Origin
ALBERT : (German.) All bright or famous; beort or bert, signifies famous, fair, and clear, bright; so Sebert and Ethelbert were sometimes written Se bright and Ethel bright. All, Eal and AEl, in old English and Saxon compound names, have the same signification as the English All, as Al-dred, Al-win, etc.
ANGEVINE : So named because coming originally from Anjou, in France. The natives of Anjou were called Angevines.
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
AUCHMUTY : (Gaelic.) Local. The field or mount of law; an eminence in which law-courts were held, moot-hills, as they were called; from Ach, an elevation, a mound, and mod, a court, an assembly, a meeting.
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.
BANNATYNE : Local. The name of a place in Scotland, signifying the hill where fires were kindled.
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.
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.
BING : (Danish.) Local. Any thing that incloses; from the Danish binge, a pen, a bin, a corn-bin; a name given to a place where supplies or provisions were kept.
BINGHAM : Local. From the town of Bingham, in Nottinghamshire, so named from the Danish Bing, a place where provisions were deposited; and ham, a town or village. Bingham, a depository for grain; a place tilled, inhabited.
BORLAND : (Cor. Br.) Local. The high land; the swelling or rising land; from bor, swelling, rising, and lemd. If from the Saxon, it signifies the land belonging to the common people. Bordlands were lands which the lords kept in their hands for the maintenance of their board or table. Borland is the name of a village in Fifeshire, Scotland, whence the family may have originated.
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 ?
BRISBAN : This name is local, and may signify the Mount or Hill of Judgment, a place where courts were held and law administered, among the Celts and Britons, from the Cornish-British brez or brys, a judgment, a trial at law, and ban, a hill, a mount In Gaelic, Breasban signifies the royal mount; Briosgabhain, the rapid river; Brisbeinn, the broken hill or cliff.
BRISBIN : This name is local, and may signify the Mount or Hill of Judgment, a place where courts were held and law administered, among the Celts and Britons, from the Cornish-British brez or brys, a judgment, a trial at law, and ban, a hill, a mount In Gaelic, Breasban signifies the royal mount; Briosgabhain, the rapid river; Brisbeinn, the broken hill or cliff.
BUTTS : Butts were marks for archery. In most parishes places were set apart for this necessary sport which were called the Butts, hence, the name was given to a person residing near such a spo, as John at the Butts. But signifies a promontory, as the Butt of Lewis, an isle of Scotland. Danish, But, blunt, rough.
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.
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.
CHILDS : Child, Page and Varlet were names given to youths from seven to fourteen years of age, while receiving their education for knighthood.
CLEARY : From the Gaelic Cleireach, a clerk, a clergyman, a writer. A noted family of historians whose estates were in the county of Donnegal, Ireland.
CLERY : From the Gaelic Cleireach, a clerk, a clergyman, a writer. A noted family of historians whose estates were in the county of Donnegal, Ireland.
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
CONDER : Conders were persons stationed upon high places near the sea coast to watch the shoals for fishermen, at the time of herring-fishing. The name is derived from the French conduire, to conduct
COOEY : (Gaelic.) A hero; literally, the dog of the plain, from cu, a dog, and magh, a plain. The names of various animals were given anciently to heroes, to denote power, swiftness, or courage.
COE : (Gaelic.) A hero; literally, the dog of the plain, from cu, a dog, and magh, a plain. The names of various animals were given anciently to heroes, to denote power, swiftness, or courage.
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.
DONALD : (Gaelic and Celtic.) A great man, a proud chieftain, from Domhnull. These names appear to have their root in the Gaelic noun Dion, a defense, shelter, protection. The verb Dion signifies to defend, to protect Dun has nearly the same meaning, a heap, a hill, or mount, a fortified house or hill, a castle. Surnames compounded of Dion, Don, or Dun, were figuratively usdd to denote persons of courage, and who were not easily subdued.
DONELL : (Gaelic and Celtic.) A great man, a proud chieftain, from Domhnull. These names appear to have their root in the Gaelic noun Dion, a defense, shelter, protection. The verb Dion signifies to defend, to protect Dun has nearly the same meaning, a heap, a hill, or mount, a fortified house or hill, a castle. Surnames compounded of Dion, Don, or Dun, were figuratively usdd to denote persons of courage, and who were not easily subdued.
DONELLY : (Gaelic and Celtic.) A great man, a proud chieftain, from Domhnull. These names appear to have their root in the Gaelic noun Dion, a defense, shelter, protection. The verb Dion signifies to defend, to protect Dun has nearly the same meaning, a heap, a hill, or mount, a fortified house or hill, a castle. Surnames compounded of Dion, Don, or Dun, were figuratively usdd to denote persons of courage, and who were not easily subdued.
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.
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.
FAGAN : (Gaelic.) A beech-tree. The Fagans were descended from Patrick O'Hagan, living a.d. 1180. O'Hagan, the posterity of Agan. Ogan, Ogyn, or Hogyn signifies, in the Welsh, young, a youth. Gaelic, Og, a young man.
FAY : (Spanish.) Fe, faith. In Normandy, plantations of beech were called Faye, Fayel, and Fautlaie.
HOUSTON : Local. From the parishof Houston, in Renfrewshire, Scotland. There is an old tradition, that in the reign of Malcolm IV., a.d. 1153, Hugh Padvinan obtained a grant of the barony of Kilpeter, from Baldwin of Biggar, sheriff of Lanark, and hence called Hughstown, corrupted into Houstoun. These Houstons were of great consideration in Renfrewshire.
KEESE : (Dutch.) An abbreviation of Cornelius, among the Dutch. Keys, called Taxiaxia, were officers of justice, in olden times, in the Isle of Man.
KEITH : Local. From the parish and lands of Keith, in Banffshire, Scotland. The name Keith is said to be derived from the Gaelic Gaoth, wind, pronounced somewhat similarly to Keith. The old village and kirk are called Arkeith, which may be a corruption of the Gaelic Ard Quoth, signifying high wind, which corresponds to its locality, which is peculiarly exposed to gusts of wind. In some old charters, Keith is written Gith, which still more resembles Gaith. I think the name is derived from the Welsh Caeth, a place surrounded, shut up, inclosed, a deep hollow, a strait. The root of the word is the Welsh Cau, to close, to shut up. Concerning this family, the traditional account is, that they came from G-ermany in the reign of the Emperor Otho, and from the principality of Hesse, from which they were expelled in some revolution. The first person of this family of whom our oldest historians take notice, is Robert De Keith, to whom Malcom II, King of Scotland, gave the barony of Keith, in East Lothian, as a reward for killing Camus, a Danish general, who then invaded Scotland with a numerous army. The battle was fought at Barry, seven miles from Dundee, where an obelisk, called Camus' stone, still preserves the memory of the victory, and it is said the king, dipping his three fingers in the blood of the general, stroked them along the field of the Scotch champion's shield, to whom, besides the landed estate before mentioned, he gave the dignity of Great Marshal of Scotland.
KIRK : (Teut) Kirche, a church. Gaelic, cearcall, a circle, the primitive places of worship among the Celts were round, a symbol of eternity, and the existence of the Supreme Being, without beginning or end.
KIRKALDY : Local. From Kirkcaldy, a town in Fifeshire, Scotland, from Kirk, a church, and culdee, the worshipers of God, the first Christians of Britain, who were said to have had a place of worship there in ancient times.
KIRWAN : The name was O'Quirivane until the time of Queen Elizabeth, when they, with many Irish houses, were compelled to drop the O, and Quirivane was corrupted into Kirwan.
LENT : Some names were given from the festivals and seasons of the year in which they were born, as Noel, Holiday, Pascal, Lent, etc.
MARCH : A boundary, a limit; the boundary-lines between England, Scotland, and Wales, were called The Marches. Lords Marches were noblemen who anciently inhabited, guarded, and secured these marches.
McDONALD : This family was for many centuries reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of Scotland, being styled King of the Isles, for many generations, during which they were successful in asserting their independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about the year 1140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, whereupon he assumed the title of King of the Isles. He was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was his grandson.
McDONELL : This family was for many centuries reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of Scotland, being styled King of the Isles, for many generations, during which they were successful in asserting their independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about the year 1140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, whereupon he assumed the title of King of the Isles. He was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was his grandson.
McLEAN : MacGillean. From a Highland chieftain of the name of Gillean, who was the progenitor of this family. This Gillean was a celebrated warrior, and was called Gillean-ni-Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle-ax, which in the Gaelic is Twidh, which his descendants wear to this day in their crest, betwixt a laurel and a cypress branch. The posterity of this Gillean were therefore called Mac Gillean, in all ancient documents, and now of modern date McLeans. Magh Leamhna in the County of Antrim, the estate of the McLeans or Macklins.
McNAMARA : (Celtic.) From Mac, son, and cu-marra or or con-marra, the hero of the sea. Con-marra was descended from Cos, King of Thomond, from whom came McConmara, or Macnamara. This fomily were anciently hereditary lords in the County of Clare.
METCALF : In the Welsh, medd signifies a vale, a meadow, and caf, a cell, a chancel, a church, i. e., the church in the vale. The origin of the name, however, is given by tradition in this wise. In those days when bullfights were in vogue, in merry England, one of the enraged animals broke away from the combat, and was hotly pursued by horsemen. A certain John Strong happened to meet the bull on the top of a hill, and when attacked by the furious beast, he seized him in the nostrils with his left hand, and killed him. As he came to the foot of the hill, meeting several persons in the pursuit, he was inquired of whether he had met a bull; he replied he Met a calf and from this circumstance was called afterward John Metcalfe.
MUSGRAVE : King's falconer, from Meus, Sax., the place where the hawks were kept, and grave, keeper.
NORMAN : A native of Normandy, a northman. The inhabitants of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were anciently so called.
PAGE : Child, and Varlet, were names given to youths between seven and fourteen years of age while receiving their education for knighthood.
PEABODY : There is an ancient tradition (we give it for what it is worth), that this name was derived from one Boadie, a kinsman of Queen Boadicea, who assisted her in her revolt against the Romans. After the Britons were subdued by the Romans, Queen Boadicea dispatched herself by poison, and Boadie, with a remnant of the Britons, escaped to the mountains of Wales. Boadie, among the Cambri or Britons, signified a man or a great man, and Pea signified a large hill, a mountain, from which Boadie came to be called Peabodie, or the Mountain man, which became the name of the tribe.
PEYTON : Assumed by the proprietors of Peyton, a small town near Boxford, in Suffolk, England. They were descendants of William Mallet, one of the favorites of William the Conqueror.
PLAYFAIR : Local. The playground, a place where lain were held, and holidays kept.
POMEROY : (Fr.) Pomme-roi, a kind of apple, the royal apple, king's apple, or king of apples; a name probably given to a gardener for his skill in raising them, or a name of place where such apples were raised.
ROMANNO : Local. From lands in the county of Peebles, Scotland, so called from a Roman military way, leading from the famous Roman camp at Line to the Lothians, which passed through the middle of those lands, from which they were called Romanno.
SETON : Local. From lands of that name in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, which were so called because the town thereof was situated close upon the sea, and which gave name to the family of Seton, so renowned in Scottish annals.
TING : Local. Among the ancient Gaels or Celts the place where courts were held, and justice administered, was called Ting, i. e., to surround; the circle, the temple, or round hill. The Tings at first were only judicial, but, in process of time they became legislative. The most remarkable object of this kind is the Tynwald, in the Isle of Man. Thing, Saxon, a cause, meeting, a council; German, ding, a court. Dutch, Dinger, a pleader.
TOWERS : Peels, and Castles, were places of defense. Tower is derived from tor, Gaelic and Saxon, French tour, Welsh, twr, a heap or pile, applied to conical hills, and to round buildings erected for strength or security.
TURNOUR : There is a tradition that this family derive their name from their ancient place of settlement in Normandy, which being a black castle, was called Le tour noir, whence the lords thereof were called Les Sires de Tournoir, and by contraction Tournor. One of the family went with William the Conqueror into England. It is probably the same as Turner, a name of trade, the orthography being changed.
WALSH : A Gaul, which the Germans pronounce with a w, as Wallic for Gaulic. Wallis, Wallish, Walsh. The Welsh were originally from Gaul. (See Wales and Wallace.)
WORCESTER : Local. A county and city of England, which Bailey derives from Sax. Were, a forest, and Cester, a camp or city. I prefer deriving it from Worcester, the city or castle of strife, from the Saxon Woer, war, strife, with which the ancient British name agrees, called Caerwrangon, the castle or fort of strife and contention. It was a boundary for many years between the Britons and Saxons. (See Chester.)
YORK : Local. A city in England next in esteem to London. Verstegan derives its name from Eure-ric or Eouer-ric, of Euere, a wild boar, and ryc, a refuge; a retreat from the wild boars which were in the forest of Gautries. The Romans called the city Eboracum; it is memorable for the death of two emperors, Severus and Constantius Chlorus, and for the nativity of Constantine the Great.
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