Origin
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.
ALSOP : (LocaL) From Alsop, Co. Derby, England. One might imagine it a corruption of Ale-shop, a name given to one who kept an ale-shop. A very appropriate name at the present day; for Alsop's ale is celebrated all the world over.
ANNAN : Local. A river and borough of Scotland. From the Gaelic aon, aon, one, one, or the river that divides the dale in two shares. Amhan, Avon, or An-oun, in Gaelic, may signify the slow running water; a gentle river.
ARBLASTER : A corruption of Bamistarius, a cross-bowman, one who directed the great engines of war used before the invention of cannon. In the kernils (battlements) here and there, Of Arblastirs great plenty were. Rom. of the Rose.
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
ASOALL : In the Gaelic, means a sheltered place, a bosom, a covert. Aisgiodal or Aisgall was one of the Danish commanders at the battle of Clontarf near Dublin. The name is expressive of courage and strength. From this may be found the name of Hascall. If the name is of British origin, it would signify the sedgy moor, from Hesg, and hal or hayle low grounds, meadows.
ASGALL : In the Gaelic, means a sheltered place, a bosom, a covert. Aisgiodal or Aisgall was one of the Danish commanders at the battle of Clontarf near Dublin. The name is expressive of courage and strength. From this may be found the name of Hascall. If the name is of British origin, it would signify the sedgy moor, from Hesg, and hal or hayle low grounds, meadows.
AUCHINLECK : Local. A parish in Ayrshire, Scotland. The etymology of the name may be found in the Gaelic Ach, an elevation, a mound, or round hill, generally level at the top; and leac, a flat stone, a tombstone. In several parts of Ayrshire may be traced the remains of cairns, encampments, and Druidical circles. Auchinleck appears to have been one of those places where the ancient Celts and Druids held conventions, celebrated their festivals, and performed acts of worship.
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.
BABER : (Gaelic.) Babair or Basbair, a fencer or swordsman; one who, by his blows, produced death; from Bas, death, and fear, a man.
BACHELOR : From the Dutch Bock, a book, and leeraar, a doctor of divinity, law, or physic. When applied to persons of a certain military rank, it may be a corruption of Bas chevalier, because lower in dignity than the milites bannereti. Killian adopts the opinion that as the soldier who has once been engaged in battle, is called battalarius, so he who has once been engaged in literary warfare, in public dispute upon any subject. Calepinus thinks that those who took the degree of Bachelor, were so called (Baccalaurei), because a chaplet of laurel berries was placed upon them. The word, however, has probably but one origin, which would account for its various applications.
BAITS : A word used in several languages, and signifies to feed, to rest for refreshment; one who kept a house of entertainment
BARBER : A name of trade, one who shaves and dresses hair.
BEATTY : From the Celtic Biatach. Anciently, in Ireland, lands were assigned by the government to a certain number of persons who were appointed to keep houses of entertain-ment> and to exercise hospitality in the different provinces; they were called Biatachs. The office was considered honorable, and besides the lands assigned by the king, they were the lords of seven boroughs or villages, feeding seven herds of one hundred and twenty oxen each, besides the grain raised from seven ploughs every year. Beathaich, in the Gaelic, signifies to feed, nourish, to welcome, to support Beata mor Irish, to have a great estate. Beatha, Gaelic, life, food, welcome, salutation.
BERNARD : (Sax.) From Beam or Bairn, a child, and ard (Teut.), nature, disposition; of a child-like disposition; filial affection. Verstegan brings it from Beorn, heart one of a stout heart.
BARNARD : (Sax.) From Beam or Bairn, a child, and ard (Teut.), nature, disposition; of a child-like disposition; filial affection. Verstegan brings it from Beorn, heart one of a stout heart.
BIGLER : (French.) One who squints. Bygylor, Welsh, a hector.
BIGOT : A name given by the French to the Normans, because, as Camden says, At every other word they would swear 'By God' , from which they were termed Bigodi. It became the surname of Roger de Montgomery, one of the followers of William the Conqueror, who was called Roger Bigod. The English word bigot has probably the same origin.
BIGOD : A name given by the French to the Normans, because, as Camden says, At every other word they would swear 'By God' , from which they were termed Bigodi. It became the surname of Roger de Montgomery, one of the followers of William the Conqueror, who was called Roger Bigod. The English word bigot has probably the same origin.
BLAKE : A corruption of the British Ap Lake, from Ap, signifying from, or son, and Lake, the son of Lake. The family went into Ireland with Strongbow, where the name became corrupted into Blake. Ap Lake was one of the knights of Arthur's Round Table.
BOWLES : Probably from the sign of an inn, as John at the Bowl, i. e., at the sign of the bowl. Boel, local, a town in South Jutland, Denmark. Boel, Dutch, an estate, also one who keeps a mistress.
BOWYER : An archer, one who uses a bow; one who makes bows.
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.
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 ?
BRUCE : (Nor. Fr.) Local. Be Bruys; from Bruy or Bruys, a place in Normandy where the family originated. De Bruys was one of the followers of William the Conqueror, and fought at the battle of Hastings. From this ancestor, King Robert Bruce was descended.
BUCKMASTER : A name probably given to one who had the care of herds of venison.
BUTMAN : Local. Perhaps the man who lives at the butt or boundary; a marksman. Botman, one who gives a blunt answer.
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.
CAMUS : (Gaelic.) A bay, a creek, a harbor. Camoys, one whose nose is turned upwards.
CARNE : (Welsh.) Local. A rock, a heap of stones. This family claim descent from Ithel, King of Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and came, a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Carne, which continues the surname of the family.
CARNES : (Welsh.) Local. A rock, a heap of stones. This family claim descent from Ithel, King of Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and came, a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Carne, which continues the surname of the family.
CARTER : A name of trade, one who drives a cart. Cairtear, Gaelic, a tourist, a sojourner.
CHAMPION : A soldier, one that fought in public combat in his own or another man's quarrel.
CHAPMAN : The same as Chipman, a trader, a shopman; from the Saxon ceapan or cypan, to buy or sell. Sax., ceap, a bargain, a price; one who cheapens, asks the price, buys.
CHOLMONDELEY : (Norman.) Local. The place at the gorge or neck of the mountain; from Col, a strait or defile, and mond or mont, a hill. This name is pronounced Chum-ley. An English gentleman meeting the Earl of Cholmon-deley one day coming out of his own house, and not being acquainted with him, asked him if Lord Chol-mond-e-ley (pronouncing each syllable distinctly) was at home. No, replied the peer, without hesitation, nor any of his pe-o-ple.
CLARK : Clerk, a clergyman, a scholar, one who can read and write.
CLEAVER : English, one who cleaves; a dweller on a cleave or 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
COLQUHOUN : According to tradition, the progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, King of. Ireland, who came to Scotland in the reign of Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into Golquhoun. I am inclined to think the name is from the Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious in battle; from Colg, and chwoin, the genitive of Cu, a hound, a war-dog;
CALHOUN : According to tradition, the progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, King of. Ireland, who came to Scotland in the reign of Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into Golquhoun. I am inclined to think the name is from the Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious in battle; from Colg, and chwoin, the genitive of Cu, a hound, a war-dog;
COLT : A name given to one of a sportive disposition, or may be taken from the sign of an inn. Will at the Colt.
COLVER : From the Dutch kolver, one who plays at kolf, a favorite game in Holland.
CRAVEN : One who begs for his life when conquered; from crave, a word used formerly by one vanquished in trial by battle, and yielding to the conqueror. Craven is also the name of a place in Yorkshire, England, very stony, derived from craig, Cor. Br., a rock, and petty a head.
CRAWFORD : Local. First assumed by the proprietor of the lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The extreme ancestor of the ancient family of Crawford, in Scotland, was Reginald, youngest son of Alan, the fourth Earl of Richmond. He seems to have accompanied David the First to the north, and to have received extensive grants of land in Strath Cluyd, or Clydesdale, whence his immediate descendants adopted the name of Crawford, then forming one of the largest baronies in Scotland, and signifying in Gaelic The pass of blood from cru, bloody, and ford, a pass or way, as commemorative, probably, of some sanguinary conflict between the Aborigines and the Roman invaders. The name has been derived by others from crodh and port, pronounced cro-fort, signifying a sheltering place for cattle.
DALZIEL : (Gaelic.) Local. Taken from the parish of Dalziel, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The parish is said to have received its name from the old parish church which stood near ihe Clyde, which was probably so called from Dal, a dale or valley, and cille, a church the church in the valley. There is the following tradition, told by Nisbet, of the origin of the name: A favorite of Kenneth n. having been hanged by the Picts, and the King being much concerned that the body should be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large reward to him who should rescue it. This being an enterprise of great danger, no one was found bold enough to undertake it, till a gentleman came to the king, and said, Dahid, that is, 'I dare.'
DALYELL : (Gaelic.) Local. Taken from the parish of Dalziel, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The parish is said to have received its name from the old parish church which stood near ihe Clyde, which was probably so called from Dal, a dale or valley, and cille, a church the church in the valley. There is the following tradition, told by Nisbet, of the origin of the name: A favorite of Kenneth n. having been hanged by the Picts, and the King being much concerned that the body should be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large reward to him who should rescue it. This being an enterprise of great danger, no one was found bold enough to undertake it, till a gentleman came to the king, and said, Dahid, that is, 'I dare.'
DERMOD : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Signify a free man, one having amiable qualities.
DIARMAID : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Signify a free man, one having amiable qualities.
DERMOND : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Signify a free man, one having amiable qualities.
DERMOT : (Celtic and Gaelic.) Signify a free man, one having amiable qualities.
DODD : (German). A god-father. Dod, in Gaelic, signifies the pet; peevishness, one who is peevish.
DOD : (German). A god-father. Dod, in Gaelic, signifies the pet; peevishness, one who is peevish.
DODGE : To evade by a sudden shift of place; one who evades, or quibbles.
DOUGALL : (Gaelic and Celtic.) The black stranger, from Dhu, black, and gall, a stranger, a term used by the Celts to denote a Lowlander, a foreigner, not one of them. The Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians were called by the Irish Fionne Gael, or fair-haired, and the Germans Dubh Gail, or the black strangers.
DRAKE : (Gaelic.) Drak, a drake; drac, a route, a way, a footstep; one who draws or leads, a leader.
DRIVER : A drover, one who compels or urges any thing else to move.
DYKE : Local. A name given to one who lived near a ditch, bank, or entrenchment, as John at the dyke.
ERSKINE : Some writers deduce this family from a noble Florentine wlio came to Scotland in the reign of Kenneth II. It is said, in the reign of Malcolm II, a Scotchman of high distinction having killed with his own hand Enrique, one of the Danish generals, at the battle of Murthill, cut off his head, and with .the, bloody dagger in his hand showed it to the king, and in the Gaelic language said Eriskyne, upon the knife,' alluding to the head and dagger; and in the same language also said, Intend to perform greater actions than what I have done. Whereupon, King Malcolm imposed upon him the surname of Eriskine, and assigned him for his armor-bearings a hand holding a dagger, with Je pense plus for a motto, which has continued to be the crest and motto of this family.
ESHAM : Local. From a town by that name in Worcestershire, England, formerly Eoves-ham, so called from one Eoves Egwins, a shepherd, who was afterward Bishop of Worcester, and ham, a village.
FOLLET : (Fr.) Frolicksome, merry, gay. Rightly named was Richard Folioth, Bishop of Hereford, who, when he had incurred the hatred of many for opposing himself against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, one cried with a loud voice at his chamber window at midnight: 'Folioth, Folioth, thy god is the Goddess Azaroth' He suddenly and stoutly replied: ' Thou liest, foul fiend, my God is the God of Sabaoth. Camden.
FOLLIOT : (Fr.) Frolicksome, merry, gay. Rightly named was Richard Folioth, Bishop of Hereford, who, when he had incurred the hatred of many for opposing himself against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, one cried with a loud voice at his chamber window at midnight: 'Folioth, Folioth, thy god is the Goddess Azaroth' He suddenly and stoutly replied: ' Thou liest, foul fiend, my God is the God of Sabaoth. Camden.
FORTESCUE : Strong shield. Sir Richard Le Forte (the brave), one of the leaders in the army of William the Conqueror, who had the good fortune to protect his chief at the battle of Hastings, by bearing before him a massive shield, hence acquired the addition of the French word escue, a shield, to his name.
GALL : A native of the Lowlands of Scotland; any one ignorant of the Gaelic language; a foreigner, stranger. Gal, Gaelic and Cor. Br., battle, evil warfare; Gal, Welsh, clear.
GILMOUR : Gillemore, Gaelic, the henchman or follower of the chiefj one who carried the chiefs broadsword, from gille, a servant, and mor, large, great.
GODWIN : Same as Goodwin or Gooden, derived from God or good, Sax., and win, conqueror, that is, a conqueror in God, converted or victorious in God. In one of those battles fought between Edmund the Anglo-Saxon, and Canute the Dane, the Danish army being routed and forced to fly, one of their principal captains named Ulf lost his way in the woods. After wandering all night, he met at daybreak a young peasant driving a herd of oxen whom he saluted, and asked hia name. '1 am Godwin, the son of Ulfhoth,' said the young peasant, 'and thou art a Dane.'
GRACE : Originally Le Gros ( the fat or large ), a name given to Raymond, one of the adherents of Strongbow, wbo was the ancestor of the family in Ireland.
GRANGER : (Saxon) One who superintended a large farm or Grange.
GRIFFITH : (Welsh and Cor. Br.) One who has strong faith, from Cryf, Welsh, strong, an ffyd, faith.
GROVER : Groover, Graver, one who carves or engraves.
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
HAGAR : Hagar, Hebrew., a stranger; one fearing. Hygar, in the Welsh, is amiable, pleasing. Hegar, Cor. Br., lovely; also, a bondman, a slave. Aighier, Gaelic, gladness, joy, mirth.
HAINES : Camden derives the name from Ainulph, and that from Ana, alone, and ulph, Sax., help, that is one who needs not the assistance of others. Haine, a river in Belgium. Haine, Fr., signifies malicious, full of hatred. Hain, German, a wood, forest, thicket, grove.
HAYNES : Camden derives the name from Ainulph, and that from Ana, alone, and ulph, Sax., help, that is one who needs not the assistance of others. Haine, a river in Belgium. Haine, Fr., signifies malicious, full of hatred. Hain, German, a wood, forest, thicket, grove.
HALES : Local. From a village in Gloucestershire, and also a town in Norfolk, England. In Cor. Br., it signifies low, level lands washed by a river or the sea; a moor. Playfair says, The word Hales is a compound one, being formed of the Saxon Hale or Heile, strong, healthy, and ley, etc. Others derive it from Halig, Saxon, holy.
HARROWER : The subduer; from the French harrier, to harrass; and this, perhaps, from the Anglo Saxon, hergvan, to conquer or subdue; one who harrows the ground.
HASTINGS : Local. Derived from the borough of Hastings, in Sussex, England, which is memorable for the landing of William the Conqueror, and defeat and death of Harold II, in 1066. Camden derives this name from one Hastings, a Dane, a great robber, who either seized, or built, or fortified it. Somnerus derives it from the Saxon haeste, heat, because of the bubbling or boiling of the sea in that place j but as haste applies rather to voluntary beings, as men and other animals, the name more correctly signifies one who hurries, presses, drives; vehemency, quickness of motion.
HEBER : (Hebrew) Derived either from Heber, one of the ancestors of Abraham, or from the Hebrew word eber, which signifies from the other side, that is, foreigners.
HINDMAN : A domestic, a servant; one who has the care of herds.
HINMAN : A domestic, a servant; one who has the care of herds.
HORNBLOWER : A musician, one that blows a horn.
HYDE : Local. A farm; as much land as can be cultivated with one plow; a town of Cheshire, England. Hyd, or
KEMP : In old English, a soldier, one who engaged in single combat The name Kemp is derived from the Saxon word to kemp, or combat, which in Norfolk is retained to this day; a foot-ball match being called a camping or kemping; and thus in Saxon a Kemper signifies a combatant, a champion, a man-at-arms. In some parts of Scotland the striving of reapers in the harvest-field is still called kemping.
KINGHORN : Local. A borough in Fifeshire, Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic Cean-gorn or gorm, the blue head, from the adjoining promontory. It is fancifully suggested by one writer that as the Scottish kings long had a residence in the neighborhood, the name may have been suggested by the frequent winding of the king's horn when he sallied out to the chase in this neighborhood.
LAVENDER : A laundress; Lavandière, French, one who washes, from the Latin, lavo, to wash.
LEWKNOR : Local. A corruption of Levechenora, the denomination of one of the hundreds of Lincolnshire, England.
LIGHTFOOT : A name given on account of swiftness in running, or expertness in dancing; one who is nimble or active.
LINDSAY : Local. Sir William Dugdale says this surname is local, and was first assumed by the proprietors of the lands and manor of Lindsay, in the county of Esses, England.. One of the Lindsays having contracted a friendship with Malcom Canmore, when in England, went with him to Scotland, and was the progenitor of the Lindsays in that country. The eastern part of Lincolnshire was originally called Lindsey, from the place abounding with linden-trees.
LINDSEY : Local. Sir William Dugdale says this surname is local, and was first assumed by the proprietors of the lands and manor of Lindsay, in the county of Esses, England.. One of the Lindsays having contracted a friendship with Malcom Canmore, when in England, went with him to Scotland, and was the progenitor of the Lindsays in that country. The eastern part of Lincolnshire was originally called Lindsey, from the place abounding with linden-trees.
LIVINGSTONE : Local. A barony in West Lothian, Scotland, so named from one Livingus living there in 1124; hence Livingston.
LOWRY : Signifies in Scotch a crafty person, or one who lowers, that is, contracts his brow; hence a lowry day cloudy.
LOURY : Signifies in Scotch a crafty person, or one who lowers, that is, contracts his brow; hence a lowry day cloudy.
MAINARD : (German) Of a powerful deposition, stout-hearted. Maynhard was one of the barons who went into England with William the Conqueror, and whose name is in the roll of Battle Abbey.
MAYNARD : (German) Of a powerful deposition, stout-hearted. Maynhard was one of the barons who went into England with William the Conqueror, and whose name is in the roll of Battle Abbey.
MALLET : This name has been ascribed by some to a place so termed in Normandy; and by others to the courageous blows of the family in battle. Malleus, Maule, Mall, and Mallet was one of the offensive weapons of a well-armed warrior, being generally made of iron, and used to destroy by pounding or bruising the enemy through or under the armor, that could not be penetrated by edged or pointed weapons, Edward I was called Malleus Scotorum. All the families of this name in England trace their descent from the renowned William Lord Mallet de Graville, one of the great barons who accompanied William the Conqueror.
MA LET : This name has been ascribed by some to a place so termed in Normandy; and by others to the courageous blows of the family in battle. Malleus, Maule, Mall, and Mallet was one of the offensive weapons of a well-armed warrior, being generally made of iron, and used to destroy by pounding or bruising the enemy through or under the armor, that could not be penetrated by edged or pointed weapons, Edward I was called Malleus Scotorum. All the families of this name in England trace their descent from the renowned William Lord Mallet de Graville, one of the great barons who accompanied William the Conqueror.
MANNUS : A god celebrated among the Germans as one of their founders.
MARSHALL : A name of office master of the horse, anciently, one who had command of all persons not above princes. Teut, Marschalk; French, Mareschal.
McDHOIL : (Gaelic.) The son of Dowell or Dougall, the dark stranger. From dhu, black, and gall, a native of the low country of Scotland; any one ignorant of the Gaelic language; a foreigner, a stranger. The same as McDougall.
McDOWELL : (Gaelic.) The son of Dowell or Dougall, the dark stranger. From dhu, black, and gall, a native of the low country of Scotland; any one ignorant of the Gaelic language; a foreigner, a stranger. The same as McDougall.
Origin of name provided by Jean Tosti
More
