Origin
Henry : 1: English French Walloon and West Indian (mainly Jamaica and Haiti): from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements haim heim ‘home’ + rīc ‘power ruler’ introduced to England by the Normans in the form Henri. During the Middle Ages this name became enormously popular in England and was borne by eight kings. Continental forms of the personal name were equally popular throughout Europe. In the period in which the majority of English surnames were formed a common English vernacular form of the name was Harry hence the surnames Harris (southern) and Harrison (northern). Official documents of the period normally used the Latinized form Henricus. In medieval times English Henry absorbed an originally distinct Old English personal name that had hagan ‘hawthorn’ (compare Hain 2) as its first element and there has also been confusion with Amery. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. German Heinrich and also their derivatives e.g. Swedish Henriksson (see Henrikson). Compare Henri.2: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hInnéirghe ‘descendant of Innéirghe’ a byname based on éirghe ‘arising’.3: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Éinrí or Mac Einri patronymics from the personal names Éinrí Einri Irish forms of Henry. It is also found as a variant of McEnery.4: Americanized form of various like-sounding Jewish surnames.
Alty : see Auty. With the following early bearers compare Henry Oatye 1633 in IGI (Rufford Lancs) and see Oatey.
Avern : probably from Middle English atte fe(a)rn(e) ‘at the fern’ (Old English æt þǣm fearne) with voicing of /f/ to /v/ denoting someone who lived at an area of bracken. See Fearn (note in particular Henry atte Verne 1275 in Subsidy Rolls (Worcs)) and compare its variants Vern Verne.
Bamping : probably a variant of Pamplin with voicing of initial /p/ to /b/ reduction of /mpl/ to /mp/ and substitution of -ing for -in. For the loss of /l / compare Geo. Henry Pampin born in Hedingham (Essex) in Census 1851 (Welton and Melton ER Yorks) with Thomas Pamplin 1741 in IGI (Hedingham Sible Essex). For the voicing see Bambling which is another variant of Pamplin and compare Thomas Pamplin 1816 in IGI (Radcliffe Lancs) Irene Bamben 1819 in IGI (Wigan Lancs) and John Bambling 1862 in IGI (Royton Lancs). The surname has apparently migrated from SE England where Pamplin is recorded in earlier centuries.
Barcock : unexplained; perhaps a variant of Bercott with post-medieval substitution of -cock for -cot. Compare Henry Bircott 1653 in IGI (Hughenden Bucks) but Barcock seems to be a 19th-century arrival in Bucks and there may be no connection between the names.
Bouchier : 1: occasional variant of Butcher as illustrated by Joan Butcher 1677 Henry Bouchier 1735 in IGI (Hope Mansell Herefs). But Butcher here may itself be a variant of Butchard. 2: possibly a variant of Bourchier (2).
Brend : 1: from Middle English brend brent brind ‘burnt’ (forms of the past participle of Old English bærnan bernan byrnan ‘to burn’) perhaps used for a criminal who had been branded. Compare Henry Brendcheke 1279 in Assize Rolls (Northumb) Cutte Brendhers 1279 in Hundred Rolls (Cambs). Compare Brennan and Brunt. Some of the following early bearers may belong with (2). 2: see Brent.
Burtwell : apparently a variant of Birtwell itself a variant of Birtwistle. Compare Henry Burtwell 1757 Charles Birtwell 1770 Elisabeth Burtwell 1775 Elizabeth Birtwell 1784 in IGI (Great Burstead Essex).
Butler : 1: English: from a word that originally denoted a wine steward usually the chief servant of a medieval household from Norman French butuiller (Old French bouteillier Latin buticularius from buticula ‘bottle’). In the large households of royalty and the most powerful nobility the title came to denote an officer of high rank and responsibility only nominally concerned with the supply of wine if at all. As well as being widespread in England this is also the surname of an important Irish family descended from Theobald FitzWalter who was appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. It is Gaelicized as de Buitléir.2: English: occasionally perhaps an occupational name from Middle English boteler ‘maker of bottles (usually of leather)’ a derivative of Middle English botel Old French bo(u)teille ‘bottle’ and synonymous with Botelmaker.3: Americanized form of French Bouthillier (see Bouteiller).4: Americanized form of German Buttler 2 a cognate of 1 above or of Buttlar (see Buttler 3).5: Jewish (from Poland and Ukraine): occupational name for a bottle maker from Yiddish butl ‘bottle’ + the agent suffix -er.
Caller : 1: in Kent and Somerset chiefly a variant pronunciation of Callow (2) or (3). Compare John Callowe 1592 Susanna Caller 1754 Mary Callow 1775 in IGI (Canterbury Kent); Thomas Caller 1744 Josiah Callow 1748 in IGI (Durston Somerset); Josephi Caller 1717 William Callow 1772 in IGI (Wedmore Somerset); Henry Callow 1710 Joan Caller 1712 in IGI (Wilton Somerset); Ann Callow 1774 Ann Caller 1760 in IGI (Tenterden Kent). 2: from Middle English callere ‘maker of cauls’ (baskets nets women's close-fitting caps or headdresses for covering tied-up hair) a derivative of Middle English calle (Old English cawl) ‘basket net’. See Call and compare Keller.for someone who lived by or worked at a sheep pen or pigsty (Middle English calle) synonymous with atte Calle; see Call. This type of name consisting of a topographical term + -er was particularly common in Sussex Surrey Hants and Kent.
Cardiff : Welsh and Irish: habitational name from the Welsh city of Cardiff in Glamorgan named with Welsh caer ‘fort’ + the genitive singular of the river name Taf from Welsh taf ‘water stream’. The name was taken to Ireland in or shortly after 1171 following the acquisition of the kingdom of Leinster by ‘Strongbow’ (Richard de Clare Earl of Pembroke) and of Dublin by Henry II who granted the city to the burgesses of Bristol. The surname was Gaelicized as de Carduibh.
Crampin : probably a late spelling of the now rare or extinct Crampon. As Wilson suggests it is a contracted form of Cramphorn which occurs in west Essex from the 16th century. Compare William Cramphorne 1570 Francis Crampon 1686 in IGI (Willingale Doe Essex); Edward Crampan 1563 Daniel Cramphorne 1656 in IGI (Epping Essex). However in other counties Crampon appears to be a reduced form of Crampton or Crompton as implied by correlations like Elizabeth Crampon 1559 Richard Crampton 1561 John Crompton 1611 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk); Rychard Crampton 1579 Elyzabethe Crampon 1579 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent). There is evidence of it in west Essex too: John Crompton 1633 Thomas Crampan 1732 Thomas Crampton 1740 in IGI (Chigwell Essex). This may have led to confusion between Crampton Crompton and Cramphorn. Compare Joanna Crampon 1718 Daniel Cramphorn 1722 Henry Crampthon 1752 Henry Crampton 1755 in IGI (Leyton Essex); Tho Cramphorn 1740 William Crampton 1853 Sarah Crompton 1856 in IGI (Waltham Abbey Essex). Crampon flourished in Essex villages near Sawbridgeworth (Herts) where Cramphorn originated but Crampin belongs to E Essex where Cramphorn first appears in the late 17th century in the Colchester area.
Cruttwell : probably a hypercorrect form of Crittall. Compare Henry Crottell 1627 William Cruttall 1680 William Cruttell 1704 Will. Crutwell 1710 John Edward Cruttwell 1753 in IGI (Wokingham Berks).
Dand : from the personal name Dand a Middle English and Older Scots rhyming pet form of either Randolf or Andrew (the latter especially in Scotland). Henry John and William Dand are also named as Henry John and William filius Ranulphi 1287 in Sherwood Forest Eyre (Basford Notts). See also Dandy Dandison Andrew Randolph.
Dellow : probably denoting someone who lived at a place named The Hoo from Old English hōh Middle English Ho ‘hill spur promontory’ (see Howe) prefixed with Anglo-Norman French del or de la (‘of the’ or ‘at the’). The source of the medieval surname cited below is The Hoo in Great Gaddesden (Herts) which is recorded as la Hoo in 1325. The later Dellow family of Great Hormead may have descended from the de la Hoo family of Great Gaddesden but this is unproven. In the modern period the name was sometimes pronounced /dɛlə/ and spelled Deller or Dellar as in Mary Dellar or Dellow 1744 in IGI (Great Hormead Herts). See Deller for more examples. The name may sometimes have been reduced to Hoo Hoe or Howe. Compare Henry Howe 1558 in IGI (Ware Herts) with the 1651 bearer below and Water Howe 1560 in IGI (Bassingbourn Cambs) with Ann Dellow 1793 in IGI (Bassingbourn Cambs) but these could be coincidental occurrences of different family names.
Dewitt : 1: variant pronunciation of Devitt a name well evidenced in Nether Whitacre and Nuneaton (Warwicks) and in Bedford (Beds). 2: occasionally an anglicization of De Witt ‘the white(-haired) fair or pale-skinned one’ from Middle Dutch witte + the definite article de. The 1820 bearer below might be related to one or more of Ann Deuitt 1699 Jacobi Dewitt 1760 Thomas Henry Devitt 1814 Mary Devett 1821 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London) but these bearers have been treated as examples of Irish or English Devitt.
Dillistone : variant of Dallaston itself a variant of Dallison with intrusive -t-. Compare Henry Dallaston 1723 Henry Dillastone 1732 in IGI (Brundish Suffolk); Lewis Dallistone Able Dillistone 1801 in IGI (Dennington Suffolk).
Edwicker : apparently from the Middle English personal name Edwaker (Old English Ēadwacer a compound of elements denoting ‘prosperity’ and ‘watchful’) although the time gap between the 14th and the 18th-century evidence is too great to be sure that there is a link beween them.apparently also a variant of Earwaker as illustrated in the following examples: William Edikar 1744 John Earwicker 1782 in IGI (Chalton Hants); Henry Earwaker 1763 Mary Earwicker 1805 William Edwicker 1834 in IGI (Tillington Sussex); Mary Earwaker 1769 Robert Edwaker 1770 in IGI (Up Marden Sussex). Either the two surnames co-existed in E Hants and W Sussex leading to their confusion or perhaps Erriker the common modern pronunciation of Earwaker was heard as Edicker and re-formed in more formal speech as Edwakerand Edwicker.
Eling : variant of Ealing. Compare Judith Ealing 1745 Daniel Eling 1770 in IGI (Layston Herts); Henry Elling 1758 Elizabeth Ealing 1772 in IGI (Baldock Herts).perhaps also a variant of Elin itself a variant of Ellen or Hellen. See also Helling.
Ellender : 1: English (Kent): variant of Ellenor with inorganic -d- from the Middle English (Old French) female personal name Alienor Elianor (Eleanor) popularized by Edward III's queen Eleanor of Castile. The name was first introduced into England by Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204) wife of Henry II. She is the first known bearer of the name which is of uncertain origin. It was once thought to be an Occitan form of Helen but this is linguistically implausible.2: English: perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived on a piece of land surrounded by streams from Middle English e(i)lond (Old English egland) ‘island’ + -er.3: Possibly also an altered form of German Elender: nickname for a stranger or newcomer from Middle High German ellende ‘strange foreign’ or a habitational name for someone from any of twenty places called Elend denoting a remote settlement as for example in the Harz Mountains or in Carinthia Austria.
Eltis : variant of Elder + post-medieval excrescent -s with devoicing of [d] to [t] and reduction of final -ers to -is. With the bearers listed below compare Henry Elder 1655 in IGI (Alnwick Northumb); Edward Elder 1693 in IGI (Warkworth Northumb); Henry Elder 1718 in IGI (Hebron Northumb); Willm Elder 1605 Henrici Elders 1884 in IGI (Newcastle upon Tyne Northumb).
Fairservice : from Middle English fair ‘courteous gracious’ also ‘favourable’ + servise ‘service employment assistance’ (Old English fæger + Old French servise) presumably for someone who performed their job well or for a helpful person. Compare Henry Grauntservis 1310–12 in Jönsjö Nicknames (Yorks) in which the first element is Anglo-Norman French graunt ‘great’.
Fenner : 1: English: from Middle English fen(ne) ‘fen marsh’ (Old English fenn) + -er a topographic name for someone who lived in or by a marsh or fen. Fenn Place in Worth in Sussex had owners called atte Fenne who in the time of King Henry VI (1421–1471) apparently changed their name to Fenner. See Fenn.2: English: variant of Fainer from Middle English feiner fener ‘haymonger one who sells hay’ (Old French fenier) or perhaps a nickname from Middle English feiner ‘inventor; hypocrite’.3: South German and Swiss German: occupational name for an ensign or standard bearer from Middle High German vener an agent derivative of Middle High German vane ‘flag’. See also Fenrich.
Field : 1: English and Irish: habitational name probably from Field in Leigh Staffordshire. The placename derives from Old English feld ‘flat open country’. In the late 12th century one of Henry II's warrior knights took the surname to Ireland where it often took the semi-Norman French form de la Feld. From the 15th century onward it was increasingly reduced to Field and gave its name to Fieldstown the family's chief seat near Dublin. A branch of the Anglo-Irish family that migrated back to England in the 14th century retained the Normanized form as Delafield.2: English: topographic name for someone who lived by an arable field or an area of open country (Middle English feld).3: Irish: Anglicized form of Feeley through similarity of sound and of Maghery by translation (chiefly in Armagh) from Gaelic An Mhachaire ‘of the field’.4: Americanized form (translation into English) of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Feld. The surname of Jewish and German origin is also found in Britain.
Fitzhenry : Irish: from Anglo-Norman French fi(t)z ‘son’ (see Fitz) + the personal name Henry (see Henry) ‘son of Henry’. This surname is common in Ireland (mainly Connacht) where it has been Gaelicized as Mac Éinrí. In at least some cases it seems to have been adopted as a surname indicating the illegitimate offspring of a man called Henry.
Girdham : probably a variant of Gardham. Compare Martha Gardham 1787 Henry Girdham 1800 in IGI (Gainsborough Lincs).
Goodhand : from Middle English god(e) ‘good skilled' + hand. Compare Henry Goudenhond (probably ‘golden hand’) 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Sussex).
Grunnill : 1: in Lincs a metathesized variant of Gurnhill. 2: elsewhere a variant of Greenhill alias Grinnell with substitution of -u- for -i- and occasionally with metathesis of the -r- to give forms like Girnill and Gurnall. Compare Mary Grynell 1614 Sarah Greenhill 1651 Robert Grunell 1657 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent); Mathew Grinill 1630 Henry Girnill 1633 in IGI (Little Shelford Cambs); Millycent Girnill 1681 John Greenhill 1696 in IGI (Pershore Worcs); Thos. Grunnell 1726 Thomas Greenhill 1751 in IGI (Ridge Herts); John Grunnell 1781 John Greenhill 1793 in IGI (Thundridge Herts).
Habgood : from Middle English habe have + god ‘may he have good’ (Old English habban gōd) applied as a nickname for someone who habitually used this expression. Compare John Havejoy ‘may he have joy’ 1523 in Subsidy Rolls (Kent); John Havelove ‘may he have love’ 1259 in Henry III Building Accounts.
Hand : 1: English German and Dutch: nickname for someone with a peculiarity or deformity of the hand or perhaps to skill in its use from Middle English hond(e) hand(e) Middle High German hant found in such appellations as Johan metter hant (Rijkhoven 1284) Liebhard mit der Hand (Augsburg 1383).4: Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname from German Hand ‘hand’ (see 1 above).2: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fhlaithimh (see Guthrie) as a result of association with the Gaelic word lámh ‘hand’. It is used as an English equivalent for several other names of Gaelic origin too such as Claffey Glavin and McClave.3: English: perhaps from a Middle English personal name Hand a possible rhyming pet form of Randall though it could also be a variant of Han (a pet form of Johan John and of Hanry Henry) with excrescent -d.
Hanmer : 1: Welsh: habitational name from Hanmer (Flintshire) named with the Old English personal name Hagena + Old English mere ‘lake pond’. A daughter of Sir David Hanmer a Welsh judge in the 14th century was married to the Welsh ruler Owen Glendower who led the revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales.2: English: habitational name from Anmer (Norfolk) from Old English æned ‘duck’ + mere ‘lake pond’.
Hann : 1: German and Dutch: from a shortened pet form of the personal name Johann (see John).2: English: from the Middle English personal name Hann commonly a pet form of Henry (Middle English Hanry). Hann could also be a rhyming pet form of Randolph (Middle English Randal shortened to Ran or Rand). Han was also a pet form of Joh(a)n in Middle Dutch and it is possible that this usage was brought to England by Flemings after the Norman Conquest but no evidence has yet been found that it was similarly used in Middle English. See Henry and Randall and compare Hankin Hancock and Hanks.3: English: variant of Ann with prosthetic H-.4: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 韩 see Han 1.
Harriman : English: occupational name from the personal name Harry a Middle English form of Henry + Middle English man ‘manservant’ i.e. ‘servant of Henry’. Compare Harry and Mann.
Harrison : English (northern): from the Middle English personal name Harry or Herry + -son. These were the common pronunciations of Henry (see Harry).
Hassock : 1: perhaps from Haske in Upper Hellions (Devon) which derives from Old English hassuc ‘coarse grass or reeds’ or from residence near an area characterized by clumps or tussocks of rough vegetation. Hassokland recorded about 1370 in Bexley (Sussex) may be where Henry de Hassok 1296 in Subsidy Rolls (Bexhill Sussex) lived. The Lancs example de Ashock is included as a possible variant because it is associated with Anglezark less than ten miles from Wigan where Hassok occurs in 1381 but it might have a different etymology and not belong with this name.perhaps from Middle English hassok ‘(clump or mound of) tough grass or sedge’ with reference to a shock of bushy hair (as in modern Scots usage). The absence of a preposition in most of the known medieval examples and the presence of the definite article in the 1332 Wilts example hint at this alternative possibility. 2: see Hossack.
Haughty : apparently a variant of Auty with prosthetic H-. Compare Olive Haughty 1820 William Gill Aughty 1822 Henry Auty 1826 in IGI (Sprotbrough WR Yorks).
Heikkila : Finnish (Heikkilä): habitational name from farms so named from the personal name Heikki (derived from German Heinrich; see Henry) + the locative suffix -lä thus referring to ‘Heikki's farm’. Established as hereditary surname since the 19th century in western southern and northern Finland. The personal name Heikki was very popular during the Middle Ages Saint Henry (in Finnish Henrik) being the patron saint of Finland.
Hend : 1: from Middle English hende (Old English gehænd) ‘courtly courteous refined’.perhaps occasionally a variant of Henn (a pet form of Henry) with an excrescent -d. Compare the pet form Hendekin (see Henkin) and the patronymic surname Henderson for Henryson. 2: variant of End with a prosthetic H- as also in Townshend.
Henn : 1: English: from the personal name Henn which like Hann was a pet form of Henry. Compare Henkin.2: English: nickname from Middle English hen(ne) ‘hen’ (Old English henn related to hana ‘cock’) for someone thought to resemble a hen in some way or perhaps from Middle English hen ‘poor man rascal’.3: German: from a short form of the personal name Johannes (see John); or a variant of Hein or Heinrich.4: German: variant of Henne 1 and 3.
Hopla : apparently a reduced form of the obscure place-name Hoplass (Pembrokes) in Rhoscrowther the parish next to Pwllcrochan. This is recorded as Halpasse in 1523 Hale Pesse in the reign of Henry VIII Halfe Place in 1592.
Hurle : variant of Earl with prosthetic H- or of Hurrell. The names were confusible. Compare Thomas Hurrell 1632 James Hurel 1668 Thomas Earl 1676 Henry Hurl 1754 in IGI (Ugborough Devon).
Jalland : perhaps a variant of Jolland (see Jolin) with unrounding of the vowel. Compare William Jaland 1674 Henry Jollands 1697 in IGI (Fillingham Lincs). The name is clearly in variation with Challand but as there seems to be no history of that name in the East Midlands it is probably best to treat Challand as a variant of Jalland rather than the other way round.
John : 1: English and Welsh: ultimately from the Hebrew personal name Yoḥanan ‘Jehovah has favored (me with a son)’ or ‘may Jehovah favor (this child)’. This personal name was adopted into Latin (via Greek) as Johannes and has enjoyed enormous popularity in Europe throughout the Christian era being given in honor of Saint John the Baptist precursor of Christ and of Saint John the Evangelist author of the fourth gospel as well as the nearly one thousand other Christian saints who bore the name. Some of the principal forms of the personal name in other languages are: Welsh Ieuan Evan Siôn and Ioan; Scottish Ia(i)n; Irish Séan; German Johann Johannes; Dutch and Slavic Jan; French Jean; Italian Giovanni; Spanish Juan; Portuguese João; Greek Iōannēs (vernacular Giannis Yannis); Russian Ivan. There were a number of different forms of the name in Middle English including Jan(e) a male name (see Jayne); Jen (see Jenkin); Jon(e) (see Jones); and Han(n) (see Hann). By the beginning of the 14th century John rivalled William in popularity and has always been a favorite name. Johan became Jo(h)n and another Old French form Jehan was shortened to Jan and Jen giving rise to Old French and Middle English diminutives such as Jonin Janin and Jenin. More common in Middle English were Jankin Jonkin and Jenkin which were Middle Dutch pet forms introduced after the Conquest by Flemish and Picard settlers. The most common pet form of John was Jack another borrowing from Flemish and Picard usage. Han may sometimes have been a short form of Johan but was more usually a pet form of Henry. There were also various Middle English feminine versions of this name (e.g. Joan Jehan) some of which were indistinguishable from masculine forms. The distinction on grounds of gender between John and Joan was not firmly established in English until the 17th century. It was even later that Jean and Jane were specialized as specifically female names in English; bearers of these surnames and their derivatives are more likely to derive them from a male ancestor than a female. As a surname in the British Isles John is particularly frequent in Wales where it is a late formation representing Welsh Siôn rather than the older form Ieuan (which gave rise to the surname Evan). In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed many cognates from other languages e.g. Assyrian/Chaldean Youkhana French Jean Hungarian János (see Janos) Slovenian Janež and Janeš (see Janes) Czech Jan Albanian Gjoni and their derivatives (see examples at Johnson). The name John is also found among Christians in southern India (compare Ninan and Yohannan) 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: from a North German and Silesian variant of the personal name Johannes. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). Compare Yohn.
Kinnison : Scottish:: 1: variant of Cunieson a patronymic from the personal name Conan which was borne by an illegitimate son of Henry Duke of Atholl from whom many bearers are descended.2: patronymic from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic personal name Coinneach (see Kenneth).
Kistle : variant of Kestle itself a variant of Kessell. Compare Henry Kestle 1732 Frances Kistle 1767 in IGI (Saint Agnes near Truro Cornwall) and see also Kissell.
Littleproud : from Middle English litel ‘little’ (Old English lȳtel) + prude prute ‘worth value; pride splendour’ (Old French prod prud prut ‘advantage profit worth value’). The wife of Henry Lytilprud (1301 in Nottingham Borough Records) was Hawisia ‘Crist a pes’ whose constant cry ‘Christ have peace!’ suggests her husband deserved his nickname.
Madeira : Portuguese:: 1: metonymic occupational name for a carpenter from madeira ‘wood timber’ (from Late Latin materia from classical Latin materies ‘material substance’).2: perhaps also a habitational name from the island of Madeira which was named with Portuguese madeira ‘timber’ because of the timber that grew there. The island was colonized in the 15th century under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator.
Mapleston : variant of Mapleson with intrusive -t-. Compare Margareta Mapleson 1563 Ann Mapleston 1694 Fisher Maplestone 1699 in IGI (Fleet Lincs); Henry Mapleson 1634 Robert Mapleston 1677 Wm. Maplestone 1696 in IGI (Sibsey Lincs); John Mapleson 1666 John Mapleston 1694 in IGI (Frampton Lincs).
Mashman : variant of Marshman with loss of -r-. Compare Henry Marshman 1745 Rebecca Mashman 1764 in IGI (Warminster Wilts); see also Maishman and Mash.
McKendrick : Irish and Scottish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Eanruig (Scottish) and Mac Éanraic (Irish) a patronymic from Gaelic forms of the personal name Henry influenced by Scandinavian Heimrekr a cognate of the ancient Germanic source of Henry. Henderson was sometimes used as an equivalent.
McMurrough : Irish:: 1: Anglicized form (in Leinster) of Mac Murchadha ‘son of Murchadh’ a personal name meaning ‘sea warrior’. The spelling gh indicates the original guttural fricative sound of the internal -ch-. Elsewhere in Roscommon and Tyrone the usual Anglicized form was Murphy (the same phonetic change as in English laugh cough etc.). Diarmait Mac Murchadha (Dermot McMurrough) was intermittently king of Leinster from 1126–71. After being deposed in 1166 he requested help from Henry II to reclaim his kingdom which resulted in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 under the leadership of Richard de Clare Earl of Pembroke (known as ‘Strongbow’) an event that brought many Anglo-Norman surnames to Ireland. A powerful Irish family of this lineage were also known as Kavanagh after Dermot's son.2: Anglicized form (in Leinster) of Mac Murchadha ‘son of Murchadh’ a personal name meaning ‘sea warrior’. A powerful family of this name were also known as Kavanagh. The spelling gh indicates the original guttural fricative sound of the internal -ch-. Elsewhere (especially in Roscommon and Tyrone) the usual Anglicized form of the Irish name was Murphy.
Molsher : of uncertain origin but perhaps a late variant of Malster; compare Wm. Malsher 1822 Henry Molsher 1827 in IGI (Newport Pagnell Bucks); Hannah Molsher 1852 Daniel Molster 1862 in IGI (Ashton Northants).
Owbridge : 1: possibly from Hull Bridge in Beverley (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Ulbrigg in about 1120 (in an MS dated 1398) and Hulbrig Hulbryg from 1394–1543. The place takes its name from the River Hull + Old English brycg ‘bridge’. A late Middle English change of -ul- to -ol- and then to -ou- occurs in Owram (from the ER Yorks place-name Ulrome). Similarly (H)ulbryg could have developed to (H)oubrig.Alternatively Owbridge might have derived from Howe Bridge in Malton (NR Yorks) which is recorded as ponte de Hou in the 12th and 13th centuries and as ponte de How in the 15th century (ponte being the dative form of Latin pons ‘bridge’). The place-name derives from Old English hōh ‘heel spur of land’ + brycg. The post-medieval bearers cited here may alternatively belong with (2). 2: variant of Outbridge an obsolete pronunciation of Oughtibridge a WR Yorks name. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames notes that a man named German Owbridge or Outbridge of Meadow Lane is recorded in 1651 in the Leeds Parish Registers and that in the 1672 Hearth Tax Henry Outbridg was registered in Market Weighton (ER Yorks) where Owbridge is also on record.
Penry : 1: Welsh (south Wales): Anglicized form of the Welsh ab ap ‘son’ + the personal name Henry hence ‘son of Henry’ (see Henry). Some examples have an intrusive d (compare Hendry).2: Cornish: variant of Pendray a habitational name from any of several places in Cornwall such as Pendrea in Saint Buryan and Pendrift in Blisland with names derived from Middle Cornish pen (an) dre ‘top of the village’ (pen ‘head top end’ + an ‘the’ + tre ‘village’).
Plaxton : apparently an altered form of Plaister or Plasterer ‘plasterer’ (see Plaster) perhaps through false association with Blackstone which also occurs in ER Yorks. As proof Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames cites Richard Plaister alias Plaxton 1600 in York Registry Wills (Spaldington ER Yorks); Henry Plaxton alias Plaster 1607 Feet of Fines (Holme upon Spalding Moor ER Yorks). For the spelling compare Thomas Blaxton 1582 in IGI (Londesborough ER Yorks).
Richmond : English:: 1: habitational name from Richmond (North Yorkshire). The placename was probably transferred after the Norman Conquest from any of numerous places in France named with Old French riche ‘mighty strong’ + munt mont ‘mountain hill’. Richmond in southwest London received this name only in the reign of Henry VII in honor of the king who had been Earl of Richmond until he came to the throne and is unlikely to be the source of this surname.2: occasionally a variant of Richman with excrescent -d. The two names were probably often confused.
Robinshaw : not a variant of Robertshaw but an altered form of Robinson as Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames shows citing Henry Robinshaw or Robinson of Oakenshaw 1669 in Parish Registers (Birstall WR Yorks).
Rochford : 1: English: variant of Ratchford.2: Irish: of Norman origin probably brought to Ireland by the Normans after 1171 when Henry II acquired Dublin. However it is not known if it was an English name (see Ratchford) or a Norman equivalent of the French name Rochefort.3: English (of French Huguenot origin): variant of Rochefort.
Rolleston : 1: in the Midlands from Rolleston (Leics Notts Staffs) and perhaps Rowston (Lincs); in ER Yorks from Rolston (or Rowlston) in Mappleton (ER Yorks); and in SW England from Rollestone in Upton Pyne or Rolstone Barton in Morchard Bishop (both in Devon) or Rollestone (Wilts) and perhaps Rowlestone (Herefs) or Rolstone in Banwell (Somerset). The place-names have various etymological origins though most are named with the Middle English personal name Rolf or the Old Scandinavian personal name Hrólfr + Middle English toun ‘town settlement’ Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’. It is possible that some of the following bearers belong with (2) particularly the Yorks examples. 2: variant of Rollinson reduced to Rolleson and altered by the addition of an intrusive -t- as though it were a locative name in -ston. Compare Thomas Rolleson' 1377 in Poll Tax (Kingston upon Hull ER Yorks) and Christopher Rollston 1723 Henry Rowlstone 1763 in IGI (Kingston upon Hull ER Yorks).
Scarratt : Tooth suggests it may refer to an unidentified locality in or near Audley (Staffs). It is implied by the surname of Henry Skaryok (1298) or Scarioc (1307) who appears as a tenant in Horton near Rudyard in the Audley estate records. Skaryok might refer to a damaged or mis-shapen oak tree (Middle English scarri ‘(?) scraggy’) later developing to Scariot through the common substitution of /t/ for final /k/. Alternatively he suggests that the spellings may be copyists' errors for Scariot perhaps a nickname from playing the part of Judas Iscariot in a mystery play. Either way he notes that Thomas Skarriot appears in 1540 in the Audley parish registers and that the surname occurs as Scarriat (1559) and Skerratt (1557) in the parish registers of Betley a few miles SW of Audley. The name also seems to have been thoroughly confused with the Staffs surname Sherrard and its many variants. The two names may have happened to coincide in the odd parish but the coincidence happens too often to be accidental as some of the following early bearers illustrate.
Senington : from Sevenhampton (Gloucs) which is recorded as Sevenhamtone in 1086 and Senhampton alias Sennyngton in 1575 and perhaps also from other places with names of the same origin such as Sevenhampton in Highworth (Wilts) which is recorded as Suvenhamtone in 1211 Senhampton in 1330 and Sennington in 1608 Sevington in Leigh Delamere (also Wilts) recorded as Sevenhamton in 1281 Seavington (Somerset) recorded as Seofenempton in about 1025 and Sevenehantune in 1086 and a lost Sevenhampton in Astley (Worcs) recorded as Sevinhampton in 1255. The place-names all mean ‘village of seven homesteads’ deriving from Old English seofon ‘seven’ + hām-tūn ‘home farm enclosure in which a homestead stands’.[... de] Seuehampton 1221 in Place-Names of Gloucs (Gloucs); William de Seveshampton 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Sevenhampton Gloucs); Johanne de Sevenhampton 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Astley Worcs); Roberto de Sevenhamton 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Claines Worcs); John de Sevenhampton 1328 in Feet of Fines (Gloucs); Walter de Seuenhampton' clerk 1361 in Feet of Fines (Hants); Henry Sennington 1772 in Parish Registers (Bicknoller Somerset); Robert Sennington tiler and plasterer 1802 in TNA (Clifton Gloucs); Saml Senington 1804 in IGI (Clifton Gloucs).
Sherrard : English:: 1: from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Shirard (Old English Scīrheard composed of the elements scīr ‘bright’ and heard ‘hard bold’). Alternatively the name may be a nickname deriving from Middle English shir (Old English scīr) ‘bright fair’ with the addition of the Anglo-Norman French suffix -ard.2: local pronunciation of Sherwood especially perhaps in Leicestershire Kent Lincolnshire Norfolk Sussex and Yorkshire. It may also have been much confused with Skerritt. This name or the name in 1 above has been established in Ireland (Derry) since the 17th century along with Sherwood (in most provinces).3: variant of Scarratt perhaps a habitational name from an unidentified locality in or near Audley (Staffordshire) implied by the surname of Henry Skaryok (1298) or Scarioc (1307) who appears as a tenant in Horton near Rudyard in the Audley estate records. Skaryok might refer to a damaged or mis-shapen oak tree (Middle English scarri ‘(?) scraggy’) later developing to Scariot through the common substitution of /t/ for final /k/. Alternatively the spellings may be copyists' errors for Scariot perhaps a nickname from playing the part of Judas Iscariot in a mystery play. The name seems to have been thoroughly confused with Sherrard and its many variants.
Shoult : perhaps an altered form of German Schultz. Compare Henry Shoults 1811 in TNA (Southwark Surrey).
Skeffington : English: habitational name from Skeffington (Leicestershire) from an Old English personal name Sceaft + Old English connective -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. The initial consonant Sh- was changed to Sk- due to Scandinavian influence. The surname was later brought to Ireland in 1529 by Sir William Skeffington Lord Deputy of Ireland under Henry VIII.
Skerrett : 1: English: variant of Scarratt perhaps a habitational name from an unidentified locality in or near Audley (Staffordshire). This is implied by the surname of Henry Skaryok (1298) or Scarioc (1307) who appears as a tenant in the Audley estate records. Skaryok might refer to a damaged or misshapen oak tree (Middle English scarri ‘scraggy (?)’ ) later developing to Scariot through the common substitution of /t/ for final /k/. Alternatively the name's spelling may be copyists' errors for Scariot perhaps a nickname from playing the part of Judas Iscariot in a mystery play. The name seems to have been thoroughly confused with the Staffordshire surname Sherrard and its many variants.2: English and Irish: variant of Skerritt.
Somerset : English:: 1: habitational name from the English county of Somerset which takes its name from Somerton in Somerset (see Summerton) + Old English sǣte ‘settlers dwellers’. The Somerset family who are Dukes of Beaufort are descended from the Plantagenets. The surname was assumed by Charles Somerset (1460–1520) illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort Duke of Somerset. The latter was himself descended illegitimately from Edward III through John of Gaunt. A later member of the family was Fitzroy Somerset (1788–1855) who as Lord Raglan was the commander of British forces in the Crimea one of the men responsible for the charge of the Light Brigade.2: possibly a habitational name from one or more places called with Old Norse sumar ‘summer’ + sætr ‘shieling hill pasture’ such as Summerseat in Elton (Lancashire) but decisive northern early bearers are lacking.
Spenceley : probably as suggested in Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames a variant of Spendley in which the consonant cluster /ndl/ has become pronounced /nsl/. Spendley is itself a variant of Spendlow alias Spendlove. Redmonds provides circumstantial evidence from York Guild Register where Thomas Spensley (1477) can be compared with Walter Spenlowe (1433) and Elizabeth Spendlay (1522). Further evidence appears in IGI data for Oswaldkirk (NR Yorks) where Johanne Spenclay (1547) is possibly identical with John Spenlay (1550) and in IGI data for Bishopwearmouth (Durham): Tho. Spenley (1648) and Richard Spencley (1651). The same developments occurred outside N England. Compare Henry Spendelowe 1309 in Subsidy Rolls (Beds) with William Spendley 1569 Thomas Spenley 1571 and John Spensly 1611 in IGI (Bedford Beds).
Spendley : variant of Spendlow see Spendlove. For the change in pronunciation compare Henry Spendelowe 1309 in Subsidy Rolls (Beds) with William Spendley 1569 William Spenley 1575 in IGI (Bedford Beds). Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames similarly compares Walter Spendeluf 1415 Walter Spenlowe 1433 in York Guild Register with Elizabeth Spendlay 1522 in York Guild Register; and Robert Spendlove 1301 in Subsidy Rolls (Boltby NR Yorks) with Thomas Spenley 1557 in York Registry Wills (Thornton in Pickering Lythe NR Yorks). The name was once particularly common in Lincs where it mainly occurs as Spindley in 1881.
Trelford : altered form of Threlfall. Compare Henry Threlfall 1772 John Trelfall 1779 Henry Trelford 1783 in IGI (Ormskirk Lancs).
Upton : English: habitational name from any of the many places in England called Upton most of which are named with Old English upp ‘upper’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’ though some have different origins such as one in Essex originally named with the phrase upp in tūne ‘up in the settlement’ i.e. the higher part of the settlement and Upton Lovell (Wiltshire) which derives from the Old English personal name Ubba + Old English tūn. This name was brought to Ireland (Antrim) in 1598 by Henry Upton from Upton in Devon.
Walkman : from Middle English *walkeman ‘watchman town guard’ based apparently on Middle English walk(e) ‘journey on foot’ in this context perhaps 'watchman's or town guard's circuit'. It is synonymous with Wakeman as is shown in two versions of Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew de Glanville's De Proprietatibus Rerum. The manuscript version (before 1398) has ‘wakemen and wardeyns’ while de Worde's printed version (1495) has ‘walkmen and wardeyns’. A similar substitution apparently occurs in surname usage some 150 years earlier when the place of Henry Walkeman of Winkburn in the 1327 Notts subsidy roll quoted below is taken by John Wakeman in the 1332 roll. Compare also Watchman.
Wigram : from Middle English whīt ‘fair pale; attractive’ + grom ‘servant’. Compare Ralph le Whyteclerk 1248 in Assize Rolls (Berks) ‘fair cleric’; Henry Wythkenep 1254 in WAM ‘fair servant’ (Old English cnapa).
Windust : probably a variant of Windus itself a variant of Windows with excrescent -t. Compare Ann Windus 1799 Thomas Windust 1832 Henry Windust 1849 in IGI (Lambeth Surrey)
Woodfine : of uncertain origin. It looks like it should be from an unrecorded Middle English form of Old English wudu-fīn ‘wood heap wood pile’ possibly therefore for someone who lived at or near a wood pile but no medieval bearers of such a name have been found. The earliest forms of the name in Cheshire appear to be composed of wood + fen possibly the source of Woodsfin (Lane) in Tattenhall (Cheshire) but it is not recorded before the 1911 edition of the Ordnance Survey map. Woodfine may therefore be an altered form of another name such as Woodfall or its variant Woodfield with the common subsitution of /n/ for /l/. Compare Margreta Woodfall 1676 in IGI (Runcorn Cheshire) Mary Woodfall 1678 in IGI (Frodsham Cheshire) and Anne Woodfield 1562 in IGI (Witton cum Twambrooks Cheshire) with the 1566 1587 and 1724 bearers whose names could allude to Woodfall Hall in Preston (Lancs). For the Kent name compare Henry Woodfield 1618 in IGI (Linsted Kent) with the 1594 bearer cited below who may have taken their names from Woodfalls in Yalding (Kent) or perhaps the names are altered forms of Woodville.
Woolsey : English (Norfolk): from the Middle English personal name Wulsy (Old English Wulfsige from wulf ‘wolf’ + sige ‘victory’). The personal name was common in Suffolk where it gave rise to the surname of Henry VIII's minister Cardinal Wolsey.
Wordley : variant of Wardley. Compare William Wordley 1608 Henry Wardley 1661 in IGI (Nantwich Cheshire).
Wroughton : 1: variant of Roughton; compare Henry Roughton 1782 Henry Wroughton 1784 in IGI (New Sleaford Lincs); Henry Roughton 1794 Henry Wroughton 1796 in IGI (Repton Derbys). 2: from Wroughton (Wilts) which is recorded as Werveton in 1086 and Worfton in 1196. The place takes its name from the river Worf (the old name for the river Ray probably from the British root *uerb ‘wind turn’) + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’.
Youd : variant of Oud (see Old) with prosthetic Y-. Compare John Oud 1634 Henry Youdes 1742 in IGI (Bidston Cheshire); Eliz. Yold 1708 James Youd 1811 in IGI (Frodsham Cheshire). For the name in Devon compare Yould.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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