Origin
ACKERS : (Saxon) Camden derives this surname from the Latin Ager, a field. The name, however, is Saxon, and signifies the place of oaks, or oak-man; ac and ake being old terms for oak. The tennination er, in many nouns has the same signification as the Latin vir, a man as Plower, i.e., Plowman; Baker, Bakerman. Like oak, the first Acker might have been firm and unyielding in his disposition, or he might have used or sold acorns.
ADAIR : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Local. From Ath, a ford, and dare, from darach, the place of oaks, The ford of the oaks.'' There is the following tradition of the origin of this surname: Thomas, the sixth Earl of Desmond, while on a hunting excursion was benighted, and lost his way, between Tralee and Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, where he was received and hospitably entertained by one William McCormic, whose daughter he subsequently married. At this alliance, the family and clan took umbrage. Resigning his title and estate to his youngest brother, he fled to France in 1418, and died of grief at Rouen, two years afterward. The King of England attended his funeral. He had issue, Maurice and John; Robert, the son of Maurice, returning to Ireland, with the hope of regaining the estates and title of Thomas, his ancestor, slew Gerald, the White Knight in single combat at Athdare, the ford of the oaks, whence he received the name of Adaire. He embarked for Scotland, where he married Arabella, daughter of John Campbell, Lord of Argyle.
AKERS : (Saxon) Camden derives this surname from the Latin Ager, a field. The name, however, is Saxon, and signifies the place of oaks, or oak-man; ac and ake being old terms for oak. The tennination er, in many nouns has the same signification as the Latin vir, a man as Plower, i.e., Plowman; Baker, Bakerman. Like oak, the first Acker might have been firm and unyielding in his disposition, or he might have used or sold acorns.
AMMADON : (Gaelic.) From Amadan, a numskull, a simpleton ; may be so called by way of antiphrasis, because he was wise; as Ptolemy received the surname Philadelphus (from the Greek lover or friend, and brother) because he charged two of his brothers with forming designs against his life, and then caused them to be destroyed.
ANSTRUTHER : (Gaelic.) From Anstruth, an ancient order of historians or bards among the Celts, next in rank to the Allamh, or chief doctor of the seven degrees in all the sciences. His reward was twenty kine. He was to be attended by twelve students in his own science, to be entertained for fifteen days, and to be protected from all accusations during that time; and he and his attendants supplied with all manner of necessaries. Anstruth is derived from Aon, that is, good, great; sruth, knowing, discerning, and er put for fear, a man.
ARMSTRONG : A name given for strength in battle. Historians relate the following tradition: This family was anciently settled on the Scottish border; their original name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Armstrong on the following occasion: An ancient king of Scotland having had his horse killed under him in battle, was immediately re-mounted by Fairbairn, his armor-bearer, on his own horse. For this timely assistance he amply rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well as the manner in which it was performed (for Fairbairn took the king by the thigh, and set him on the saddle), his royal master gave him the appellation of Armstrong. The chief seat of Johnnie Armstrong was Gilnockie, in Eskdale, a place of exquisite beauty. Johnnie was executed by order of James V., in 1529, as a Border Freebooter. Andrew Armstrong sold his patrimony to one of his kinsmen, and emigrated to the north of Ireland in the commencement of the seventeenth century. The Armstrongs were always noted for their courage and daring. In the Lay of the Last Minstrel, when the chief was about to assemble his clans, he says to his heralds: Ye need not go to Liddisdale, For whon they see the blazing bale, Elliots and Armstrongs never fail
AUBREY : A corruption of the German Alberic, a name given in hope of power or wealth, He signifying rich or powerful; always rich.
AYRES : Local. Derived from a river, town, and district of the same name in Scotland. Air, Gaelic. Derivation uncertain. It may come from Iar, west the course in which the river runs; or Air, slaughter, the place of battle. The Celtic Aer, and the Welsh Awyr, signify, radically, to open, expand or flow clearly; to shoot or radiate. In Thorpe's catalogue of the deeds of Battle Abbey, we find the following legendary account of this name: Ayres, formerly Eyre. The first of this family was named Truelove, one of the followers of William the Conqueror. At the battle of Hastings, Duke William was flung from his horse, and his helmet beaten into his face, which Truelove observing, pulled off, and horsed him again. The duke told him 'Thou shalt hereafter from Truelove be called Eyre (or Air), because thou hast given me the air I breathe.' After the battle, the Duke, on inquiry respecting him, found him severely wounded (his leg and thigh having been struck off); he ordered him the utmost care, and on his recovery, gave him lands in Derby, in reward for his services, and the leg and thigh in armor, cut off, for his crest; an honorary badge yet worn by all the Eyres in England.
BACHELOR : From the Dutch Bock, a book, and leeraar, a doctor of divinity, law, or physic. When applied to persons of a certain military rank, it may be a corruption of Bas chevalier, because lower in dignity than the milites bannereti. Killian adopts the opinion that as the soldier who has once been engaged in battle, is called battalarius, so he who has once been engaged in literary warfare, in public dispute upon any subject. Calepinus thinks that those who took the degree of Bachelor, were so called (Baccalaurei), because a chaplet of laurel berries was placed upon them. The word, however, has probably but one origin, which would account for its various applications.
BARRON : The word Baron is of Celtic extraction, and originally synonymous with man in general It has this meaning in the Salic law, and in the laws of the Lombards; in the English law, the phrase baron and. feme is equivalent to man and wife. It was afterward used to denote a man of respectability, a stout or valiant man; and Barone was also used by the Italians to signify a beggar. From denoting a stout or valiant man, it was employed as a name for a distinguished military leader, who having fought and conquered under some great commander, was afterward rewarded by him with a part of the lands which he had acquired. As a surname, it was originally Le Baron, The Baron. Gaelic, Baran, a baron.
BARON : The word Baron is of Celtic extraction, and originally synonymous with man in general It has this meaning in the Salic law, and in the laws of the Lombards; in the English law, the phrase baron and. feme is equivalent to man and wife. It was afterward used to denote a man of respectability, a stout or valiant man; and Barone was also used by the Italians to signify a beggar. From denoting a stout or valiant man, it was employed as a name for a distinguished military leader, who having fought and conquered under some great commander, was afterward rewarded by him with a part of the lands which he had acquired. As a surname, it was originally Le Baron, The Baron. Gaelic, Baran, a baron.
BIDDULPH : Probably the same as Botolph, which Camden derives from Boat, and ulph (Saxon), Help, because, perhaps, he was the mariner's tutelar saint, and for that reason was so much adored at Boston, in England.
BRICK : A corruption of Breck (which see). We cut the following, on this name, from a newspaper: A certain college-professor, who had assembled his class at the commencement of the term, was reading over the list of names to see that all were present. It chanced that one of the number was unknown to the professor, having just entered the class. What is your name, sir? asked the professor, looking through his spectacles. You are a brick, was the startling reply. Sir, said the professor, half starting out of his chair at the supposed impertinence, but not quite sure that he understood him correctly, sir, I did not exactly understand your answer. You are a brick, was again the composed reply. This is intolerable, said the professor, his face reddening; beware, young man, how you attempt to insult me. Insult you ! said the student, in turn astonished. How have I done it? Did you not say I was a brick? returned the professor, with stifled indignation. No, sir; you asked me my name, and I answered your question. My name is U. R. A. Brick Uriah Reynolds Anderson Brick. Ah, indeed, murmured the professor, sinking back into his seat in confusion it was a misconception on my part. Will you commence the lesson, Mr. Brick ?
BRIMMER : From the Anglo-Saxon Bremman, Breme, or Brim, to extend, to amplify to the utmost limits; to be violent, furious, to rage; a violent, bold, furious man; Foughten breme, that is, He fought furiously. Bremmer, a native of Bremen, Germany.
BUTLER : This family derive their origin from the old Counts of Briony or Biony, in Normandy, a descendant of whom, Herveius Fitz Walter, accompanied the Conqueror into England. His son, Theobold, went with Henry II into Ireland, where, having greatly assisted in the reduction of the kingdom, he was rewarded with large possessions there, and made it the place of his residence. The king afterward conferred on him the office of chief Butler of Ireland, whence his descendants, the Earls of Ormond and others, took the surname of De Boteler or Butler.
CARNE : (Welsh.) Local. A rock, a heap of stones. This family claim descent from Ithel, King of Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and came, a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Carne, which continues the surname of the family.
CARNES : (Welsh.) Local. A rock, a heap of stones. This family claim descent from Ithel, King of Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and came, a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Carne, which continues the surname of the family.
CHALMERS : One of the clan Cameron of Scotland, going to France, put his name in a Latin dress, as was customary in those times, styling himself De Cameraria, which was called in French, De la Chambre, and upon his return to Scotland, he was again, according to their dialect, called Chambers. Chalmers is a corruption of the same.
CHAMBERS : One of the clan Cameron of Scotland, going to France, put his name in a Latin dress, as was customary in those times, styling himself De Cameraria, which was called in French, De la Chambre, and upon his return to Scotland, he was again, according to their dialect, called Chambers. Chalmers is a corruption of the same.
CLUTE : Kluit, Dutch, a lamp; hij heeft kluiten, he has got the chink, he is rich.
COLQUHOUN : According to tradition, the progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, King of. Ireland, who came to Scotland in the reign of Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into Golquhoun. I am inclined to think the name is from the Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious in battle; from Colg, and chwoin, the genitive of Cu, a hound, a war-dog;
CALHOUN : According to tradition, the progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, King of. Ireland, who came to Scotland in the reign of Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into Golquhoun. I am inclined to think the name is from the Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious in battle; from Colg, and chwoin, the genitive of Cu, a hound, a war-dog;
CRAWFORD : Local. First assumed by the proprietor of the lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The extreme ancestor of the ancient family of Crawford, in Scotland, was Reginald, youngest son of Alan, the fourth Earl of Richmond. He seems to have accompanied David the First to the north, and to have received extensive grants of land in Strath Cluyd, or Clydesdale, whence his immediate descendants adopted the name of Crawford, then forming one of the largest baronies in Scotland, and signifying in Gaelic The pass of blood from cru, bloody, and ford, a pass or way, as commemorative, probably, of some sanguinary conflict between the Aborigines and the Roman invaders. The name has been derived by others from crodh and port, pronounced cro-fort, signifying a sheltering place for cattle.
DOUGLASS : (Gaelic.) Local. The dark green river, from Dhu, black, dark, and glass, green. A river of Scotland which flows into the Clyde. A town of Lanarkshire. The tradition of the origin of the name is this: in the year 770, a man of rank and figure came seasonably to the assistance of Solvatius, King of Scotland, whose territory was then invaded by Donald Bain, of the Western Isles. The victory being obtained, the King was desirous to see the man who had done him so signal a service, and he was pointed out to him in these words, in the Gaelic, Sholto Dhuglass, behold that dark, or swarthy, man.
FOLLET : (Fr.) Frolicksome, merry, gay. Rightly named was Richard Folioth, Bishop of Hereford, who, when he had incurred the hatred of many for opposing himself against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, one cried with a loud voice at his chamber window at midnight: 'Folioth, Folioth, thy god is the Goddess Azaroth' He suddenly and stoutly replied: ' Thou liest, foul fiend, my God is the God of Sabaoth. Camden.
FOLLIOT : (Fr.) Frolicksome, merry, gay. Rightly named was Richard Folioth, Bishop of Hereford, who, when he had incurred the hatred of many for opposing himself against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, one cried with a loud voice at his chamber window at midnight: 'Folioth, Folioth, thy god is the Goddess Azaroth' He suddenly and stoutly replied: ' Thou liest, foul fiend, my God is the God of Sabaoth. Camden.
GALGACHUS : In the chronicle of the kings of Scotland Galgachus is called Galdus, of which name and its etymology Gardon gives the following account: Galgachus was Latinized by the Romans, from the Highland appellations Gold and cachach; the first, Gold, being the proper name, and the second, cachach, being an adjection to it from the battles he had fought; it signifies the same as prceUosus; Gold the fighter of battles, which kind of nicknames are still in use among the Highlanders. Colgach, Gaelic, fierce, furious, and ach, battle, skirmish.
GARDINER : This name may be derived from the same roots as Gairden. It is probably, however, the same as Gardener, the orthography having been changed. Camden says, Wise was the man that told my Lord Bishop (Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester) that his name was not Gardener as the English pronounce it, but Gardiner, with the French accent, and therefore a gentleman. The principal family of the Gardiners in this country derive their descent from Lion Gardiner, a native of Scotland, who served under General Fairfax in the Low Countries as an engineer. He was sent to this country in 1635, by Lords Say and Sele, Brooke, and others, to build a fort, and make a settlement on their grant at the mouth of the Connecticut river. He built the fort at Saybrook, which name he gave to it after the names of his patrons Lords Say and Brooke. His eldest son, David, born at Fort Saybrook, in 1636, was the first white child born in Connecticut He afterward bought from the Indians the island in Long Island Sound, called by them Monchonack, and by the English the Isle of Wight, paying for it. as the old records say, a black dog, a gun, and some Dutch blankets. He removed there with his family, and gave it the name of Gardiner's Island. The island still remains in the possession of the family, having descended in a direct line from Lion Gardiner.
GODWIN : Same as Goodwin or Gooden, derived from God or good, Sax., and win, conqueror, that is, a conqueror in God, converted or victorious in God. In one of those battles fought between Edmund the Anglo-Saxon, and Canute the Dane, the Danish army being routed and forced to fly, one of their principal captains named Ulf lost his way in the woods. After wandering all night, he met at daybreak a young peasant driving a herd of oxen whom he saluted, and asked hia name. '1 am Godwin, the son of Ulfhoth,' said the young peasant, 'and thou art a Dane.'
GUELPH : A wolf; the surname of the present Royal Family of England. We have the following amusing tradition of the origin of the royal house of Guelph: It is told in the chronicles that as far back as the days of Charlemagne, one Count Isenbrand, who resided near the Lake of Constance, met an old woman who had given birth to three children at once, a circumstance which appeared to him so portentous and unnatural that he assailed her with a torrent of abuse. Stung to fury by his insults, she cursed the Count, and wished that his wife, then enciente, might bring at a birth as many children as there are months in the year. The imprecation was fulfilled, and the countess became the mother of a dozen babes at once. Dreading the vengeance of her severe lord, she bade her maid go drown eleven of the twelve. But whom should the girl meet while on this horrible errand but the Count himself, who, suspecting that all was not right, demanded to know the contents of the basket. 'Welfen,' was the intrepid reply (i e., the old German term for puppies or young wolves). Dissatisfied with this explanation, the Count lifted up the cloth, and found under it eleven bonny infants nestled together. Their unblemished forms reconciled the sorupulous knight, and he resolved to recognize them as his lawful progeny. Thenceforward, their children and their descendants went by the name of Guelph or Welf
GUNN : (Br.) Local. From Gun, a plain, a down or common; Welsh, gwaen. A person whose name was Gunn complained to a friend that his attorney, in his bill, had not let him off easily. 'That's no wonder,' said his friend, 'as he charged you too high !' But this is not so good as an entry in the custom-house books of Edinburgh, where it appears that 'A,' meaning Alexander 'A. Gunn was discharged for making a false report !' Lower.
GOON : (Br.) Local. From Gun, a plain, a down or common; Welsh, gwaen. A person whose name was Gunn complained to a friend that his attorney, in his bill, had not let him off easily. 'That's no wonder,' said his friend, 'as he charged you too high !' But this is not so good as an entry in the custom-house books of Edinburgh, where it appears that 'A,' meaning Alexander 'A. Gunn was discharged for making a false report !' Lower.
HAMILTON : Originally Hambleton, from the manor of Ham-bleton, in Buckinghamshire. William, third son of Robert, third Earl of Leicester, took that surname from the place of his birth, as above. He was the founder of the family of that name in Scotland, whither he went about the year 1215. The name is derived from Hamell, a mansion, the seat of a freeholder, and dun, an enclosure, a fortified place, a town.
JACOB : (Hebrew) He that supplants.
JAMES : (Hebrew) The same as Jacob, he that supplants.
KEEN : Bold, eager, daring; bright, fair; or may he the same as Kean.
KEITH : Local. From the parish and lands of Keith, in Banffshire, Scotland. The name Keith is said to be derived from the Gaelic Gaoth, wind, pronounced somewhat similarly to Keith. The old village and kirk are called Arkeith, which may be a corruption of the Gaelic Ard Quoth, signifying high wind, which corresponds to its locality, which is peculiarly exposed to gusts of wind. In some old charters, Keith is written Gith, which still more resembles Gaith. I think the name is derived from the Welsh Caeth, a place surrounded, shut up, inclosed, a deep hollow, a strait. The root of the word is the Welsh Cau, to close, to shut up. Concerning this family, the traditional account is, that they came from G-ermany in the reign of the Emperor Otho, and from the principality of Hesse, from which they were expelled in some revolution. The first person of this family of whom our oldest historians take notice, is Robert De Keith, to whom Malcom II, King of Scotland, gave the barony of Keith, in East Lothian, as a reward for killing Camus, a Danish general, who then invaded Scotland with a numerous army. The battle was fought at Barry, seven miles from Dundee, where an obelisk, called Camus' stone, still preserves the memory of the victory, and it is said the king, dipping his three fingers in the blood of the general, stroked them along the field of the Scotch champion's shield, to whom, besides the landed estate before mentioned, he gave the dignity of Great Marshal of Scotland.
KINGHORN : Local. A borough in Fifeshire, Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic Cean-gorn or gorm, the blue head, from the adjoining promontory. It is fancifully suggested by one writer that as the Scottish kings long had a residence in the neighborhood, the name may have been suggested by the frequent winding of the king's horn when he sallied out to the chase in this neighborhood.
KINSLEY : (Gaelic.) From Ceannsallach, authoritative, commanding, ruling. Walker, in his Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards, relates the following story: Eochaidh, the then monarch, was defeated by Ena, King of Leinster, at the battle of Cruachan. In this engagement Ena killed Cetmathch, laureate bard to the monarch, although he fled for refuge under the shields of the Leinster troops. For this base deed the ruthless king was stigmatized with the epithet Kinsealach, that is, the foul and reproachful head, which name descended to his posterity.
KNIGHT : A term originally applied to a young man after he was admitted to the privilege of bearing arms, by a certain ceremony of great importance called knighting, which waa generally conferred by the king.
LESLIE : This family, according to tradition, descended from Bartholomew de Leslyn, a noble Hungarian, who came to Scotland with Queen Margaret, about the year 1067. He was the son of Walter de Leslyn, who had assumed this surnamefrom the castle of Leslyn, in Hungary, where he was born. Bartholomew being in great favor with Malcom Canmore, obtained from that prince grants of several lands in Aberdeenshire, which it is said he called Leslyn, after his own surname. Malcom de Leslyn., who succeeded him, was the progenitor of all the Leslies in Scotland. Robert Verstegan, in his Antiquities, remarks on the word ley: A combat having taken place in Scotland between a noble of the family of Leslie and a foreign knight, in which the Scot was victorious, the following Unes in memory of tho deed, and the place where it happened, are still extant: Between the Less-Ley and the Mair, He slew the knight and left him there. The name may be derived from Lesslo, a maritime territory in Denmark.
MANNERS : (Fr.) From Manoir, and that from the Latin Manere, to stay or to abide. Lands granted to some military man or baron by the king, a custom brought in by the Normans. Manners, first Earl of Rutland, soon after his creation, told Sir Thomas More that he was too much elated by his preferment, and really verified the old proverb, Honores mutant Mares. Nay, my lord, retorted Sir Thomas, the proverb does much better in English, 'Honors change Manners.' It is the opinion of Camden that this family received its name from the village of Manor, near Lanchester, in Durham, England.
MAXWELL : One Macchus, in the eleventh century, obtained lands, on the Tweed, in Scotland, from Prince David, to which he gave the name of Macchus-ville, since corrupted to Maxwell. Maxwell is Macsual, in Gaelic, from Mac, Son, and sual, small, little.
McDONALD : This family was for many centuries reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of Scotland, being styled King of the Isles, for many generations, during which they were successful in asserting their independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about the year 1140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, whereupon he assumed the title of King of the Isles. He was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was his grandson.
McDONELL : This family was for many centuries reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of Scotland, being styled King of the Isles, for many generations, during which they were successful in asserting their independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about the year 1140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, whereupon he assumed the title of King of the Isles. He was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was his grandson.
McLEOD : From Mac, son, and Clode, from Claudius, the second emperor who invaded Britain. Churchill says he was named Claudius because, through fear of death, he buried himself alive, being plucked by the heels out of a hole to be set upon the throne.
McCLEOD : From Mac, son, and Clode, from Claudius, the second emperor who invaded Britain. Churchill says he was named Claudius because, through fear of death, he buried himself alive, being plucked by the heels out of a hole to be set upon the throne.
METCALF : In the Welsh, medd signifies a vale, a meadow, and caf, a cell, a chancel, a church, i. e., the church in the vale. The origin of the name, however, is given by tradition in this wise. In those days when bullfights were in vogue, in merry England, one of the enraged animals broke away from the combat, and was hotly pursued by horsemen. A certain John Strong happened to meet the bull on the top of a hill, and when attacked by the furious beast, he seized him in the nostrils with his left hand, and killed him. As he came to the foot of the hill, meeting several persons in the pursuit, he was inquired of whether he had met a bull; he replied he Met a calf and from this circumstance was called afterward John Metcalfe.
NEQUAM : (Latin.) Dishonest, lazy. Alexander Nequam, of St Albans, wishing to devote himself to a monastic life, in the abbey of his native town, applied to the ruler of that establishment for admission. The abbot's reply was thus laconically expressed: Si bonus sis, venias, si Nequam, nequaquam. If good; you may come; if wicked, by no means. It is said he changed his name to Neckham, and was admitted into the fraternity.
NOTT : Hnott, Saxon, smooth, round, a nut. Notted, an old word for shorn, polled. The name may have come from wearing the hair short and smooth. A nott hed had he, with a brown visage. Chaucer.
O'BYRNE : Originally O'Bran, the descendants of Bran, an ancient king of Leinster; which signifies a raven; he was usually called Bran Duv, the black raven, from the color of his hair, and his thirst of prey.
OSTRANDER : (Dutch.) The lord of the east shore, from osie, east, stircmd, the shore, and heer, lord or master; he that must have his due of a stranded ship.
PALMER : A pilgrim, so called from the palm-branch, which he constantly carried as a pledge of his having been in the Holy Land. Here is a holy Palmer come, From Salem first, and last from Rome. Scott's Marmion.
PIGMAN : A dealer in pigs. A man by the name of Johnson, in Staffordshire, England, who followed this occupation, was generally called Pigman, and he willingly recognized this cognomen.
SCHAFFER : (Dutch.) He that dishes up or provides victuals. Shaffer, German, a shepherd, a pastor, a swain.
WISHART : Some ancient writers say, that Robert, son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, took on him the cross, and distinguished himself in the Holy Land, where, from his gallant exploits against the Saracens, he received the name of Guishart, that is, Wise-Heart, now Wishart.
Origin of name provided by Jean Tosti
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