Origin
Thomas : 1: English French Walloon Breton German Dutch Flemish Danish Greek West Indian (mainly Haiti and Jamaica) and African (mainly Tanzania and Nigeria): from the personal name Thomas of Biblical (New Testament) origin from Aramaic t’ōm’a a byname meaning ‘twin’. It was borne by one of the disciples of Christ known for his scepticism about Christ's resurrection (John 20:24–29). The Th- spelling is organic the initial letter of the name in the Greek New Testament being a theta. The English pronunciation as t rather than th- is the result of French influence from an early date. In Britain the surname is widely distributed throughout the country but especially common in Wales and Cornwall. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed many cognates from other languages (e.g. Assyrian/Chaldean or Arabic Toma and Tuma Albanian Toma and Thoma and Slavic surnames listed in 3 below) and their patronymics and other derivatives (e.g. Polish Tomaszewski and Slovenian Tomažič; see Tomazic). In France this surname is most common in the Vosges and Brittany. The name Thomas is also found among Christians in southern India (compare Machan Mammen and Oommen) 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. This surname is also very common among African Americans.2: Native American (e.g. Navajo): adoption of the English personal name Thomas (see 1 above) as a surname.3: Germanized or Americanized form of Polish Tomas Tomasz and Tomaś Sorbian Tomaš (see also 4 below) Croatian Tomaš and Tomas Slovenian Tomaš and Tomaž Czech and Slovak Tomáš all meaning ‘Thomas’.4: Germanized or Americanized form of Sorbian Domaš: from the personal name Domaš a derivative of the Old Sorbian name Domasław based on the Old Slavic element domъ ‘home’ but later associated with the Biblical name Thomas (see 1 above compare 3 above).
Albert : French English German Catalan Hungarian Romanian Dutch Slovak Czech Croatian Slovenian West Indian (mainly Haiti) and Mauritian: from the personal name Albert composed of the ancient Germanic elements adal ‘noble’ + berht ‘bright famous’. The standard German form is Albrecht. The name was borne by several Christian saints notably Saint Albert of Prague a Bohemian prince who died a martyr in 997 attempting to convert the Prussians to Christianity and Saint Albert the Great (c. 1193–1280) an Aristotelian theologian and tutor of Thomas Aquinas. In more recent times it has been adopted as a Jewish surname.
Allaby : reduced form of Allenby. Compare Thomas Allenby 1687 Aimie Allanby 1698 Elizabeth Allamby 1751 William Allaby 1754 in IGI (Owston Lincs) and possibly compare Robte. Allerby 1600 in IGI (Gedney Lincs) with Wm. Allensbye 1596 in IGI (Gedney Lincs).alternatively a variant of Ellerby. Compare Alice Ellerby 1636 Mary Allerby 1759 in IGI (Sibsey Lincs).
Allworthy : variant of Elworthy; see Thomas Alworthy alias Elworthy 1723 in PROB 11.
Amias : 1: from Amiens (Somme in Picardy) the centre of the medieval trade in woad which made a blue dye used by dyers of wool cloth in English towns. In classical sources the place-name is recorded as Samarobriva Ambianorum a Celtic name meaning ‘the bridge over the river Somme’ plus the affix Ambianorum ‘of the Ambiani’ an ethnic name from Celtic ambi(o)- ‘around’ perhaps meaning ‘those on both sides (of the Somme)’ or possibly ‘the people of the world’. The affix in its ablative form Ambiānis has replaced the place-name which it once qualified and is the source of the current name Amiens. In England the name generally appears as Amias as in ‘merchants of Amias’ 1326 in London Letter Books E. 2: from the Middle English personal name Amias a variant of Amis see Ames. Thomas Amyas (1521) of Wethersfield in Essex was no doubt of the same family as Robert Amys Amyse Amyce Ameys (1462–78 in The Essex Review 61). Some of the surname examples listed under (1) with no preposition could also belong here. The two surnames were easily confused.
Ancient : apparently from Middle English a(u)ncien(t) ‘ancient aged (person)’ a borrowing of Anglo-Norman a(u)ncien auncion anchien. Medieval evidence for the name is elusive however. In the 1332 Subsidy Rolls for Lincs Thomas Ancoyne (a mis-spelling or mis-reading of Anceyne?) is assessed for tax in Burton Pedwardine 13 miles from Boston where the modern surname is first recorded but the link between these names is uncertain. Ancient may alternatively be a variant of another unidentified name altered by folk etymology.
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).
Answorth : 1: variant of the Lancs name Ainsworth as illustrated by Adami Answorth 1573 Thomas Ainsworth 1603 in IGI (Bolton Lancs). The name probably migrated to the London area and to SW England. With the early bearers cited below compare Samuel Ainsworth 1714 in IGI (Hemel Hempstead Herts); Nathaniel Ainsworth 1739 in IGI (Yatton Somerset); Ann Ainsworth 1792 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs). 2: variant of the WR Yorks name Hainsworth though some of the following early bearers could alternatively belong with (1).
Aquino : 1: Italian Spanish and Portuguese: from a Christian personal name bestowed in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–74; Tommaso d'Aquino in Italian Tomás de Aquino in Spanish) an Italian Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church. This surname is also common in the Philippines. See also 2 below compare De Aquino.2: Italian: habitational name from a place called Aquino (see D'Aquino) the place where the theologian (see 1 above) was born.
Arger : variant of Orgar. Compare Eales Orger 1577 in IGI (Hythe Kent) with Sarah Argar 1628 Thomas Arger 1629 in IGI (Newington next Hythe Kent); Elizabeth Orgar 1615 Thomas Orgar 1631 Mary Argar 1669 in IGI (Postling Kent).
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.
Basketter : for a basket maker from Middle English basket + the agent suffix -er. Compare William Basketwricte 1229 in Patent Rolls (Lincs) and Thomas Basketmaker 1551 in IGI (Cambridge Cambs). The great majority of early bearers are from the willow-growing fen country.
Bavister : Titford suggests that this is a late variant of Vavasour. It would be a dissimilated form of Vavister and Vavester variants of Vavasour that are evidenced in Lincs also in Cambs whence the name spread into Beds. Compare Willa Vavister 1579 in IGI (Scopwick Lincs); Thomas Vavister 1615 in IGI (Cranwell Lincs); Mary Vavester 1708 Joseph Vavisor 1738 in IGI (New Sleaford Lincs).
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).
Bettany : variant of Betteley (in the W Midlands) and Beatley (in E England) with /n/ substituted for /l/. Tooth notes that in the parish registers for Seighford (Staffs) Joseph Betteley (1762) is buried as Joseph Bettany (1806). Compare Margret Bettony 1596 Thomas Betley 1612 in IGI (Chester Cheshire); Johanes Betteny 1675 Anna Betteley 1709 Daniel Bettany 1796 in IGI (Stone Staffs); Stephen Beatley 1696 Charles Bettany 1715 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk).
Buckfield : variant of Buckle also recorded as Buckwell with substitution of -field for -well. Compare William Buckfield 1772 Thomas Buckwell 1780 William Buckle 1786 in IGI (Sutton Surrey).
Bullivant : variant of Bonifant. In Notts Bonenfant was a hereditary surname in Worksop and Edwinstowe from the 14th century and had developed to Bullivant by the 16th century. At the end of the 17th century both forms of the name were still current in the same family: Thomas Bonifant 1670 Tho. Bullivant 1703 in IGI (East Retford Notts).
Cairn : 1: apparently an altered form of Kieran. 2: perhaps sometimes especially in England a late variant of Cairns with loss of final -s; compare the pairing William Carns 1777 Thomas Carne 1798 in IGI (Liverpool Lancs).
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.
Campey : of uncertain origin. The Yorks distribution suggests a relation with the Yorks and N England dialect verb camp ‘gossip’ of uncertain age. However Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames suggests that it may be an abbreviated form of the name Campinot (itself a diminutive of Champion) citing the 1671 example of Thomas Campinett alias Campie (Stillingfleet WR Yorks) among other evidence.
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.
Cater : 1: English and Scottish: occupational name for the buyer of provisions for a large household from Middle English catour katour kater forms of acatour acater ‘buyer’ (Anglo-Norman French acatour early Old French acateor central Old French achatour Late Latin acceptator an agent derivative of acceptare ‘to accept’). Modern English caterer results from the addition of a second agent suffix to the word. Compare Chater 1.2: English: habitational name from Cator in Widdecombe in the Moor (Devon).3: Americanized form of Dutch or German Kater.4: Slovenian (Čater): status name for a person who read out the Slovenian ceremonial text at the installation of the Carantanian rulers and later Carinthian dukes derived from dialect čatiti ‘to read’. Carantania was the early medieval Slovenian state centered on the territory of present-day Carinthia (see Korosec). The people's installation of the Carantanian rulers and Carinthian dukes was an exceptional example of democratic elections in medieval Europe. Thomas Jefferson knew about it and was influenced by it in his thinking about American Independence. Compare Chater 2.
Chesterson : altered form of Chesterton. Compare Jonathan Chesterton 1703 Jonathan Chesterson 1705 in IGI (Cheswardine Shrops); Francis Chesterton 1705 Francis Chesterson 1710 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Thomas Chesterton 1815 Thomas Chesterson 1817 in IGI (Weaverham Cheshire).
Chuter : of uncertain origin; perhaps an -er derivative of a word reflecting the pre-English forest name seen in Chute. If this is so it would be a locative name for a person who lived at a place denoted by that word. The place may be the one indicated in the name of Thomas Chote 1381 in Poll Tax (Godalming Surrey) if this is not a variant of Choat. It could refer to Chute Forest on the border of Hants and Wilts.
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).
Cliffen : reduced form of Clifton; compare Ann Cliffton 1725 Ann Cliffen 1732 Sarah Clifon 1744 in IGI (Bromsgrove Worcs); Thomas Clifton 1737 Thomas Cliffen 1743 Thomas Cliften 1751 in IGI (Gedney Lincs).
Clowser : 1: Americanized form of German Klauser.2: English: topographic name for someone who lived by a clowse Middle English clouse cluse Old English clūse ‘bar enclosure narrow pass’ later ‘mill dam sluice-gate floodgate’. Clowser is a type of formation (topographic term + -er) that is especially characteristic of Sussex and the adjacent counties. It was synonymous with atte Clouse and the Clowser family is probably descended from Thomas atte Cluse recorded in 1332 in Warnham Sussex.
Clutten : 1: see Clouting. 2: occasionally a variant of Clutton. Compare Thomas Clutton 1579 Laurence Clutten 1594 in IGI (Nantwich Cheshire).
Cockle : 1: from Middle English cokel (Old French coquille) ‘shell’ also ‘cockle’ the shellfish perhaps for a cockle gatherer or for someone who liked eating them. Compare Will. le Cokeler (alias) Will. le coclere 1281 in Fransson; William Cokeler 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Gosberton Lincs); Johannes Cokkeler 1381 in Poll Tax (Moulton Lincs); Thomas Cokeler 1378 in TNA (Burnham Norton Norfolk). They lived near the Wash and were probably cockle merchants. Alternatively Cokel may have been a nickname for pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James of Compostella who sewed cockle shells on their clothes as a sign of their pilgrimage. Compare cockle hat (1834 OED) a hat with a cockle or scallop shell stuck into it worn for the same reason.perhaps from Middle English cok(k)el ‘(corn) cockle’ (Old English coccul coccel) a weed particularly common in cornfields. Weeding cornfields was a seasonal occupation however and was perhaps less likely than the word in (i) to have given rise to a hereditary surname. 2: in N England sometimes a variant of Cockhill.
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.
Cornhill : 1: in SE England mainly from Cornhill in London but elsewhere alternatively from Cornhill (Northumb) or one of the many minor places so called. It has often become Cornell and has sometimes been confused with Cornwall and Cornwell as in the case of Thomas Cornell 1722 in Parish Registers (Horringer Suffolk) who is also called Cornwall (1736) Cornwell (1740) and Cornhill (1766). 2: see Cornall. 3: see Cornwall.
Cottee : 1: in most cases probably a variant of Cottis with loss of final -s. Compare Eliz Cottis 1690 Thomas Cottee 1734 in IGI (Woodham Mortimer Essex). For the process compare Norry. 2: alternatively it may be a variant of Cottey although this is chiefly a Devon name.
Cowick : English (Yorkshire): habitational name from any of various minor places called Cowick(s) in Yorkshire Sheering (Essex) or Exeter Saint Thomas (Devon). All are named with Old English cū ‘cow’ + wīc ‘outlying dairy farm’. This surname has died out in Britain. Compare Cohick Couick and Cowhick.
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.
Craxton : perhaps a variant of Croxton; compare Wm. Croxton 1777 Thomas Craxton 1786 in IGI (Macclesfield Cheshire).
Cricket : 1: variant of Crickard itself a reduced form of McCrickard. Compare Thomas McCrickerd coal miner born in Ireland in Census 1881 (Workington Cumb) with the 1802 bearer. 2: see Crickett.
Crickett : from Old French criquet Middle English criket creket ‘cricket’ for someone thought to resemble the insect in some way.from Cricket Malherbie Cricket Saint Thomas (both in Somerset) apparently named from Primitive Welsh *crug ‘hill’ + the Old French diminutive suffix -et (thus ‘little hill’). Although Crickheath (Shrops) is also formally a possible source no evidence has been found for a surname from this place.
Crundwell : variant of Crundell with hypercorrect insertion of /w/. Compare Robert Crundell 1628 in IGI (Penshurst Kent) Thomas Crundall 1654 in IGI (Brenchley Kent) and numerous similar names in the same county as well as Edward Crundell 1791 in IGI (Frant Sussex).
Crunkhorn : probably a variant of Cromphorn or Crumphorn (see Cramphorn) with velarization of /mp/ to /ŋk/. Compare the similar change of Cramp- to Crank- in Saml. Crankhorn 1737 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk); Thomas James Crankhorn 1754 in IGI (Clerkenwell Middx).
Cullingford : of uncertain orgin. It may be an altered form of a name originating outside E Anglia. One possibility is the WR Yorks name Cullingworth alias Collingwood with -ford substituted for -worth and -wood. In 16th- and 17th-century Norfolk and Suffolk appear Thomas Collingworthe 1582 Andrew Cullinworth 1606 Ellen Collingworth 1664 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk); Geo. Collingwood 1584 in IGI (Glemsford Suffolk); Robt. Collingwood 1607 in IGI (Great Yarmouth Norfolk). The NE surname Collingwood is another possible source. Alternatively Cullingworth and Collingwood (and therefore perhaps Cullingford) may be variants of the Leics or Northumb name Killingworth with rounding of the vowel. Johes Kyllyngworthe 1545 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk) may be compared with the Cull- Collingworth examples from Norwich cited above. John Killingsworth 1565 Elizabeth Killingworth 1634 in IGI (Little Plumstead Norfolk) may be compared with Alse Collingwood 1563 and Thomas Collingwood 1627 in IGI (Little Plumstead Norfolk). However it is impossible without genealogical evidence to know if these are variants of a single name or two or more different names coinciding in the same parishes. What relationship the surname has with Collingsford Bridge in Wetheringsett (Suffolk) is unknown.
Cunnell : 1: perhaps a variant of Gunnell with unvoicing of the intial consonant. Compare Thomas Goneld 1379 in Poll Tax (West Walton Norfolk); Willelmus Gunnyld 1379 in Poll Tax (Acle Norfolk); Ricardus Gunnyld 1381 in Poll Tax (Suffolk); Willelmus Gunnuld 1381 in Poll Tax (Dagworth Suffolk). 2: apparently also a variant of Cundall.
D'Aquino : Italian: habitational name for someone from a place called Aquino of which there are several examples in Italy but in particular the one in Lazio birthplace of Saint Thomas Aquinas (see Aquino).
Dalkin : from the Middle English personal name Dalkin a pet form of *Dal(l) + the hypocoristic suffix -kin. See Dall and compare Thomas Dalkynson 1379 in Poll Tax (Lonsdale wapentake Lancs).
De Aquino : Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil): variant of Aquino a Christian personal name referring to Saint Thomas Aquinas (Tomás de Aquino in Spanish) with the preposition de ‘from of’.
Death : apparently from Middle English deeth deth Old English dēaþ ‘death’ perhaps for someone who played the part of Death in a local pageant.The figure of Death occurs for example in the Chester mystery cycle. The traditional pronunciation of this surname in modern times is /di:θ/ (Deeth) which would be a normal development of Old English dēaþ besides the usual modern pronunciation of the word as /dɛθ/. In Middle English Kent dialect the word is also found as diath. The spellings with an apostrophe de'Ath de Ath D'Eath De Aeth etc. are modern introduced perhaps to dissociate the name from the negative connotations of the word and to give it an appearance of gentry status. Sir Thomas D'eath 1723 in TNA was MP for Canterbury and Sandwich and 1st Baronet D'Aeth of Knowlton (Kent). He is perhaps descended from the Death family that is recorded in the Farnborough and Dartford area since the 16th century. Such re-spellings became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sampson Death aged 30 miller in Census 1841 (Roydon Essex) appears as Sampson De'Ath aged 71 born in Roydon (Essex) in Census 1881 (Bishop Stortford Herts). Martha Ann Death born in Great Waldingfield Suffolk in Census 1841 (Alpheton Suffolk) appears as Martha A. De'ath in Census 1881 (Buckingham Bucks).
Dethomas : Americanized form (also De Thomas) of Italian Di Tomasso and probably also of Di Tommaso.
Dewitt : 1: variant pronunciation of Devitt a name well evidenced in Nether Whitacre and Nuneaton (Warwicks) and in Bedford (Beds). 2: occasionally an anglicization of De Witt ‘the white(-haired) fair or pale-skinned one’ from Middle Dutch witte + the definite article de. The 1820 bearer below might be related to one or more of Ann Deuitt 1699 Jacobi Dewitt 1760 Thomas Henry Devitt 1814 Mary Devett 1821 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London) but these bearers have been treated as examples of Irish or English Devitt.
Dewland : apparently a variant of Dowland. Compare Ann Dowland 1747 Edward Dewland 1752 in IGI (Melksham Wilts); Thomas Dowland 1804 Sarah Dewland 1809 in IGI (Sherborne Dorset).
Diddams : variant of Didham with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare Thomas Didham 1773 Nicholas Diddams 1786 in IGI (Stoke Damerel Devon); Lucy Diddam 1792 Elizabeth Diddams 1780 in IGI (Wherwell Hants). By folk etymology Diddams may have been altered somewhat earlier to Diddymouse and also to Didymus through false association with Didymus the latinized form of Greek didymos ‘twin’ an epithet of the apostle Thomas in the gospel of John (11:16).
Doick : variant of Duke; compare John Duke 1777 John Doick 1785 in IGI (Pulborough Sussex); Thomas Duke 1803 James Doick 1829 in IGI (Hardham Sussex).
Domann : 1: Germanized form of Sorbian Domań or Doman: from a derivative of an Old Sorbian personal name such as Domasław based on the Old Slavic element domъ ‘home’ and probably also of its cognate Domaš (see Thomas 4) associated with the Biblical name Thomas. Compare Domain.2: North German: from a Low German pet form of the personal name Thomas.
Doust : apparently from Middle English dust doust ‘dust powder’ (Old English dūst possibly with reference to a dust-coloured complexion or hair. Compare Thomas Dustiberd 1229 in Patent Rolls (Somerset) William Dustifot' 1221 in Assize Rolls (Worcs a nickname for a wayfarer perhaps such as a travelling pedlar) and the traditional nickname Dusty given to one called Miller. Alternatively since the Middle English word also denoted ‘a speck of dust’ it may have been used of someone with a small thin body or slight appearance.
Doveton : late variant of Dufton. Compare John Dufton 1727 Anne Doveton 1729 in IGI (Farnley by Leeds WR Yorks); Thomas Doveton 1805 William Dufton 1811 in IGI (Haydon Bridge Northumb).
Duncalf : ‘dark calf’ from Middle English dun(ne) don + calf. Compare Robert Dunnebrid 1183 in Pipe Rolls (Yorks) Thomas Dunfugell 1291 in Assize Rolls (Cheshire) ‘dark bird’; also compare Metcalfe.
Dunkey : of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of Dunkley as suggested by the bearers Mary Dunkly 1740 Thomas Dunkey 1741 in IGI (Winwick Hunts) but the main location of Dunkey is in the West Midlands where the surname may have an alternative unknown origin.
Durose : 1: variant of Dewhurst. According to Tooth Thomas Durose (1645) is identical with Thomas Dewerst of Rocester (1646) and Thomas Duerst (1649). Compare Susanna Dewhurst 1685 in IGI (Ellastone Staffs). The variant would have arisen by methathesis of the r. 2: from Ó Dubhruis see Doris.
Eddowes : apparently a variant of Edowe + post-medieval excrescent -s but the origin of Edowe is obscure. It might have arisen from an English misinterpretation of Welsh Beddow as ap Eddow on the model of Welsh surname variations like Evan and Bevan. It occurs only after the medieval period of surname formation: Thomas Edowe 1595 in IGI (Manchester Lancs); Rowland Edow 1603 Jane Eddowe 1605 Richard Edo 1697 in IGI (Nuneaton Warwicks); Jane Edo 1604 William Edoe 1612 in IGI (Mancetter Warwicks); David Edow 1612 in IGI (Chester Cheshire). Variation with -s-forms is rare but includes John Edowes 1609 Elinor Edowe 1613 in IGI (Holborn Middx) Randall Eddow 1626 Richard Eddows 1635 in IGI (Malpas Cheshire) and Ran. Eddow 1652 Roger Eddows 1678 in IGI (Whitchurch Shrops). Potential evidence for variation with Beddow(s) in the same parishes is also difficult to find: Randull Eddowes 1656 John Beddow 1673 Eleanor Beddows 1741 in IGI (Malpas Cheshire); Raphe Edowes 1656 Edward Beddoes 1729 in IGI (Oswestry Shrops). In these instances Eddow(s) always appears earlier than Beddow(s) and the two names may originally have had nothing to do with each other.an alternative possibility is that Edowe was back-formed from Edowes in which case Edowes would be a variant of Edis from the Middle English female personal name Edus. Compare Edusecros about 1301 in Place-Names of Cheshire 1 p. 124 recorded in Macclesfield where (no doubt coincidentally) the surname Eddows appears some 400 years later. For this name in East Anglia and the London area see also Edhouse.
Empringham : probably from Empingham (Rutland) which is recorded as Empingeham in the 12th century. The place-name derives from an Old English personal name *Empa + the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘village homestead’. For the possible development of Empingham to Empringham compare Sempringham (Lincs) which is recorded as Sempingeham in the 12th century and Simpringham in 1202. See also Thomas de Empyngham 1377 in Poll Tax (Empingham Rutland); Johannes Empyngham 1379 in Poll Tax (Lincoln Lincs).
Etty : probably a variant of Etton colloquially Ettin with loss of final -n. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames points to the occurrence of Thomas Ettyn 1510 in York Registry Wills (Sheriff Hutton NR Yorks near Buttercrambe and Crambe where Ettie and Eattie first appear) and there are early 17th-century examples of Etton in nearby York. For a similar development of the name in the Midlands compare Jhonnes Etton 1566 in IGI (Thurlby near Bourne Lincs) with Anthony Etty 1715 in IGI (Bourne Lincs) and John Etton 1564 with John Ettye 1604 in IGI (both in Castor Northants). See also Ette and compare John Etton 1581 with Edward Ette 1722 in IGI (both in Glinton Northants).
Everdell : of uncertain origin; perhaps an altered form of Everden but the concentration of the name in Somerset is unexpected. Compare Thomas Everden 1608 in IGI (Babcary Somerset).
Fallow : 1: from Middle English falwe falow falg(he) ‘fallow untilled arable land land recently brought into cultivation’. The surname may be topographic for someone who lived on or by fallow land or toponymic for someone from a place so named such as Faugh in Hayton (Cumb) which is recorded as Faughe in 1589.perhaps also from Middle English falwe falow ‘pale; reddish or brownish yellow tawny’ perhaps describing the hair or complexion. Compare Favell. 2: sometimes a variant of Farlow. Note the variation in the surname of Thomas Falowes 1524 Thomas Farelowe 1525 in Subsidy Rolls (Albrighton by Shrewsbury Shrops).
Findell : 1: unexplained; possibly a variant of Fennell compare Thomas Finnall 1656 in IGI (Marston Moretaine Beds). 2: in SE England perhaps also a variant of Fendall.
Fitzmaurice : Irish: from Anglo-Norman French fi(t)z ‘son’ (see Fitz) + the personal name Maurice (see Morris 1) ‘son of Maurice’. This surname is common in Ireland where it has also been Gaelicized as Mac Muiris. The Irish family of Fitzmaurice share a common Norman ancestry with the Fitzgerald family. They can be traced to Thomas Fitzmaurice whose brother Gerald was the ancestor of the Irish Fitzgerald dynasty. Their father was Maurice Fitzgerald a Norman baron (died 1176).
Fludder : for a person who lived by a river stream or other body of water from Middle English flod flud(e) ‘river stream’ (Old English flōd) or ‘channel gutter’ (Old English flōde) + (i)er a linguistic formation typical of Sussex and Surrey. Compare Flutter (1) with which Fludder may have been interchangeable and see Richard Fludder 1681 Thomas Flutter 1738 in IGI (Thursley Surrey). See also Flood.
Footitt : from Middle English fot-hot recorded as a vocabulary item only in an adverbial sense ‘in great haste’ but as a nickname it may alternatively have been adjectival ‘foot-hot hot or eager (in the) foot’ for someone quick on his feet or in a hurry. For the formation compare Middle English fot lame ‘lame in the foot’ (MED at fōt n. 12 (a)) Armstrong (‘strong in the arm’) Brainwood (‘mad in the brain’) and the surname of Thomas Wombestrong (‘strong in the belly’) 1310 in MED at wōmb(e n. 9. Spellings with -hate reflect northern Middle English retention of ā from Old English hāt ‘hot’.
Foxon : 1: from the Middle English personal name Folk (see Fowke) + -son. Some of the post-medieval bearers especially those in Leics may alternatively belong with (2). 2: variant of Foxton with loss of /t/ in the /kst/ cluster. Thomas Chapman snr. ‘of Foxon’ 1596 in Leics Record Office DE728/23 probably came from Foxton (Leics).
Framingham : 1: from Framingham Earl and Framingham Pigot (Norfolk) recorded as Framingaham in 1086 and Framingeham in 1130. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Fram’ from the Old English personal name Fram + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’. In 1254 the places were recorded as Framelingham Comitis and Framelingham Pigot with an intrusive -el- presumably due to influence from the Suffolk place-name Framlingham. Among surname forms there has clearly also been some confusion with sense (2); note Thomas de Framingham and wife Agnes identical with Thomas de Framlyngham and wife Agnes 1301–3 in Feet of Fines (both relating to land in Great Hautbois Norfolk) and compare John Framlingham 1663 Barbara Framingham 1705 in IGI (North Elmham Norfolk). 2: perhaps occasionally from Framlingham (Suffolk) which is recorded as Framelingaham in 1086 and Framillingeham in 1175. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Framela’ from an Old English personal name *Framela + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’. The place certainly gave rise to a medieval surname but it is unclear whether this has died out or survived with loss of -l-. There has evidently been some confusion with and perhaps ultimately absorption by sense (1).
Garnham : the usual English form of Gernon. The name is pronounced as both /ʤa:nəm/ and /ga:nəm/ As early as the 12th century Gernun is found occasionally as Gernum. This later became Garnom and Garnam Garnham and Jarnham as if derived from a place-name. Thomas Gernon Nicholas Gernown John Garnon and Edmund Garnon 1524 in Subsidy Rolls (Bacton Suffolk) are identical with the 16th-century bearers from Bacton listed below.
Gedge : either from Middle English gig(ge) *jig(ge) gegge ‘silly fellow’ or from Middle English *kegge kigge ‘cheerful pleasant agreeable merry’ with voicing of the initial consonant in which case it is a variant of Kedge. The two words may have been confused. The spelling Gegge can represent either of two pronunciations Gedge or Geg.variant of Gage (or vice versa). Compare Willm. Gage 1575 Willm. Gadge 1586 in IGI (Hadleigh Suffolk) with Edmvnt Gedge 1558 in IGI (Hadleigh Suffolk); Andrew Gage 1381 in Poll Tax (Siddington Gloucs) with Thomas Gegg 1623 in IGI (Siddington Gloucs).perhaps a variant of Geake with the final consonant voiced to give Geg(g) but a development to Gedge is more difficult to explain. Compare John and Walter le Gek 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Bukland Gloucs) and John le Gek 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Winchester Hants) with the 1327 Gloucs and Hants examples of le Geg cited below.
Gidman : probably a variant of Goodman with fronting and unrounding of the vowel. Compare Symo. Goodman 1627 Elisabeth Gedman 1706 in IGI (Lewes Sussex); Euerardus Goodman 1695 Mary Gidman 1721 in IGI (Sandbach Cheshire) and Thomas Goodman 1731 James Gidman 1762 in IGI (Liverpool Lancs).
Gigney : perhaps a variant of Gidney (see Gedney) with assimilation of Gidn- to Gign-. Compare Thomas Gegney 1725 Thomas Gidny 1750 in IGI (Blakeney Norfolk). Pronunciation of final -ey as -er in the earliest examples is paralleled in Gidner's Wood in Bayford (Herts) which the editors of Place-Names of Herts p. 215 associate with Robert Gedney (1545).
Gilleard : variant of Gilliatt (from Middle English Gilyot see Gillett) or of Gillard. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames notes William Gilyot 1563 and Thomas Gylleard 1608 in the parish registers of Snaith (WR Yorks).
Glassborow : variant of Glazebrook with -brough and -borrow substituted for -brook. Compare Alexander Glasbroke 1586 in IGI (Wigan Lancs) James Glasbrook 1637 in IGI (Bolton Lancs) and Thomas Glassbrook 1764 in IGI (Deptford Kent) with the 1615 1658 and 1763 bearers below.
Glazzard : variant of Glazier alias Glas(s)ier with reduction of [zj] to [z] and [sj] to [s] + an excrescent -d giving Glaz(z)ard and Glassard. Compare Johan Glasierd 1601 Apolline Glazard 1687 in IGI (Lindridge Worcs). Also compare Thomas Glasher 1596 in IGI (Ribbesford Worcs) with John Glazzard 1645 in Parish Registers (Ribbesford Worcs) where Glasher represents a pronunciation of Glas(s)ier in which [sj] is simplified to [ʃ].
Goate : 1: from Middle English gote occasionally got(te) ‘watercourse channel stream’ (Old English *gota) denoting someone who lived by a watercourse or someone from a place so named such as East Goit (ER Yorks) Goat Farm in Ringmer (Sussex) where Thomas de Gote was assessed for tax in 1332 or Goat Farm in Streat (Sussex) where William atte Gote was assessed in 1327 (both in Sussex Subsidy Rolls). This element is widely found in minor place-names in N England where it survives as dialect gote goit. Some of the early bearers may belong under (2). 2: from Middle English got(e) ‘goat’ (Old English gāt). The name may have denoted someone who looked after goats (compare Gathard) or someone who resembled a goat in some way; the animal was associated with lascivious behaviour.
Goggs : from the Continental Germanic personal name Gogo of unknown origin and meaning with genitival -s.alternatively the base could sometimes be from Middle English gog(ge) ‘bog swamp’ (compare Gogger) or gog(ge) ‘calf’; note Thomas le Gogge 1327 in Patent Rolls (Somerset).
Graty : perhaps a local pronunciation of Grater. Compare Thomas Graty 1630 Thomas Gratter 1646 Hennery Grattie 1657 in IGI (Shrewsbury Shrops) but Gratter might equally be a pronunciation of Graty whose origin is otherwise unknown.
Grunnill : 1: in Lincs a metathesized variant of Gurnhill. 2: elsewhere a variant of Greenhill alias Grinnell with substitution of -u- for -i- and occasionally with metathesis of the -r- to give forms like Girnill and Gurnall. Compare Mary Grynell 1614 Sarah Greenhill 1651 Robert Grunell 1657 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent); Mathew Grinill 1630 Henry Girnill 1633 in IGI (Little Shelford Cambs); Millycent Girnill 1681 John Greenhill 1696 in IGI (Pershore Worcs); Thos. Grunnell 1726 Thomas Greenhill 1751 in IGI (Ridge Herts); John Grunnell 1781 John Greenhill 1793 in IGI (Thundridge Herts).
Guiver : perhaps a variant of Gifford (see Giffard) with voicing of /f/ to /v/ and weakening of the final syllable to -er as apparently seen in Sara Gyfforde 1576 Thomas Guyver 1611 Mary Giver 1622 in IGI (Ware Herts). For the Gui- spelling compare Robt. Gifford 1704 John Guiford 1738 in IGI (Hadleigh Suffolk); Marye Guifforde 1567 William Guifford 1633 Beniamin Gifford 1659 in IGI (Warminster Wilts).
Halestrap : of uncertain origin. It might be from Helsthorpe in Wingrave (Bucks) which is recorded as Elstrap in 1766 but no evidence has been found that this place gave rise to a surname. Alternatively and more likely it could be a variant of the Lincs surname Helstrip which may have migrated south as well as north; compare John Helstrop 1760 Thomas Halstrap 1760 in IGI (Great Smeaton NR Yorks).
Hallpike : of uncertain origin; perhaps from Hallpike a field in Bolton by Bowland (WR Yorks) apparently named with Middle English hall ‘large private residence hall’ + pike ‘pointed hill’ (Old English hall pīc) but the field-name may be derived from the surname and no medieval bearers have been found. Alternatively if the bearers Robert hirlepik' 1298 in Canterbury Cathedral Archives (Coddenham Suffolk) and Thomas Harlepyk 1368 in Suffolk Record Office (Ipswich) (Coddenham Suffolk) are relevant then the name may be from a derivative of Middle English harlen ‘to draw to drive to strike’ + pike ‘pike pickaxe’ perhaps referring to a medieval game involving pikes (compare Hurlbatt) or for someone who used a pike.
Hallybone : 1: variant of Alban. Compare Roberta Alban 1709 in IGI (Westminster Middx) with the examples below. 2: variant of Hollebon with an unrounded main vowel as shown by Ann Hollebone 1746 Thomas Hollybone 1750 Thomas Holybone 1753 Thomas Hallybone 1773 in IGI (Gosport Hants).
Hawcock : 1: apparently a variant of Awcock (itself a variant of Alcock) with prosthetic H-. Compare William Hawcock 1776 Ann Awcock 1780 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks); Thomas Hawcock 1789 Ann Awcock 1792 in IGI (Doncaster WR Yorks); William Hawcock 1802 Phoebe Awcock 1822 in IGI (North Carlton Lincs); Charles Awcock 1836 William Hawcock 1839 in IGI (Ingham Lincs). 2: perhaps from a pet form of the Middle English personal name Haw(e) (see Haw) with the hypocoristic suffix -cok. Some of the post-medieval bearers below may belong under (1).
Hawtin : from Anglo-Norman French and Middle English haltein haltain haltan hautain hautein hautin auteyn ‘proud haughty arrogant’ certainly attested it seems in the 1327 Staffs bearer Robertus le Hauteyn and perhaps in the Norfolk and Oxon families surnamed Halteyn Hautein but see Further information below.from an altered form of the Middle English personal name Hal(f)dan Halden Haldein Alde(i)n (Old Scandinavian Halfdan see Haldane and Alden) which was early confused with or influenced by (i) (iii) and (iv). See Further information.from Middle English half-thein (Old English healf + Þegn) ‘half thane’ either for a man of knightly rank or for a retainer. It may have been given to one who held half a tenure or half a position. See Halfnight and compare Richard Halfcarl about 1277 in Miscellaneous Inquisitions and Thomas Halfsweyn 1299 in Assize Rolls (Staffs).for a hall servant or retainer from Middle English hal(le)-thein ‘hall thane’ (Old English heall-þegn).
Hayland : 1: for someone who lived at a place known as ‘the hay land’ or ‘the enclosed land’. Middle English hai hei can represent either Old English hēg ‘hay mown grass’ or Old English gehæg geheg ‘fence enclosure’. The 1255 example below is apparently formed with Middle English (Old French) la(u)nde ‘open space in woodland woodland pasture’ but the term is sometimes difficult to tell apart from Middle English (Old English) land ‘piece of land’. The 1279 Surrey name refers to Haylands Farm in Lingfield. Some of the following post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong with (2) or (3). 2: perhaps sometimes an altered form of Hayling. Compare Thomas Hailing 1799 in IGI (Tanfield Durham) but the example below may alternatively belong with (1). 3: see Hyland. 4: see Ayling.
Heague : variant of Hague itself a variant of Haigh. Compare Isabel Hague 1692 Jonathan Heague 1701 in IGI (Hartshead WR Yorks); David Hague 1723 Thomas Heague 1736 in IGI (Ladykirk Berwicks); Joseph Hague 1784 Joseph Heague 1789 in IGI (Bromsgrove Worcs).
Healer : 1: late variant of Healey with the final syllable pronounced [lə] spelled -ler. Compare Margarette Healey 1599 Joshua Healey 1820 Jonathan Healer 1824 in IGI (Prestbury Cheshire); Jno. Healey 1728 Mary Heeley 1759 James Heeler 1809 in IGI (Manchester Lancs); Abraham Heeley 1660 Martha Heeley 1823 Thomas Healer 1823 in IGI (Kirkburton WR Yorks); Sarah Healer 1813 Eliz. Healey 1826 in IGI (Bishopwearmouth Durham). 2: variant of Heller ‘roofer’ see Hillier.
Hecks : 1: apparently a variant of Hicks. Compare Thomas Hicks 1623 Robt Hecks 1648 in IGI (Sowton Devon); William Hicks 1654 Mary Hecks 1758 in IGI (Pitminster Somerset). 2: sometimes a variant of Heck with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare John Parter Heck 1727 John Hecks 1734 in IGI (Snaith WR Yorks).
Helmn : apparently a variant of Helm; compare Robert Helm 1726 Richard Helmn 1755 in IGI (Goosnargh Lancs); John Helm 1735 William Helmn 1754 in IGI (Whitby NR Yorks); Thomas Helm 1750 Thomas Helmn 1757 in IGI (Bridlington ER Yorks).
Hershaw : apparently a variant of Hernshaw (itself a variant of Earnshaw) with loss of -n-. Compare Daniel Hershaw 1755 Thomas Hernshaw 1776 in IGI (Mottram in Longdendale Cheshire); Hannah Hershaw 1769 John Hernshaw 1771 in IGI (Ashton under Lyne Lancs).
Hesbrook : of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of Eastbrook or Easterbrook with prosthetic H- and loss of -t-. Compare Thomas Esterbrook 1699 in IGI (Bury Saint Edmunds Suffolk) with the bearers below.
Heskey : 1: variant of Haskey or a variant of Eskey with prosthetic H-; see Askey. 2: variant of Hesketh. Compare Martha Hesketh Martha Heskey 1712 in IGI (Church Minshull Cheshire); Tho. Hesketh 1731 Thomas Heskey 1759 in IGI (Chapel en le Frith Derbys).
Hex : variant of Hicks. Compare William Hex 1665 William Hix 1667 in IGI (North Petherton Somerset); John Hicks 1695 Thomas Hix 1697 Thomas Hex 1701 in IGI (Saint Columb Minor Cornwall); John Hix 1722 John Hex 1725 in IGI (Tiverton Devon).
Hilland : variant of Hyland. Compare Ann Hyland 1683 Eliz. Hilland 1720 William Highland 1753 in IGI (Wadhurst Sussex); John Hilland 1611 Thomas Highland 1762 in IGI (Tenterden Kent); and with the Cornwall examples below compare John Hyland 1589 in IGI (Linkinhorne Cornwall).
Hillcock : variant of Elcock with prosthetic H-. Compare Thomas Elcock 1583 in IGI (Nantwich Cheshire) with Elizabetha Hilcocke 1622 Alexander Ellcock 1663 Anna Hillcock 1694 in IGI (Acton by Nantwich Cheshire).perhaps alternatively from an unrecorded pet form of the Middle English personal name Hilary (see Hillary) + the hypocoristic suffix -cok.
Hockney : 1: variant of Hocknell as in Raph Hocknell 1706 Mary Hockney 1775 in IGI (Clee Lincs); Willm Hocknall 1753 Thomas Hockney 1754 in IGI (Barrow on Humber Lincs); John Hockney 1755 Thos Hocknell 1793 in IGI (Market Rasen Lincs). 2: in E Anglia possibly a variant of Oakley or Hockley both possibly from Oakley in Suffolk. Interchange of [l] and [n] is not unusual.
Hollamby : variant of Hollingbury which has apparently not survived in that shape. There is a local place-name of this form in Brighton (Sussex) which is not found in early records and can probably be discounted since the surname seems to come from eastern Kent and to have changed to its present form during its westward migration. It does not seem possible to link it with Hollingbourne (Kent) which has no spellings of this type in its record.alternatively perhaps a variant of the Sussex name Hollebon (earlier Holbeme Howbeam) as suggested by Thomas Howbeame 1561 James Hollumbee 1618 in IGI (Ripe Sussex). The m may have been metathesized turning Hollebeme into Hollumbee or the -an- of an earlier Middle English *Holanbeme may have survived in some prounciations of the surname. However the two names may have occurred in Ripe by coincidence and be unrelated.
Horner : 1: English (North Yorkshire) and German: from Horn 1 with the agent suffix -er; used either as an occupational name for someone who made or sold small articles made of horn (Middle English hornere) a metonymic occupational name for someone who played a musical instrument made from the horn of an animal or a topographic name for someone who lived at a ‘horn’ of land. In the Middle Ages whole horns were used for many purposes: as drinking vessels as containers as wind instruments for sounding an alarm and for signalling to others (e.g. when hunting). Pieces of horn were used to make spoons buttons combs handles decorative tips for rods and other things. The horner's craft could include making musical horns as well as sheets of translucent horn for windows and for covering books. For example Thomas Hornar of Petergate in York was paid for ‘hornyng et naillyng’ the superscribed covers of books in York Minster library in 1421.2: German (also Hörner): from any of various places called Horn referring to their location at a spur of land at a horn shaped piece of land.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Horn 5.
Hotine : probably a late variant of Howting; compare John Howtin 1689 Thomas Howting 1775 in IGI (Boughton under Blean Kent); Ann Hotin 1728 in IGI (Westminster Middx).
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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