Origin
ABERCROMBIE : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Local. The name of a parish in Fife, Scotland, on the northern shore of the Frith of Forth, whence the possessor took his surname; from Aber, marshy ground, a place where two or more streams meet; and cruvme or crombie, a bend or crook. Aber, in the Celtic and Gaelic, and also in the Cornish British, signifies the confluence of two or more streams, or the mouth of a river, where it flows into the sea; hence it is often applied to marshy ground, generally near the confluence of two rivers. It also signifies, sometimes, a gulf or whirlpool.
ABERNETHY : (Gaelic and Celtic.) Local. From a town in Strathern, Scotland, on the river Tay; derived from Aber, as given above, and nethy, in the Gaelic, dangerous. Nith or Nithy, is also the name of a river in the south of Scotland, and the name may have been taken from a town at or near its mouth Abernithy.
ADAIR : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Local. From Ath, a ford, and dare, from darach, the place of oaks, The ford of the oaks.'' There is the following tradition of the origin of this surname: Thomas, the sixth Earl of Desmond, while on a hunting excursion was benighted, and lost his way, between Tralee and Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, where he was received and hospitably entertained by one William McCormic, whose daughter he subsequently married. At this alliance, the family and clan took umbrage. Resigning his title and estate to his youngest brother, he fled to France in 1418, and died of grief at Rouen, two years afterward. The King of England attended his funeral. He had issue, Maurice and John; Robert, the son of Maurice, returning to Ireland, with the hope of regaining the estates and title of Thomas, his ancestor, slew Gerald, the White Knight in single combat at Athdare, the ford of the oaks, whence he received the name of Adaire. He embarked for Scotland, where he married Arabella, daughter of John Campbell, Lord of Argyle.
AINSWORTH : (British and Welsh.) Local. From ains, a spring, a river, and gwerth, a place, possession, or court. In the British and Gaelic, Aun, Ain, Au, Hain, Aon, and Avon, signify a river; the place or possession on the river.
ANNESLEY : Local. From a town in Nottinghamshire, England, and named, perhaps, from Anclo, a city in Norway, by the free-booters or conquerors of Briton. Annansley, the lea, lying on the Annon.
ARDAL : (Celtic.) Bravery or prowess. Ardol, local, Welsh, from or, upon, and dol or dal, a vale, on the vale, or a place opposite the dale.
ARDGALL : (Celtic.) Bravery or prowess. Ardol, local, Welsh, from or, upon, and dol or dal, a vale, on the vale, or a place opposite the dale.
ARGYLE : (Gaelic.) An extensive shire on the western coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic Earra Ghaidheal, that is, the country of the western Gael, or, according to Grant, the breeding-place of the Gael.
ARMSTRONG : A name given for strength in battle. Historians relate the following tradition: This family was anciently settled on the Scottish border; their original name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Armstrong on the following occasion: An ancient king of Scotland having had his horse killed under him in battle, was immediately re-mounted by Fairbairn, his armor-bearer, on his own horse. For this timely assistance he amply rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well as the manner in which it was performed (for Fairbairn took the king by the thigh, and set him on the saddle), his royal master gave him the appellation of Armstrong. The chief seat of Johnnie Armstrong was Gilnockie, in Eskdale, a place of exquisite beauty. Johnnie was executed by order of James V., in 1529, as a Border Freebooter. Andrew Armstrong sold his patrimony to one of his kinsmen, and emigrated to the north of Ireland in the commencement of the seventeenth century. The Armstrongs were always noted for their courage and daring. In the Lay of the Last Minstrel, when the chief was about to assemble his clans, he says to his heralds: Ye need not go to Liddisdale, For whon they see the blazing bale, Elliots and Armstrongs never fail
ARUNDEL : Local. From a town in Sussex, England, on the river Arun; a corruption of Arundale the dale on the Arun.
ASHBURTON : Local. From a town of the same name in Devonshire, England. Burton signifies the town on the hill, and Ashburton the town on the hill covered or surrounded with ash trees. Ash may be, in some cases, a corruption of the Gaelic or Celtic uisge, water.
ASHBY : (Sax.) Local. The house by the ash, or the village on a place abounding in ash-trees; by signifying a villa or habitation.
ASHFORD : (Sax.) Local. A town in Kent, England, on the river Ash or Esh the ford over the Ash.
ASKEW : (Sax.) Local. Acksheugh, billy lands covered with oaks. Aschau, local, a town on the bend of a river in Sleswick, Denmark. Askew crooked, from the Danish.
AYRES : Local. Derived from a river, town, and district of the same name in Scotland. Air, Gaelic. Derivation uncertain. It may come from Iar, west the course in which the river runs; or Air, slaughter, the place of battle. The Celtic Aer, and the Welsh Awyr, signify, radically, to open, expand or flow clearly; to shoot or radiate. In Thorpe's catalogue of the deeds of Battle Abbey, we find the following legendary account of this name: Ayres, formerly Eyre. The first of this family was named Truelove, one of the followers of William the Conqueror. At the battle of Hastings, Duke William was flung from his horse, and his helmet beaten into his face, which Truelove observing, pulled off, and horsed him again. The duke told him 'Thou shalt hereafter from Truelove be called Eyre (or Air), because thou hast given me the air I breathe.' After the battle, the Duke, on inquiry respecting him, found him severely wounded (his leg and thigh having been struck off); he ordered him the utmost care, and on his recovery, gave him lands in Derby, in reward for his services, and the leg and thigh in armor, cut off, for his crest; an honorary badge yet worn by all the Eyres in England.
BALFOUR : Local. From the barony and castle of Balfour, near the confluence of the rivers Or and Leven. (Scot.) Ball and Balla, in Gaelic, signifies a casting up, raising, and denotes a wall, fortress, house, a village. Balfour, i. e., the Keep, or castle on the river Or. Balfoir the castle of deliverance or security.
BALLANTYNE : Local. A place of ancient pagan worship among the Celts, whose principal deity was Belen or Baal, the sun. To the honor of this deity, the Celts lighted fires on the 1st of May and Midsummer day. Baalantine signifies the fire of Baal, from Baalen and teine, Gaelic, fire.
BEACHER : A dweller on the beach or bay.
BEAUMONT : (Nor. Fr.) De Beaumont; a city in France, on the river Sarte, in the province of Mayne; the fair mount. De Bello Monte.
BECKMAN : A dweller by a brook or stream, or on a bec, or neck of land.
BEVERIDGE : Local. From a town in the county of Dorset, England. Bever is probably a contraction of Belvoir (Fr.), that is, fine prospect; and ridge, the back or top of a hill. A town located on a hill.
BLISS : In English, is a very happy name, imposed by others on the individual Blys, in the Welsh, signifies desiring, longing.
BODLEY : (Cor. Br.) Local. The house on the lea; from Bod, a house, and ley.
BOGUE : Local. From the residence being near a bog, or from the Saxom boga, a bend, a bow, a corner; a town in France; the name appears on ancient coins in Sussex, England.
BONNAL : (Cor. Br.) Local. The house on the cliff.
BRAINE : Local. A small town and abbey on the river Vesle, in France. Brain, Gaelic, a chieftain; a naval commander; a captain of a ship.
BRADFORD : Local. A town on the Avon, in Wiltshire, England, whence the surname is derived, and which signifies the broad ford, there being at that place a ford across the Avon.
BRAMHALL : A place where goods are sold; bram, Danish, goods on sale.
BRANDRETH : Bailey defines this name the curb of a well, but I think the name is local, and may be derived aa follows: Bran, both Welsh and Gaelic, signifies a swift river, and dreth, the sandy shore or strand. Brandreth may also mean the sandy shore frequented by wild-fowl, from Bran, a crow, and dreth, as above. Brwyndreth, in Welsh, denotes the shore abounding with rushes, from brwyn, rushes, and treth, the shore. I prefer, however, to use Bran in the sense of dark, black, and then we have the dark shore, or water, or a place on the shore of the river Bran.
BRIAN : (Gaelic.) The nobly descended, from Bri, dignity, honor, and on, diminutive of that to which it is annexed, belonging to it; Gaelic, gin or gen, begotten. Bri, Welsh, honor; briadd, honorary. Bailey derives Brian from Bruiant, French, clamorous. Brian, in the Gaelic, also implies one who is fair-spoken, wordy, specious.
BRION : (Gaelic.) The nobly descended, from Bri, dignity, honor, and on, diminutive of that to which it is annexed, belonging to it; Gaelic, gin or gen, begotten. Bri, Welsh, honor; briadd, honorary. Bailey derives Brian from Bruiant, French, clamorous. Brian, in the Gaelic, also implies one who is fair-spoken, wordy, specious.
BRIERLY : Local. The briar-lee ; French, bruyere, shrubs growing on commons and heaths.
BRICK : A corruption of Breck (which see). We cut the following, on this name, from a newspaper: A certain college-professor, who had assembled his class at the commencement of the term, was reading over the list of names to see that all were present. It chanced that one of the number was unknown to the professor, having just entered the class. What is your name, sir? asked the professor, looking through his spectacles. You are a brick, was the startling reply. Sir, said the professor, half starting out of his chair at the supposed impertinence, but not quite sure that he understood him correctly, sir, I did not exactly understand your answer. You are a brick, was again the composed reply. This is intolerable, said the professor, his face reddening; beware, young man, how you attempt to insult me. Insult you ! said the student, in turn astonished. How have I done it? Did you not say I was a brick? returned the professor, with stifled indignation. No, sir; you asked me my name, and I answered your question. My name is U. R. A. Brick Uriah Reynolds Anderson Brick. Ah, indeed, murmured the professor, sinking back into his seat in confusion it was a misconception on my part. Will you commence the lesson, Mr. Brick ?
BRIGHTON : Local. A town on the coast of Sussex, England, anciently called Brightelmstone, from Brithelm, i. e., bright helmet, who was bishop of Bath and Wells, about the year 955. The bright town.
BROUGHAM : Local. Originally Burgham. The village on a hill; a borough town. The name of a place in England.
BROUGHTON : Local. A town on the hill; a village in Flintshire, England.
BUDDINGTON : Local. The flourishing town, or Boddington, the dwelling town. Buttington, a place on the Severn, England, which may indicate the town on the limit, boundary, or extremity.
BURBY : (Saxon) The house or village on the hill; from Bur, a hill, and by, a house or village.
BURGOS : Local. A city of Spain, in Old Castile, situated beside a hill, on the river Arlanzon.
BURNHAM : Local. Derived from Burnham, a town in Norfolk, also in Essex, England; in the old English, Bourn or Burn, signifies a river, and ham, a village or town the village by the river. Bourn, burn, and bern, in the Cornish-British, is a hill, a heap; and Burnham, the house or town on the rising ground.
BURTON : Local. A town in Leicestershire, England. The name signifies either the town on the hill, or, as Bailey says, the Bur-town, from the abundance of burs growing thereabouts. There are several places by this name in England.
BUTLER : This family derive their origin from the old Counts of Briony or Biony, in Normandy, a descendant of whom, Herveius Fitz Walter, accompanied the Conqueror into England. His son, Theobold, went with Henry II into Ireland, where, having greatly assisted in the reduction of the kingdom, he was rewarded with large possessions there, and made it the place of his residence. The king afterward conferred on him the office of chief Butler of Ireland, whence his descendants, the Earls of Ormond and others, took the surname of De Boteler or Butler.
CALDERWOOD : Local. The wood on the river Calder.
CALDICOTT : Local. (Welsh.) Col-dow-cwtt, Colcoit, the neck of the wood. O'Connor derives Caldecott from Cald-i-scot, the inclosure of the Scot; a locality hemmed in by Glamorgan, the Wye, and high lands on the north. A village in Hertfordshire, England.
COLDICOT : Local. (Welsh.) Col-dow-cwtt, Colcoit, the neck of the wood. O'Connor derives Caldecott from Cald-i-scot, the inclosure of the Scot; a locality hemmed in by Glamorgan, the Wye, and high lands on the north. A village in Hertfordshire, England.
CALDECOTE : Local. (Welsh.) Col-dow-cwtt, Colcoit, the neck of the wood. O'Connor derives Caldecott from Cald-i-scot, the inclosure of the Scot; a locality hemmed in by Glamorgan, the Wye, and high lands on the north. A village in Hertfordshire, England.
CAMPBELL : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Wry-mouth, the man whose mouth inclined a little on one side; from cam, crooked, distorted, and beul, the mouth. This ancient family may be traced as far back as the beginning of the fifth century, and is said to have been possessed of Lochore, in Argyleshire, as early as the time of Fergus II. Sir Colin Campbell, of Lochore, flourished toward the end of the thirteenth century, and was called Sir Colin More, or Colin the Great. His descendants were called by the Irish Mc Callen, that is, the descendants of Colin.
CHATHAM : Local. From a town in Kent, England, on the Medway, so named from the Saxon cyte, a cottage, and ham, a village, signifying the village of cottages. A paragraph to the following effect went the round of the papers not many years since: Two attorneys in partnership had the name of the firm, Catcham and Chetum, inscribed, in the usual manner, upon their office-door; but as the singularity and ominous juxta-position of the words led to many a coarse joke from passers-by, the men of law attempted to destroy, in part, the effect of the odd association, by the insertion of the initials of their Christian names, which happened to be Isaiah and Uriah; but this made the affair ten times worse, for the inscription then ran: I. Catchman and U. Chetum !”
CHETHAM : Local. From a town in Kent, England, on the Medway, so named from the Saxon cyte, a cottage, and ham, a village, signifying the village of cottages. A paragraph to the following effect went the round of the papers not many years since: Two attorneys in partnership had the name of the firm, Catcham and Chetum, inscribed, in the usual manner, upon their office-door; but as the singularity and ominous juxta-position of the words led to many a coarse joke from passers-by, the men of law attempted to destroy, in part, the effect of the odd association, by the insertion of the initials of their Christian names, which happened to be Isaiah and Uriah; but this made the affair ten times worse, for the inscription then ran: I. Catchman and U. Chetum !”
CHESEBROUGH : Local. The cheese-borough or town. Chessbro, the hill or town on the river Chess.
CHESTER : Local. From the city of Chester, the capital of Cheshire, England, founded by the Romans. The name is derived from the Latin Castrum; Saxon, ceaster, a fortified place, a city, a castle or camp, it being a Roman station where the twentieth legion was quartered. The Roman stations in England were generally so called, being sometimes varied in dialect to Chester, Chaster, or Caster, the termination of many English towns, as Colchester, the camp on the river Coin; Doncaster, on the Don; Lancaster, on the Lon or Lune, etc.
CHITTENDEN : (Cor. Br. and Welsh.) The lower house on the rising or fortified ground; from Chy-tane-din Chy, a house, tane, lower, and din or dun, a hill.
CLAY : Local. A town of France in Seine. A lake on the isle of Lewis, Scotland. Clee, hills in Wales. Oh, left-handed, a place lying to the left, in relation to another place. Cledh, cloid, and cladd, in the Gaelic, Welsh, and British, signify a ditch, a trench, a wall; cladh, a church-yard; cledd, Welsh, a sword; Gaelic, claiheamb, from which we have Cloymore, a large sword. The same word in Welsh and Gaelic that signifies a river is often applied to a sword, from their resemblance in glittering brightness.
CLEAVER : English, one who cleaves; a dweller on a cleave or cliff.
CLIFTON : Local. A small village in England; the town on the cliff.
COFFIN : Local. Cyffin, in Welsh, signifies a boundary, a limit, a hill; cefyn, the ridge of a hill. This name has its origin from Co, high, exalted, and fin, a head, extremity, boundary. This family settled early in this country, on the sland of Nantucket, near Cape God, where the name is very common. The following humorous lines, descriptive of the characteristics of the different families residing on that island, were written by one Daniel Allen, a native of the island, more than a hundred years ago: The hasty Coffin, fractious, loud, The silent Gardiner, plotting, The Mitchells good, the Barkers proud, The Macys eat the pudding; The Rays and Russels coopers are, The knowing Folger lazy, A learned Coleman very rare, And scarce an honest Hussey
COLBURN : (Cor. Br.) The dry well, or the well on the neck of the hill.
COLLEY : Local. Coll-lle, in Welsh, denotes the place of hazel; Cill-lle, the place on the back or neck of the hill; from cil or col, the back or neck. Coille, Gaelic, a wood.
COLWELL : The village on the neck of the hill, or near the hazel-wood; Col, Gaelic, hazel; and ville, a village, changed into well. Coldwell denotes the quality of the water, a cold spring; Colwold, the hazel-wild, or bushy place of hazels.
COMEYN : From Cominges, a town in France, anciently called Lugdunum Convenarum, situated on a hill near the banks of the river Garonne, so named because people of diverse countries assembled together to dwell in that place. Comeyne or De Cominges went into England with William the Conqueror.
DE COMINGES : From Cominges, a town in France, anciently called Lugdunum Convenarum, situated on a hill near the banks of the river Garonne, so named because people of diverse countries assembled together to dwell in that place. Comeyne or De Cominges went into England with William the Conqueror.
COOPER : A name of occupation or trade. The name is also local, from Cupar, a town in Fifeshire, Scotland, which is derived from Cu-pyre, the inclosed fire, or Co, high, a beacon fire, or signal on the coast for ships. Pyre, a beacon fire, on a high place, is the origin of the word pier, a wharf or landing-place for ships; Danish, pyr and fyr, a lantern; the whole landing-place in time was called the pier.
COOTE : Local. Welsh, Coed, a wood; Cor. Br., Coit and Cut. Coot-hill or Coit-hayle, the wood on the river.
CORMAC : (Celtic.) The son of the chariot; first given, it is said, to a prince of Leinster who happened to be born in a chariot, while his mother was going on a journey.
COTESWORTH : Local. The estate or place in the wood; from coit, a wood, and worth, a place or possession. If from the French cote, the sea-shore, the estate on the shore.
COURTENAY : Local. A town of France which stands on a hill on the banks of the small river Clairy, about fifty-six miles south of Paris. This small town has imparted its name to several princes, whose actions are celebrated in French history. The name signifies The court near the water.
CRAYFORD : Local. A town on the river Cray, in Kent, England. The ford over the Cray.
CRITTENDEN : (Cor. Br. and Welsh.) Local. The cot on the lower hill; from cru, a cot; tarn, lower, and dun or din, a hill; or it may be the chalk hill, from krit, Saxon, chalk.
CROMWELL : (Br.) Local. From crom, crooked, and hal or hayle, low, level land bordering on the river or sea. Lowlands on the bend of a river.
CROSIER : A bishop's staff, with a cross on the top in the form of a crutch or T. A sign over a shop.
DALRYMPLE : Local. Taken from the lands and barony of Dalrymple, in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is said to be a corruption of ihe Gaelic Dale-roi-milleadh, which signifies the valley of the slaughter of kings, and the place was so called from a battle fought there before the Christian era, in which two kings, Fergus and Coilus, were slain. According to others, it signifies the valley of the crooked pool. I think the name signifies the valley on the margin of the pool, from the Welsh Dol, a valley; rhim, the edge or border, and pwll, a pool It is very nearly the same in Gaelic; Dail, a vale, troimh, by, along the whole extent, and poll, a small lake.
DEWSBURY : Local. A town on the river Calder, England.
DEXTER : A contraction of De Exeter, from the city of Exeter, in Devonshire, England; anciently written Excester, from Exe, the name of the river on which it is situated, and cester, a camp or town for the derivation of which see Chester.
DIBDIN : (Welsh.) Local. From Dib, a slope, sloping ground, and din, a fortified hill the fortress on the slope of thehill.
DRYDEN : From the Welsh Drwydun, broken nose. According to Evans, Jonreth, surnamed Drwydun, the father of Llywelyn, was the eldest son of Owain Groynedd, but was not suffered to enjoy his right on account of that blemish.
DUMFRIES : Local. A town in Scotland on the river Nith, and said to be so called from the Gaelic Dun, a castle, and Dutch vrows, women the castle or retreat of the women, a nunnery. I think rather it is derived from Dunfriih, the castle in the forest; Gaelic, Dun, a castle, and frith, a deer-forest
DUNBAR : Local. From the town of Dunbar, at the mouth of the Frith of Forth, Scotland. Dunabar, Gaelic, signifies the castle, town, or fort on the height or summit. The town was so called from its situation on the rock which at this place projects into the sea.
EAGER : Sharp-set, vehement, earnest The name may be local, from the river Eger, in Bohemia, or Egra, a city on the river Eger.
EGGLESTON : (Welsh or Br.) From Egles, a church, and turn or dun, a hill the church on the hill.
ELPHINSTONE : Local. From the lands and barony of Elphinstone, in Scotland, and derived from the Anglo-Saxon Elfenne, a fairy or spirit, attd sfone. These elfenne or elf-stones are a peculiar hard flint, and in the olden times were supposed to be shot by the fairies or elfe. The place is so named from this kind of stone being found on the land.
EYTINGE : (Saxon) Local. From Ey, Saxon, ig, an island, a watery place, and ing, a meadow the meadow on the island or near the water.
FAGG : (Saxon) Fag, variable or many colored; may be bestowed'on the first possessor from his variable disposition. Fag, a laborious drudge.
FAIRHOLM : Local. The fair island, or fair lands bordering on water; also, where a fair or market is held.
FERGUS : (Gaelic and Celtic.) A fierce or brave chieftain, from Fear, man, and guth, a voice or word, that is, the man of the word, a commander of an army. Some suppose the first Fergus was so named from Fairghe, the sea, on account of his large navy; others, from his raging like the sea in battle. Feargach, fiery.
GARDINER : This name may be derived from the same roots as Gairden. It is probably, however, the same as Gardener, the orthography having been changed. Camden says, Wise was the man that told my Lord Bishop (Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester) that his name was not Gardener as the English pronounce it, but Gardiner, with the French accent, and therefore a gentleman. The principal family of the Gardiners in this country derive their descent from Lion Gardiner, a native of Scotland, who served under General Fairfax in the Low Countries as an engineer. He was sent to this country in 1635, by Lords Say and Sele, Brooke, and others, to build a fort, and make a settlement on their grant at the mouth of the Connecticut river. He built the fort at Saybrook, which name he gave to it after the names of his patrons Lords Say and Brooke. His eldest son, David, born at Fort Saybrook, in 1636, was the first white child born in Connecticut He afterward bought from the Indians the island in Long Island Sound, called by them Monchonack, and by the English the Isle of Wight, paying for it. as the old records say, a black dog, a gun, and some Dutch blankets. He removed there with his family, and gave it the name of Gardiner's Island. The island still remains in the possession of the family, having descended in a direct line from Lion Gardiner.
GIFFORD : (Sax.) Liberal disposition; the giver. The name is also local, a town on the water of Clifford, Haddington Co., Scotland, from Gaf, Celtic, a hook, a bend, and ford.
GIFFARD : (Sax.) Liberal disposition; the giver. The name is also local, a town on the water of Clifford, Haddington Co., Scotland, from Gaf, Celtic, a hook, a bend, and ford.
GILROY : Gile-roimh, a running footman attendant on a Highland chieftain; from gille, a servant, and roimh, before, in respect of situation or place; or Gille-righ, the servant of the king.
GLANVlLLE : Local. A house or castle on the shore of a river or the sea; Welsh, glan, a shore, bank of a river; old French or Gaelic, the same; as Glandeve, in France, on the banks of the Var. Glan or glen signifies also a narrow valley or dell.
GODENOT : (Fr.) A Jack in the box,” a puppet, a little ugly man. The name may be local, and come from Gudenaw, a town on the Lower Rhine, Germany.
GODENO : (Fr.) A Jack in the box,” a puppet, a little ugly man. The name may be local, and come from Gudenaw, a town on the Lower Rhine, Germany.
GRANVILLE : Local. (Fr.) A town in France on the English channel, Grande-ville the great town or city. De Grandville.
GRAY : Local. A town in Burgundy, France, on the banks of the Saone. Rollo, Chamberlain to Robert, Duke of Normandy, received from him the castle and honor of Croy, in Picardy, whence his family assumed the name of De Croy, afterward changed into De Gray.
GRIMSBY : Local. A borough in Lincolnshire, England, on the Humber, so named from the appearance of the place or the character of the people. Grim, Saxon, fierce, rough, ugly, and by, a town or the village or town of Grimm, the owner or founder.
GUELPH : A wolf; the surname of the present Royal Family of England. We have the following amusing tradition of the origin of the royal house of Guelph: It is told in the chronicles that as far back as the days of Charlemagne, one Count Isenbrand, who resided near the Lake of Constance, met an old woman who had given birth to three children at once, a circumstance which appeared to him so portentous and unnatural that he assailed her with a torrent of abuse. Stung to fury by his insults, she cursed the Count, and wished that his wife, then enciente, might bring at a birth as many children as there are months in the year. The imprecation was fulfilled, and the countess became the mother of a dozen babes at once. Dreading the vengeance of her severe lord, she bade her maid go drown eleven of the twelve. But whom should the girl meet while on this horrible errand but the Count himself, who, suspecting that all was not right, demanded to know the contents of the basket. 'Welfen,' was the intrepid reply (i e., the old German term for puppies or young wolves). Dissatisfied with this explanation, the Count lifted up the cloth, and found under it eleven bonny infants nestled together. Their unblemished forms reconciled the sorupulous knight, and he resolved to recognize them as his lawful progeny. Thenceforward, their children and their descendants went by the name of Guelph or Welf
HAINSWORTH : (Anglo-Saxon) Local. The farm or place in the forest or grove, from home, German and Saxon, a wood, and worth, a place inclosed, cultivated. British and Welsh, the estate on the river.
HAYNSWORTH : (Anglo-Saxon) Local. The farm or place in the forest or grove, from home, German and Saxon, a wood, and worth, a place inclosed, cultivated. British and Welsh, the estate on the river.
HALLAM : From Hall, Welsh, salt, and ham, a house or village, from its manufacture in that place, or being situated near the salt water. It may be derived from Hal or Hayle, a moor, and ham, the house on the moor. Halham, the house on the hill, from Hal, Cornish British, a hill.
HALSEY : Local. From Hals, and ey or ig, Saxon, an island, water, the sea; the neck on the water, or running into the sea. The island neck.
HAMLIN : Local. A corruption of Hammeline, which was taken from Hamelen, a town on the river Weser, Germany. Hamelin, a town in Scotland, so called from Ham, a house or village, and lin, a waterfall, a small lake or pond.
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