Origin
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.
Aidley : of uncertain origin: perhaps a late irregular development of Audley. Compare John Audley 1786 in IGI (Siddington Cheshire) with the 1879 bearer below and Martha Audley 1814 in IGI (Prestbury Cheshire) with the 1844 bearer below.
Alderwick : apparently from an unidentified place named with Old English alor ‘alder’ + Old English wīc ‘specialized or outlying farm’. However no medieval bearers have been found to support this and it is more likely that Alderwick is an altered form of another Wilts name probably Aldericke. Compare John Aldericke 1670 John Alderwick 1679 John Aldric 1712 in IGI (Broughton Gifford Wilts) where the spelling -wick appears to be a hypercorrection mistakenly assuming -ick to be a vulgar pronunciation of -wick. Ald(e)ric(k) (see Aldrick) is a variant of Aldridge.
Allso : apparently a reduced form of Allsopp. Compare Eliz Alsop 1783 John Allso 1795 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Joseph Alsop 1825 Joseph Allso 1827 in IGI (Walsall Staffs).
Annal : 1: probably in many cases a reduced form of Arnald; see Arnold and for the assimilation of -r- to the following -n- and loss of final [d] see Ennals. With the examples cited below compare Bessie Arnald 1571 in IGI (Dunfermline Fife); Isabell Arnell 1681 in IGI (Saint Andrews and Saint Leonards Fife); Thomas Arnold 1626 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Thomas Arnold 1763 in IGI (Well NR Yorks); John Arnold 1585 in IGI (Chichester Sussex); Tho. Arnold 1709 in IGI (Deal Kent). However some of the bearers listed below may belong with (2). 2: alternatively in Warwicks and Kent the name could be a reduced form of Hanwell from Hanwell (Oxon) or Hanwell (Middx). A surname from the Oxon place-name is on record in Oxon and Warwicks since medieval times. Compare John Hanwell 1607 William Anwell 1761 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Robert Hanwell 1573 in IGI (Borden Kent); Sten Handwell 1582 in IGI (Willesborough Kent); Xpo Handwell 1584 in IGI (Staplehurst Kent); Mary Handwell 1600 in IGI (Sandwich Kent); Will'm. Anwell 1629 in IGI (Ashford Kent). However Anwell and Han(d)well may be hypercorrect expansions of Annall from Arnold in (1).
Archdale : 1: perhaps from Airedale (WR Yorks) recorded as Ayresdale in 1539. This is the dale or valley of the River Aire whose principal town is Leeds where the surname appears as Harsedale (1545) and Arsdall (1588). Further away in the Sheffield area it was apparently altered by folk etymology from Hayrsdall to Horsedall and through palatalization of -s- to -sh- and -ch- to Arshdale and Archdale. It is alternatively possible that the name in (2) migrated to Sheffield where it became confused with A(y)rsdal(e). 2: of uncertain origin. The relevance of Stephanus Erchisdale 1379 in Poll Tax (Ridlington and Crostwight Norfolk) is doubtful. If the name is of Staffs origin perhaps it is an altered form of Archedine attested in John Archedine 1588 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs); Francys Archadayne 1622 in IGI (Wirksworth Derbys); Francis Archedine 1652 in IGI (Kirk Ireton Derbys); Francis Archdine joiner of Cricke Derbys 1656 in TNA. This could be from Anglo-Norman French arcediaen ‘archdeacon’ (compare Archdeacon). Forms in -l- would be an irregular development suggested by the word dale.
Ashard : perhaps a variant of Asher with excrescent -d. Asher is recorded in Cheshire since the early 1600s in the name of John Asher 1626 in IGI (Baddiley Cheshire). Compare Edward Asher 1828 in IGI (Frodsham Cheshire) with the 1775 bearer below.
Aveley : 1: perhaps a variant of Averley or vice versa. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs). 2: from Aveley (Essex) a few miles east of the old City of London. The place-name is recorded as Aluithelea in 1086 Alviueleia in 1157 Alvyleye in 1272–1307 and Alveley Aveley in 1535. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfgȳð + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’.perhaps an occasional pronunciation of Avery with [l] for [r] or vice versa. Compare John Averey 1621 in IGI (Saint Bride Fleet Street London). 3: perhaps from Avely Hall in Assington (Suffolk) a few miles south-east of Sudbury although the surname evidence is slight and may belong with (1) or (2) or have a different but unknown origin. The place-name is recorded as Aluenelega in 1086 Alwyneleye in 1298 Alvyngley alias Alweley in 1518–29 and Alveley alias Alvingley in 1569. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfwynn + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’. It is not certain that the 1340 example below belongs here.
Averley : variant of Haverley (see Habberley) with loss of initial H-. This is explicit in Mary Averley or Aberley 1625 Edward Aberley 1708 in IGI (Rugeley Staffs) and in Edwd Habberley 1702 Edward Haverley 1708 Charles Aberly 1732 Eleanor Joyce Averley 1815 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London).perhaps from Aversley Wood in Sawtrey (Hunts now Cambs) with loss of medial -s-. The place-name is recorded as Ailbrittesle in 1209 Aylbritesle in 1245 and Albrichelee in 1290 and derives from the Old English personal name Æðelbeorht (genitive Æðelbeorhtes) + lēah ‘open woodland’. A(i)lbrit(s)ley will have been simplified to something like Aber(s)ley and Aver(s)ley but it is not known when. If the spelling of his surname is reliable it is conceivable that John de Averle 1279 in Hundred Rolls (Hunts) provides early evidence for it and it could account for the surname in 17th-century Cambs but the absence of any medieval spellings of the place-name with Aber- or Aver- makes it difficult to assess its plausibility.perhaps a variant of Aveley with -er- as an inverted spelling of medial unstressed -e-. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs) but spellings with -er- occur much earlier for the Soham family name for which Aveley is more likely to be a late spelling of Averley.
Aveyard : perhaps a variant of Halfyard with Half- becoming Hauve- then Have- and Ave-. Compare Tho. son of John Halfyard 1748 in IGI (Chapel Allerton in Leeds WR Yorks) and Robt. Halfyard 1790 in IGI (Darfield WR Yorks).
Badkin : variant of Bodkin.in some cases it may alternatively be a variant of Batkin with voicing of /t/ to /d/. Compare John Badekyn 1312 John Batekyn 1327 in Kent Place-Names p. 492.
Baigent : possibly a colloquial pronunciation of Beauchamp or Beecham. Old French Beau- often appears as Be(e)- Bea- and Bay- in English surnames. The -ch- has been voiced and an excrescent -t has been added. Compare John Beauchamp 1700 Mary Baigeant 1784 in IGI (Chobham Surrey); Aaron Baigent 1703 Sarah Beecham 1738 in IGI (Guildford Surrey); Samuel Beecham 1725 John Baijent 1772 in IGI (Gillingham Kent).perhaps the French name Beaujean Flemish Beaujan(t) Bejean from Old French bel Jehan ‘handsome John’ + excrescent -t. It could have been introduced to England in the 15th or 16th century by Flemish migrants.
Bailhache : apparently from Old French and Norman French (including Channel Islands) baille hache ‘give axe’ perhaps used as an occupational nickname for a woodman or an executioner. Compare Balhatchet. But continental French records almost invariably include the preposition de suggesting a place-name origin.also later continental French witness the 1701 'Draft of an Act for naturalizing... John Baillehache...' (possibly the Southampton merchant of that name).
Ballentine : Scottish: habitational name probably from the lands of Bellenden now Bellendean on Ale Water west of Roberton in Roxburghshire. John Ballantyne archdeacon of Moray 1533–38 was also recorded as John Ballentyne or Bellenden. It has been suggested that the placename is from Gaelic baile an deadhain ‘the dean's farm’ which leaves open the possibility of more than one geographical origin (there is also a place called Bellenden in Selkirk); the surname is persistently associated with Falkirk and Edinburgh as well as Roxburghshire. The origin of the variation between -d- and -t- if genuine is unknown.
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.
Bantock : variant of Bantoft with substitution of -tock for -toft. The variation is frequent in the parish registers of Rattlesden Suffolk: John Bantoste (for Bantofte) 1574 Isacke Bantocke 1603 Isaac Bantost 1605 Anne Bantock 1646 Susan Bantoft 1652 in IGI. Perhaps the name was influenced by or confused with Bundock but the latter belonged to a different surname neighbourhood in south-west Essex.
Baptista : 1: Portuguese and Spanish: from the personal name Baptista ‘baptist’ derived from the distinguishing epithet of Saint John the Baptist (see Baptiste).2: Americanized form of Italian Battista a cognate of 1 above.
Baptiste : French and West Indian (mainly Haiti): from the personal name Baptiste derived from Latin Baptista ‘baptist’ the distinguishing epithet of Saint John the Baptist who baptized people including Jesus Christ in the river Jordan (Mark 1:9). The Latin name is from Greek baptistēs literally ‘one who washes’ (from baptisma ‘the act of washing’). For Christians baptism symbolizes the washing away of sin prior to admission to the Church. This surname is also found in England mainly as a surname of Huguenot origin. Compare Baptist Batiste and Battiste and also Portuguese and Spanish Baptista and Batista Italian Battista.
Barrass : 1: variant of Barrows. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames records William Barowes 1547 John Barras 1638 in Knaresborough Wills (Knaresborough WR Yorks). 2: perhaps for a large or tall person from Old French barrace ‘large bar bulky obstacle’.possibly from the same word as in (i) in the technical sense ‘the outwork of a fortress’. 3: re-spelling of Barros.
Barry : 1: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Beargha ‘descendant of Beargh’ a byname meaning ‘plunderer’.2: Irish and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Báire ‘descendant of Báire’ a short form of either of two Gaelic personal names Bairrfhionn or Fionnbharr both meaning ‘fair-topped’. This may also be the source of the Manx name Barry whose family's main seat was Ballavarry in Kirk Andreas.3: English Welsh and Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name which according to the Anglo-Norman chronicler Gerald de Barry (Giraldus Cambrensis) refers to the Island of Barry opposite the town of Barry (Glamorgan) owned by the Barry family by gift of William the Conqueror. In Ireland the surname mostly goes back to another member of the family Philip de Barry who took part in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. His son William de Barry was granted baronies in South Munster by King John and his principal seat was Castlelyons (Cork). Derivation from one of the French hamlets called Barri is unlikely since they all occur in southern France far from spheres of Norman influence.4: English: nickname from Old French barré Anglo-Norman French barri ‘striped’ probably in reference to striped clothing or to a piece of horizontally striped cloth worn around the helmet for identification in battle. The term barry came to be used in heraldry for a field horizontally divided by strips of alternating color.5: Scottish: variant of Barrie.6: French: topographic name from Occitan barri ‘part of a town outside its walls’ or a habitational name from any of hamlets called Barri in southern France named with the same word. Compare Bary 2 and Dubarry.7: Altered form of French Baril and Barré (see Barre 3 and 4). Compare Barrie 3 Bary 3 and Berry 7.8: Walloon and northern French: habitational name from Barry in Wallonia (Belgium). This surname is also found in the Flemish part of Belgium. Compare Bary 1.9: West African (mainly Guinea and Burkina Faso): from the name of the Barry clan of the Fulani people of unexplained etymology.
Bastiman : perhaps an altered form with voicing of the initial consonant of Middle English pasteman ‘one who makes and sells pastry’ or pastiman ‘one who sells pasties or meat pies’ attested in Galfrido le Pasteman 1290-1 in Norwich Leet Jurisdiction (Norfolk) and Ricardus Pastyman' 1379 in Poll Tax (Bilton with Syningthwaite WR Yorks). Compare Johanne le Pastemakere 1288-9 in Norwich Leet Jurisdiction (Norfolk) Gregory le Pastemakere 1311 in London Letter Books D and John le Pastmaker (also called le Pasteymonger) 1322 in Patent Rolls (Cambridge Cambs).
Batista : 1: Spanish Catalan Portuguese and Slovenian; Croatian (also Batišta): from the medieval Latin personal name Ba(p)tista ‘baptist’ derived from the distinguishing epithet of Saint John the Baptist (see Baptiste). Compare Baptista.2: Americanized form of Italian Battista.
Battista : Italian: from the personal name Battista ‘baptist’ derived from the distinguishing epithet of Saint John the Baptist (see Baptiste) in Italian San Giovanni Battista. Compare Baptist and Baptista.
Bautista : Spanish: from the personal name Bautista ‘baptist’ derived from the distinguishing epithet of Saint John the Baptist (see Baptiste).
Beacock : from the Middle English female personal name Becok a pet form of Beatrice (Be + the hypocristic suffix -cok). Compare John Becokson 1366 in Subsidy Rolls (Lancs).
Beeden : 1: from either Bidon or La Ville-Bidon (Ille-et-Villaine Brittany). The short vowel of Bidon was frequently lowered and lengthened to produce the spellings Beedon and Beeden. Stow Bedon and Kirby Bedon Norfolk were held by John de Bidun in 1212. It is probably the principal source of the surname Beedon in E Anglia and a contributor to Bedden in the Midlands. Some bearers listed below may however belong at (2). 2: from any of various places named with Old English byden ‘vessel for liquids’ in a transferred topographic sense such as ‘tub-shaped hollow’ or ‘narrow steep valley’. These include Benna in Christow Betham in Witheridge and Bidna in Northam (all in Devon) Bidden in Upton Grey (Hants) and Beedon (Berks). Early surname forms with atte are more likely to be topographic alluding not to a settlement but to a local landscape feature named with Middle English biden (western dialect) buden reflexes of the Old English word. Surnames with this etymology will be pronounced /'bɪdən/ or /'bi:den/ as in (1) and some bearers listed below may alternatively belong at (1).from Baydon (Wilts) or Beadon (in Hennock Devon) both possibly ‘berry hill’ from Old English beg + dūn. Alternatively the first element is the Old English female personal name Bēage (related to Old English bēag Middle English bei biʒe bye) ‘ring bracelet torque’. This would explain the 1327 surname de Bigedene in East Meon (Hants) with the not uncommon Middle English substitution of -den for -don in the Wilts place-name. The 1332 example in Lustleigh (adjacent to Hennock) clearly belongs to Beadon and the 1377 and 1381 examples of Beydon in Wilts and Surrey allude to Baydon as may do a number of examples spelled Bidon Bydon Byden etc. pronounced /'baidən/ in Modern English.for someone who lived by the hill from Middle English bi doun (Old English Middle English dūn ‘hill’) as in the 1332 Bishop's Tawton (Devon) example. 3: from Beeding (Sussex) recorded as æt Beadingum (about 880) Bedingges (1073) Beding (1327) and Byding (1330 1362) in Place-Names of Sussex. The place-name denoted ‘the people of Bēada’ from an Old English personal name + the Old English plural suffix -ingas forming folk-names. In the surname the final -ing may sometimes have been reduced to -en but some bearers listed below may belong at other senses. 4: see Beedham probably a major source of the name in the E Midlands.
Bell : 1: English (northern) and Scottish (Lowlands): from the Middle English personal name Bell. As a man's name this is from Old French beu bel ‘handsome’ which was also used as a nickname. As a female name it represents a short form of Isabel.2: English (northern) and Scottish (Lowlands): from Middle English belle ‘bell’ (Old English belle) in various applications; most probably a metonymic occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker or a topographic name for someone living ‘at the bell’ (as attested by 14th-century forms such as John atte Belle). This indicates either residence by an actual bell (e.g. a town's bell in a bell tower centrally placed to summon meetings sound the alarm etc.) or ‘at the sign of the bell’ i.e. a house or inn sign (although surnames derived from house and inn signs are rare in Scots and English).3: English: from Middle English bel ‘fair fine good’ (Old French bel ‘beautiful fair’). See also Beal 1.4: German: from Bell in Rhineland or possibly from Belle in Westphalia.5: Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in western Norway named Bell the origin of which is unexplained.6: Scandinavian: of English or German origin (see above).7: Americanized form of German Böhl or Böll (see Boehle Boll).8: American shortened and altered form of various Slavic names beginning with Bel- ‘white’ e.g. of Rusyn (from Slovakia) Belejčák a derivative of Belej (see Beley 3).9: Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.
Benefer : variant of Bedingfield.at least sometimes probably a form of Benningfield despite the explicit equation of Bennifer and Bedingfield in some Norfolk sources; note John Benyngfelde or Benyngfeld 1546 in PROB 11 (Wiggenhall Saint Mary Norfolk) - the Wiggenhalls are just south of Kings Lynn; and Thomas Benningfield 1679 in IGI (Thetford Norfolk).
Bindloss : perhaps for a wolf hunter from Middle English binden ‘bind’ + Middle English (Old French) loues ‘wolves’. Plurals are most unusual in phrasal nicknames. The more regular singular form occurs in the name of John Byndeloue 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Suffolk) for which see Bensley and is synonymous with Truslove (see Trussler). The preposition in the 1302–3 example could alternatively point to a lost place-name but it is more likely to be a scribal error. The earliest examples are from the NR Yorks and WR Yorks border (Ripon Sharow and Langthorpe are almost neighbouring settlements) and the surname persisted in NR Yorks until the late 17th century but its subsequent history belongs mainly to NW England where it first appears in the previous century.
Binsley : variant of Bindloss with metathesis of -s- and substitution of -ley for -low. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames records John Binlus alias Binsley 1655 in Inquisitiones post Mortem (Bedale NR Yorks) and William Benlowes Binslow or Billoes 1628–49 in Parish Registers (Pickhill NR Yorks). Tooth (3 p. 37) notes the currency of Bindloes and Bindloss in modern Staffs where Binnesley also occurs. Compare Bensley.the Staffs name may alternatively be a variant of Binley with an intrusive -s-.
Bithrey : from Middle English bi ther e ‘by the river’ (Old English ēa ‘river’). Compare John Bythewatre 1322 in Patent Rolls (Edwinstowe Notts) i.e. ‘by the water’.
Blant : altered pronunciation of Blunt. Compare John Blant 1610 William Blunt 1626 in IGI (Witherley Leics) and Robert Blount 1624 Elianor Blunt 1699 Ann Blant 1779 in IGI (Elford Staffs).
Boga : 1: Italian: perhaps from the personal name Bogo a variant of Bovo Bovio which may be of ancient Germanic origin or from Latin Bovius. Alternatively a nickname from boga ‘chain’.2: Romanian: from a short form of the Old Slavic personal name Bogoslov an equivalent of Greek Theologos a name meaning ‘word of God’ applied to John the Evangelist.3: Galician: habitational name from Boga in Ourense province Galicia (Spain).4: Galician: from boga (a kind of fish) hence a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman.5: Turkish (Boğa): ornamental name or nickname from boğa ‘bull’.6: West African (Ivory Coast): unexplained.7: Indian (Andhra Pradesh): unexplained.
Bogg : 1: perhaps as Redmonds suggests a reduced form of Boggis with loss of final -s. Compare John Bogays 1301 in Subsidy Rolls (Skelton NR Yorks) and Richard Bogas 1366 in York Freemen's Register. The change may have been influenced by early Modern English bog ‘blustering proud saucy’ which may be a reduction of Middle English bogeys. 2: for someone who lived ‘(by the) bog’ Middle English bog.
Brainwood : from Middle English brainwod ‘brain-mad furious’. Compare Brain (1). In the 16th and 17th centuries the name was sometimes altered to Branward Branard and Braynard and may have been confused with Branard as a metathesized variant of Barnard. Compare Margaret Bernard 1662 John Barnard 1680 Sarah Branard 1693 in IGI (Waltham Abbey Essex).
Breathwick : altered form of Braithwaite. Compare Benjamin Brathwicke 1645 Beniamin Brathwitt 1647 in IGI (Alford Lincs); Benjamin Breathwait 1716 John Brethwick 1731 Benjamin Breathwick 1820 in IGI (Sibsey Lincs).
Breeton : 1: variant of Breedon with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare William Breedon 1696 Wm. Breeton 1749 in IGI (Burton Coggles Lincs). 2: variant of Breton. Compare Alice Breton 1562 George Breeton 1605 in IGI (Long Bennington Lincs); Peter Breton 1621 John Breeton 1753 in IGI (Leadenham Lincs).
Brentley : late variant of Brenkley. Compare Robert Brantley 1758 Margaret Brankley 1791 in IGI (Aldbrough ER Yorks); Mary Ann Brenkley 1840 John Brentley 1840 in IGI (Kirkby Ravensworth NR Yorks).
Bridgart : variant of Bridgett. Compare William Bridgett 1727 John Bridgart 1732 in IGI (Derby Derbys).
Briscoe : English (northern): habitational name from any of various places so named including Briscoe in Hutton Mulgrave and Briscoe in Romaldkirk (both North Yorkshire) Brisco Rigg in Stainburn (Yorkshire) or Brisco in Saint Cuthbert Without and Briscoe in Saint John Beckermet (both Cumberland). Briscoe in Saint John Beckermet is named with Old Norse Bretaskógr ‘wood of the Britons’ (see Brett). Brisco in Cumberland and Briscoe in North Yorkshire are named with Old Norse birki ‘birch’ + skógr ‘wood’.
Broatch : 1: from Broats in Kirkpatrick-Fleming (Dumfriess). The place-name may be directly or indirectly from an English plural form of Old Norse broti ‘broken land cleared land’ . 2: from Middle English bro(u)che ‘pointed weapon or instrument; clasp brooch pin’ perhaps for one who made or sold such items. Compare Ralph Brocher 1222 in Feet of Fines (Suffolk); John Brocher Roger le Brochere 1281 in London Letter Books B. Compare William Bruchemaker 1381 in Yorks Poll Tax and William ploghbrocher 1281 in Fransson (Lincs) probably a maker of ploughshares.
Brownjohn : from Middle English broun ‘brown’ + the personal name John hence ‘Brown John’. Compare Brun Edrith (i.e. Edrich) 1255 in Hundred Rolls (Shrops) Adam Brounadam 1329 in Colchester Court Rolls.
Brownnutt : from Middle English broun brun(e) ‘brown’ + note ‘nut’ for someone who was ‘brown as a nut’. Compare Nutbrown and John Beribroun (‘brown as a berry’) 1505–6 in Feet of Fines (Warwicks).
Buckroyd : for someone who lived ‘(at the) clearing frequented by deer’ or at a place so named (Old English bucca ‘buck male deer’ + *rodu ‘clearing’).Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames citing John Butteroids Bucroyd or Bukroyds 1681–91 and Robert Butroyd or Buckroyds 1717–9 in Parish Registers (Leeds WR Yorks) suggests that Buckroyd is a late variant of Boothroyd but the 1379 form seems to support the etymology proposed above.
Bumpstead : from Helion Bumpstead and Steeple Bumpstead (Essex) which is recorded as Bunstede and Bomstede in the 12th century. The place-name may derive from Old English bune ‘reed hollow stem flax’ + stede ‘place’. There was perhaps some confusion with Benstead; compare John Bumstead 1563 John Benstead 1594 in IGI (Norton Suffolk); Anne Bumpstead 1628 William Benstead 1632 in IGI (Rattlesden Suffolk).
Buncher : from the Old French expression bonne ch(i)ere ‘good cheer’ for someone with a cheery and welcoming expression or perhaps for someone who used the expression as a greeting. Compare Anglo-Norman French ové bone chere ‘with pleasure satisfaction’ faire bone chere ‘to welcome greet gladly’ and mustrer bone chere ‘to be hospitable to make welcome’. The name is synonymous with Belcher. It may also have been confused with the name in (ii) at an early date.variant of Bunker. Compare Gualteri Bunker 1612 John Buncher 1651 John Buncker 1667 in IGI (Ashburton Devon); Judith Bunkar 1663 William Buncher 1758 in IGI (Westoning Beds).
Burian : 1: Czech and Slovak (also Burián); Hungarian (Burián); Polish and Romanian: from Burian Burián an old personal name apparently composed of bur ‘peasant’ a word of German origin (see Bauer and Bur) and the name Jan (Slovak Ján) ‘John’. In Czech the name Burian or Bur Jan denotes Saint John a Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century in Rome and is venerated together with Saint Paul. Compare German Burhans and the name below.2: North German: variant of Burhans formed with the personal name Jan ‘John’ in place of its cognate Hans.
Butwell : perhaps a rationalization of Buttle or Bowtell; compare Dianes Buttle 1598 in PROB 11 (Stanton Saint John Oxon) with the Oxon form of 1740.perhaps from Botwell in Hayes (Middx). The place-name is from Old English bōt ‘healing remedy’ + wielle or the like ‘stream spring’. A place called Botewelleslade (Leics) is mentioned in 1307 in Patent Rolls which may suggest an alternative unconfirmed origin. It is not clear that the first bearer is relevant but no other medieval instances have come to light.
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.
Campin : variant of Campion along with Campen. Compare Margaret Campion 1547 Willia. Campin 1604 in IGI (Anstey Herts); Richard Campin 1791 John Campion 1827 in IGI (Harrold Beds).
Camping : variant of Campion. Compare Mary Campion 1684 Robert Camping 1687 in IGI (Dartmouth Devon); John Campion 1729 Richard Camping 1782 in IGI (Lawshall Suffolk); Ann Campion 1757 Will Camping 1760 in IGI (Donington in Holland Lincs); Catharine Camping 1766 John Campion 1770 in IGI (Stamford Lincs).
Camplejohn : altered form of Camplion a variant of Camplin. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames suggests that this Norfolk family name migrated by the east coast sea trade to York. There an excrescent /s/ was sometimes inserted before the /i/ (i.e. *Camplesion) giving rise to pronunciations spelled Campleshon Camplechon and Camplegeon. From York the name spread into nearby villages in ER Yorks where it came to be spelled as though it ended in the given name John.
Campleman : according to Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames an altered form of Cappleman perhaps influenced by Camplin and its variant Camplejohn. Compare John Campline 1628 Richard Cappleman 1721 in IGI (Lythe NR Yorks); Robert Cappleman William Campleman 1672 in Hearth Tax (Newbegin ward Hull).
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.
Canlin : variant of Candlin with loss of -d-; compare Ellenor Candlin 1721 Sarah Canlin 1747 in IGI (Myddle Shrops); John Candlin 1757 John Canlin 1773 in IGI (Kinnerley Shrops).
Capistrano : 2: Italian (southern): possibly a nickname from capo ‘head’ (from Latin caput) + strano ‘strange’ (from Latin extraneus ) used to denote an eccentric person. Alternatively a habitational name from a place called Capestrano in L'Aquila province. This surname is rare in Italy.1: Hispanic (mainly Philippines): from a shortened form of Spanish San Juan Capistrano a personal name bestowed in honor of Saint John of Capistrano (1386–1456) a Christian saint from Capestrano in Italy.
Capistrant : French Canadian: from an altered form of the French personal name Capistran shortened from Jean de Capistran bestowed in honor of Saint John of Capistrano (see Capistrano 1). This surname is no longer found in Canada.
Cardall : 1: perhaps a variant of Caldwell via Cardwell (1). Some of the Staffs and Warwicks examples may derive from (2). 2: alternatively Cardall in Staffs Warwicks and Gloucs may be a variant of the now extinct Kyrdall (-ell -oll) and Kerdall (-oll) later spelled Curdle. Compare the spelling variation in the Gloucs examples and compare Thomas Cardall 1746 with William Curdall 1808 in IGI (Bilston Staffs) and John Cardall 1815 with William Curdle 1847 in IGI (Saint Philip's Birmingham). The etymology of this name is unknown but the variation in spelling points to an original Middle English word or name beginning in Kird- or Kerd- the latter giving rise to Card- (as in Clerk and Clark). Formally it could be a variant of the Somerset name Criddle with metathesis of -r- but there is insufficient evidence to test the hypothesis. 3: in Devon and Cornwall the name is perhaps from Cardwell in Milton Abbot (Devon). With loss of -w- Middle English Kerdewell would have developed to Kerdell and Cardell the former pronunciation giving rise to a pronunciation rhyming with the word curdle probably during the 17th century.the name is nevertheless difficult to disentangle from possible variants of other names such as those in (1) and (2) above which may have migrated to SW England from the W Midlands or further north. There is also potential for confusion between names that sound only partly alike. According to the IGI in 18th- and 19th-century Stoke Damerel Devon Cardell co-existed with Cadwell Colwell and Caudle and in 18th-century Camborne Cornwall it coincided with Cadwell and Cordwell.
Cardus : see Carruthers. The existence of Mary Caradus 1706 in IGI (Kendal Westm) and John Cardus 1717 in IGI (Grasmere Westm) supports the connection.
Carnegie : Scottish (Angus and Kincardineshire): habitational name from a place called Carnegie near Carmyllie in Angus probably named in Gaelic as cathair an eige ‘fort at the gap’. The Carnegie family were descended from John of Balinhard who seems to have acquired the estate of Carnegie in the mid 14th century. The Carnegies were Earls of Southesk from 1633 to 1716.
Carwood : probably a variant of Carrod reinterpreted as a place-name; compare John Carrod 1756 in IGI (Watlington Oxon) with the 1750 bearer below. Compare also Garwood.
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.
Charrett : late variant of Cherrett or Cherritt variants of Cheesewright. Compare John Cherrett 1786 John Charrett 1786 in IGI (Chichester Sussex); Ann Cherrett 1823 Ann Charrett 1824 in IGI (Christchurch Hants).
Chassels : apparently an altered form of Cassells; compare Mary Cassells 1731 Janet Cassels 1764 John Chassels 1770 in IGI (Carnwath Lanarks); Janet Cassels 1767 Janet Chassels 1797 in IGI (Lesmahagow Lanarks).
Chate : perhaps a variant of Chatt. Note that Catt is strongly present in east Sussex. If so the original short vowel has been lengthened perhaps through the influence of Old French chate ‘she-cat’. This would be a nickname but Johannes Chete 1379 in Poll Tax (Steyning and Bramber boroughs Sussex) occurs in the same part of Sussex as Chate and Chate and Chete with lengthening of the vowel could both derive from a Middle English personal name *Chat(te) or *Chet(te) (Old English C(e)atta) an alternative source of Catt and Chatt. Although there is no direct evidence of Chate as a variant of Chatt in Sussex it does occur in NE England. See Chatt and compare John Chate 1674 Jane Chatt 1746 in IGI (Whickham Durham); Nicholas Chate 1792 John Chatt 1793 in IGI (Allendale Northumb).
Chattington : apparently a late variant of Chatterton; compare John Chatterton 1812 in IGI (Chislehurst Kent) with the 1822 bearer below.
Cheeseworth : probably a variant of Chesworth concentrated in Devon and Cornwall due to migration. Compare John Chesworth William Cheesworth 1838 in IGI (Wolstanton Staffs).
Churchyard : for someone who lived by or looked after a churchyard from Middle English chirche- cherche- churche-yerd or -(y)ard (Old English *ciric- *cyric-geard). In a deed of 1408-9 (Birmingham Archives) the Dean and the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Lichfield granted to John Chircheyerd of Arley a seventy-year lease of a plot of land called Le Chyrcheyerd opposite the cemetery of the parish church of Upper Arley Worcs.
Cinnamond : as Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames shows this is an altered form of Seliman (see Selman) through l/n substitution and false association with the word cinnamon. Redmonds draws his evidence from the parish registers of Beverley (ER Yorks): John Synamon alias Silliman 1622; and from the parish registers of Leeds (WR Yorks): Bryan Selyman (1539) John Siliman (1615) and Francis Silleman (1684) the last of whom is also named Sinemond on his tombstone and Cinamon when his will was registered in 1684. Redmonds also notes that in the parish registers of Mirfield (WR Yorks) it was confused with Simonet (see Simmonite): Joshua Synamond Simonet or Simolet (1649–82).
Cleife : variant of Cliff. Compare Edward Cleve 1588 John Cliffe 1595 John Cleife 1600 in IGI (Paignton Devon); Ann Cliffe 1770 Thomas Clife 1806 Thomas Cleife 1807 in IGI (Alverstoke Hants).
Clenshaw : of uncertain origin but perhaps a development of the French surname Clinchant itself a variant of Clinchamp from any of various places so named. Compare Susanne Clinchant 1702 in IGI (Westminster Middx); John Clinshaw 1783 in IGI (Shoreditch Middx).
Climaco : Spanish (Clímaco) and Italian (southern): from the Spanish and Italian name of Saint John Climacus a Christian monk of Mount Sinai in the 6th century from Greek klimax ‘ladder’. The surname of Spanish origin is most common in the Philippines Mexico and El Salvador.
Closier : variant of Glozier with devoicing of the initial consonant. See John Glosser alias Closier 1716 in PROB 11 (Wapping Middx).
Combey : 1: see Combie and McCombie. 2: probably a variant of Comber or Coomber in which final -er has been reduced to -e and and raised to -y. Compare William Comber 1613 William Combee 1616 in IGI (Claines Worcs) and John Comber 1681 Thomas Cumby 1731 in IGI (Highley Shrops).alternatively a variant of Coombe with similar raising of final -e to -y. Pronunciation of Middle English -e was generally lost before the end of the medieval period but was sometimes retained in SW dialect.
Comper : from Middle English compair ‘companion associate comrade’(from Old French compere ‘godfather associate friend’).in Sussex it appears also to be a derivative in -er of the place-name element comp ‘field’ associated with traces of Roman activity; note John Comper of Wartling (undated) who appears to have been of the same family as Richard atte Comp 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Sussex) of the same parish and a similar pairing occurs at Findon.
Complin : variant of Camplin. Compare John Camplin 1740 Ann Complin 1751 in IGI (Beverley ER Yorks).
Comport : variant of Comfort with an intrusive -p- as in John Compforte 1627 in PROB 11 (East Grinstead Sussex) and with subsequent loss of -f- as illustrated by Richard Comfort alias Comport 1628 in PROB 11 (Whitechapel Middx).
Congram : of uncertain origin; apparently an altered form of Congham which occurs earlier than Congram in the same area of N Devon. Congham can be derived from the Norfolk place of that name; compare John Congham 1603 in IGI (Wells next the Sea Norfolk). But the migration of that name to 18th-century Devon is speculative. Alternatively Congham may be a reduced form of the Scottish name Cunningham; several men with this name appear in the 1674 Hearth Tax in Tavistock Okehampton Broadhembury and Whitchurch. The 1544 and 1590 forms cited below may not belong here.
Connie : English and Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name perhaps from Coigny in Manche France. Weston Coyney in Staffordshire takes its manorial affix from the family of John Koyne (1242). However the name may have had an alternative form Coyne which is attested in the neigbouring village of Caverswall from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Compare Coyne 4.
Coopey : variant of Cooper; note John Coopy or Cooper 1626 in PROB 11.
Courtley : variant of Courtney; see John Courtney als Courtley 1682 in London Met Archives.
Coyne : 1: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cadhain ‘descendant of Cadhan’ a byname from cadhan ‘barnacle goose’.2: Irish: Anglicized form of Ó Comhgháin ‘descendant of Comghán’ a Connacht name usually Anglicized as Coen.3: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cuáin ‘descendant of Cuán’ a byname from a diminutive of cú ‘hound dog’.4: English (of Norman origin): perhaps a variant of Connie a habitational name associated with Weston Coyney in Staffordshire whose manorial affix is taken from the family of John Koyne or Coyne (1242) and also with the adjacent village of Caverswall. Coyne might otherwise derive from Coingt in Aisne France recorded as Cuin in 1160.5: English: possibly from Middle English coyn coigne Anglo-Norman French coign coigne ‘wedge die for stamping money’ a word which later came to mean ‘piece of money’ and may have been used as a metonymic occupational name to denote a moneyer.6: English (of French Huguenot origin): altered form of French Coin.7: French: nickname from Middle French coine ‘bacon rind’ denoting someone with rough skin compared to the rind of the pig.
Coyney : perhaps from Coigny in Manche. Weston Coyney (Staffs) takes its manorial affix from the family of John Koyne (1242). Presumably the final -e of Koyne represents French -é usually written -y or -ey in English. However the name may have had an alternative form Coyne which is attested in the neigbouring village of Caverswall from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Coyney occurs in Weston until the late 16th century re-appearing in Caverswall in the late 18th century and in Weston in the early 1800s.
Craigen : Scottish (Aberdeenshire and Banffshire): variant of Craigie. Black records that in 1272 the church of Cragyn in Kyle ‘was confirmed to the monks of Paisley by Thomas de Cragyn son and heir of John Hose who had assumed his surname from his lands’.
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.
Cranch : of uncertain origin; perhaps from a name of the form Old English cran + wīc ‘crane farm’ for an unidentified place. John de Cranewis 1380 in Patent Rolls is however associated with Norfolk and the similar but etymologically distinct Cranage is a Cheshire name.
Cranford : English: habitational name from any of several places called Cranford for example in the counties of Devon Middlesex Essex and Northamptonshire (Cranford Saint Andrew and Cranford Saint John) named with Old English cran ‘crane’ + ford ‘ford’.
Craxford : probably a variant of Croxford. Compare John Croxford 1733 John Craxford 1757 in IGI (Gretton Northants).
Creen : variant of Kneen with -r- for -n-. Compare John Kneen or cruyn 1797 in Kneen.
Creet : 1: perhaps a variant of Crate of which Craft is another both of them dialect forms of Croft. With the 1562 bearer below compare Willm Craft 1652 and William Croft 1731 in IGI (Spalding Lincs).alternatively a variant of Creed with devoicing of the final consonant. Compare Antony Creed 1687 in IGI (Stepney Middx) and John Creed 1859 in IGI (Aldershot Hants) with the 1852 example below. 2: of French though unexplained origin.
Crickard : reduced form of McCrickard. Joannes (i.e. John) Crickard and Anna (i.e. Ann) Gartlan are identical with Joannes McCrickard and Anna McGartlan in the 1860s registers of Saint Wilfred's in Bishop Auckland.
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).
Crisostomo : Spanish (Crisóstomo) and Italian: from a personal name derived from Greek Chrysostomos literally ‘golden-mouthed’. This was the nickname of Saint John Chrysostom (4th century AD) a prominent theologian and one of the four Fathers of the Eastern Church.
Crookenden : of uncertain origin but perhaps a variant of Cruttenden. Compare Josias Cruttenden 1595 John Cruckenden 1634 John Cruttenden 1637 in IGI (Sutton Valence Kent).
Croose : 1: from Middle English crous(e) crus ‘bold fierce spirited’. The pronunciation of the name regularly developed from /kru:s/ or /kru:zə/ to /kraus/ or /krauz/ in Modern English spelled Crouse and Crowse but the process of phonetic change may sometimes have been incomplete or absent giving rise to variants spelled Crose Croose and Cruse and thus to confusion between this name and that in (2). Some bearers may alternatively belong at (2) including John le Crus (1332). 2: see Cruse.
Crowfoot : apparently meaning ‘crow foot’ although Middle English croue(s)fot was also a name for the buttercup. Compare John Hennefot (‘hen foot’) 1306 in Inquisitiones post Mortem (Gloucs); John Cayfot (‘jackdaw foot’) 1275 in Subsidy Rolls (Worcs); Roger Pefot (‘peacock foot’) 1202 in Pleas (Cambs). Absence of medieval evidence for the surname is a difficulty and an alternative explanation as an altered form of another name such as Crawford may need to be found. Compare Barth'o de Crofford 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Aldborough Suffolk) but the origin of this name is unknown.
Crussell : perhaps a variant of Crosswell. Compare Hanna Croswell 1731 John Cruswell 1793 in IGI (Sudbury Suffolk).
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).
Cullabine : see Columbine. The variation is explicit in John Cullabine 1750 John Columbine 1771 Elizabeth Cullobine 1775 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks). Elsewhere John Cullabine 1636 in IGI (Ebony Kent) is identical with John Columbine 1646 in IGI (Stone in Oxney Kent); the parishes are adjacent.
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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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