Origin
Adam : 1: English Scottish German French Walloon Breton Dutch Flemish Romanian Polish Czech Slovak Slovenian Croatian and Assyrian/Chaldean; Hungarian (Ádám): from the Biblical personal name Adam which was borne according to Genesis by the first man. It is the generic Hebrew term for ‘man’ which is probably a derivative of Hebrew adama ‘earth’ (compare the classical Greek legend that Zeus fashioned the first human beings from earth). Adam was very popular as a personal name among non-Jews throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Jews however did not use this personal name except in recent times under Polish and English influence.2: Spanish: variant of Adán ‘Adam’ (see Adan).3: Muslim: from the personal name Ādam Arabic variant of Adam. Compare Adem.4: American shortened form of Scottish and Irish McAdam and also of cognates from other languages (see examples 5 below and at Adams).5: American shortened (and altered) form of Armenian Atamian or Adamian.
Abel : 1: English German Dutch Danish Norwegian French Spanish and Polish; Slovak (mainly Ábel) and Czech (also Ábel): from the Biblical personal name Abel Slovak Ábel which was used in continental Europe from the sixth century. After the Norman Conquest it was introduced to England and Scotland where it had a brief currency in the 12th and 13th centuries before being revived in England after the Reformation. In the Book of Genesis Abel is a son of Adam murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1–8). In Christian tradition he is regarded as a representative of suffering innocence. The Hebrew form of the name is Hebel (Latinized as Abel) from a vocabulary word meaning ‘breath’.2: German: from the personal name Abel a pet form of Albrecht.
Adami : 1: German: Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from the personal name Adam from Adami the Latin genitive. This surname is also found in France (Lorraine).2: Italian: patronymic or plural form of the personal name Adamo. This surname is also found in Corsica and southern France.3: Italianized form of the Slovenian and Croatian patronymics Adamič and Adamić (see Adamic).4: Hungarian (Ádámi): habitational name for someone from a place called Ádám in Bihar County.5: Hungarian (Ádámi): patronymic from the personal name Ádám Hungarian form of Adam. Compare Adamy.
Adamopoulos : Greek: patronymic from the personal name Adam (see Adam) + the ending -poulos (from Latin pullus ‘nestling chick’) which occurs chiefly in the Peloponnese.
Adamson : English and Scottish: patronymic from the personal name Adam + Middle English son meaning ‘son of Adam’. The surname is especially common in Scotland where it is borne by a sept of clan McIntosh. In North America this surname has absorbed some Polish and possibly also other European patronymics and other derivatives from the personal name Adam. Compare Adams.
Adamthwaite : from Adamthwaite in Ravenstonedale (Westm) which is recorded as Adamthwat in 1585. The place-name derives from the Middle English personal name Adam + thwait ‘clearing’ (Old Scandinavian þveit).
Adan : 1: Spanish (Adán): from the personal name Adán an equivalent of Adam.2: Hungarian (Ádán): variant of Ádám (see Adam).3: Somali: from a Somali Muslim personal name an equivalent of Biblical Adam. Compare Aden 3. — Note: Since Somalis traditionally do not have hereditary surnames this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Addinall : from a double diminutive of a pet form of the personal name Adam.
Addison : Scottish and English: patronymic from the Older Scots or northern Middle English personal name Addie or from the Middle English personal names Ade and Addy (all pet forms of Adam) + son.
Addyman : 1: from the Middle English personal name Adiman or Ademan which could be a pet form of Adam (see Addy) + the hypocoristic suffix -man but is more likely a variant of Middle English Edeman Ediman; see Edman. 2: from the Middle English personal name Adam + man probably signifying ‘servant of a man named Adam’. The name has probably been absorbed by (1) or by Adman.
Adem : Muslim (mainly Ethiopia) and Arabic: from the personal name Adem a derivative (in Ethiopia) or a variant (among Arabs e.g. in Algeria) of Arabic Ādam (see Adam 3). This form of the surname is also found among Christian Arabs (e.g. in Lebanon).
Adnitt : from the Old French personal names Adenet or Adenot diminutives of Adam. Adam de Bidyk (1286 in Chancery Wills) is also called Adinet (1276 in Fine Rolls).
Atkins : English: patronymic from the Middle English personal name Atkin (a pet form of Adam) with genitival -s or a variant of Atkin with post-medieval excrescent -s.
Atkinson : English (northern): patronymic from the personal name Atkin or Adkin pet forms of Adam.
Axon : English: from the Middle English surname Ackeson from the Middle English personal name Acke + son. This personal name was a pet form of Adam. Alternatively it may be from the Middle English female personal name Agace ‘Agatha’ (see Agate) + son.
Badham : English of Welsh origin (Herefordshire): shortened form of the patronymic ap Adam ‘son of Adam’ the spelling having been altered by folk etymology as if from an English placename.
Bean : 1: English: nickname for a pleasant person from Middle English bēne ‘friendly amiable’.2: English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of beans from Middle English bene ‘bean’ (Old English bēan ‘beans’ a collective singular). The broad bean Vicia faba was a staple food in Europe in the Middle Ages. The green bean Phaseolus vulgaris came from South America and was not introduced to Europe until the late 16th century. The word bene was commonly used to denote something of little worth and occasionally it may have been applied as a nickname for someone considered insignificant.3: English: possibly a habitational or topographic name. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorkshire Surnames cites Adam del Bene of Harrogate (1351) as evidence to suggest that in the Harrogate area where the Yorkshire name later proliferated it may have been derived from a place where beans grew.4: English: perhaps a variant of Benn. Compare Benney.5: Scottish and Irish: shortened Anglicized form of the patronymic Mac B(h)eathain ‘son of Beathán’ from the Gaelic personal name Beathán a diminutive of beatha ‘life’ see McBain. In Ireland Bean is also found also a shortened form of Ó Beachain see Behan.6: Americanized form (translation into English) of German Bohne or an altered form of Biehn. See also Bihn.7: Americanized form (mistranslation into English) of French Lefebvre. As the vocabulary word fèvre ‘smith’ was replaced by forgeron in modern French the meaning of the old word for a smith became opaque and the surname was reinterpreted as if it were La fève from fève ‘bean’.
Bodger : variant of Butcher (Middle English bocher ‘butcher’) with voicing of the intervocalic consonant. Compare Willmi Butcher 1577 Barnard Botcher 1601 Jonathan Bodger 1643 in IGI (Sutton Cambs).alternatively from Middle English bocchere ‘bodger someone who mends or patches (metal) things’ with the same irregular voicing of the consonant. Compare Adam Bochecollok ‘mend tub’ 1326 in Patent Rolls. Some of the medieval instances of Bocher(e) may represent this sense rather than that in (i) but it is difficult to be sure on formal grounds alone.
Boyle : 1: Irish (Donegal): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Baoighill ‘descendant of Baoigheall’ a personal name of uncertain meaning perhaps from baoth ‘rash’ + geall ‘pledge’.2: Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Biéville near Caen Normandy formerly Boiavilla. The Boyle earls of Glasgow lords of Kelburne (Ayrshire) are descended from Adam son of Gilbert son of Richer de Boiville. In 12th-century England men named de Boiville held land in Millom and Saint Bees Cumberland and were associated with grants of land in Gloucestershire.
Brownjohn : from Middle English broun ‘brown’ + the personal name John hence ‘Brown John’. Compare Brun Edrith (i.e. Edrich) 1255 in Hundred Rolls (Shrops) Adam Brounadam 1329 in Colchester Court Rolls.
Bunter : from Middle English bonter bunter ‘sifter user of sieves’ a derivative of Middle English bunte ‘sieve’. Compare Adam Bunteflour (‘sieve flour’) 1334 in Subsidy Rolls (Kent).
Carpendale : apparently from a lost or unidentified place in ER Yorks recorded as part of Lundsbrough super Carpendall in 1572 in a document held by the Yorks Archeaological Society. Lundsbrough is probably for Londesborough (ER Yorks) but Carpendall cannot be identified. It may be a development of the unidentified place-name behind the surname Coppendale also recorded in ER Yorks during the medieval period; see Adam de Coppendale 1364 in Patent Rolls (Beverley ER Yorks) and compare with the 1381 bearer below.
Cockin : 1: perhaps from a pet form of the Middle English personal name Cok (see Cock) + the diminutive suffix -in. In its variant forms the name is difficult to separate from (2) -3 and (4).from Middle English cokin (Old French coquin) ‘scoundrel’. 2: possibly from Middle English *cokin apparently a variant of coket ‘seal’ also ‘bread made from fine flour’. See Cockett and compare Ralph Cocunbred 1209 in Leicester Freemen Register Adam Cokinbred 1265 and Ralph Cokinbred 1299 in Leicester Freemen Register. Cockin bread is presumably the same as Middle English cocket bread. 3: see Cockayne. 4: see Cocking.
Cudden : 1: from Mac Áidín ‘son of Áidín’ a diminutive form of Adam. 2: see Cuddon.
Dada : 1: Indian (Maharashtra): name meaning ‘elder brother’ in various Indian languages and ‘(paternal) grandfather’ in Hindi and Urdu; also used as an honorific term of address. Bearers of this family are largely Muslims.2: Muslim: from a personal name based on Persian dāda ‘given’ (i.e. ‘gift of God’) or a nickname from Persian dada ‘wetnurse’.3: West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Dàda a circumstance name traditionally given to a child retaining the hair knotted round the crown of the head before the ceremonial first cutting.4: Albanian: nickname from dadë (definite form dada) ‘wetnurse’ a word of Persian origin (see 2 above) or from a homonymous term used in baby talk as a pet name for the baby's female caretaker.5: Cornish: variant of Daddow perhaps from a Cornish pet form of the Middle English personal name Dodd(e) unrounded to Dadd(e) + the Cornish suffix -ow (see Dodd and for the Cornish suffix compare Kitto). Alternatively perhaps from a Cornish pet form of Middle English Dadde as a rhyming pet form of Adam.
Dadd : in Kent and Devon a variant of Dodd. The unrounding of o to a was particularly common in SE and SW England mostly in the post-medieval period but also sometimes in Middle English.alternatively from an unrecorded Middle English personal name *Dadd(e) a rhyming pet form of Adam. Compare Addy Daddy Adey and Dady.
Daddow : perhaps from a Cornish pet form of the Middle English personal name Dodd(e) unrounded to *Dadd(e) + the Cornish suffix -ow. See Dodd and Dadd and for the Cornish suffix compare Clemow Kitto.perhaps a Cornish pet form of Middle English *Dadde as a rhyming pet form of Adam see Dadd.
Daddy : from an unrecorded Middle English personal name *Dad(d)y perhaps a rhyming pet form of Ad(d)y a pet form of Adam. See Addy Adey Dadd and compare Daddow.perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English *daddy a familiar term for ‘father’ but there is no evidence for this word before the 16th century (OED).
Dams : 1: English: variant of Dam with plural or post-medieval excrescent -s.2: Dutch: genitivized patronymic from the personal name Dam a short form of Adam see Adams.
Gathergood : from Middle English gad(e)ren ‘to gather’ + god ‘goods possessions wealth’ (Old English gaderian + gōd) apparently denoting someone with acquisitive thrifty or miserly habits. Compare Abraham Cathermonie (‘gather money’) 1193 in Rievaulx Cartulary; Adam Gaderpeynye (‘gather pennies’) 1285 in Assize Rolls (Lancs); Willelmo Gadergold (‘gather gold’) 1379 in Poll Tax (Tidcombe and Marten Wilts).
Marber : from Old French marbrier ‘quarrier or hewer of marble; carver or worker in marble'. At Westminster in 1385 Thomas Canon of Corfe marbrer was paid £30 6s. 8d. for making stone images in the likeness of kings to stand in the Great Hall. Marble was also used for paving in churches etc. In 1312 Adam le Marbrer undertook to pave part of Saint Paul's with squares of marble (Salzman Building 32 147). Compare Marble.
Odom : English:: 1: from Middle English othom odam (Old English āthum ādam) ‘son-in-law’ or ‘brother-in-law’.2: habitational name from Odam in Highampton or from Odam Barton in Romansleigh (both Devon). The placenames probably derive from Old English wudu ‘wood’ + hām ‘village homestead’ or hamm ‘water meadow’.
Piff : perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English personal name *Piff(e) from Old English Pēof(a) (etymology unknown). The lack of any Middle English forms of the personal name or the surname makes this an uncertain explanation but compare Adam Pyffing 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Rockhampton Gloucs) whose name could be a pet form of Piffe + the hypocoristic suffix -ing.
Rafton : 1: of uncertain origin. In N England it might be a pronunciation of Raughton with Middle English [χt] spelled -ght- becoming [t] or [ft]. Raughton is a Cumb place-name recorded as Rachtona (1188) Racton' (1250) Raughton (1292) and Rawton (1580) of which the second element is Old English tūn ‘farmstead’ and the first element doubtful perhaps Old English ragu ‘moss lichen’. It gave rise to a medieval surname spelled Ragton' (1182 1279) Rachton' (1186 1279) and Ragheton (1278) but whether this surname survived into modern times is unknown and the current name in N England may be that in (2) by migration. 2: in S England perhaps from Racton (Sussex) near Compton where the earliest example of Rafton has been found. Compare Gilbert de Raketon 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Eartham Sussex) and Adam Racton 1571 in IGI (Walberton Sussex). Racton which is recorded as Racheton (1086) Rakentune (1121) and Raketon (1316) is from Old English tūn ‘farmstead’ with an uncertain first element perhaps an Old English personal name *Raca or the Old English word hraca ‘throat’ used topographically to mean ‘pass rough track’. The change from Rak- to Raf- could have been via an unrecorded intermediate form Ragheton but evidence is lacking.
Saddick : from the Middle English personal name Saddok apparently from an unrecorded Old English personal name *Sadduc. For the first part of the name compare the unexplained surnames of Ranulf Sadewi 1202 in Assize Rolls (Lincs); Adam Sadwyn' 1250 in Seltén By-names.
Scoreby : from Scoreby (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Scornesbi in 1086. The place-name derives from the Old Scandinavian personal name Skorn + Old Scandinavian bȳ ‘farmstead village’. Compare Adam Scorebyman' 1381 in Poll Tax (York).
Sendall : from Middle English sendal sendel(le) sindal(l) sandel(le) ‘sendal’ (Old French cendal) for someone who wore or sold garments of sendal a costly fabric apparently of linen or cotton. This accounts best for the -e-/-i-/-a- variation in the vowel of the surname in certain parishes and counties. Compare Elsabeth Sandall Adam Sendall 1582 in IGI (Salisbury Wilts); Humfrey Sandell 1583 Ane Sendall 1608 in IGI (Little Plumstead Norfolk); Alex. Sandell 1656 Joan Sendall 1699 in IGI (North Petherton Somerset). It probably also led to some confusion with Sandall and Sandell.
Silverside : 1: from Middle English silver ‘silver’ + side ‘side (of the body ?head)’. Compare Richard Silvereghe (‘silver eye’) 1414–15 in Inquisitiones post Mortem (Yorks); Adam Siluermouth (‘silver mouth’) 1379 in Yorks Poll Tax; John Silvertop (‘silver hair’) 1478 in York Freemen's Register. Some early bearers may belong with sense 2. 2: from Silver Side in Farlam (Cumb) so recorded in 1485. The place-name appears to derive from Old English seolfor ‘silver’ + sīde ‘long side of a slope or hill hill side’.
Smile : 1: from Middle English smile ‘smile’ for a cheerful person or perhaps ironically for a grumpy person. Compare Adam Smyler 1379 in Poll Tax (Ecclesfield WR Yorks). Some of the early bearers given here may alternatively belong with (2). 2: perhaps a variant of Smale. However the change in the vowel would be irregular. 3: variant of Smiles with loss of final -s.
Snake : from Middle English snake ‘snake’ (Old English snaca). Compare Adam Snakesnoute 1310 in Patent Rolls ‘snake snout’.
Thickett : sometimes perhaps from Thicket in Thorganby (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Thicked in 1180–1203 and Thikeheved in the 13th century. The place-name derives from Old English þicce ‘thicket’ + hēafod ‘head headland round which a river flows’.alternatively Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames suggests that the WR Yorks name derives from an unidentified locality in Methley named with the plural of Middle English *thikket(te) (Old English þiccet(t)) ‘thicket’ and cites Adam de Thiketts of Methley (1340) William Thekaytes or Thekayt of York (1499) and Thomas Theket of Methley (1597).
Toad : from Middle English tade tadde tode ‘toad’. Compare Alueredus Taddebelloc 1066 in Feilitzen Winton (Hants) and Adam Tadebely 1302 in Patent Rolls (Carlisle Cumb).
Waskett : probably a diminutive of Wask the Norman form of Old French Gasc ‘Gascon native of Gascony’ (see Gask). Compare the French surname Gasquet. The same development appears in Adam Waskin 1276 in Hundred Rolls (Derbys) for Gaskin (see Gascoigne).
Wildsmith : 1: probably from Middle English w(h)elsmith (Old English *hwēol‐smið) ‘wheel‐smith’ a maker of wheels especially the iron parts. Compare Wheelwright. The vowel has been shortened to -i- producing *W(h)ilsmith then Wildsmith with an intrusive -d-. For the vowel change compare Robert le Whilwright 1349 in Derbys Charters. Middle English W(h)elsmith is rare and has so far only been noted in Essex far from the main location of Wildsmith in post-medieval times. Note however that John Wildsmith of Old Swinford (Worcs) 1619 in Worcs Archive Service 1/1/72/56 was a blacksmith. Some of the post-medieval bearers listed below may alternatively belong with (2). 2: perhaps sometimes from Middle English *Willesmogh ‘Will's son-in-law’ with an intrusive -d- and the re-modelling of -smogh as -smith by folk etymology. Compare Hudsmith and Adam Wilmogh' 1381 in Poll Tax (Pennington Lancs). 3: perhaps from Older Scots wild(e) ‘wild reckless mad’ + smith ‘smith’. The single Scottish example below is too early for the linguistic changes suggested in (1) and (2) and it is so isolated it is difficult to know whether or not it sheds light on the English name.
Wordsworth : Bardsley suggests that it is a variant of Wadsworth noting that at Silkstone (WR Yorks) the surname appears as Waddysworth (1556) Wardsworth (1656) Wadsworth (1666) and Wordsworth (from 1668). The link has been confirmed by DNA research in which one rare haplotype was shared among some Wadsworths and some Wordsworths. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames however argues that the documentary evidence points firmly to it being a variant of Wardleworth. He notes that Adam de World(es)worth of Barnsley in 1394 is linked by a deed to the Wordsworth family in Penistone (WR Yorks) 1398-1401 and cites Nicholas de Wordulworth of Penistone in 1408. It is possible therefore that Wadsworth itself is sometimes a variant of Wardleworth.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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