman 1823 Mary Haysmore 1827 in IGI (Chatham Kent).
Healer : 1: late variant of Healey with the final syllable pronounced [lə] spelled -ler. Compare Margarette Healey 1599 Joshua Healey 1820 Jonathan Healer 1824 in IGI (Prestbury Cheshire); Jno. Healey 1728 Mary Heeley 1759 James Heeler 1809 in IGI (Manchester Lancs); Abraham Heeley 1660 Martha Heeley 1823 Thomas Healer 1823 in IGI (Kirkburton WR Yorks); Sarah Healer 1813 Eliz. Healey 1826 in IGI (Bishopwearmouth Durham). 2: variant of Heller ‘roofer’ see Hillier.
Heat : 1: variant of Heath. Compare Anne Heath Anne Heat 1639 in IGI (Chislet Kent); Rachel Heath 1695 Mary Heat 1698 in IGI (Wantage Berks); William Heat 1765 William Heath 1777 in IGI (South Normanton Derbys). 2: perhaps a variant of Height. Compare Hate and Haight and see John Haight 1582 Martha Heat 1775 in IGI (Kirkburton WR Yorks).
Hecks : 1: apparently a variant of Hicks. Compare Thomas Hicks 1623 Robt Hecks 1648 in IGI (Sowton Devon); William Hicks 1654 Mary Hecks 1758 in IGI (Pitminster Somerset). 2: sometimes a variant of Heck with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare John Parter Heck 1727 John Hecks 1734 in IGI (Snaith WR Yorks).
Hickerton : of uncertain origin; bearers from before the 19th century have not been found and so this appears to be a late development of another name. It may be a variant of Hickton itself a variant of Higton. Compare Joseph Hickton 1769 in IGI (Tewkesbury Gloucs) and Mary Caroline Higton 1776 in IGI (Trowbridge Wilts) with the bearers below. Alternatively it could be variant of Hickleton.
Hockney : 1: variant of Hocknell as in Raph Hocknell 1706 Mary Hockney 1775 in IGI (Clee Lincs); Willm Hocknall 1753 Thomas Hockney 1754 in IGI (Barrow on Humber Lincs); John Hockney 1755 Thos Hocknell 1793 in IGI (Market Rasen Lincs). 2: in E Anglia possibly a variant of Oakley or Hockley both possibly from Oakley in Suffolk. Interchange of [l] and [n] is not unusual.
Holland : 1: English German Dutch Danish Norwegian Swedish French and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from Holland a province of the Netherlands.2: English: habitational name from Downholland or Upholland (Lancashire) Hulland (Derbyshire) the Parts of Holland one of the three administrative subdivisions of Lincolnshire any of the four places called Hoyland (southern Yorkshire) and possibly Great and Little Holland (Essex). The placenames all derive from Old English hōh ‘heel spur of land’ + land ‘land’.3: English: habitational name either from Hoeland (Farm) in Bury (Sussex) or from Holland's Barn in Albourne (Sussex). The placename in Bury has the same etymology as in 1 above while the placename in Albourne may derive from Old English hol ‘hole hollow’ + land ‘land’.4: English: habitational name from one or other of the minor places called Holland in Devon especially that in Bradstone. Most of the placenames derive from Old English hol ‘hole hollow’ or hōh ‘heel spur of land’ + land ‘land’ though Holland in Plympton Saint Mary derives from the Old English personal name Hūna + Old English land.5: English: possibly an variant of Oldland a habitational name from Oldland (Gloucestershire). The placename means ‘the old land’ from Old English eald ‘old’ + land ‘land’. Compare Aland 2.6: Irish (Cork): variant of Holian.7: Norwegian (Hølland): habitational name from the farm name Hølland found in two places in southwestern Norway a compound of Old Norse hylr ‘deep pool in a river’ and land ‘(piece of) land farmstead’.8: Dutch and German: habitational name from any of several places so named.
Hoswell : variant of Oswell (itself a variant of Oswald) with prosthetic H-. Compare Mary Oswell 1776 William Hoswell 1778 in IGI (Newcastle upon Tyne Northumb).
Hucklesby : possibly a late variant of Huckerby; compare Mary Huckerby 1812 in IGI (Wheathampstead Herts) with the 1808 bearer below.
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.
Huthart : variant of Huddart itself a variant of Woodard. Compare John Huddart 1678 Sarah Huthart 1690 in IGI (Newcastle upon Tyne Northumb); Mary Huddart 1719 Dorothy Huthart 1727 in IGI (Holme Cultram Cumb).
Imran : Muslim (mainly the Indian subcontinent): from the Arabic personal name ʿImrān ‘prosperity state of being well-inhabited’. Like Omar it comes from an Arabic root ʿ-m-r with the sense of ‘life growth’. In the Koran this name is borne by the father of Maryam mother of ʿIsa (i.e. Mary mother of Jesus). Compare Omran.
Inkin : variant of Hinkin (see Henkin) with loss of H-. Compare David Hinkin 1849 Mary Inkin 1860 in IGI (Rhymney Monmouths).
Innerd : perhaps a variant of Inward assuming that Innerd is concentrated in Northumb as a result of migration. Compare Robert Inward 1623 Robert Innard 1627 in IGI (Little Horwood Bucks); John Inward 1736 John Innard 1741 in IGI (Wheathampstead Herts); Ellexander Inard 1746 Eleksander Inward 1747 Mary Innard 1755 in IGI (Hunton Hants).
Inshaw : variant of Henshaw. Compare Thomas Henshaw 1743 John Inshaw 1765 Mary Hinshaw 1796 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Francis Hinshaw 1767 John Inshaw 1774 Joseph Henshaw 1799 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks)
Izant : apparently a variant of Hyson with loss of initial H- and the addition of an excrescent -t. In Cheshire Hyson probably derives from Heysham (Lancs) but in Somerset Hyson like Hayson is likely to be a variant of Haysom: compare Mary Haysom 1580 Martha Hayson 1635 Lucy Izant 1788 in IGI (Mells Somerset) and Betty Izant 1775 Mary Hyson 1780 in IGI (Trowbridge Wilts). There is no evidence to suggest that it is a variant of Izzard as suggested in Reaney and Wilson.
Joachim : French Haitian German English and Jewish: from the personal name Joachim Hebrew Yoyakim ‘God has granted (a son)’ which occurs in the Bible (Nehemiah 12:10) and was also borne according to medieval legend by the father of the Virgin Mary. See also Yoakum compare Jachim Jochem Jochim Jochum.
Jobber : 1: perhaps from a reduced form of the Middle English (Old French) personal name Jo(i)bert; compare Joubert. This is suggested by the Staffs location of modern Jobber where other variants of Jobert may survive in the names of Mary Jobet 1718 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs) Samuell Jobett 1730 in IGI (Derby Derbys) Thomas Jobbitt 1774 in IGI (Walsall Staffs) and Sarah Jobbard 1822 in IGI (Darlaston Staffs). See also Jobin and Jobborn which have Staffs associations and may be pet form of Jobert. Some of the following early bearers may alternatively belong under (2) or (3). 2: from Middle English jobber of uncertain meaning. Richard le Jobbere (1277–8 in a copy dated 1662) was a carpenter paid for working and making huts at Vale Royal Abbey near Northwich Cheshire. The name might be a derivative of job ‘a piece of work’ though the word is not recorded in OED before the mid-16th century; hence ‘pieceworker’ perhaps. Other examples of the name might be derivatives of Middle English jobben ‘to peck or poke (something)’ (with a mattock perhaps) or of Middle English jubbe jobbe ‘a large vessel for holding liquids’ hence ‘maker and seller of jubbs’. 3: perhaps from a reduced form of Middle English jobard ‘fool’.
Joseph : English French German Jewish West Indian (mainly Haiti) and African (mainly Tanzania and Nigeria): from the personal name Joseph Hebrew Yosef ‘may He (God) add (another son)’. In medieval Europe this name was borne frequently but not exclusively by Jews; the usual medieval English vernacular form is represented by Jessup. In the Book of Genesis Joseph is the favorite son of Jacob who is sold into slavery by his brothers but rises to become a leading minister of the Pharoah in Egypt (Genesis 37–50). In the New Testament Joseph is the husband of the Virgin Mary which accounts for the popularity of the personal name among Christians. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Polish Józef Slovenian Jožef Assyrian/Chaldean Yosep Yousep Yosip and Yousip forms that are predominantly Arabic such as Yusuf Yousef and Yousif or Ethiopian such as Yosef and also patronymics such as Polish Jozefowicz and Armenian Hovsepian. Joseph is one of the most frequent surnames in Haiti (along with Jean and Pierre) and elsewhere in the West Indies (e.g. in Trinidad and Tobago Saint Lucia Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica). The name Joseph is also found among Christians in southern India and Indonesia but since South Indians and Indonesians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian and Indonesian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Compare Josef.
Lapa : 1: Polish and Jewish (from Poland): nickname from Polish łapa ‘paw flipper mutton fist’.2: Portuguese and Galician: habitational name from any of numerous places called Lapa from lapa ‘cavern’ or from a short form of the Marian title Nossa Senhora da Lapa ‘Our Lady of Lapa’ the name of a Marian cult which developed after the finding in 1498 of a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary in a cavern in northern Portugal.3: Albanian: nickname from lapë (definite form lapa) ‘loose piece of skin; dewlap wattle’ also ‘deep wrinkle’.
Lawcock : variant of Lowcock itself a variant of Lucock. Compare John Lowcock 1649 Joseph Lawcock 1654 in IGI (Skipton WR Yorks); Johis. Lowcock 1708 Johis. Lawcock 1718 in IGI (Gisburn WR Yorks); Mary Lawcock 1735 Diana Lowcock 1736 in IGI (Glentham Lincs); Sarah Lowcock 1766 Betty Lawcock 1778 in IGI (Addingham WR Yorks).
Lazar : 1: Jewish Assyrian/Chaldean German Czech Slovenian and Croatian; Polish (also Łazar); Slovak (also Lazár and Lázár); Hungarian (Lázár); Romanian (Lazăr): from a Biblical personal name of Aramaic origin a shortened form of the Hebrew name Elazar composed of the elements El ‘God’ + azar ‘help’ and meaning ‘may God help him’ or ‘God has helped (i.e. by granting a son)’. This was established in central Europe as a Jewish name but was also popular among Christians because it is recorded in the New Testament. Lazaros is the New Testament Greek form of the name of the brother of Martha and Mary who was restored to life by Christ (John 11: 1–44). As a non-Jewish name it was also used as a nickname for a beggar or an outcast leper; this use arises from the parable of Dives and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19–31). In North America this surname has also absorbed various other European cognates and their derivatives e.g. Albanian Lazri Lazëri and Llazari (from the personal names Lazër and Llazar; see Lazer) Greek patronymics like Lazarakis Lazaridis and Lazaropoulos Serbian patronymic Lazarević (see Lazarevic).2: Slovenian: from lazar a topographic name for someone who lived in an area of cleared woodland itself derived from laz ‘cleared woodland’. Compare Austrian German and Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) Lasser 3 and Loser 3 and also Lazzari 2.
Leversha : probably an altered form of Liversage. Compare George Leversage 1751 Mary Leversedge 1752 Sarah Leversha 1808 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).
Lewington : 1: probably a variant of Levington although the latter is an E Anglian surname. so the name in Berks and neighbouring counties must either reflect migration or have a different origin; see (2). 2: Lewington and Levington are perhaps variant pronunciations of the Wilts surname Lavington. The vowel change is not recorded in the place-name but there is some evidence for occasional raising of late Middle English [a] to early Modern English [e]. The development of intervocalic [v] to [w] is not uncommon in Middle English dialects and original -ton is often replaced in surnames with -don and -den. Compare therefore Johannes and Michaelis Lavynton' 1381 in Poll Tax (Reading Berks) with Mathew Lewington 1641 in IGI (Reading Berks) and Johanne Lavynton' 1381 in Poll Tax (Hidden Berks) with Josias Lewendon 1611 in IGI (Hungerford Berks); Hidden is in Hungerford parish. Compare also Mary Lewington 1640 John Laventon 1705 in IGI (Cheriton Hants). However these may be different surnames.
Lingfield : from Lingfield (Surrey) which is recorded as (on) Leangafelda in the 9th century. The origin of the place-name is uncertain but it may mean ‘the open country of the inhabitants of the woodland clearing’ from Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’ + the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + feld ‘open country’. There may have been some confusion with Lindfield; compare James Lingfield 1681 James Lindfield 1687 in IGI (East Grinstead Sussex); Mary Lindfield 1791 Jos Lingfield 1810 in IGI (Billingshurst Sussex).
Lipsham : apparently an altered form of Lipscombe; compare Simon Lipscombe 1769 James Lipsham 1792 Mary Lipscomb 1798 in IGI (High Ham Somerset).
Lisgo : probably a late development in N England of Lithgow; compare Mary Lithgow 1849 in IGI (Barnard Castle Durham).
Litterio : Italian (southern): variant of Letterio a personal name indicating devotion to one the titles of the Virgin Mary Madonna della Lettera.
Lobb : English:: 1: habitational name from Lobb in Braunton or Lobb Farm in Plympton Saint Mary (both Devon) or Lobb in Great Haseley (Oxfordshire) all apparently named with Old English lobb ‘lump large amount wide extent or surface’.2: nickname: perhaps from Middle English lop(pe) lob ‘spider’ (Old English loppe lobbe) or from Middle English lobbe ‘pollack’ (a marine fish).
Logsdail : of uncertain origin. Perhaps a late variant of Logsdon; compare Thomas Logsden 1616 Alice Mary Logsdail 1852 in IGI (Great Amwell Herts).
Loreto : Spanish Portuguese and Italian: from a short form of a Marian name Portuguese Maria do Loreto Italian Maria di Loreto a reference to the placename Loreto in Ancona province Italy the center of a cult of the Virgin Mary dating from the 15th century. Loreto is the site of the Santa Casa the childhood home of the Virgin Mary which according to legend was miraculously transported by angels from Nazareth to Loreto in the 13th century. The placename is from Latin lauretum ‘place of laurels’. Compare Loretto.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
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