Origin
James : English and Welsh: from the Middle English personal name James. Introduced to England by the Normans this is an Old French form of Late Latin Iacomus a variant of Latin Iacobus Greek Iakōbos the New Testament rendering of Hebrew Ya‘aqob (see Jacob). The medieval Latin (Vulgate) Bible distinguished between Old Testament Iacob (which was uninflected) and New Testament Iacobus (with inflections). The latter developed into James in medieval French. The distinction was carried over into the King James Bible of 1611 and Jacob and James remain as separate names in English usage. Most European languages however make no such distinction so that forms such as French Jacques stand for both the Old and the New Testament names. This surname is also very common among African Americans. Compare Jack.
Absalom : English and Welsh (mainly southern): from the Old Testament Hebrew personal name Abshalom ‘father of peace’. In the Middle Ages this was occasionally used as a personal name in France from where it was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest. During the 17th century through the influence of the King James Bible and due to the popularity of the Biblical story of Absalom the adored but rebellious son of King David in the King James Bible (II Samuel 13-19) Absalom became the standard vernacular English form of the personal name and hence the source of this surname.
Adgie : reduced form of Algeo; compare Algie. This is clear from correlations between various spellings of the names in the Lanarks parishes of Glasgow Govan and Barony reinforced in the IGI lists for Barony for example where husbands and wives named James Agie and Margaret Logine (1692) and Bartholomew Aja and Margaret Smith (1696) are probably identical with James Algea and Margarat Logan (1699) and Bartholomew Algeo and Margaret Smyth (1698).
Balchin : perhaps an altered form of Bolsham from Bilsham in Yapton (Sussex) recorded as Bul(e)sham from the 12th century whose name is from an Old English given name or nickname Bȳli (bȳl(e) ‘a boil’) in the genitive case with -es + hamm ‘watermeadow; enclosed place’ or hām ‘large estate farm’. Woolbeding where the earliest example of Balchin occurs is next to Midhurst (Sussex) where James Bolsham is recorded in 1606. The will of a Peter Bolsham of Kirdford (Sussex) was proved in 1614 and a Walter Bulshyne (a scribal mangling of Bulsham?) is recorded in that neighbourhood in 1307. This might explain the naming of Bulchin's Farm in Kirdford as suggested in Place-Names of Sussex. The family name Bulchin in Guildford Surrey and in Kirdford Sussex seems to be an alternative 18th- and 19th-century pronunciation of Balchin. However the Guildford connection also suits the alternative explanation for Balchin given in (ii).perhaps an altered form of Balchild a name that is first recorded in East Worldham (Hants) in 1327 about 16 miles from Guildford (Surrey) where it appears from the 1380s onwards. It is in Guildford and nearby villages where both Balchin and Balchild are found from the late 17th century onwards an overlap which is much better evidenced than Balchin with Bolsham which only occurs in Kirdford. The origin of Balchild is uncertain. It appears to be either a nickname containing Middle English child (Old English cild) ‘child young man knight attendant apprentice’ (see Child) or perhaps a topographical name containing Middle English childe (Old English *cielde) spring but the identity of Bal- is difficult to determine. In relation to the nickname Middle English balgh ‘tubby round-bellied’ is a possibility; compare Fairchild Goodchild and Littlechild.
Brabury : 1: variant of Bradbury. Compare Richard Bradbury 1615 William Bradbury 1733 in IGI (Uttoxeter Staffs) with the 1734 bearer and Edmund Bradbury 1675 James Bradbury 1758 in IGI (Ashton under Lyne Lancs) with the 1757 bearer. 2: in SW England perhaps a variant of Bradbeer. See also Bradbury (2).
Burlow : apparently an altered form of Burley. Compare Edward Burley 1733 Richard Burlow 1772 in IGI (Tickhill WR Yorks); James Burley 1756 James Burlow 1768 in IGI (Dymock Gloucs); Mary Burley 1763 Richd. Burlow 1792 in IGI (Sutton cum Lound Notts).
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).
Canaway : 1: apparently a variant of Callaway; compare Sarah Callaway 1636 Susan Canaway 1671 in IGI (Alverstoke Hants); Elizabeth Callaway 1697 James Canaway 1782 in IGI (Gosport Hants); Edward Callaway 1804 John Canaway 1814 in IGI (Portsea Hants). 2: see Conway.
Cavendish : 1: English: habitational name from a place in Suffolk named Cavendish from an Old English byname Cāfna (meaning ‘bold daring’) + Old English edisc ‘enclosed pasture’. Cavendish is the surname of the Dukes of Devonshire. They are descended from Sir John Cavendish who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench (1372–81). Under the Tudors and Stuarts a succession of shrewd and powerful heads of the family achieved political prominence and became extremely wealthy. William Cavendish 2nd Earl of Devonshire was a strong supporter of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 and of William of Orange (William III) against James II. In 1694 he was created Duke of Devonshire. The Latin family motto Cavendo tutus ‘safe through taking care’ is a pun on the surname.2: Manx: Anglicized form of Corjeag a shortened form of Mac Quartag ‘son of Svarteygr’ (from Old Norse meaning ‘black-eyed’). Folk etymology interpreted Corjeag incorrectly as Manx curjeig ‘alms-dish’ and equally incorrectly supposed that the surname Cavendish was a synonym meaning ‘giving-dish’. Manxmen's familiarity with the English surname presumably led to the substitution.
Chalder : apparently an alternative pronunciation of Calder; compare Agnes Calder 1665 James Chalder 1752 in IGI (Haddington E Lothian); John Calder 1727 John Chalder 1767 in IGI (Tingwall Shetland). Calder in Cumb is recorded as Chaldra about 1180.
Chappin : probably a late variant of Choppin; see Chopping. Compare Sarah Choppen 1768 James Choppin 1770 Elis Chappin 1774 in IGI (Waltham Abbey Essex); William Choppin 1800 William Chappin 1804 in IGI (Cheshunt Herts).
Clennett : probably a late variant of Clemett itself a variant of Clement. Compare James Clemett 1614 Alexander Clennett 1803 in IGI (Tynemouth Northumb).
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).
Cockle : 1: from Middle English cokel (Old French coquille) ‘shell’ also ‘cockle’ the shellfish perhaps for a cockle gatherer or for someone who liked eating them. Compare Will. le Cokeler (alias) Will. le coclere 1281 in Fransson; William Cokeler 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Gosberton Lincs); Johannes Cokkeler 1381 in Poll Tax (Moulton Lincs); Thomas Cokeler 1378 in TNA (Burnham Norton Norfolk). They lived near the Wash and were probably cockle merchants. Alternatively Cokel may have been a nickname for pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James of Compostella who sewed cockle shells on their clothes as a sign of their pilgrimage. Compare cockle hat (1834 OED) a hat with a cockle or scallop shell stuck into it worn for the same reason.perhaps from Middle English cok(k)el ‘(corn) cockle’ (Old English coccul coccel) a weed particularly common in cornfields. Weeding cornfields was a seasonal occupation however and was perhaps less likely than the word in (i) to have given rise to a hereditary surname. 2: in N England sometimes a variant of Cockhill.
Collarbone : probably a late variant of Collingbourne; compare Daniell Colliburn 1723 Lidia Collibourn 1730 in IGI (Hatfield Herts); James Collibone 1807 in IGI (Watford Herts) with the early bearers below.
Coucom : probably a variant of Colcombe from a lost place in Herefs. Compare Morgan Cowcomb 1646 in IGI (Kinnersley Herefs); James Cowcumb 1841 in IGI (Much Dewchurch Herefs).
Coundley : variant of Cownley with intrusive -d-. Compare Edward Cownley 1714 James Coundley 1769 in IGI (Leominster Herefs).
Crickmay : of uncertain origin but perhaps an irregular variant of Crickmore. Compare Dorothye Crickmer 1578 Anne Crickmay 1683 in IGI (Brundall Norfolk); Marye Crickmore 1585 Edward Crickmay 1695 in IGI (Bedingham Norfolk); Charles Crickmore 1728 Francis Crickmay 1730 in IGI (Wrentham Suffolk); Elizabeth Crickmore 1754 John Crickmay 1763 in IGI (Rushmere All Saints Suffolk); Charles Crickmore 1790 James Crickmay 1793 in IGI (Southacre Norfolk).
Crunkhorn : probably a variant of Cromphorn or Crumphorn (see Cramphorn) with velarization of /mp/ to /ŋk/. Compare the similar change of Cramp- to Crank- in Saml. Crankhorn 1737 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk); Thomas James Crankhorn 1754 in IGI (Clerkenwell Middx).
De Santiago : Spanish Galician and Portuguese: habitational name for someone from any of various places called Santiago named for Saint James in particular Santiago de Compostella in Galicia.
Delahooke : variant of Hook (1) with French preposition and definite article added in modern times. Compare the 1839 bearer listed below with Ann Hooke 1747 James Hook father of James Hook 1794 in IGI (Wembury Devon). The 1911 bearer is probably to be identified with Edmund Arthur Hook born in Canterbury in Census 1881 (Canterbury Kent) who also changed the sequence of his forenames.
Doick : variant of Duke; compare John Duke 1777 John Doick 1785 in IGI (Pulborough Sussex); Thomas Duke 1803 James Doick 1829 in IGI (Hardham Sussex).
Duckfield : perhaps a reduced form of Duckenfield assuming that the concentration of the surname in Pembrokes is due to migration. Compare James Duckenfield 1825 John Duckinfield 1834 Joseph Duckfield 1842 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).perhaps from a lost or unidentified place named with Old English dūce ‘duck’ + feld ‘open country’.
Duers : variant of Dewars; compare James Duers 1817 John Dewars 1825 in IGI (Dalston Cumb).
Edgeler : variant of Edgley. Compare Richard Edgeley 1720 James Edgeler 1745 in IGI (Godalming Surrey).
Elias : Spanish (Elías); French (also Élias); Greek Catalan Portuguese English Welsh German Dutch Breton Assyrian/Chaldean and Jewish; Hungarian (Éliás); Czech (Eliáš); Slovak (Eliáš and Eliaš): from a personal name taken from the New Testament Greek form (Ēlias) of Hebrew Eliyahu ‘Jehovah is God’ (Anglicized as Elijah in the Old Testament of the King James Bible). This name was borne by a Biblical prophet but its popularity among Christians in the Middle Ages was largely a result of its adoption by various early saints including a 7th-century bishop of Syracuse and a 9th-century Spanish martyr. In North America this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Assyrian/Chaldean Eliya or Elia Croatian and Slovenian Ilijaš or Iljaš. In medieval England the name generally took the form Ellis but in the 18th and 19th centuries Welsh Nonconformists adopted the form Elias as a patronymic.
Elijah : Welsh Jewish and African American: from the personal name Elijah the usual English transliteration in the King James Bible of the Hebrew name Eliyahu ‘Jehovah is God’ the name of an Old Testament prophet (compare Elias Ellis). As a Welsh surname this is a comparatively late adoption of the personal name adopted after Old Testament personal names became popular among Nonconformists.
Ely : 1: English: habitational name from Ely a cathedral city on an island in the fens north of Cambridge so named from Old English ǣl ‘eel’ + gē ‘district’.2: English French and Breton (Finistère): from the Middle English Old French personal name Elie Hely (Elijah in the King James Bible); see Ellis and Elias.3: English: variant of Healey.4: German: variant of Eley and in North America probably also an altered form of this.
Endall : perhaps a variant with an intrusive -d- of the now extinct name Ennall (see Ennals) which is probably in most cases from the Middle English personal name Ernold (see Arnold). Compare Edward Arnold 1561 Edmund Ennall 1616 James Endell 1708 John Andell 1712 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London); Edward Arnold 1644 Mary Endall 1673 Simon Arnol 1724 in IGI (Wantage Berks); Joseph Arnold 1707 Mary Endell 1730 in IGI (Ross on Wye Herefs). However these surnames may be coincidental occurrences of different names in the same parish and are no proof that the families were genealogically or onomastically related.
Enoch : English Welsh African American and African (mainly Nigeria): from the Middle English and Old French personal name Enoc (Enoch in the King James Bible) a Latinized rendering of Hebrew Ḥanok ‘experienced’ or ‘dedicated’. It was the name of a son of Cain and the father of Methuselah in the Book of Genesis (4:17 and 5:22) and the name of the author of three Books of the Apocrypha. As a popular personal name among post-Reformation Nonconformists it also gave rise to some late surname formations in Wales. The surname is relatively common in Wales but much rarer in England where it is concentrated on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border usually in the form Enock.
Errey : probably a late variant of Erridge. Compare James Erridge 1647 in IGI (Hellingly Sussex) and Ruth Errey 1820 in IGI (Hellingly Sussex). For the loss of the final consonant compare occasional Lovery for Loveridge Woolfrey for Woolrich.
Febery : variant of Freebury (see Freeborough) with dissimilatory loss of the first -r-. It has been re-interpreted by folk etymology as a colloquial pronunciation of the name of the month February as illustrated in some of the sequences of bearers listed below. Also compare James Freebury 1787 in IGI (Withington Gloucs) with James February in Census 1841 (Withington Gloucs).
Flippance : probably a variant of the Wilts name Fribbance (see Freeborn) with l/r substitution as shown in Elizabeth Flippence 1824 Anne Frippence 1826 in IGI (Milston Wilts). Variation between /b/ and /p/ in the name is attested in Jn. Fripence 1772 Elianor Fripons 1777 James Frippance 1849 Daniel Fribbance 1859 in IGI (Milton Lilborne Wilts). Fribbance is recorded earlier than Flippance elsewhere in Wilts confirming that the Fr- pronunciation is original.
Gidman : probably a variant of Goodman with fronting and unrounding of the vowel. Compare Symo. Goodman 1627 Elisabeth Gedman 1706 in IGI (Lewes Sussex); Euerardus Goodman 1695 Mary Gidman 1721 in IGI (Sandbach Cheshire) and Thomas Goodman 1731 James Gidman 1762 in IGI (Liverpool Lancs).
Giltrow : though probably of Scottish origin from a Galloway variant of Gilruth; compare James Giltroch 1743 Mary Giltroth 1757 in IGI (Dalry Kirkcudbrights).
Gimson : ‘son of Jimme or Gemme’ from Middle English pet forms of the male (and possibly female) personal names German and Jemes a variant of James (see also Gem). If this medieval surname survived into early modern times it will have become indistinguishable from that in (ii).late Middle English and early Modern English variant of Jameson ‘son of James’.
Glassborow : variant of Glazebrook with -brough and -borrow substituted for -brook. Compare Alexander Glasbroke 1586 in IGI (Wigan Lancs) James Glasbrook 1637 in IGI (Bolton Lancs) and Thomas Glassbrook 1764 in IGI (Deptford Kent) with the 1615 1658 and 1763 bearers below.
Haggith : probably a variant of Haggitt itself a variant of Hackett. Compare Johathan Charloner Haggeth 1788 James Haggeth 1814 Sarah Ann Haggitt 1818 in IGI (North Walsham Norfolk).
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).
Harrand : variant of Arrand with prosthetic H-. Compare Richard Arrand 1790 Robert Harrand 1831 in IGI (Epworth Lincs); William Arrand 1863 James Harrand 1870 in IGI (Goole WR Yorks).
Healer : 1: late variant of Healey with the final syllable pronounced [lə] spelled -ler. Compare Margarette Healey 1599 Joshua Healey 1820 Jonathan Healer 1824 in IGI (Prestbury Cheshire); Jno. Healey 1728 Mary Heeley 1759 James Heeler 1809 in IGI (Manchester Lancs); Abraham Heeley 1660 Martha Heeley 1823 Thomas Healer 1823 in IGI (Kirkburton WR Yorks); Sarah Healer 1813 Eliz. Healey 1826 in IGI (Bishopwearmouth Durham). 2: variant of Heller ‘roofer’ see Hillier.
Hickmore : perhaps a variant of Hickman via forms such as Hickmer and Hickmar. For a similar development compare John Hesman 1645 Thos Hesmar 1780 in IGI (Chiddingly Sussex); James Hesman 1853 James Hesmer 1865 in IGI (Icklesham Sussex)
Hillback : apparently a variant of Eilbeck. Compare John Eilbeck 1734 William Hilbeck 1780 Elizabeth Hillback 1784 James Hilback 1786 Samuel Hillbeck 1790 in IGI (Old Swinford Worcs).
Hobbin : 1: from the Middle English personal name Hobin a rhyming form of Robin a pet form of Robert; see Hobb. 2: in Kent possibly also a reduced form of Hogben. Compare Susan Hogben 1670 Aleg Hobbin 1697 in IGI (Blean Kent) and John Hobben 1672 James Hogben 1750 in IGI (Whitstable Kent) but these may be unrelated surnames coinciding in the same parishes.
Hockless : perhaps a variant of Hockley with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare James Hockley 1768 in IGI (Seasalter Kent) with the bearers below; Seasalter is approximately two miles from Whitstable.
Hollamby : variant of Hollingbury which has apparently not survived in that shape. There is a local place-name of this form in Brighton (Sussex) which is not found in early records and can probably be discounted since the surname seems to come from eastern Kent and to have changed to its present form during its westward migration. It does not seem possible to link it with Hollingbourne (Kent) which has no spellings of this type in its record.alternatively perhaps a variant of the Sussex name Hollebon (earlier Holbeme Howbeam) as suggested by Thomas Howbeame 1561 James Hollumbee 1618 in IGI (Ripe Sussex). The m may have been metathesized turning Hollebeme into Hollumbee or the -an- of an earlier Middle English *Holanbeme may have survived in some prounciations of the surname. However the two names may have occurred in Ripe by coincidence and be unrelated.
Howship : variant of Holdship. Compare Fran. Howship 1630 John Holship 1654 in IGI (Churcham Gloucs); Edward Houship 1672 James Holdship 1701 in IGI (Tewkesbury Gloucs).
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).
Idiens : apparently a late variant of Iddins. Compare Margt. Idiens 1758 Willm. Iddens 1761 in IGI (Trysull Staffs); William Iddens William Iddiens 1780 in IGI (Wombourne Staffs); Richard Iddens 1800 Richd. Idins 1811 James Harvey Penn Idens 1812 Ellen Iddiens 1830 Benjamin Idiens 1832 in IGI (Dudley Staffs).
Igo : 1: Irish (of Norman origin): perhaps from Mac Igó ‘son of Igou’ from the Old French personal name Igou (ancient Germanic Igwulf) or from Gaelic Mac Iagó ‘son of Iagó or Iagóg’ perhaps a Gaelicized form of the Welsh personal name Iago (from Latin Jacobus) equivalent to English James. Parallels for such a structure are McGriffin and McHale.2: Hungarian (Igó): from a pet form of the personal name Ignác a vernacular form of Ignatius.
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).
Jack : 1: English and Scottish: from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Jak Jakke Jagge Jake Jeke Jegge a Picard-Flemish denasalized form of Old Picard and Middle Dutch Janke a pet form of Jan (see John). It was introduced by Flemings and Picards into Norman and Anglo-Norman usage whence it became a common English and Scottish pet form of John. Although the surname is mainly Scottish in distribution it also occurs in England though the more common form there is Jackson.2: English: occasionally perhaps from a Middle English borrowing of the Old French personal name Jacque(s) (James). However it is uncertain whether English Jack was ever used as an alternative to James.3: Native American (e.g. Navajo): adoption of the English personal name Jack (see 1 above) as a surname.4: German (also Jäck): from a short form of the personal name Jacob.5: Americanized form of French Jacques 1.6: Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.
Jackaman : from Old French Jaquemin and Jacquemon pet forms of Jacqueme a Picard form of James (Latin *Jacomus). Jakemin de Sessolu 1302 in London Court Rolls is also called James. Jacqueme is also found as a female name. The surname was probably also spelled Jakeman and Jakemon; see Jackman.
Jacklin : 1: English (Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire): from the Old French personal name Jacquelin a double diminutive of Jacques (equivalent of James).2: South German and Swiss German (Jäcklin): from a pet form of Jack a South German name based on Jacob. Compare Jackley.
Jacomb : perhaps from the Old French personal name Jacqueme the Picard form of James (Latin *Jacomus) but evidence of English use of the name is lacking. The -b- in the name would be intrusive. Otherwise the name looks like a place-name in -comb. None of relevance has been found but the type has probably influenced the spelling.
Jamieson : Scottish: variant of Jamison. It probably originated in the pronunciation of James as Jamis but the Scottish preference for this form of Jamison will have been reinforced by association with Jamie the Scots pet form of James.
Jason : 1: English: patronymic meaning ‘son of Jay’ probably a short form of Middle English personal names beginning with J- such as Jack James or Jefferey. See Jay.2: English: variant of Jesson.3: In some cases probably also an American shortened and altered form of Greek Iasonidis: patronymic from the personal name Iasōn which is derived from the Greek vocabulary word iasthai to ‘heal’. In classical mythology this is the name (English Jason) of the leader of the Argonauts who captured the Golden Fleece with the aid of Medea daughter of the king of Colchis. The name was also borne by a Christian saint mentioned in Saint Paul's Epistle to the Romans traditionally believed to have been martyred.
Jimmerson : Scottish and northern English: variant of Jameson based on a pet form of the personal name James.
Kilding : perhaps a late variant of Kilton via variants such as Kildon and Kilden. Compare James Kilton 1643 Jane Kildon 1848 in IGI (Kirby Wiske NR Yorks); Thomas Kilden 1819 Thomas Kilding 1832 in IGI (Well NR Yorks).
Kilshaw : 1: variant of Culcheth. Culcheth (Lancs) is recorded as Kelshawe in 1556 and Kilshay in 1590. See therefore Kelshaw which may sometimes be another variant of this name and compare Anne Killshaw 1572 Richard Culcheth 1663 in IGI (Ormskirk Lancs) with James Kilshaw alias Culcheth in an undated document in Cheshire Record Office and Eliz Culchet 1758 Mariae Kilshaw 1766 in IGI (Hornby Lancs). 2: variant of Kershaw; see also Kelsall with which this name was confused.
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).
Lelliott : perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English female personal name *Liliot *Liliet or *Leliot pet forms of Lily (see Lilley).see Lillywhite. Compare Thomas Lelliott 1730 James Lelliet 1755 Francis Lillywhite 1775 Ann Lillewhite 1795 in IGI (Portsea Hants). The Lillywhite/Lelliott correlation in Portsea may show confusion of two different names rather than proof that one developed from the other.
Lettington : apparently a variant of Leddington with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare George Leddington 1809 James Lettington 1823 in IGI (Cudham Kent).
Lingfield : from Lingfield (Surrey) which is recorded as (on) Leangafelda in the 9th century. The origin of the place-name is uncertain but it may mean ‘the open country of the inhabitants of the woodland clearing’ from Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’ + the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + feld ‘open country’. There may have been some confusion with Lindfield; compare James Lingfield 1681 James Lindfield 1687 in IGI (East Grinstead Sussex); Mary Lindfield 1791 Jos Lingfield 1810 in IGI (Billingshurst Sussex).
Lipsham : apparently an altered form of Lipscombe; compare Simon Lipscombe 1769 James Lipsham 1792 Mary Lipscomb 1798 in IGI (High Ham Somerset).
Maidlow : altered form of Madeley. Compare Thomas Maidley 1677 James Maidlow 1706 in IGI (Havant Hants).
Matamoros : Spanish: from Matamoros meaning ‘killer of Moors’ a title given to Spain's patron saint Saint James in the Middle Ages (from matar ‘to kill’ + moros ‘Moors’). According to legend the saint appeared to a 9th-century Spanish king during a battle and enabled him to massacre 60 000 Saracens.
Modral : reduced form of Motherwell. Compare Androw Motherall 1645 Isobell Modrall 1663 Marion Moderall 1678 Marian Modrel 1710 in IGI (Saint Ninians Stirlings); James Modderall 1667 Agnes Modral 1702 in IGI (Kilsyth Stirlings); Jonet Motherall 1706 Jean Modderal 1766 in IGI (Campsie Stirlings).
Morphey : probably a reduced or altered form of Morfield or Murfield; see Merrifield a name found in various spellings in Cornwall Devon Wilts Hants Sussex Surrey and Kent. This is the perhaps the most likely source of the earliest examples in S and SW England but see (ii) for another source which seems to have arisen from the late 17th century onwards leading to possible confusion between names originally with -field and those originally with -foot. Compare the Stepney and the Saint Giles Cripplegate examples cited below with Susan Morefield 1611 Richard Morefield 1647 David Morfoot 1681 in IGI (Stepney Middx) and Thomas Morefield 1673 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London) although these could be different family names coinciding in the same parishes. With the Suffolk examples of Morphew etc. compare John Morfull 1547 in IGI (Woodbridge Suffolk).variant of Morfett (see Moorfoot). In Sussex and Kent this is illustrated by Dennis Morefoote 1551 Sarah Morfet 1696 Thomas Morfey 1759 in IGI (Wartling Sussex); Thomas Morfoot 1672 Thomas Morfee 1700 Thomas Morfett 1734 Zabulon Morphey 1745 in IGI (Hastings Sussex); Elizabeth Morfett 1745 Jeremiah Morphett 1758 John Morphey 1798 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent); Thos. Morfew 1747 Thomas Morfet 1755 Thomas Morfey 1750 in IGI (Guestling Sussex). A similar pattern of variation occurs in Norfolk: Walter Morefoote 1626 James Murfee 1687 Alexander Morfee 1701 Mary Morfew 1775 in IGI (Great Yarmouth Norfolk). There is early modern evidence for Murph(e)y as a variant of Morphey but 18th-century bearers listed below could alternatively belong with (iv).improbably from Anglo-Norman French morphé Middle English morphé morfe(e) morfeu morpheu murfue ‘morphea any one of a group of skin diseases characterized by discoloration of the skin and scurfy eruptions’. This is a medical term rather than an item of ordinary vocabulary from which a medieval nickname and surname might naturally have derived and the absence of corresponding medieval surname forms adds to the doubtfulness of such an origin. However the word was still current in early modern England and may have played a part in the alteration of the names in (i) and (ii) to Morphey and Morphew through learnéd folk etymology.see Irish Murphy.
Moslin : probably a late variant of Maslen. Compare Mark Moslin 1785 William Maslin 1797 in IGI (Ramsbury Wilts); John Maslen 1797 William Maslin 1847 Thomas Moslin 1865 in IGI (Thatcham Berks); John Maslin 1803 Hannah Maslen 1805 John Moslin 1810 in IGI (Newbury Berks); James Maslin 1837 James Moslin 1849 in IGI (Highworth Wilts).
Mothersill : from an abbreviated form of the Middle English oath bi min moderes saule (or soule) ‘by my mother's soul’. Compare James Fadersall (‘by my father's soul’) 1486 in York Freemen's Register. In NR Yorks the name was altered to Mothersill and then to Mothersdill and Mothersdale through false association with the many -dale place-names and surnames in that part of the world.
Mullay : apparently from Ó Maolaodha see Molloy">Molloy.John Mulloy alias Molloy Mullay born in Twomore Mayo 1802 in TNA; James Mullay 1817 in IGI (Tingwall Shetland).
Orchison : ‘son of someone surnamed Urquhart’. See Urquhart and with the early bearers cited below compare Janet Orchard 1641 in IGI (Montrose Angus); James Orchat 1693 in IGI (Kilconquhar Fife); Daniell Orchard 1740 in IGI (Edinburgh Midlothian).
Ormond : 1: Irish (Waterford): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ruaidh ‘descendant of Ruadh’ (a byname meaning ‘red’; see Roe) due to similarity in sound with Urmhumha (now Urmhumhain) the Irish form of the placename Ormond an ancient region of East Munster. The surname Ormond was also adopted by the illegitimate sons of John Butler 6th Earl of Ormond (died 1476). The most famous and powerful of them was Sir James Ormond (died 1497) Lord High Treasurer of Ireland from 1492 to 1494.2: English: variant of Almond or Orman.
Orpwood : altered form of Orpet (earlier Orpede Orpud) in which the final syllable has been re-interpreted by folk etymology as a weakly stressed pronunciation of -wood. Compare Rchd Orpud 1608 Dattin Orpwood 1737 in IGI (Bampton Oxon); Morris Orpitt 1623 Thomas Orpwood 1730 in IGI (Holborn Middx); John Orpitt 1644 Mary Orpwood 1799 James Orpood 1805 in IGI (Stepney Middx). The final syllable was also sometimes re-interpreted as a weak pronunciation of -head or -hood: Thomas Orpiet 1684 Edward Orphed Edward Orphod 1718 Elizabeth Orpwood 1816 in IGI (Abingdon Berks).
Oscar : 1: English: de-aspirated variant of Hosker in a spelling that was no doubt influenced by the 18th-century personal name (see 3 below).2: Irish and Scottish: rare shortened form of Irish Mac Oscair (see McCusker) a patronymic based on the personal name Oscar which is most probably from Gaelic os ‘fawn deer’ + car- ‘love’. Alternatively it may be from a Gaelic borrowing of the Old Norse personal name Ásgeirr (from ans ‘god’ + geirr ‘spear’); see Hosker 2.3: French: from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic personal name Oscar (see 2 above) which owed its popularity in France (and also in Germany and Scandinavia) to the Ossian poems of James MacPherson (1760) which enjoyed a great vogue in France and other parts of Europe in the late 18th century.4: In North America this surname also originated from a transferred use of the personal (given) name Oscar (see 3 above) as a surname (i.e. as a replacement of the original surname) which occurred among some Norwegian and apparently also Swedish and German immigrants.
Osprey : perhaps a variant of Horsburgh. Compare Janet Horsburgh 1672 Alexander Osbrugh 1679 in IGI (Prestonpans E Lothian); Lillias Horsbrough 1771 James Osperay 1857 in IGI (Falkirk Stirlings).
Outridge : see Utteridge.the Kent name may alternatively be an altered form of Outred. Compare James Outred 1560 in IGI (Shipbourne Kent); Wm. Outerid 1705 Wm. Outridge 1717 in IGI (Lewisham Kent).
Ower : 1: perhaps a variant of Ure. Compare John Ure 1675 in IGI (Dunblane Perths) and James Ure 1678 in IGI (Forfar Angus) with the bearers below. 2: from Ower in Copythorne or Ower in Fawley (both Hants) or The Nower (Kent) with which compare Noar. They are named either from Old English ofer ‘flat-topped ridge’ or Old English ōfer ‘river bank sea bank or seashore’ (which in the case of Ower in Fawley was substituted for or confused with Old English ōra ‘bank’).from Middle English our(e) either ‘flat-topped ridge’ (Old English ofer) or ‘river bank sea bank or seashore’ (Old English ōfer) for someone who lived on or near one of these features. Compare (2 i).alternative pronunciation of Over which has identical etymologies to those in (2 i and ii).from Owermoigne (Dorset) of uncertain origin recorded as Ogre in 1086 and Our(e) in 13th-century records.
Pamment : probably a reduced form of Pammenter (see Parmenter). Compare Anne Pamont 1605 Robert Pammont 1668 Elizabeth Parmenter 1731 Loisa Pammenter 1794 in IGI (Horseheath Cambs); Sarah Parmenter 1735 James Pamment 1752 in IGI (Sudbury Suffolk).
Partlett : variant of Bartlett. Compare William Bartlett 1762 James Partlett 1768 in IGI (Marcham Berks); Susanna Partlett 1796 John Bartlett 1805 in IGI (Charlbury Oxon).
Paulger : perhaps an altered pronunciation of Poucher. Compare John Poucher of North Thoresby (1369 in Feet of Fines) which is close to the villages in N Lincs where Pawger and Pauger are recorded. The change in vowel is irregular and this may not be the right explanation.alternatively perhaps a variant of Palgrave in which -grave has been reduced to -ger. In N Lincs compare Thomas Powlgrave 1577 in IGI (Winteringham Lincs); James Poulgrave 1585 in IGI (Winterton Lincs); Robt. Poulgrave 1632 Robt. Palgrave 1637 Joseph Palegrave 1644 in IGI (Barton upon Humber Lincs). However there is insufficient evidence to be confident of this explanation.
Pimperton : variant of Pemberton from Pemberton (Lancs); compare Willmi. Pemberton 1595 Edovardus Pimberton 1619 in IGI (Bebington Cheshire); Oleve Pemperton 1577 Willm Pimperton 1590 in IGI (Quadring Lincs); James Pimberton 1879 in IGI (Silkstone WR Yorks).
Proom : of uncertain origin. It might be a variant of Plume with [r] for [l]. Compare James Plum 1583 Edmund Plume 1746 Hannah Proom 1748 in IGI (Bury Saint Edmunds Suffolk). No evidence has been found of Plume in Staffs where the earliest examples of Proom occur but compare Joseph Ploom 1796 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks). Alternatively Proom might be a variant of Plumb with a lengthened vowel though this name is also rare and late in Staffs.
Pyrah : perhaps a variant of Perry via the alternative pronunciation /pɪri/ or its alternative northern form Peary alternatively spelled Piery with the common northern alteration of final -y to -er and -ah. If this is right Py(e)rah would originally be a spelling of /pɪrə/ or /pɪərə/ rather than /paɪrə/. Correlations of Py(e)rah with Perry include James Perry 1700 William Pyerah 1773 in IGI (New Malton NR Yorks); Robt. Pyrer 1723 Jane Perry 1747 in IGI (Deane by Bolton Lancs); James Perry 1723 Joseph Pyra 1790 in IGI (Calverley WR Yorks); Ellen Pyrer 1730 John Perry 1780 in IGI (Formby Lancs); and Richard Perry 1733 Bettey Pyrah 1748 in IGI (Batley WR Yorks). These correlations could alternatively be coincidental pairings of unrelated names in the same parish or town in which case the origin of Pyrah remains to be discovered.
Renilson : from Randal a pet form or Middle English and Older Scots pronunciation of the personal name Randolf + -son. See Randall. It might in theory be confused with Rennoldson a northern English surname; note James Renoldson 1695 in IGI (Gladsmuir E Lothian).
Rishton : see Rushton. Aleander Rishton 1560 in IGI (Great Harwood Lancs); Anna Rishton 1598 Elizabeth Rushton 1635 in IGI (Altham Lancs); Robert Rishton 1603 James Rushton 1627 Robert Riston 1757 in IGI (Colne Lancs).
Sandiego : Spanish (Valencia): habitational name from any of several places so named for a local shrine or church dedicated to the disciple Saint James the Greater (San Diego in Spanish) patron saint of Spain. See also Diego and Santiago.
Sangiacomo : Italian: habitational name from a place so named for a local church or shrine dedicated to Saint James (San Giacomo) as for example San Giacomo degli Schiavoni in Campobasso province or San Giacomo Vercellese in Vercelli.
Santiago : Galician Portuguese and Spanish: habitational name from any of numerous places so named from the dedication of their churches to Saint James (Sant Iago). The apostle Saint James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain; there is a medieval legend that after the death of Christ he did not meet a speedy end under Herod Agrippa but visited and evangelized the Iberian peninsula. His alleged burial site at Compostela has been a place of pilgrimage from all over Europe for over a thousand years. See also Sandiego.
Sarah : 1: Americanized form of Italian Sara 1 and Hungarian Sára influenced by the English form of the Biblical personal name Sarah.2: English (Cornwall and Devon): variant of Sare with final -e spelled -a(h) (see Sara 2) a common feature of names in Devon and Cornwall. Spellings of the surname with -ah may have been influenced by the form of the personal name in the King James Bible.3: Muslim: from a variant of the Arabic personal name Sāra of Biblical origin (see Sara 1).
Scrutton : unexplained; apparently from an unidentified place-name. There is some overlap with the Yorks distribution of Scruton (compare James Scrutton 1634 in IGI (Holy Trinity Micklegate York)) and it may be a variant of this.
Soanes : 1: perhaps an altered form of Soames. Compare John Soames 1576 Elizabeth Soames 1731 Samuel Soans 1735 James Soones 1751 in IGI (Dover Kent); and Margaret Soames 1641 Roger Soanes 1645 in IGI (Woodbridge Suffolk). See also Soane and Soame. Alternatively any of the following bearers may belong with (2). 2: variant of Soane with post-medieval excrescent -s.
Solomon : Jewish English Scottish Dutch Swedish French Portuguese Romanian Ethiopian and Eritrean; Spanish (Solomón): from a vernacular form of the Biblical Hebrew personal name Shelomo a derivative of shalom ‘peace’. The name Solomon has for generations been a popular Jewish name and was also fairly widespread in the Middle Ages among Christians. In the Bible it is the name of King David's successor noted for his wisdom; among Christians it was therefore also used as a nickname for a man who was considered wise. The spelling Solomon is used in the King James Bible of 1611 which is why this is the standard form of the name in modern English but spellings with Sal- were more usual across continental Europe the 1534 Lutheran Bible rendering it as Salomo and the 1560 Geneva Bible as Salomon. From the 7th century the spelling Salomon is recorded as a Christian personal name in France where it was the name of several saints including a Breton king martyred in 874. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed many cognates from other languages (see Salomon Salamon). See also Salmon 1. — Note: Since Ethiopians and Eritreans do not have hereditary surnames the Ethiopian and Eritrean name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Stilborn : variant of Silburn (see Silabon) remodelled by folk etymology with an intrusive -t-. Compare James Silburne 1674 in IGI (Pocklington ER Yorks) with Elizabeth Stilborn 1757 in ER Yorks Archives (Pocklington ER Yorks).
Strength : Possibly Scottish. Black lists the surname Strengthie also giving an example of Strength used as a byname in the 18th or 19th century: James Stuart known as Jamie Strength.
Surplice : perhaps a de-palatalized variant of Sharples (i.e. *Sarples) altered by folk etymology to resemble surplice ‘white overgarment worn by Anglican priests and choristers’. Sharples Sharpless and Sharplus are Lancs surnames which appear in London and the Midlands in the post-medieval period. The change in the vowel to Sherp- spelled Shurp- probably originated in Lancs itself though it happens to be recorded later than in more southerly counties: Sarah Shurples 1743 Edward Sharples 1852 in IGI (Gorton Lancs); Robert Sharpless 1823 James Surplus 1855 in IGI (Preston Lancs); Edward Sharples 1868 in IGI Thomas Surpluss 1881 in IGI (Barrow in Furness Lancs).
Sweetingham : of uncertain origin. It is apparently independent of Swettenham even if possibly confused with it in modern times; compare James Sweetenham 1792 in IGI (Alverstoke Hants).
Taddeo : Italian: from the personal name Taddeo from Latin Thaddeus Greek Thaddaios. This is the name ascribed in Saint Mark's Gospel to one of Christ's disciples referred to elsewhere as Judas son of James. It represents an Aramaic form Thaddai which is possibly of Hebrew origin meaning ‘beloved’.
Tallett : 1: probably in most cases from Middle English tail(l)ard ‘creature with a tail’ i.e. ‘monkey’ a common term of abuse. It is the English equivalent of Norman French Marmion. The change from Tayllard to Tallard and Tallet(t) or Tallot(t) is not well recorded though possibly instanced in Thomas Tallard 1661 Charles Tallet 1784 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London). In some cases Tayllard and Tallard may have been absorbed into Taylor. Compare James Taylor 1707 in IGI (Overbury Worcs) with the 1744 bearer below.perhaps for a swordsman from Old French taillard a sword for cutting and thrusting especially in fencing. 2: possibly from an unrecorded Old French personal name *Talot *Talet a diminutive form of Continental Germanic *Talo (related to *dal- ‘bright proud’). Compare Tallon. However no evidence has been found that the name given below has survived into modern times.
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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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