Origin
Due : 1: North German (Düe): from the ancient Germanic personal name Dudo which is of uncertain derivation. In some cases it is said to be a pet form of the compound name Liudolf (composed of Old Saxon liud ‘people tribe’ + wolf ‘wolf’); in other cases it may be a derivative of ancient Germanic theud ‘people race’.2: Danish: from due ‘pigeon dove’ applied as a metonymic occupational name for a dove keeper or as a nickname.3: French: variant of Duhe and in North America an altered form of this. Compare Duet 1.4: English: variant of Dew.
Abrell : South German: from Middle High German aberëlle ‘April’ hence perhaps a nickname for a moody or temperamental man with reference to the changeable weather typical of that month. Alternatively it may have been applied to someone with a particular connection with the month of April for example as the month in which an annual payment was due.
Absalom : English and Welsh (mainly southern): from the Old Testament Hebrew personal name Abshalom ‘father of peace’. In the Middle Ages this was occasionally used as a personal name in France from where it was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest. During the 17th century through the influence of the King James Bible and due to the popularity of the Biblical story of Absalom the adored but rebellious son of King David in the King James Bible (II Samuel 13-19) Absalom became the standard vernacular English form of the personal name and hence the source of this surname.
Agron : 1: Galician and Spanish: habitational name from either of two places called Agrón in A Coruña and Granada.2: Jewish (American and Israeli): shortened form with the Russian patronymic suffix (such as -sky -ovsky -ovich or -ov) dropped of some original eastern Ashkenazic surname based on the Jewish male personal name Ahron a variant of Aaron. Spelling with g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Albino : Portuguese Spanish and southern Italian:: 1: from the personal name Albino (see Albin).2: descriptive nickname for an albino (a person with pale complexion and white hair due to a congenital absence of pigmentation).
Alexander : 1: Scottish English German and Dutch: from the personal name Alexander classical Greek Alexandros which probably originally meant ‘repulser of men (i.e. of the enemy)’ from alexein ‘to repel’ + andros genitive of anēr ‘man’. Its popularity in the Middle Ages was due mainly to the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) - or rather to the hero of the mythical versions of his exploits that gained currency in the so-called Alexander Romances. The name was also borne by various early Christian saints including a patriarch of Alexandria (c. 250–326 AD) whose main achievement was condemning the Arian heresy. The Gaelic form of the personal name is Alasdair which has given rise to a number of Scottish and Irish patronymics for example McAllister. Alexander is a common personal name in Scotland often representing an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Spanish Alejandro Italian Alessandro Arabic or Assyrian/Chaldean Iskandar and Iskander and their derivatives e.g. Greek patronymic Alexandropoulos.2: Jewish: from the adopted personal name Alexander (see 1 above) or shortened from the eastern Ashkenazic (originally Slavic) patronymics Aleksandrovich or Alexandrowicz.
Ambrose : 1: English and Scottish: from the personal name Ambrose (French Ambroise Latin Ambrosius from Greek ambrosios ‘immortal divine’) which was popular throughout Christendom in medieval Europe. Its popularity was due in part to the fame of Saint Ambrose (c. 340–397) one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church the teacher of Saint Augustine. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Czech Slovenian and Croatian Ambrož (see Ambroz) and also their derivatives e.g. the Slovenian patronymic Ambrožič.2: Irish: from Mac Ambróis ‘son of Ambrose’ (see 1 above); a West Munster name which has also been Anglicized as McCambridge.
Anthony : 1: English and West Indian (mainly Antigua and Barbuda Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago also Dutch Caribbean): from the personal name Anthony Latin Antonius which with its variants and cognates is one of the commonest personal names in Europe. Spellings with -h- which first appear in English in the 16th century and in French (as Anthoine) at about the same time are due to the erroneous belief that the name derives from Greek anthos ‘flower’. The popularity of the personal name in Christendom is largely due to the cult of the Egyptian hermit Saint Anthony (AD 251–356) who in his old age gathered a community of hermits around him and for that reason is regarded by some as the founder of monasticism. It was further increased by the fame of Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) who long enjoyed a great popular cult and who is believed to help people find lost things. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates and derivatives (patronymics) from other languages for example Greek patronymic Antoniades Italian Antoni Polish Antoniewicz Croatian and Serbian Antonović (see Antonovich) and Antunović; see also below. The name Anthony is also found among Christians in southern India but since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Compare Antony.2: German Flemish and French (mainly Alsace): Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from local equivalents of the Latin personal name Antonius from its genitive form Antoni(i). In North America this surname is also an altered form of the German Dutch French and Slovak cognates Antoni 1 and Antony 2.
Ayoub : Arabic: from the personal name Ayyūb the Arabic form of the Biblical Hebrew name Iyob ‘Job’. In the suras Job is regarded as a messenger of God/Allah. The spread of the name among Muslims is partly due to the fame of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb (c. 1138–1193) known in Europe as Saladin founder of the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt. This surname is also borne by Christians e.g. in Lebanon.
Bacallao : Catalan (Girona): Castilianized form of Bacallà from bacallà ‘cod’ hence either a nickname for someone who resembled the fish in some way or a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller specializing in cod. The spelling with -ll- is due to confusion between Castilian bacalao and Catalan bacallà (bacallao is actually Galician spelling). This surname is very rare in Spain; it is found mainly in Cuba.
Baldwin : 1: English and North German: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements bald ‘bold brave’ + wine ‘friend’ which was extremely popular among the Normans and in Flanders in the early Middle Ages. It was the personal name of the Crusader who in 1100 became the first Christian king of Jerusalem and of four more Crusader kings of Jerusalem. It was also borne by Baldwin Count of Flanders (1172–1205) leader of the Fourth Crusade who became first Latin Emperor of Constantinople (1204). In North America this surname has absorbed Dutch forms such as Boudewijn.2: Irish: surname adopted in Donegal by bearers of the Gaelic surname Ó Maolagáin (see Milligan) due to association of Gaelic maol ‘bald hairless’ with English bald.
Banna : 1: Bangladeshi and Indian (Rajasthan): Rajput name from Marwari banna a term used to denote courtiers close to (but not related to) the king. It was originally a caste name of the Mair or Mer tribe of the Rajputana who eventually acquired Rajput (warrior) status along with material prosperity due to their close relationship with royalty.2: Muslim: from Egyptian Arabic banna ‘bricklayer mason’. Compare Albanna.
Basil : 1: English (Hertfordshire): from the Middle English personal name Basil itself from Old French Basil(e) Latin Basilius ultimately from Greek Basileios ‘royal’. The name was borne by a 4th-century bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia regarded as one of the four Fathers of the Eastern Church; he wrote important theological works and established a rule for religious orders of monks. Various other Christian saints are also known under these and cognate names. The popularity of Vasily as a Russian personal name is largely due to the fact that this was the ecclesiastical name of Saint Vladimir (956–1015) Prince of Kiev who was chiefly responsible for the introduction of Christianity to Russia. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed Italian cognate Basile 1 and some Greek and Slavic derivatives of the classical Greek personal name Basileios (see Vasil).2: Americanized form of French Basile 2 a cognate of 1 above.
Beable : from Old French beau ‘beautiful’ + peil ‘hair’. Earlier forms of the surname with -p- such as Beaupel and Beaple are now extinct. The form Beable is due to voicing of /p/ to /b/.
Belloc : 1: from a southern dialectal form of the common French place-name Beaulieu ‘fine place’ or from the same source but due to later French immigration. The medieval name is anglicized as Bewley and some of the early bearers below may be ancestors of persons so named. 2: possibly sometimes from a medieval personal name Beloc of uncertain origin.
Bley : 1: German: metonymic occupational name for a lead miner or lead worker from Middle High German blī ‘lead’. Compare Blei Bly and Ply.2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from German Blei or Yiddish blaj ‘lead’ due to replacement of -ei or -aj with Russian -ey.3: Dutch: variant archaic or Americanized of Bleij ‘merry gay happy’ (see Blei). Compare Bly.
Bowdley : perhaps from Bewdley (Worcs) which is recorded as Be(a)ul(i)eu from 1275–1424 Buleye in 1316 Beudeley in 1349 and Bowedeley in 1452. The place-name appears to derive from Old French beau lieu ‘fine place’ (compare Bewley) with the -d- perhaps due to confusion following the anglicization of the name.
Bulloch : Scottish: habitational name from Balloch a locality in Bonhill Dumbartonshire named with Gaelic beallach ‘pass’. The change of vowel is probably due to confusion with Bullock.
Burt : 1: English (southern): variant of Bird Bright or Burd.2: German: Middle High German burt ‘that which is due or proper’ therefore a nickname for someone who has fulfilled his obligations properly.3: Jewish (from Poland and Ukraine): variant of Burd.
Camp : 1: Dutch (also Van de Camp) and North German: from camp ‘enclosed fenced or hedged piece of land field’ from Latin campus ‘plain’ hence a topographic name for someone who lived by such a field. Compare Kamp.2: English: from Middle English kempe ‘warrior’; see Kemp. The spelling Camp may be due to the influence of Old English camp ‘battle’ and campian ‘to fight’ or of Old French campion ‘warrior champion’.3: French: mainly southern form of Champ.
Catherine : French English and Scottish: from the female personal name Catherine (Old French and Middle English Katerine) from Latin Caterina from Greek Aikaterinē which is of uncertain origin. The usual vernacular form in medieval England was Cateline; see Catlin. The personal name was very popular in the Middle Ages due to Saint Katherine of Alexandria a legendary Christian figure of doubtful historicity who was supposedly martyred under the Emperor Maxentius in 307. The modern spelling and pronunciation of the name with -th- is a 16th-century ‘learned’ introduction by clerics and other educated people who believed that it derived from Greek katharos ‘pure’.
Charles : 1: French Welsh English West Indian (mainly Haiti) and African (mainly Tanzania): from the French form of the ancient Germanic personal name Karl ‘man husband freeman’ which was Latinized as Carolus. In France the personal name was popular from an early date due to the fame of the Emperor Charlemagne (c. 742–814; Latin name Carolus Magnus i.e. Charles the Great). The Old French form Charles was briefly introduced to England by the Normans but was rare during the main period of surname formation. It was introduced more successfully to Scotland in the 16th century by the Stuarts who had strong ties with France and was brought by them to England in the 17th century. Its frequency as a Welsh surname is attributable to the late date of Welsh surname formation. Old English Ceorl ‘peasant’ is also found as a byname but the resulting Middle English form Charl with a patronymic in -s if it existed at all would have been absorbed by the French form introduced by the Normans. English variants pronounced with initial k- for the most part reflect the cognate Old Norse personal name Karl Karli. Compare Carl.2: English: in some cases possibly a habitational name from Charles (Devon) or a post-medieval variant of Cherrill with excrescent -s perhaps by false association with the personal name Charles. Cherrill is either a habitational name from Cherhill in Wilshire or a status name from Middle English cherl cheril charl chirl ‘churl bonded tenant serf; peasant’.3: Swedish: ornamental form of a Frenchified form of the Old Norse personal name Karl (see 1 above).
Chatland : perhaps from a lost or unidentified place in the W Midlands named with Old English cert ‘rough ground’ + land ‘land’ though cert is rarely found as a place-name element outside Kent and Surrey. However compare the lost place Chertehulle in Malmesbury (Wilts) recorded in the 13th century which appears to derive from Old English cert + hyll ‘hill’. See also Chartland Farm in Limpsfield (Surrey) which is recorded as Chertland in 1312 and derives from Old English cert + land; it is possible that this place is the source of the surname if the name became concentrated in the W Midlands due to migration.
Cheeseworth : probably a variant of Chesworth concentrated in Devon and Cornwall due to migration. Compare John Chesworth William Cheesworth 1838 in IGI (Wolstanton Staffs).
Chestnut : 1: Scottish (Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire) and northern Irish: altered form of Chesney shortened from McChesney. Its assimilation to the English word chestnut is due to folk etymology the word itself being first recorded in 1519. The surname was probably taken to Ireland at the time of the 17th-century Plantation of Ulster.2: English (Norfolk): probably a variant of Chestney (see Chaney) altered by folk etymological association with the word chestnut.
Chudasama : Indian (Gujarat): Ahir surname derived from Sanskrit chuud-ha ‘forehead’ which is taken to imply that their significant position in the larger Samma community is due to their unmatched valor.
Clavin : Irish (Westmeath and Offaly): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Fhláimhín ‘son of Flaithimhín’ a personal name from a diminutive of flaith ‘prince ruler’ (see Lavin). Alternatively a shortened Anglicized form of Ó Claimhín ‘descendant of Claimhín’ a diminutive of clamh ‘mangy creature leper’. This name has been Anglicized as Swords due to folk-etymological association with claidheamh ‘sword’.
Clunn : English (mainly Kent): habitational name from Clun in Shropshire which takes its name from the river Clun (of uncertain etymology). The predominance of the name in Kent is no doubt due to early migration.
Crawforth : this name is recorded from Tudor times in Lincs and ER Yorks and could be of local origin but is more likely to be a variant of Crawford due to early migration from Scotland.
Croskell : from Crossgill near Lancaster (Lancs). The origin of the place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms but it may derive from Old English cros ‘cross’ + Old Scandinavian gil ‘ravine’.
Cumpsty : possibly from Cunsey (Hawkshead Lancs) with an intrusive –t- and labialization of the nasal /n/ although Hawkshead is quite far to the north and the surname has always been concentrated in the Fylde. A more difficult derivation would be from Compley in Poulton-le-Fylde. The addition of final /f/ or /v/ is due to hypercorrection i.e. inversion of the change which produces Binkley from Bintcliffe.
David : Jewish Welsh Scottish English French Breton Portuguese Czech Croatian and Slovenian; Hungarian (Dávid) Slovak (mainly Dávid): from the Hebrew personal name David (in Hungarian and Slovak spelled Dávid) interpreted as ‘beloved’. The name has been perennially popular among Jews in honor of the Biblical king of this name. His prominence and the vivid narrative of his life contained in the First Book of Samuel led to adoption of the name among Christians in the Middle Ages in various parts of Europe. In Britain the popularity of this as a personal name was increased for two reasons. Firstly by virtue of its being the name of the patron saint of Wales who was abbot-bishop in the 6th century at what became known as Saint David's in Pembrokeshire. There are numerous dedications and placenames honouring the saint in south Wales and it is no coincidence that the modern surname is heavily concentrated there especially in Glamorgan. Secondly the name was borne by two kings of Scotland (David I reigning 1124–53 and David II 1329–71). Its popularity in Russia is largely due to the fact that this was the ecclesiastical name adopted by Saint Gleb (died 1015) one of two sons of Prince Vladimir of Kiev who were martyred for their Christian zeal. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from some other languages especially Assyrian/Chaldean Dawid and Arabic Daud (with variants such as Daoud and Dawood).
Dennis : 1: English: from the Middle English (Old French) personal name Denis(e) Dinis(e) vernacular forms of Latin Dionysius Greek Dionysios ‘(follower) of Dionysos’ an eastern god introduced to the classical pantheon at a relatively late date and bearing a name of probably Semitic origin. The name was borne by various early Christian saints including Saint Denis the martyred 3rd-century bishop of Paris who became the patron saint of France. From the 12th century onward the popularity of the name in England (and of its cognates mainly Denis in the continental Europe) seems to have been largely due to French influence. The feminine form Dionysia (in vernacular English likewise Den(n)is) is also found and some examples of the surname may originate from it.2: English: from Middle English deneis a variant of danais ‘Danish’ with the vowel influenced by Middle English denshe (Old English denisc). Compare Dence.3: Irish (mainly Dublin and Cork): of the same origin as 1 and 2 above sometimes an alternative form to Donohue but more often to McDonough since the personal name Donnchadh was Anglicized as Donough or Denis.4: Irish (Ulster and Munster): Anglicized form of the rare Gaelic name Ó Donnghusa ‘descendant of Donnghus’ a personal name from donn ‘brown-haired man’ or ‘chieftain’ + gus ‘vigor’.
Dimitris : Greek:: 1: from the personal name Dimitri(o)s from classical Greek Dēmētrios ‘(follower) of Demeter’ or ‘consecrated to Demeter’ in Greek mythology the goddess of fertility whose name (classical Greek Dēmētēr) derives from an obscure element dē sometimes taken as a Doric equivalent of Attic gē ‘earth’ + mētēr ‘mother’. The name Dēmētrios (Latinized as Demetrius) was borne by several early Christian martyrs and its popularity in eastern Europe is largely due to the fame of a 4th-century saint executed under Diocletian.2: shortened form of any of patronymics derived from the personal name Dimitri(o)s (see 1 above) e.g. Dimitrakis Dimitrakopoulos Dimitriadis and Dimitropoulos. Compare Demeter Dimitri and Dimitry.
Dissington : probably a variant of Dishington assuming that the frequency of Dissington in Staffs is due to migration from Scotland and NE England where Dishington is concentrated.
Duan : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 段 meaning ‘segment’ or ‘paragraph’ in Chinese: (i) from the personal name Duan (段) style name of Gong Shu Duan (共叔段) younger brother of Duke Zhuang of Zheng (ruler of the state of Zheng 757–701 BC) who later fled to the fief Gong due to his failure of a coup against his brother Duke Zhuang of Zheng. (ii) shortened form of the compound surname Duan-Gan (段干) traced back to Duan-Gan Mu (段干木) a person who lived in the state of Wei during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). (iii) from Duan (段) the name of a tribe from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China.2: Mandarin form of the surname 端: (i) from Duan (端) the name of an ancient state (located in Shanxi province) which later became a fief in the state of Jin after its annihilation during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Duan-Mu (端木) a surname traced back to Duan Mu Ci (端木赐) a student of Confucius (551–479 BC).
Duckfield : perhaps a reduced form of Duckenfield assuming that the concentration of the surname in Pembrokes is due to migration. Compare James Duckenfield 1825 John Duckinfield 1834 Joseph Duckfield 1842 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).perhaps from a lost or unidentified place named with Old English dūce ‘duck’ + feld ‘open country’.
Dworkin : Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from Dvorke a hypocoristic form of the Yiddish female personal name Dvoyre (from the Hebrew name Devorah literally ‘bee’ whence English Deborah). It is formed with the Slavic possessive suffix -in. The name Devorah was borne in the Bible by Rebecca's nurse (Genesis 35:8) and by a prophetess and judge (Judges 4:4). The popularity of the Yiddish name is due largely to the latter.
Eastling : 1: English: habitational name from Eastling (Kent) named from an Old English folk-name Ēslingas (from an Old English personal name Ēsla + -ingas meaning ‘the people of Ēsla’). The -t- in the placename is intrusive due to analogy with Old English ēast ‘east’. In some cases the name may also be a variant of Aslin which is now rare in Britain.2: Variant of Easterling.
Edward : English and Welsh: from the Middle English personal name Edward (Old English Ēadweard from ēad ‘prosperity fortune’ + w(e)ard ‘guard ward’). The popularity of the personal name was largely due to its being the name of the sainted Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor and of three kings in the 13th–14th centuries.
Ellen : 1: English: from the Middle English female personal name Elen Elin Helen (Old French Helene from Latin Helena Greek Helenē related to helanē ‘torch’ and helē ‘brightness of the sun’). The popularity of this as a personal name is due largely to Saint Helena mother of the Emperor Constantine who was influential as a Christian proselytizer in Byzantium. Medieval English legend asserted almost certainly wrongly that she was of British origin.2: English (of Norman origin): variant of Hellen.3: English: topographic name for someone who lived by or among elder-trees from Middle English ellen (Old English elle(r)n).4: Dutch and North German: patronymic from the personal name El(le) probably a shortened form of an ancient Germanic name with the element adal ‘noble’.
Endeacott : probably a variant of Endicott concentrated in Yorks due to migration.
Fairthorne : perhaps topographic from an adjective derived from Middle English frithen ‘to grant peace or safety protect’ + thorn ‘thorn tree’ denoting a thorn tree which provided safety or shelter in some way. Alternatively the name may sometimes be from Fretherne (Gloucs) named with Old English frið freoðu ‘refuge protection’ or *friðen *freoðen ‘protected secure’ + þorn ‘thorn tree’. Surname forms in Fair- are due to metathesis.
Firmstone : English (West Midlands): most probably from Middle English firme son ‘first-born son’ with intrusive -t- due to the influence of habitational names ending in -ton. Early examples such as John Furmson (1664 in Ellesmere Shropshire) support this hypothesis. Origin as a habitational name from Furmiston in Dumfriesshire Scotland is also possible but no early examples in Scotland have been found.
Fonda : 1: Dutch (of West Frisian origin): apparently an altered form of Funda which may well be a reinterpretation due to similarity to Latin fundus ‘depth’ of Foyngha the name of an estate managed by the ancestors of the first and only bearer of this surname in the Netherlands who later established its variant in America. There is no evidence for the supposed Spanish origin of this surname.2: Italian (Trieste) and Slovenian: nickname from Italian fonda an old variant of fionda ‘sling catapult’ or from an Italian homonym meaning ‘bag’. This form of the surname was first recorded in 1230 in Slovene Littoral.3: Italian: possibly also a habitational name from a place called with the adjective fondo fonda ‘deep’ for example Cavafonda ‘deep cave’ or Vallefonda ‘deep valley’.4: Americanized form of German Funda itself at least in part probably of Czech or Polish origin in Czech being a nickname derived from funět ‘to pant to gasp’.5: In some cases probably also southwestern French: topographic name or metonymic occupational name from Spanish or Catalan fonda ‘inn’.
Framingham : 1: from Framingham Earl and Framingham Pigot (Norfolk) recorded as Framingaham in 1086 and Framingeham in 1130. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Fram’ from the Old English personal name Fram + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’. In 1254 the places were recorded as Framelingham Comitis and Framelingham Pigot with an intrusive -el- presumably due to influence from the Suffolk place-name Framlingham. Among surname forms there has clearly also been some confusion with sense (2); note Thomas de Framingham and wife Agnes identical with Thomas de Framlyngham and wife Agnes 1301–3 in Feet of Fines (both relating to land in Great Hautbois Norfolk) and compare John Framlingham 1663 Barbara Framingham 1705 in IGI (North Elmham Norfolk). 2: perhaps occasionally from Framlingham (Suffolk) which is recorded as Framelingaham in 1086 and Framillingeham in 1175. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Framela’ from an Old English personal name *Framela + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’. The place certainly gave rise to a medieval surname but it is unclear whether this has died out or survived with loss of -l-. There has evidently been some confusion with and perhaps ultimately absorption by sense (1).
Frettingham : from Frodingham (Lincs) North Frodingham (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Frethyngham in 1334 (Inquisitiones post Mortem) or South Frodingham (also ER Yorks). The places were named in Old English with the personal name Frōda + ingas ‘the people of’ + hām ‘village homestead’ ‘the village of the people of Frōda’. The forms with -th- are due to influence from the Old Scandinavian personal name Fróði.
Galayda : Ukrainian and Jewish (from Ukraine): nickname from Ukrainian halayda ‘homeless person’. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Gall : 1: Scottish Welsh and Irish: nickname from Celtic gall ‘foreigner stranger’ a word found in Irish Gaelic and Breton. In the Scottish Highlands the Gaelic term gall was applied to people from the English-speaking lowlands and to Scandinavians; in Ireland the same term was applied to settlers who arrived from Wales and England in the wake of the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century. This surname is also found at an early date in Lincolnshire where it apparently has a Breton origin (compare 4 below and Legall) having been introduced by Breton followers of the Norman Conquerors.2: English (of Norman origin): variant of Gale.3: French German Danish Polish and Czech; Slovak (mainly Gáll); Hungarian (Gáll): from the Latin personal name Gallus originally a Roman surname meaning ‘Gaul’ or ‘rooster’ (see Gallo 2). The name was widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages in central Europe largelly due to the cult of a 7th-century Irish monk and missionary Saint Gall whose name Latinized as Gallus is presumably of Celtic origin (see 1 above). Among other things Saint Gall established a Christian settlement to the south of Lake Constance which became the monastery later known as St. Gallen. The Latin(ized) name Gallus was taken into Czech as Havel into Polish as Gaweł (see Gawel) into Slovak and Hungarian as Gál (see Gal) and into Slovenian and Croatian as Gal.4: Breton (mainly Finistère; mainly Le Gall): cognate of 1 above; see Legall. It may however also be a cognate of 3 above especially when not formed with the French masculine definite article le.
Gandy : English:: 1: possibly a nickname from Old French gandie ‘pretence trick trickery’.2: alternatively perhaps from a shortened form of the Old French personal name Gandin a pet form of ancient Germanic names beginning with Wand- ‘turn wind’ or more likely Gand- (of uncertain etymology). In Cheshire Middle English variation between Gond- and Gand- is probably due to dialect rounding of original -a- before -n(d)-. In south England however the variation is difficult to explain (see 3 below).3: in south England possibly a variant of Gander with substitution of -y for weakly stressed -er. — No evidence has been found to support the claim of Reaney and Wilson citing John Gameday 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Suffolk) that the name derives from Middle English Gameday ‘servant of Game’.
Gelfand : Jewish (from Belarus and Ukraine): artificial name from Yiddish helfand ‘elephant’ (see Oliphant); the change from h to g is due to the influence of Russian which has no h.
Genin : Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Henye a pet form of Hanna 6 formed with the Slavic possessive suffix -in. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Gershenson : Jewish (from Ukraine and Bessarabia):: 1: variant of Hershenson a patronymic from the Yiddish personal name Hersh (see Hirsch 2). The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.2: patronymic from Gershen.
Gershowitz : Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Herschowitz a patronymic from Hersh a dialect variant of Hirsch 2. The ending -owitz is a Germanized form of the East Slavic patronymic ending -ovich Polish -owicz. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Getman : Jewish (from Belarus and Ukraine) and Ukrainian: variant of Hetman. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Gilberg : 1: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Hilberg. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.2: Norwegian: habitational name from the name of several farms from Old Norse gildra ‘trap’ + berg ‘mountain hill’ i.e. a mountain with an animal trap.3: Swedish: variant of Gillberg probably a habitational name from the placename Gillberga or an ornamental name from any other placename beginning with Gill- + the ornamental element berg ‘mountain hill’.
Giller : 1: English: occupational name for a fishmonger from Middle English giller gilour gelour ‘gutter of fish’ a derivative of Middle English gil(e) ‘fish gill’ + the agent suffix -er or -our.2: English: possibly a variant of Guyler (see Guiler).3: English: occasionally perhaps a variant of Gillard.4: German: variant of Gille 2.5: German: habitational name for someone from Gill near Neuss in the Rhineland.6: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish male personal name Hiller a variant of Hillel. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Ginnetti : Italian: patronymic or plural form probably of a derivative of the personal name Gino with a doubling of the n due to the influence of the personal name Gianni.
Gips : 1: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): perhaps a variant of Hipsher; in this case the initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names and the final s replaced sh due to the confusion between these two sounds in the Yiddish dialect spoken in Lithuania and Belarus.2: German: patronymic from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with the stem geb ‘gift’ as in Gebhard (see Gebhardt).3: Dutch: altered form of English Gibbs.
Globe : see Glubb. The development of the surname form Globe apparently with a long vowel is probably due to influence from the word globe ‘globe sphere’.
Goalen : 1: see Gullen. 2: perhaps also a variant of Jolin though it is possible that the bearers below belong under (1) and are found in Kent due to migration.
Goffin : 1: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational from German Hopfen ‘hops’. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.2: French and Walloon: from a pet form of the personal name Godefroy">Godefroy.3: French and Walloon: possibly also a nickname from a diminutive of Old French goffe ‘heavy coarse’.4: English (Norfolk and Suffolk): from the Middle English personal name Goffin a diminutive of Goff.
Goldsby : English: apparently a habitational name from a lost or unidentified place probably in southern or eastern England unless it is a variant of Goldsborough due to early migration.
Gomberg : Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Homberg. The initial g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Grudzien : Polish (Grudzień): nickname from grudzień ‘December’ bestowed on someone with some particular association with the month such as being due to pay rent then or having been baptized then.
Gutteridge : variant of Cutteridge due to confusion with Goodrich.
Hargate : English: habitational name probably from Hardgate in Bishop Thornton (Yorkshire) a placename which most likely derives from Middle English hard ‘hard’ + gate ‘path road street.’ The name may also sometimes be from Hargate in Norfolk but the etymology of the placename is uncertain due to lack of medieval forms.
Harraway : from Harroway Farm in Langrish (Hants). The origin of the place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms.
Hartless : English (Staffordshire): variant of Hartley or of Hartle with post-medieval excrescent -s. The spelling of the modern surname is no doubt due to confusion with the English vocabulary word heartless meaning ‘cruel or unfeeling’.
Hasham : 1: in N England perhaps from Heysham (Lancs) which is recorded as Hessam in 1086 and Hesham about 1190. The place-name derives from Old English *hǣs ‘brushwood’ or *hǣse ‘land overgrown with brushwood’ + hām ‘village homestead’.in S England perhaps sometimes for Asham from a place in Beddingham (Sussex) or one in Ham Wellington (Somerset). The Sussex place-name derives from an Old English personal name *Assa + Old English hām ‘village homestead’ or hamm ‘enclosure water meadow’. The etymology of the Somerset place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms. 2: see Hashim.
Hateley : from Heatley near Abbots Bromley (Staffs) which is recorded as Haytelega about 1200 or less likely Heightley in Chirbury (Shrops). The Staffs place-name probably derives from Old English hǣðiht ‘heathy’ + lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’. The origin of the Shrops place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms.
Haut : 1: North German: metonymic occupational name for a hat maker from Middle Low German hōt ‘hat’.2: South German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for a dealer in skins from Middle High German hūt hout German Haut ‘skin hide’.3: French: nickname from haut ‘high’ (from Latin altus + initial h said to be due to the influence of Frankish hoh) usually denoting a haughty or proud person and occasionally a tall man.
Helena : Portuguese: from the personal name Helena from Latin Helena of Greek origin related to helanē ‘torch’ and helē ‘brightness of the sun’. The popularity of this as a personal name is due largely to Saint Helena mother of the Emperor Constantine who was influential as a Christian proselytizer in Byzantium.
Hewinson : probably a variant of Eunson with prosthetic H- assuming this surname became concentrated in Gloucs due to migration.
Higley : English: habitational name from Highley (Shropshire) recorded as Hugelei in 1086 from an Old English personal name Hugga + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The modern form Highley is probably due to folk etymology (see Highley).
Hillary : English (of Norman origin):: 1: from the Middle English and Old French male or female personal name Hilari(e) Ilari(e) and Elari(e) from Latin Hilarius and Hilaria ‘joyful’ (from Greek hilaros). The Latin name was chosen by many early Christians to express their joy and hope of salvation and was borne by several saints including a 4th-century bishop of Poitiers (died 368) noted for his vigorous resistance to the Arian heresy and a 5th-century bishop of Arles. Largely due to veneration of Saint Hilarius of Poitiers the name became popular in France in the forms Hilari and Hilaire and was brought to England by the Norman conquerors. Although quite popular in France it was only occasionally used in England where it was confused with the name in 2 below.2: from the rare Middle English or Old French male or female personal name Eulari(e) an altered form of Latin Eulalius and Eulalia derivatives of the Greek male name Eulalos ‘sweetly speaking’ (literally ‘well-speaking’ chosen by early Christians as a reference to the gift of tongues). A Saint Eulalia was crucified at Barcelona in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian and became the patron of that city. In England the name underwent dissimilation of the sequence -l-l- to -l-r- and the unfamiliar initial vowel was also distorted so that eventually the name was considered no more than a feminine form of Hilary (of which the initial aspirate was in any case variable). The Latinized forms in English documents imply Middle English variants such as Eilari(e) exclusive to this name as well as Elari(e) Hillari(e) and Illari(e) shared by the name in 1 above.
Holsgrove : perhaps from Halsgrove in Withypool (Somerset). The origin of the place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms though it appears to have Middle English grove ‘grove thicket’ as the final element.
Hugh : 1: English Welsh and Scottish (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Hue from ancient Germanic Hugo (ultimately derived from hugi- ‘mind spirit’). This was a very popular name in England after the Norman Conquest partly due to the reputation of Saint Hugh of Lincoln (1140–1200) who was born in Burgundy and who established the first Carthusian monastery in England.2: Scottish and Irish: adopted as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic personal name Aodh a derivative of a Gaelic word meaning ‘fire’. See Hughes.3: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 邱 and 丘 based on their Hakka pronunciation; see Qiu 1 and 2.
Hunter : 1: Scottish and northern English: occupational name from Middle English hunter(e) ‘huntsman’ (see Hunt).2: Irish (Antrim and Derry): adopted for Gaelic Ó Fiaich (see Fee) due to confusion with the word fiadhach ‘hunt’.3: In some cases also an Americanized form (mistranslation into English; compare Chasse 3) of French Canadian Chassé (see Chasse 1).
Huo : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 霍 meaning ‘suddenly’ or referring to the phenomenon of a small hill being surrounded by higher hills: (i) from Huo (霍) the name of a state (located in Shanxi province) granted to Shu Chu the eighth son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC) who was the ruler of the state o Huo but was deposed in his late years due to his participation in a rebellion. After it was annexed by the state of Jin in 661 BC the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) traced back to certain minority ethnic groups who lived in present-day Hunan province.2: Mandarin form of the surname 火 meaning ‘fire’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of officials in charge of using fires during ceremonies and preventing destructive fires. (ii) borne by descendants of Huo Ji (火濟) king of an ethnic group in southwestern China during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD).
Hurley : 1: English: habitational name from any of the three places called Hurley (Somerset Warwickshire Berkshire). The Warwickshire and Berkshire placenames derive from Old English hyrne ‘angle corner’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The Somerset placename for a minor place near Crowcombe may have the same origin but this cannot be certain due to a lack of medieval forms.2: Irish (Munster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hUrthuile ‘descendant of Urthuile’ a personal name possibly meaning ‘great flood’.3: Irish: variant of Herlihy.4: Irish: variant of Murley 1.
Ignatius : Dutch German and Indian (southern states): from the Late Latin personal name Ignatius derived from the old Roman surname Egnatius (of uncertain origin possibly Etruscan). This was altered in the early Christian period by association with Latin ignis ‘fire’. It was borne by various early saints notably by a bishop of Antioch c. 100 AD the object of a widespread cult in the Middle Ages which gave rise to surnames such as German Natzke. However comparative popularity of this personal name and its local forms (such as Spanish Ignacio) in Catholic countries today is due to the fame of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556; see Inigo) founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). — Note: Since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Jenner : 1: English: occupational name for a designer or engineer from Middle English enginour ‘engineer maker or designer of military machines’ Old French engigneor enginior (a derivative of engaigne ‘cunning ingenuity stratagem device’). Engineers in the Middle Ages were primarily designers and builders of military machines although in peacetime they might turn their hands to architecture and other more pacific functions. In the 12th century ingeniator was used to denote someone who combined the duties of master mason and architect. Ailnoth ingeniator a military architect was surveyor of the king's buildings at Westminster and the Tower in 1157 and was in charge of building operations at Windsor 1166–73. He repaired Westminster Abbey after a fire and superintended the destruction of the castles of Framlingham and Walton.2: German: from the Latin personal name Januarius (see Janvier). Jänner is a South German word for ‘January’ and so it is possible that this is one of the surnames acquired from words denoting months of the year for example by converts who had been baptized in that month people who were born or baptized in that month or people whose taxes were due in January.
Kellington : English (Yorkshire): habitational name from Kellington (Yorkshire). The placename derives from the Old English personal name Ceolla + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’ with change from initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence.
Kennaird : 1: apparently a late variant of Kenward or Kinnard. 2: perhaps a variant of Kinnaird assuming that Kennaird was established in SE England due to migration.
Kenshole : perhaps a variant of Kensell or Kingswell assuming that the concentration of Kenshole in Devon is due to migration.
Keswick : English (Cumbria): habitational name from Keswick (Cumbria) or East Keswick (Yorkshire). The placenames derive from Old English cēse ‘cheese’ + wīc ‘specialized farmstead dairy farm’ with initial K- due to Scandinavian influence.
Kettlewell : English (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire): habitational name from Kettlewell in Yorkshire. The placename derives from Old English cetel ‘kettle cooking-vessel; deep valley hollow’ + wella ‘well spring stream’ with change of initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence.
Kidley : from Kidley in Ballingham (Herefs) and perhaps also from a lost or as yet unidentified place of similar name in central England. The etymology of the Herefs place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms but it appears to be named with Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’ as the final element.
Kilby : English: habitational name from Kilby in Leicestershire. The placename derives from Old English cild ‘child’ (genitive plural cilda) + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’ with change of initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence. There may have been some confusion with Kelby.
Killick : from Kilnwick or Kilnwick Percy (ER Yorks) both spelled Killingwik in medieval records and the latter spelled Kyl(l)wike in 1539. Kildwick (WR Yorks) is another formal possibility recorded as Kyldewik and Kylwyk in medieval records. The ER Yorks place-names derive from an Old English personal name *Cylla + Old English connective -ing- or the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + wīc ‘dwelling specialized farmstead’. The WR Yorks place-name derives from Old English cild ‘child’ (genitive plural cilda) + wīc with change of initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence. The strong presence of the surname in post-medieval Surrey and Sussex may be explained by initial migration to London in the 15th century perhaps.
Kilsby : English: habitational name from Kilsby in Northamptonshire. The placename probably derives from Old English cild ‘child’ (genitive cildes) + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’ with change from initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence.
Kilton : English: habitational name from a place called Kilton in Skelton (North Yorkshire) Somerset or Worksop (Nottinghamshire). The Yorkshire placename may derive from Old English cild ‘child’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’ with change from initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence. The Somerset place takes its name from Kilve (a nearby place in Somerset probably named with Old English cylfe ‘hill eminence’ genitive cylfan) + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’. The origin of the Nottinghamshire placename is uncertain. This surname is rare in Britain.
Kingwell : perhaps from a lost or as yet unidentified place probably in Devon. The etymology of the place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms.
Kippax : from Kippax (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Chipesch in 1086 Kipesca in 1161 and Kipex in 1258. The place-name derives from the Old English personal name Cippa (with change from initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence) or *Cyppa + Old English esc ‘ash tree’ later replaced by Old Scandinavian askr ‘ash tree’ and metathesized to -aks -ax.
Kislingbury : from Kislingbury (Northants) which is recorded as Ceselingeberie in 1086 and Keselingbury in 1326. The place-name may derive from Old English cisel ceosol ‘gravel shingle’ (with initial K- due to Scandinavian influence) + the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + burg ‘fortress’ meaning ‘fortress of the dwellers on the gravel’; alternatively the initial element may be an Old English personal name *Cȳsel and so the place-name would mean ‘fortress of the people of a person called Cȳsel’.
Kitcatt : perhaps from Kitcott Barton in Romansleigh (Devon) altered to Kitcatt due to folk etymological association with kit-cat an alternative name for the game of tip-cat. The Devon place-name gave rise to a surname recorded as Kutecote (1244) and Kytecote (1339) in Place-Names of Devon p. 391.
Kogan : Jewish (from Ukraine and Bessarabia): variant of Cohen. Spelling with g is due to Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names.
Kranich : German: from Middle High German kranech ‘crane’ a topographic or habitational name referring to a house name due to a sign or picture of a crane (bird) or a nickname for a long-legged or tall and slender person or for someone with a proud or dignified gait.
Kropf : German and Swiss German:: 1: from Middle High German kropf ‘goiter’ hence a nickname for a person with a conspicuous crop due to goiter or for a short person.2: nickname for a man of short stature (see Kropp). The surname Kropf is also found in Hungary and Slovenia. In part it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar).
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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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