Origin
George : 1: English Welsh French and Romanian: from the personal name George Latin Georgius Greek Geōrgios from an adjectival form geōrgios ‘rustic’ of Greek geōrgos ‘farmer’. This became established as a personal name in classical times through its association with the fashion for pastoral poetry. Its popularity in western Europe increased at the time of the Crusades which brought greater contact with the Orthodox Church in which several Christian martyrs and saints of this name are venerated in particular a saint believed to have been martyred at Nicomedia in AD 303 who however is at best a shadowy figure historically. Nevertheless by the end of the Middle Ages Saint George had become associated with an unhistorical legend of dragon-slaying exploits which caught the popular imagination throughout Europe and he came to be considered the patron saint of England among other places. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed many cognates from other languages e.g. German Georg Assyrian/Chaldean Giwargis Gewargis or Georgis and Albanian Gjergji and also their patronymics and other derivatives e.g. Greek Georgiadis Georgopoulos Hatzigeorgiou ‘George the Pilgrim’ and Papageorgiou Romanian Georgescu or Gheorghescu Serbian Djordjevic. The name George is also found among Christians in southern India (compare Geevarghese and Varghese) 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.2: German: variant of Georg.3: Native American (e.g. Navajo): adoption of the English personal name George (see 1 above) as a surname.
Abdale : see Apedaile. Compare George Apedaile 1727 Frances Apedale 1762 Margaret Abdale 1841 in IGI (Auckland Saint Andrew Durham).
Aldam : from either of two places called Aldham (Essex Suffolk) which may be from Old English eald ald ‘old’ or a given name Ealda Alda deriving from this word + hām ‘major farm estate’. It may sometimes have been confused with Oldham: George Aldham or George Oldham 1798 in TNA (Admiralty records).
Bainborough : perhaps a variant of Bainbridge; note Elizabeth Bainbridge George Bainborough 1767 in IGI (Darlington Durham).
Barzey : 1: from Bardsea (Lancs) or Bardsey (WR Yorks) with assimilation of /d/ before the sibilant as in Barsley for Bardsley. The Lancs name is recorded as Berretseige in 1086 and Berdeseia in 1155; Yorks name is recorded in 1086 as Berdesei. Both are probably composed of the Old English personal name Beornrǣd in the genitive singular (-es) reduced to Berdes- + Old English ēg ‘island island-like hill’. 2: reduced form of Bardsley (1) or its variant Beardsley. Compare George Beardsley 1567 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs) and Daniel Bardsley 1788 in IGI (Ashton under Lyne Lancs) with the 1581 and 1788 examples below. 3: in SW England a variant of Bardsley (2). 4: possibly from Barsey Farm (Shudy Camps Cambs) recorded as terram Willelmi de Berardeshey 1307–27 in Place-Names of Cambs. The place-name is from the Old English given name Beornheard in the genitive case with -es + (ge)hæg ‘enclosure’.alternatively from Barsey Walk Farm (near Horncastle Lincs) though early forms of this place-name are unavailable. Mumby and Hogsthorpe where the 1591 and 1621 examples are located are not far from Horncastle.
Braimbridge : altered form of Bainbridge perhaps via Baimbridge. Compare William Braimbridge 1746 William Bainbridge 1752 George Brainbridge 1780 in IGI (Kilnsea ER Yorks).
Breeton : 1: variant of Breedon with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare William Breedon 1696 Wm. Breeton 1749 in IGI (Burton Coggles Lincs). 2: variant of Breton. Compare Alice Breton 1562 George Breeton 1605 in IGI (Long Bennington Lincs); Peter Breton 1621 John Breeton 1753 in IGI (Leadenham Lincs).
Campkin : re-modelled form of Campin variant of Campion in imitation of names ending with the hypocoristic suffix -kin. The same change has occurred in the word pumpkin which is an altered form of pumpin a variant of pompion (OED). For the variation in the surname compare Nicolas Campion 1572 Willm. Campkin 1671 in IGI (Ware Herts); Richard Campion 1589 Samuel Campkin 1676 in IGI (Bassingbourn Cambs); George Campion 1605 Frances Campin 1606 Edward Campkin 1705 in IGI (Watton at Stone Herts); Anne Camkin 1674 Grace Campion 1696 in IGI (Potton Beds); James Campin 1695 Robert Campion 1732 Isaac Campkin 1807 in IGI (Orpington Kent).
Cobbing : from an unrecorded Middle English personal name *Cobbing a pet form of Old English Cob(b) Cobba (see Cobb) + the Old English diminutive suffix -ing. The name may sometimes have been confused with Copping. Compare Richard Cobbing 1746 Hannah Copping 1772 in IGI (Horringer Suffolk); James Cobbing 1752 George Copping 1791 in IGI (Sudbury Suffolk).
Dafter : apparently from Middle English doughter dohtor douter (Old English dohtor) ‘daughter’ often pronounced in early Modern English as dafter. For the name to be borne by a man such that it became a hereditary surname is surprising though there are occasional instances of men being named in this way (unless they are clerical errors). Compare Robertus ffelisdoghter 1379 in Poll Tax (Wentworth WR Yorks); Johannes Wendoghter 1379 in Poll Tax (Clotherholme with Bishopton WR Yorks); and Ric' doghter Wryght 1379 in Poll Tax (South Elmsall WR Yorks).alternatively Daughter might be a simplified pronunciation of Dawtrey (also spelled Daughtrey) a surname well evidenced in WR Yorks and Sussex where Doughter and Daughter also occur in which case the change to Dafter will have arisen through misinterpretation. Compare Johna Dautre 1541 in IGI (Calne Wilts) Robert Daughtre 1585 in IGI (Edensor Derbys) and George Doughtre 1647 in IGI (Shrewsbury Shrops) any of which might be examples of either name.
Danning : late variant of Denning; compare George Race Danning 1803 John Glen Denning 1826 in IGI (Sculcoates ER Yorks); William Denning 1848 William Danning 1849 in IGI (Kidderminster Worcs).
Dashwood : apparently a variant of Ashwood with fused French preposition d(e) ‘of’. It may be a late gentrification of the name. Compare Robert Ashwood 1637 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London) with George Dashwood 1676 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London) a London merchant for whose son (Robert) the baronetcy of Dashwood was created in 1684. Ashwood is however a W Midlands surname in origin so an alternative origin for Dashwood in S and SW England is perhaps to be sought.
Domleo : apparently an altered form of Dimelow. Compare George Dummelow 1725 Mary Domleo 1791 in IGI (Sutton Bonington Notts).
Dowens : variant of Downes. Compare George Dowens 1611 George Downes 1614 in IGI (Witton le Wear Durham); Arthur Downs 1664 Arthur Downes 1667 George Dowens 1708 in IGI (Wem Shrops).
Edwell : variant of Eatwell with voicing of /t/ to /d/. Compare Isaac Eatwell 1791 George Etwell 1793 in IGI (Uffington Berks) with the bearers below.
Endley : variant of Hendley (see Handley) or Henley with loss of H-. Compare Anne Endley 1734 Andrew Henley 1755 in IGI (Woburn Beds); George Endley 1812 George Henley 1824 in IGI (Weston and Wixhill Shrops); John Hendley 1841 John Endley 1847 in IGI (Hodnet Shrops).
Fearis : see Ferris and compare Humphrie Ferris 1615 George Ferris 1692 George Fearis 1721 in IGI (North Petherton Somerset).
Flatters : variant of Flatter with post-medieval excrescent -s; see Flather. With the Lincs name compare George Flaughter 1707 in IGI (Winterton Lincs) and Richard Flawter 1713 in IGI (Broughton by Brigg Lincs). They might be variants of Flather or have a different unknown origin.
Georger : 2: French: from a pet form of the personal name Georges ‘George’.1: German (also Geörger): patronymic from the personal name Georg (see George) or possibly a habitational name for someone from a place called with this personal name (see e.g. Georgen) or a nickname for someone with service obligations to a monastery or church dedicated to Saint George.
Hainge : variant of Ainge itself a reduced form of Ainger with prosthetic H-. Compare James Hainge 1743 James Ainge 1746 in IGI (Norton Worcs); George Ainge 1767 Sarah Hainge 1773 in IGI (Bidford on Avon Warwicks).
Hakesley : probably a variant of Hawksley. Compare Richard Hakesley 1728 George Hawksley 1757 in IGI (Kirkby in Ashfield Notts).
Hatley : English: habitational name from East Hatley (Cambridgeshire) Hatley Saint George (Cambridgeshire) or Hatley Cockayne (Bedfordshire). The placenames probably derive either from an Old English personal name Hætta or an earlier placename Hætte (from Old English hætt ‘hat hat-shaped hill’) + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’. Compare Hatt 2.
Hearley : 1: variant of Harley. Compare George Hearley 1761 Sarah Harley 1784 in IGI (Yoxall Staffs); Mally Harley 1781 Barnard Hearley 1782 in IGI (Ovenden WR Yorks). 2: variant of Hurley. Compare Martha Hurley 1782 Martha Hearley 1801 in IGI (Oldbury Worcs). 3: variant of Earley with prosthetic H-. Compare Rebeckah Earley 1680 Jane Hearley 1785 in IGI (Salisbury Wilts). 4: from Ó hIarfhlatha see Herlihy.
Hoather : for someone who lived at the hoath or heath from Middle English hoth ‘heath’ (see Hoad) + -er. McKinley notes that George Athhoth alias Hother held land in Wivelsfield (Sussex) in the 17th century. Compare Heather.
Houselander : probably an anglicized form of the German surname Ausländer from Middle High German ūzlender ‘foreigner’. Compare Albert Auslander in Census 1881 (Saint George Bristol Gloucs).
Ivatt : perhaps a variant of Evett as apparently illustrated by George Ivett alias George Evatte 1591-6 in TNA (Middx) in which case the historical pronunciation will have been /ɪvət/. Compare James Ivatt 1595 Elizabeth Evatt 1625 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London); Mrs. Hivets and the Rev. Mr. Hivetts (otherwise known as Evetts) 1775 1783 in Notts Archives (Strelley Notts); and John Evetts 1705 John Ivatts 1730 in IGI (Aylesbury Bucks).
Kenniford : from Kenniford in Clyst Saint George (Devon). The place-name derives from an uncertain initial element + Old English ford ‘ford shallow place by which water can be crossed’.
Kingson : 1: from the Middle English personal name King + -son. Some of the following post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong under (2). 2: possibly a variant of Kingston; compare Daniel Kingston 1584 in IGI (Ogbourne Saint George Wilts) about 12 miles from Bishops Cannings.
Lapper : perhaps for one who wraps or folds something from an unrecorded derivative of Middle English lappen or a mender of clothes or shoes from an unrecorded derivative of Middle English lappe ‘strip or patch of cloth or leather’. Lack of medieval evidence for either occupational name makes these explanations uncertain but compare Lapp and the Flemish surname de Lapper ‘mender of clothes or shoes’.alternatively perhaps a post-medieval spelling of a disyllabic pronunciation of Lappe (see Lapp). John Lapper 1558–1603 in TNA (Ugborough Devon) is probably identical with John Lapp 1589 John Lappe 1607 in IGI (Ugborough Devon). The Lapp family goes back to the 14th century in or near Ugborough and the name is also recorded in Hants and Wilts in the late 16th century.possibly sometimes a reduced form of Lapworth. Compare Richd Lapper 1716 George Frederick Lapworth 1828 in IGI (Bampton Oxon); James Lapper 1734 James Lapworth 1739 in IGI (Southrop Gloucs).
Lettington : apparently a variant of Leddington with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare George Leddington 1809 James Lettington 1823 in IGI (Cudham Kent).
Leversha : probably an altered form of Liversage. Compare George Leversage 1751 Mary Leversedge 1752 Sarah Leversha 1808 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).
Lorriman : altered form of Lorimer as shown in Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames citing John Lorymore or Loryman (1460) in Beverley (ER Yorks) William Lorymer William Loryman (1523–40) and Edward Lorrymer Edward Loriman cordwainer (1552–8) in York Freemen's Register; and George Loriman Ann Lorimer (1672) in Hearth Tax (Knapton ER Yorks).
Lumsdale : altered form of Lumsden. Compare George Lumsdale 1630 Robt Lumsden 1634 in IGI (Newcastle upon Tyne Northumb); Thomas Lumsden 1648 Robert Lumsdale 1669 in IGI (Gateshead Durham); Margaret Lumsden 1652 Margaret Lumsdail 1688 Marion Lumsdean 1690 in IGI (Kelso Roxburghs); Jean Lumsdale 1670 Jean Lumsden 1672 in IGI (Prestonpans E Lothian).
Mattock : 1: perhaps from Middle English mattok ‘mattock’ (Old English mattuc) for a maker or user of such a tool but this may be a misleading coincidence of linguistic form with that of the name in (ii). Some of the early bearers listed below may otherwise belong at (2).possibly from an unrecorded early Middle English personal name *Mattoc a pet form of Old English *Mætta (attested in place-names) + the Old English hypocoristic suffix -oc. 2: in Cornwall and Devon apparently a variant of Maddock with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare Alexander Maddock 1602 George Mattock 1694 in IGI (Bradworthy Devon) and Mattocks. The name may have been confused with Madrick. With the Devon early bearers listed below compare John Mederyck 1524 in Subsidy Rolls (Wolborough and Newton Abbot Devon) and Lewes Maderick 1677 in IGI (Honiton on Otter Devon)
McIndeor : from Mac an Deoraidh ‘son of the stranger’ or ‘pilgrim’ (Gaelic deoradh ‘pilgrim’; 'custodian of a saint's relic') pronounced /makən'dʒori:/ or from a form omitting the definite article an as in McJury whence the variants Majury McGeorge. The association with the personal name George comes late. Compare Dewar and Doran.
Mordle : probably a variant of either Morden or Marden with /l/ substituted for final /n/ and rounding of the vowel in Marden and Mardon. See also Mardell and compare George Mordall 1595 Alexander Marden 1637 in IGI (Strood Kent); Joseph Mardle Rowlond Mordle 1710 Richard Mordle 1716 in Parish Registers (Knebworth Herts). In Devon and Somerset the name is perhaps a variant of Mardon.
Narracott : from one or more of numerous places called Narracott in Devon which derive from Middle English north ‘north northern’ + cot ‘cottage’ (Old English norð cot). The place-name occurs in the parishes of Bittadon Bratton Fleming East Putford Exbourne Inwardleigh Meshaw Milton Abbot George Nympton and East Worlington. There has probably been some confusion with Northcott.
Noddle : possibly a locative name from Noah Dale recorded 1759 in Soyland Morley wapentake WR Yorks in 1843 in neighbouring Blackshaw and late in Heptonstall: a name for part of the upper valley of Colden Water in Calderdale. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames notes that in WR Yorks it sometimes interchanged with Nodder citing George Noddell alias Nodder 1600 in Feet of Fines (Wakefield WR Yorks). A similar development is shown in the 1797 Lincs example below.
Ogborne : from Ogbourne Saint Andrew Ogbourne Saint George and Ogbourne Maizey (Wilts) which are recorded as Ocheburne in 1086 and Occheburne in 1133. The place-name derives from the Old English personal name Oca Occa + Old English burna ‘spring stream’.
Ogburn : English: habitational name from Ogbourne Saint Andrew Ogbourne Saint George and Ogbourne Maizey all in Wiltshire. The placename derives from the Old English personal name Oca Occa + Old English burna ‘spring stream’.
Outred : from the Middle English personal name Utred Oughtred (Old English Ūhtrǣd a compound of ūht ‘twilight dusk dawn’ + rǣd ‘advice’).the name may sometimes have been confused with or be a phonetic variant of Outridge. Compare George Outrid 1682 with George Outridge 1685 in IGI (Cuckfield Sussex).
Pistor : variant of Pester influenced perhaps by Latin pistor ‘baker’.a 16th-century translation of Baker following the continental fashion for dignifying a vernacular surname by giving it a learned Latin form. Compare Robert Baker 1590 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London) Abraham Baker 1620 in IGI (Croydon Surrey) Thomas Baker 1652 in IGI (Coleby Lincs) George Baker 1739 in IGI (Blankney Lincs) and Thomas Baker 1765 in IGI (Metheringham Lincs) with the 1595 1599 1600 1620 and 1659 bearers. See also Pictor and Tector.
Purell : 1: variant of Purl (see Pearl) with an intrusive vowel between -r- and -l. Compare George Pearl 1809 John Purrell 1817 in IGI (Bocking Essex); and Mary Purel in Census 1841 (Fordham Cambs) with John Purl in Census 1851 (Fordham Cambs) possibly identical with John Purell in Census 1881 (Fordham Cambs). It is possible however that in these examples Purl is a variant of Pur(r)el see (2). 2: variant of Porrill. 3: perhaps a reduced form of a place-name beginning in Pir- + well or hill. Purwell (Mill) in Hitchin (Herts) is named with Old English pirige ‘pear-tree’ + Old English wielle ‘stream’ and is known to have given rise to a Herts surname. Purwell (Farm) in Cassington (Oxon) probably has the same etymology as Purwell in Herts but there are no medieval spellings for the place-name and it is not known if it gave rise to a surname. The ancient hundred name Pirehill in Staffs recorded as Pirehel Pereholl in 1086 and Pirhill' in 1199 may have been derived from an Old English word for a look-out (related to Middle English peren ‘to peer’) + Old English hyll ‘hill’. However no surname from this place is recorded in Tooth. It is is difficult to match any of the recorded bearers of Porrell and Purell with any of these known place-names. 4: perhaps a variant of Prill with an intrusive vowel between [p] and [r] but no evidence has been found to corroborate this.
Righton : 1: from Ryton on Dunsmore (Warwicks) and occasionally from Ryton (Shrops) both of which are recorded as Ruyton in the 14th and 15th century. The place-names derive from Old English rȳge ‘rye’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. 2: Redmonds shows that the S Yorks name is from East Rigton in Bardsey parish (WR Yorks) recorded both as Rigton or Rygton (12th century to 17th century) and as Righton or Ryghton (13th century to 16th century). He notes that vacillation between -g- and -gh- spellings occurs in surname forms up to the late 17th century citing Thomas Rigton George Reighton 1672 in Hearth Tax (Clifford WR Yorks). The place-name derives from Old Scandinavian hryggr ‘ridge’ + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’. Derivation from Reighton (ER Yorks) is a theoretical alternative for surnames recorded in York and ER Yorks but there is no evidence to confirm this or for derivation from Ryton in Durham or in NR Yorks.
Ruler : variant of Rowley (or Rooley) with -ley pronounced -ler as in some other northern surnames such as Huller for Hulley. Compare Wm. Rowley 1752 William Ruler 1766 in IGI (Riccall ER Yorks); Abraham Rooley 1747 John Rooller 1773 John Rowley 1776 in IGI (Campsall WR Yorks); Mary Rowler 1774 George Ruler 1776 Samuel Rouley 1779 in IGI (Snaith WR Yorks); John Ruler 1776 Robert Rowley 1785 in IGI (Hatfield WR Yorks); Hannah Rowley 1788 William Ruler 1791 in IGI (Whitkirk WR Yorks); William Roolah 1797 Ann Rooley 1802 in IGI (Hemsworth WR Yorks). This variant seems mostly to belong to the name from Rowley near Bardsey (WR Yorks) which is not far from Riccall and Skipwith but the Surrey example below is from Rowly (Surrey) about five miles from Shalford.
Saint George : directly or indirectly from Saint Georges i.e. Saint George the national saint wildly popular in medieval England; most likely a topographical name from one of several places in France commemorating him mainly in the south.
Sanjurjo : Galician: habitational name from any of numerous places in Galicia (Spain) named Sanjurjo for a local church or shrine dedicated to Saint George (Galician San Jurjo); see George.
Scruse : a late development of Cruse or Croose with prosthetic S-. With the bearers listed below compare Oliver Cruse 1794 in IGI (Orcheston Saint George Wilts); Bartholomew Cruse 1803 in IGI (Bedminster Somerset); Lizzie Ann Cruse 1864 in IGI (Westbourne Sussex).
Smitheram : unexplained. Perhaps a variant of Smitherman the first spelling with -r- in which is from Somerset: George Smitherman 1724 in IGI (Crewkerne Somerset).
St. George : 1: Americanized form of French Saint-Georges: habitational name from any of several places in various parts of France named Saint-Georges (from the dedication of their churches to Saint George) or a nickname with the prefix Saint as an (ironic) attachment to the personal name or surname Georges.2: English (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of several places in France named Saint-Georges (see above).
Swindley : either an altered form of Swindells or a variant of Swinley or a reduced form of Swindlehurst. All three names may have been confused with each other. Compare John Swinglehurst 1655 Martha Swinley 1773 Richd. Swindley 1751 in IGI (Kippax WR Yorks); Margaret Swindley 1740 John Swindlehurst 1790 in IGI (Over Kellet Lancs); Elizabeth Swindler 1815 George Swinley 1853 in IGI (Knottingley WR Yorks).
Swingewood : 1: perhaps an altered form of Swineshead the original name of Swinchurch (in Chapel Corlton Staffs) denoting a headland shaped like a pig's head (Old English swīn ‘pig’ in the genitive singular + Old English heafod ‘head’). The second element of the place-name was altered to -church in the 19th century. The re-formation of Swinshead as Swing(e)wood and Swinswood is suggested by Tooth citing surnames from the parish of Seighford (Staffs): Roger Swinshed 1631; Roger Swineshutt1666; Thomas Swingwood 1797; Jane Swingewood 1804. 1797; George Swinswood 1907. See (2) however for an alternative derivation. 2: alternatively a variant of Swinford with the substitution of -wood for -ford.
Tain : 1: variant pronunciation of Thain. Compare Ralph le Theyn 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Farley Wilts) with John le Teyn 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Edington Wilts) and John Tane 1639 in IGI (Rowde Wilts). Some of the following bearers may alternatively belong with (3). 2: possibly from Tain (Ross and Cromarty) a transferred river name based on a Celtic or pre-Celtic word denoting ‘water’ from the Indo-European root *ta- ‘flow’. It is more likely however that the surnames listed below are a variant pronunciation of the name in (1) the 1721 example perhaps being influenced by the place-name. Compare Walter Thaine 1684 and Peter Thain 1694 in IGI (Rothiemay Banffs) with George Tain 1752 in IGI (Rothiemay Banffs). 3: from Tain-L'Hermitage (Drôme). 4: perhaps an anglicized pronunciation of Teehan from the personal name Téachán. According to MacLysaght Teahan ‘is almost exclusively a Kerry name’ but ‘as Tehan and Teehan it is found in Cos. Tipperary Leix [i.e. Laois or Queen's County] and Kilkenny’. Compare the 1881 bearer from Queen's County in (3).
Tickler : variant of Tinkler; compare Johne Tinckler 1590 George Tickler 1669 in IGI (Saleby Lincs); Richard Tinkler 1636 Georg Tickler 1686 in IGI (Sutton in the Marsh Lincs).
Twiby : late variant of Twibell. Compare George Twibell 1771 Martha Twiby 1818 in IGI (Sprotbrough WR Yorks); George Twybill otherwise Twiby or Quiby 1817 in PROB 11 (Pontefract WR Yorks); John Harrop Twiby 1820 Thomas Harope Twible 1824 in IGI (Rotherham WR Yorks).
Washington : 1: English: habitational name from Washington in Durham possibly also from Washington in Sussex. The Durham placename derives from an Old English personal name Hwassa Hwæssa + the Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. In North America this surname is by far most common among African Americans (see 2 below).2: African American: from the personal name Washington (or George Washington) adopted in honor of George Washington the 1st president of the US; or adoption of the surname in 1 above in most cases probably for the same reason.
Womer : English: probably a variant of Woolmer which is either from the Middle English personal name Wulmar Wolmer (Old English Wulfmǣr from wulf ‘wolf’ + mǣr(e) ‘famous’) or perhaps a habitational name from Woolmer Forest (Hampshire) Wolmer Farm in Ogbourne Saint George (Wiltshire) Woolmore Farm in Melksham (Wiltshire) or any other place called with Middle English wolf + mere ‘pool’.
Woolmer : 1: from the Middle English personal name Wulmar Wolmer (Old English Wulfmǣr from wulf ‘wolf’ + mǣr(e) ‘famous’). Some of the surname early bearers may belong under (2). 2: alternatively perhaps from Woolmer Forest (Hants) Wolmer Farm in Ogbourne Saint George (Wilts) Woolmore Farm in Melksham (Wilts) or any other place named with Middle English wolf + mere ‘pool’. Reaney also suggests a lost place-name Wolmoor in Ormskirk (Lancs) apparently based on the two early bearers from 1246. Some of the early bearers below may belong with (1).
Wrey : 1: from Wray Barton (Devon). The place takes its name from the river Wray which probably derives from Old English wearg ‘felon’ + ēa ‘water’ perhaps referring to a stream where felons were executed by drowning. The post-medieval surname was also spelled Wray Ray and Rey so some examples below may alternatively belong with (2) -3 or (4). 2: perhaps ‘the twisted crooked one’ from Middle English wry(e) ‘awry’ a derivative of Old English wrīgian ‘to turn’. It is possible however that le Wrey (1313) is a scribal error for de Wrey and that the following Devon bearers belong under (1). 3: see Wray. 4: spelling of Rey and Ray; see Rea and compare John Rey 1543 William Wrey 1562 Clementina Ray 1834 in IGI (Toddington Beds); Thomas Wrey 1539 Peter Rey 1770 Jesse Ray 1788 George Keith Wray 1813 in IGI (Reading Berks); William Wrey 1565 John Ray 1758 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Johan Rey 1636 James Wrey 1703 in IGI (Exeter Devon).
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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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