Origin and popularity of the name WILLIAM

Origin

William : 1: English (of Norman origin): from the Middle English personal name William Willam Willem an Old Picard and Norman French form of ancient Germanic Willihelm composed of the elements wil- ‘will desire’ + helm- ‘helmet protection’. This Norman personal name became widely used in England Scotland and Wales after the Conquest mainly no doubt in honor of the Conqueror himself. By the 13th century it had already become the most popular personal name in England. A Parisian form of the name Guillaume was also sometimes used (see Gillam) which in medieval Wales was adopted as Gwilym (see Gwilliam).2: Americanized form (translation into English) of French Guillaume.

Ablard : probably a post-medieval variant of Ablett (1). Compare William Ablard 1703 Richd. Ablet 1749 in IGI (Boston Lincs); Edwd Ablard 1745 Anne Ablett 1749 in IGI (North Thoresby Lincs); and Richard Ablet Frances Ablerd 1788 in IGI (Scrivelsby Lincs).

Aldhouse : variant of Aldous altered by folk etymology by association with the word house. Compare William Aldus 1632 Robert Aldhouse 1719 in IGI (Denton Norfolk).

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).

Allen : 1: English and Scottish: from the Middle English Old French personal name Alain Alein (Old Breton Alan) from a Celtic personal name of great antiquity and obscurity. In England the personal name is now usually spelled Alan the surname Allen; in Scotland the surname is more often Allan. From 1139 it was common in Scotland where the surname also derives from Gaelic Ailéne Ailín from ail ‘rock’. The present-day frequency of the surname Allen in England and Ireland is partly accounted for by the popularity of the personal name among Breton followers of William the Conqueror by whom it was imported first to Britain and then to Ireland. Saint Alan(us) was a 5th-century bishop of Quimper who was a cult figure in medieval Brittany. Another Saint Al(l)an was a Cornish or Breton saint of the 6th century to whom a church in Cornwall is dedicated.2: English: occasionally perhaps from the rare Middle English femaje personal name Aline (Old French Adaline Aaline) a pet form of ancient Germanic names in Adal- especially Adalheidis (see Allis).3: French: variant of Allain a cognate of 1 above and in North America (also) an altered form of this.

Allgrove : unexplained; possibly from an occasional variant of Waldegrave; compare Willelmo Walgrove 1379 in Poll Tax (Leics) and William Waldgrove 1756 in IGI (Highworth Wilts).

Anforth : probably a variant of Hanford; see Handford and compare Peter Handforth 1723 William Anforth 1781 in IGI (Rothwell WR Yorks). .

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).

Ansett : perhaps a variant of Anstead with devoicing of final /d/ to /t/ and dissimilatory loss of the first -t-. Compare Edwd. Ansted 1726 in IGI (Womenswold Kent) with the 1724 bearer below.perhaps an irregular variant of Ansell; see William Ansett alias Ansell 1866 in TNA (Chart Sutton Kent) and compare William Ansell 1711 in IGI (Hernhill Kent) with the 1713 bearer below. However it is likely that the name Ansett alias Ansell represents scribal uncertainty as to whether -tt or -ll was the correct form of the name rather than Ansett and Ansell being interchangeable surnames.

Ashmole : 1: unexplained name associated with the Isle of Axholme (Lincs) which becomes equated or confused with one of its own variants in the Midlands in the 19th cent. as in Elias William Ashmole Ashmall 1894 in IGI (Hartshill by Stoke on Trent Staffs). In Staffs perhaps influenced by the local surname Ashmore from the place in Wednesfield. 2: see Ashmore.

Aungiers : from Angers in Maine-et-Loire France. This name is also found in medieval England without the final -s; see Ainger and Danger for early bearers especially in Wilts and perhaps in N England.variant of Ainger with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare William Anger 1805 in IGI (Haddenham Cambs) and Richard Anger 1815 in IGI (Graveley Cambs) with the 1792 and 1733 bearers below.

Aveley : 1: perhaps a variant of Averley or vice versa. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs). 2: from Aveley (Essex) a few miles east of the old City of London. The place-name is recorded as Aluithelea in 1086 Alviueleia in 1157 Alvyleye in 1272–1307 and Alveley Aveley in 1535. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfgȳð + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’.perhaps an occasional pronunciation of Avery with [l] for [r] or vice versa. Compare John Averey 1621 in IGI (Saint Bride Fleet Street London). 3: perhaps from Avely Hall in Assington (Suffolk) a few miles south-east of Sudbury although the surname evidence is slight and may belong with (1) or (2) or have a different but unknown origin. The place-name is recorded as Aluenelega in 1086 Alwyneleye in 1298 Alvyngley alias Alweley in 1518–29 and Alveley alias Alvingley in 1569. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfwynn + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’. It is not certain that the 1340 example below belongs here.

Averley : variant of Haverley (see Habberley) with loss of initial H-. This is explicit in Mary Averley or Aberley 1625 Edward Aberley 1708 in IGI (Rugeley Staffs) and in Edwd Habberley 1702 Edward Haverley 1708 Charles Aberly 1732 Eleanor Joyce Averley 1815 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London).perhaps from Aversley Wood in Sawtrey (Hunts now Cambs) with loss of medial -s-. The place-name is recorded as Ailbrittesle in 1209 Aylbritesle in 1245 and Albrichelee in 1290 and derives from the Old English personal name Æðelbeorht (genitive Æðelbeorhtes) + lēah ‘open woodland’. A(i)lbrit(s)ley will have been simplified to something like Aber(s)ley and Aver(s)ley but it is not known when. If the spelling of his surname is reliable it is conceivable that John de Averle 1279 in Hundred Rolls (Hunts) provides early evidence for it and it could account for the surname in 17th-century Cambs but the absence of any medieval spellings of the place-name with Aber- or Aver- makes it difficult to assess its plausibility.perhaps a variant of Aveley with -er- as an inverted spelling of medial unstressed -e-. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs) but spellings with -er- occur much earlier for the Soham family name for which Aveley is more likely to be a late spelling of Averley.

Awdry : 1: from Audrieu (Calvados) which is recorded as Aldreium in 1108. The first known bearer of this name in England William de Aldrie was executed for treason in 1095 and there appears to be no other medieval evidence for the surname in Wilts where William's lands were. Nevertheless the post-medieval evidence for Awdry in Wilts and for Audrey in adjacent counties has been tentatively assigned to this etymology partly because the same surname (and perhaps the same family as William) occurs continuously elsewhere (in Durham from the 12th to the 14th centuries) and partly because a Robert Audrey is recorded in Oxon in 1279. Alternatively the Wilts Berks Oxon and Gloucs surnames derive from the relationship name identified in (2). Odry is an occasional post-medieval variant which as Odery survived sporadically in England until the 1881 census but has now become extinct. 2: from the Middle English female personal name Aldrith which sometimes became Audrey by a 15th-century pronunciation change of /ald/ to /aud/. It derives from one of three Old English female personal names Æðelþrȳð Ælfþrȳð and Ealhþrȳð. The first element in these is æðel ‘noble’ ælf ‘elf sprite’ or ealh ‘shrine temple’ and the second element is þrȳð ‘strength force’. The most popular was Æðelþrȳð commonly latinized as Etheldreda and appearing in various Middle English forms such as Atheldrith(e) Aildrith Aldreth Etheldred and Eldrid(e). It was borne by Saint Etheldred (later known also as Saint Audrey) Queen of Northumbria daughter of Anna king of East Anglia. She was the founder and first abbess of the monastery at Ely in about 672 and her continuing cult after the Norman Conquest was probably responsible for the survival of the personal name well into the 14th century especially in E Anglia. Common Middle English forms like Aldreth and Eldrid probably contributed to Aldred whose main location is E Anglia Eldred which is common in E England and possibly Eldrett. It may be the source of Audrey and Awdry in SW England see (1). 3: from French Auduroy ‘(son) of (someone surnamed) Duroy or Durey’ which itself signified ‘(son) of (someone nicknamed) the king’ (Old French le roi or le rei). Auduroy perhaps through its variant Audurey may have become shortened to Audry and confused with a different surname French Audri from the Old French male personal name Audri Continental Germanic Aldric.

Bance : 1: apparently from Baons-le-Comte (Seine-Maritime). In the case of the early bearer William le Bans 1334 cited below either le is an error for de or a different explanation is required. 2: variant of Bant with post-medieval excrescent -s. 3: see Bunce.

Banson : apparently a variant of Benson. Compare Will Banson 1591 Will Benson 1593 in IGI (Great Waltham Essex); Eleanor Benson 1665 William Wilson Banson 1778 in IGI (Jarrow Durham).

Barrass : 1: variant of Barrows. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames records William Barowes 1547 John Barras 1638 in Knaresborough Wills (Knaresborough WR Yorks). 2: perhaps for a large or tall person from Old French barrace ‘large bar bulky obstacle’.possibly from the same word as in (i) in the technical sense ‘the outwork of a fortress’. 3: re-spelling of Barros.

Barry : 1: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Beargha ‘descendant of Beargh’ a byname meaning ‘plunderer’.2: Irish and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Báire ‘descendant of Báire’ a short form of either of two Gaelic personal names Bairrfhionn or Fionnbharr both meaning ‘fair-topped’. This may also be the source of the Manx name Barry whose family's main seat was Ballavarry in Kirk Andreas.3: English Welsh and Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name which according to the Anglo-Norman chronicler Gerald de Barry (Giraldus Cambrensis) refers to the Island of Barry opposite the town of Barry (Glamorgan) owned by the Barry family by gift of William the Conqueror. In Ireland the surname mostly goes back to another member of the family Philip de Barry who took part in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. His son William de Barry was granted baronies in South Munster by King John and his principal seat was Castlelyons (Cork). Derivation from one of the French hamlets called Barri is unlikely since they all occur in southern France far from spheres of Norman influence.4: English: nickname from Old French barré Anglo-Norman French barri ‘striped’ probably in reference to striped clothing or to a piece of horizontally striped cloth worn around the helmet for identification in battle. The term barry came to be used in heraldry for a field horizontally divided by strips of alternating color.5: Scottish: variant of Barrie.6: French: topographic name from Occitan barri ‘part of a town outside its walls’ or a habitational name from any of hamlets called Barri in southern France named with the same word. Compare Bary 2 and Dubarry.7: Altered form of French Baril and Barré (see Barre 3 and 4). Compare Barrie 3 Bary 3 and Berry 7.8: Walloon and northern French: habitational name from Barry in Wallonia (Belgium). This surname is also found in the Flemish part of Belgium. Compare Bary 1.9: West African (mainly Guinea and Burkina Faso): from the name of the Barry clan of the Fulani people of unexplained etymology.

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.

Binsley : variant of Bindloss with metathesis of -s- and substitution of -ley for -low. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames records John Binlus alias Binsley 1655 in Inquisitiones post Mortem (Bedale NR Yorks) and William Benlowes Binslow or Billoes 1628–49 in Parish Registers (Pickhill NR Yorks). Tooth (3 p. 37) notes the currency of Bindloes and Bindloss in modern Staffs where Binnesley also occurs. Compare Bensley.the Staffs name may alternatively be a variant of Binley with an intrusive -s-.

Blakeborough : perhaps from a lost place in Salterforth (WR Yorks) referred to as Blakebroc in a charter of 1147–54 with -b(o)rough substituted for -brok ‘brook’.alternatively an altered form of Blackburn with -brok or -b(o)rough substituted for -burn. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames records William Blakburne alias Blakebrooke 1600 in York Registry Wills (Waddington WR Yorks) and Walter Blakebrooke Blagbrooke or Blageburn 1600–16 in West Yorks Deeds (Bradford WR Yorks). Compare also Johes. Blakeburne 1541 Jonathan Blackborough 1789 in IGI (Halifax WR Yorks). Blackbrook is now extinct.

Blant : altered pronunciation of Blunt. Compare John Blant 1610 William Blunt 1626 in IGI (Witherley Leics) and Robert Blount 1624 Elianor Blunt 1699 Ann Blant 1779 in IGI (Elford Staffs).

Blaver : variant of Blaber. Compare the 1734 bearer below with William Blaber 1738 in IGI (Funtington Sussex).

Bottomer : unexplained; probably a variant of Buttimer which is likewise of uncertain origin. Perhaps to be compared with Botoner the mother's-side family name of the late medieval author William Worcestre (1410-1480/5) from Middle English botoner ‘button-maker’ and compared as regards pronunciation with Latimer for Latiner.

Brabury : 1: variant of Bradbury. Compare Richard Bradbury 1615 William Bradbury 1733 in IGI (Uttoxeter Staffs) with the 1734 bearer and Edmund Bradbury 1675 James Bradbury 1758 in IGI (Ashton under Lyne Lancs) with the 1757 bearer. 2: in SW England perhaps a variant of Bradbeer. See also Bradbury (2).

Bracegirdle : from Middle English brec ‘breeches’ (Old French braie(s)) + Old English gyrdel for a maker of belts to keep up breeches. Compare William Brigerdler 1281 in London Letter Books B.

Braimbridge : altered form of Bainbridge perhaps via Baimbridge. Compare William Braimbridge 1746 William Bainbridge 1752 George Brainbridge 1780 in IGI (Kilnsea ER Yorks).

Branks : probably a clipped form of Brankston. Compare William Brankston the child (christened in 1751) with William Branks the father (1781) recorded in the parish registers of Cumbernauld (Dunbartons) in IGI.

Breeton : 1: variant of Breedon with devoicing of /d/ to /t/. Compare William Breedon 1696 Wm. Breeton 1749 in IGI (Burton Coggles Lincs). 2: variant of Breton. Compare Alice Breton 1562 George Breeton 1605 in IGI (Long Bennington Lincs); Peter Breton 1621 John Breeton 1753 in IGI (Leadenham Lincs).

Brett : 1: English: ethnic name for a Breton from Old French bret nominative of breton ‘Breton’. The Bretons were Celtic-speakers driven from southwestern England to northwestern France in the 6th century AD by Anglo-Saxon invaders; some of them reinvaded England in the 11th century as part of the army of William the Conqueror. In France and among Normans Bretons had a reputation for stupidity and in some cases this name and its variants and cognate may have originated as derogatory nicknames. The English surname is most common in East Anglia where many Bretons settled after the Conquest. In Scotland it may also have denoted a member of one of the Celtic-speaking peoples of Strathclyde who were known as Bryttas or Brettas well into the 13th century.2: German: metonymic occupational name from Middle Low German bret ‘board’ for a sawyer or carpenter or from a shortened compound like Brettschneider Bretthauer.3: French: very rare variant and probably an Americanized form of Bret a cognate of 1 above.

Bridgart : variant of Bridgett. Compare William Bridgett 1727 John Bridgart 1732 in IGI (Derby Derbys).

Broatch : 1: from Broats in Kirkpatrick-Fleming (Dumfriess). The place-name may be directly or indirectly from an English plural form of Old Norse broti ‘broken land cleared land’ . 2: from Middle English bro(u)che ‘pointed weapon or instrument; clasp brooch pin’ perhaps for one who made or sold such items. Compare Ralph Brocher 1222 in Feet of Fines (Suffolk); John Brocher Roger le Brochere 1281 in London Letter Books B. Compare William Bruchemaker 1381 in Yorks Poll Tax and William ploghbrocher 1281 in Fransson (Lincs) probably a maker of ploughshares.

Brunnen : variant of Brunning. Compare Johanna Brunning 1823 William Brunnen 1825 in IGI (Ipswich Suffolk); Wm Brunning 1838 Frederick Brunnen 1866 in IGI (Alverstoke Hants).

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).

Budgen : 1: perhaps a variant of Bodiam pronounced [bɔʤəm]. In the registers of Maidstone (Kent) the husband and wife William and Elizabeth Bodiom 1676 alias Bodiam 1678 alias Bodyham 1691 in IGI appear to be identical with William and Elizabeth Bodgiam 1674 and 1681 alias Bodgham 1682 and 1689 in IGI. The vowel shift to give Budgen is apparently illustrated in Joan Bodgeam 1603 Edward Budgen 1681 Jemima Buching 1785 in IGI (Cranbrook Kent) but it may occur a century earlier in Penshurst (as Butchin and Budgen). 2: alternatively perhaps from Bodsham in Elmstead (Kent) with /ds/ becoming /ʤ/ and /ʧ/. The place-name denoted the homestead (Old English hām) of a man named with the Old English personal name *Bodd(e).

Bumpstead : from Helion Bumpstead and Steeple Bumpstead (Essex) which is recorded as Bunstede and Bomstede in the 12th century. The place-name may derive from Old English bune ‘reed hollow stem flax’ + stede ‘place’. There was perhaps some confusion with Benstead; compare John Bumstead 1563 John Benstead 1594 in IGI (Norton Suffolk); Anne Bumpstead 1628 William Benstead 1632 in IGI (Rattlesden Suffolk).

Buncher : from the Old French expression bonne ch(i)ere ‘good cheer’ for someone with a cheery and welcoming expression or perhaps for someone who used the expression as a greeting. Compare Anglo-Norman French ové bone chere ‘with pleasure satisfaction’ faire bone chere ‘to welcome greet gladly’ and mustrer bone chere ‘to be hospitable to make welcome’. The name is synonymous with Belcher. It may also have been confused with the name in (ii) at an early date.variant of Bunker. Compare Gualteri Bunker 1612 John Buncher 1651 John Buncker 1667 in IGI (Ashburton Devon); Judith Bunkar 1663 William Buncher 1758 in IGI (Westoning Beds).

Buttress : variant of Buttery + post-medieval excrescent -s as in Rychard Buttery 1568 William Buttresse 1626 in IGI (Humberstone Leics).variant of Butters and Botterell or of Botterill + post-medieval excrescent -s.

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.

Camden : English: possibly a habitational name from Broad Campden or Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire both named with Old English camp ‘enclosure’ + denu ‘valley’. Camden Town in London is not the source: this is a late name deriving from the title of Charles Pratt Earl of Camden of Camden Place Chislehurst (Kent) which takes its name from William Camden the Elizabethan antiquary whose surname is from Campden (Gloucestershire).

Campleman : according to Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames an altered form of Cappleman perhaps influenced by Camplin and its variant Camplejohn. Compare John Campline 1628 Richard Cappleman 1721 in IGI (Lythe NR Yorks); Robert Cappleman William Campleman 1672 in Hearth Tax (Newbegin ward Hull).

Cantle : apparently a reduced form of Cantello the family name of a medieval lord of one of the manors of Weston on Avon (Gloucs). The names were at any rate interchangeable in the 17th and 18th centuries: Anne Cantle 1674 William Cantelo 1681 in IGI (Wonston Hants); Walter Cantle 1690 Jane Cantel 1747 Patience Cantilo 1770 in IGI (Broughton Gifford Wilts).

Canton : 1: English Welsh (Pembrokeshire) and Irish (Mayo and Westmeath of Anglo-Norman origin): shortened form of Cannington from Cannington (Somerset). The first of this name in Pembrokeshire was an Anglo-Norman lord Sir William de Cantington of Eglwyswrw also known as Hen Wiliam Caentwyn who died c. 1230. The surname was frequently written as Cantetone Caunton and Canton. In the late 12th or early 13th century members of the Pembrokeshire family obtained estates in Ireland where was Gaelicized as Condún; see Condon.2: English (of Huguenot origin): habitational name from Cantin Nord (France).3: Galician (Cantón): habitational name from any of the places in Lugo and Pontevedra provinces (in Galicia Spain) named Cantón from a derivative of canto ‘corner’ (see Canto).4: French (southern): topographic name from Occitan canton ‘corner’ denoting someone who lived on a street corner.

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.

Caspall : perhaps a late variant of Catchpole. Compare Joseph Catchpole 1685 Martha Caspell 1772 in IGI (Deal Kent); William Catchpole 1708 Sarah Caspell 1773 in IGI (Lympne Kent); Edwd. Caspell 1752 William Caspole 1777 in IGI (Margate Kent).

Cavendish : 1: English: habitational name from a place in Suffolk named Cavendish from an Old English byname Cāfna (meaning ‘bold daring’) + Old English edisc ‘enclosed pasture’. Cavendish is the surname of the Dukes of Devonshire. They are descended from Sir John Cavendish who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench (1372–81). Under the Tudors and Stuarts a succession of shrewd and powerful heads of the family achieved political prominence and became extremely wealthy. William Cavendish 2nd Earl of Devonshire was a strong supporter of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 and of William of Orange (William III) against James II. In 1694 he was created Duke of Devonshire. The Latin family motto Cavendo tutus ‘safe through taking care’ is a pun on the surname.2: Manx: Anglicized form of Corjeag a shortened form of Mac Quartag ‘son of Svarteygr’ (from Old Norse meaning ‘black-eyed’). Folk etymology interpreted Corjeag incorrectly as Manx curjeig ‘alms-dish’ and equally incorrectly supposed that the surname Cavendish was a synonym meaning ‘giving-dish’. Manxmen's familiarity with the English surname presumably led to the substitution.

Chafer : 1: from Old French chauffour ‘limekiln worker at a limekiln’. A native English equivalent is limbrenner as in William le Limbrenner ‘the lime burner’ 1305 in Fransson (Lincs). 2: possibly also a variant of Chaffer.

Chappin : probably a late variant of Choppin; see Chopping. Compare Sarah Choppen 1768 James Choppin 1770 Elis Chappin 1774 in IGI (Waltham Abbey Essex); William Choppin 1800 William Chappin 1804 in IGI (Cheshunt Herts).

Charmer : possibly a reduced variant of Charman. Compare William Charman 1775 William Charmar 1783 in IGI (Warnham Sussex); William Charman 1784 Sarah Charmer 1789 in IGI (Horsham Sussex).

Cheeseworth : probably a variant of Chesworth concentrated in Devon and Cornwall due to migration. Compare John Chesworth William Cheesworth 1838 in IGI (Wolstanton Staffs).

Cleal : probably a reduced form of Clayfield with loss of -v- in the variant pronunciation Clevel; compare Elizabeth Clavel 1759 Mary Clevel 1757 William Clavil 1768 in IGI (Wareham Dorset).

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.

Cogan : 4: Americanized form of Jewish (from Ukraine) Kogan from the Russian pronunciation of Cohen.1: Irish and Welsh (of Norman origin): habitational name from Cogan near Cardiff which may have been named with a Welsh word meaning ‘bowl depression’. In 1166 Milo de Cogan held two fees near Penarth (Glamorganshire) of William earl of Gloucester. Members of this Norman family probably account for the name's appearance in 13th-century Berwickshire. By this time the family was also present in Ireland associated with counties Limerick and Cork. It may have been the Irish branch that later brought the name to southwest Scotland.2: Irish (Leitrim): variant of Coogan.3: English: variant of Cockayne.

Colville : English and Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Colleville in Seine-Maritime France named with the Scandinavian personal name Koli (see Cole 2) + Old French ville ‘settlement village’. The Scottish branch of the family were descended from Philip de Colville who came to Scotland as a household knight of kings Malcolm IV (1153–65) and William ‘the Lion’ (1165–1214).

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.

Corah : local pronunciation Cory. Compare William Cory 1668 Sarah Cawrey 1676 Mary Caurah 1680 Nickolas Corah 1696 in IGI (Shepshed Leics).

Cornall : 1: the Lancs name is a variant of Corney where -all and -ell are hypercorrect pronunciations of Cornah Corner and Cornoe late pronunciations of Corney. 2: the Devon name is a variant of Cornwall. Here also probably belongs Gurnall as in Joan Gurnall 1586 in IGI (Crediton Devon) and William Gurnall 1650 in IGI (Lavenham Suffolk). Compare Corney.

Coslett : German and Welsh: from early modern German korselett ‘corslet piece of body armour’. The name is said to have arrived in Wales from Westphalia in the person of Corslet Tinkhaus an expert in the production of malleable iron who came in 1567 at the behest of an Elizabethan monopoly patent-holder for iron wire William Humfrey active in Usk and Tintern (Monmouths) and Machen (Glamorgan). If that is correct Tinkhaus' personal name (or rather nickname) was inherited by his descendants rather than his surname. The English loss of /r/ before /s/ has many parallels e.g. in cuss for curse.

Cotsell : probably a variant of Godsell with devoicing of /g/ to /k/ and /d/ to /t/. Compare Willi Godsell 1642 William Cotsall 1666 Georg Codsel 1679 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).

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.

Creet : 1: perhaps a variant of Crate of which Craft is another both of them dialect forms of Croft. With the 1562 bearer below compare Willm Craft 1652 and William Croft 1731 in IGI (Spalding Lincs).alternatively a variant of Creed with devoicing of the final consonant. Compare Antony Creed 1687 in IGI (Stepney Middx) and John Creed 1859 in IGI (Aldershot Hants) with the 1852 example below. 2: of French though unexplained origin.

Cruttwell : probably a hypercorrect form of Crittall. Compare Henry Crottell 1627 William Cruttall 1680 William Cruttell 1704 Will. Crutwell 1710 John Edward Cruttwell 1753 in IGI (Wokingham Berks).

Currer : from Middle English and Older Scots *curour *corour *currour a reduced form of correiour ‘leather dresser’ see Currier. The name is early borne by Scottish merchants and burgesses. In England William Corrour or Corour barker of Bury Saint Edmunds 1491 1497 in Suffolk Record Office (Bury) was a tanner of leather (Middle English barkere) though his surname if inherited may belong with (ii).alternatively from Middle English corour currour (Old French corëor courreour) ‘courier messenger’.

Cyster : 1: possibly from Middle English sester ‘brewer's vat’ influenced by the common English word sister.alternatively possibly from Middle English suster (earlier swuster) ‘sister’ itself though in what sense is unclear. The most recent spelling-transformation is unexplained. Some later bearers with the modern spelling certainly belong with (2). 2: sometimes arising from or confused with Sweetser or Switzer. Compare John Sweetser 1805 in IGI (Farnham Royal Bucks) with William Cyster 1809 in IGI (Farnham Royal Bucks).

Dampney : variant of Daubney with devoicing of /b/ to /p/ and intrusive /m/ before the bilabial consonant. Compare William Dabney 1618 in IGI (Salisbury Wilts) with the 1687 bearer below and Andrew Dawbney 1687 in IGI (Bishops Caundle Dorset) with the 1778 bearer. Salisbury is approximately five miles away from Winterbourne Gunner and Bishops Caundle is about a couple of miles from Glanvilles Wootton.

Dand : from the personal name Dand a Middle English and Older Scots rhyming pet form of either Randolf or Andrew (the latter especially in Scotland). Henry John and William Dand are also named as Henry John and William filius Ranulphi 1287 in Sherwood Forest Eyre (Basford Notts). See also Dandy Dandison Andrew Randolph.

Danning : late variant of Denning; compare George Race Danning 1803 John Glen Denning 1826 in IGI (Sculcoates ER Yorks); William Denning 1848 William Danning 1849 in IGI (Kidderminster Worcs).

Darcy : 1: English (Lancashire) and Irish: of Norman origin a habitational name from Arcy in Manche France with fused preposition d(e) ‘from’.2: Irish: in Ireland this is generally the Norman name (see 1 above) established in Meath by Sir William D'Arcy in the 1360s but it was also adopted for Ó Dorchaidhe ‘descendant of the dark one’ from dorcha ‘dark gloomy’ a Connacht name that fell together with the Norman surname which was introduced by Sir William D'Arcy and Sir John D'Arcy Chief Justiciar of Ireland in the 14th century.

Dearmer : apparently a variant of Dormer; see William Dermer alias Dormer 1593 in PROB 11 (Christchurch City of London).

Deaville : English (Staffordshire):: 1: (of Norman origin): habitational name from Déville in Seine-Maritime.2: nickname from Middle English devel ‘devil’ (Old English dēofol). This may have been acquired as a pageant name or as a shortened form of a longer nickname such as that of Robert and William Drepedevel (‘kill the devil’) recorded in the 1301 Subsidy Rolls (Sutton Howgrave in Kirklington North Yorkshire).

Del Strother : see Strother. It is a late 19th-century revival of the medieval form of the Northumb family name del Strother. The prefix del was dropped from this name during the 15th century and no record of del Strother has been found again until the 19th century. According to Durham Place-Names (p. 121) a member of the Strother family owned property in Offerton near Sunderland (Durham) in 1473. The two-year-old William G. Strother in Census 1861 (Stockton on Tees Durham) appears to be identical with the 22-year-old William G. del Strother in 1881 cited below.

Delve : from Middle English delf delphe delve ‘pit quarry canal ditch’ denoting someone who lived by a pit quarry or excavation or in some instances a ditcher digger or quarrier (Middle English delver(er)); compare William le Deluer 1230 in Pipe Rolls (Somerset). Lettice atte Delue 1357 cited below is probably to be associated with John Delvere 1359 in Colchester Court Rolls (Essex).

Dillenburg : German: habitational name from a place in Hesse now named Dillenburg but formerly called Dillenberg. This was the ancestral home of William of Orange (Willem van Oranje) of the house of Nassau.

Domone : variant of Dominy; compare William Dominey 1793 William Domone 1803 William Domoney 1807 in IGI (Christchurch Hants).

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).

Dragon : 1: Americanized form of French Daragon (see Deragon).2: French and English: nickname perhaps for a fierce or fiery person or occupational name for someone who carried a standard in battle or else in a pageant or procession from Old French (Middle English) drago(u)n ‘snake serpent water monster’ (from Latin draco genitive draconis from Greek drakōn ultimately from derkesthai ‘to flash’). This word was applied in Late Latin to military standards in the form of windsocks so resembling snakes.3: English: topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a dragon (see 2 above) as in the case of William Strode called atte Dragon 1374 in Middlesex. Surnames derived from house and inn signs are rare in English.4: French: from the ancient Germanic personal name Drago a short form of Dragwald (see Dragoo).5: Polish Jewish (from Poland) and Ukrainian: from Polish dragon ‘dragoon’ (compare Dragan). As a Jewish name it is artifical.6: Americanized form of Serbian Croatian and Slovenian Dragan.

Droop : from Middle English drup ‘dejected sad gloomy’.possibly a variant of Thorpe: in 1330 William atte Thrope lived at Drupe Farm recorded as Thorp (1388) and Droope (1679) (Place-Names of Devon p. 587).

Dumbrell : unexplained. The name is perhaps to be associated with that of William de Dombrevill 1335 in Patent Rolls commissioned to survey the king's castles and manors in Ponthieu.

Dymott : variant of Dimmock with substitution of /t/ for /k/ as suggested by Lawrence Dymock 1611 William Dimott 1781 in IGI (Ringwood Hants). With the early bearers below compare Ric. Dymmoke 1296 Johe Dymmok 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Street Sussex) Anthony Dimocke yeoman of Ellingham 1633 in New Forest Documents (Hants) and John Dymock 1801 in IGI (Fordingbridge Hants).

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.

Edwicker : apparently from the Middle English personal name Edwaker (Old English Ēadwacer a compound of elements denoting ‘prosperity’ and ‘watchful’) although the time gap between the 14th and the 18th-century evidence is too great to be sure that there is a link beween them.apparently also a variant of Earwaker as illustrated in the following examples: William Edikar 1744 John Earwicker 1782 in IGI (Chalton Hants); Henry Earwaker 1763 Mary Earwicker 1805 William Edwicker 1834 in IGI (Tillington Sussex); Mary Earwaker 1769 Robert Edwaker 1770 in IGI (Up Marden Sussex). Either the two surnames co-existed in E Hants and W Sussex leading to their confusion or perhaps Erriker the common modern pronunciation of Earwaker was heard as Edicker and re-formed in more formal speech as Edwakerand Edwicker.

Ettle : 1: see Ethell. Compare Susanna Ethell 1696 in IGI (Siston Gloucs) and William Ettle 1831 in IGI (Kingswood next to Siston Gloucs). 2: see Eatwell.

Everall : 1: post-medieval variant of Averill. Compare Walter Averell 1607 Nicholas Everell 1652 Jeoffry Everall 1675 in IGI (Beeston Norfolk); Mary Everall 1665 Mary Averell 1682 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London); Abraham Averell 1716 William Everill 1771 in IGI (Wolverhampton Staffs). 2: perhaps from the rare Middle English female personal name Everil(d) representing either Old English Eoforhild (from eofor ‘boar’ + hild ‘battle’) or an unrecorded Old French form of its Continental Germanic equivalent Eburhild. As a post-Conquest given name it is apparently attested in a minor place-name Hevereldsshaghe 1439 in Place-Names of WR Yorks 3 p. 191 at Everill Shaw in Hebden Bridge. The 1379 WR Yorks surname cited below if derived from the personal name is unlikely to have any link with the post-medieval Shrops and Staffs surnames cited under (1). 3: perhaps a variant of Deverell the initial D- being dropped as though it were a reduced form of the Anglo-Norman French preposition de ‘of from’. However Deverell and its variants are solidly SW England especially Wilts with no presence in Shrops or Staffs where Everall and Everill are concentrated.

Fallis : 1: English and Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Anglo-Norman French faleise faloise ‘cliff’ (a word of ancient Germanic origin) for someone who lived on or by a cliff. Or from Falaise in Calvados France which was the birthplace of William the Conqueror.2: English: variant of Fall 2.3: Scottish and northern Irish: shortened form of McFalls (see also McPhail).

Fewlass : probably chiefly a variant of Fowles. Note the ancestry of Alice Fewles daughter of William Fewells earlier recorded as William Fewell or Fuel the son of Richard recorded as Richard Fuell Fule Fewle or Fewell 1562–76 in Parish Registers (Beverley ER Yorks).sometimes a variant of Thewlis. Note the variation in the name of Richard Thewlis Richard Fewlis 1682–4 in Parish Registers (Horbury WR Yorks).

Forsythe : Scottish: from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic personal name Fearsithe composed of the elements fear ‘man’ + sith ‘peace’. Some early forms with the prepositions as for example William de Fersith (Edinburgh 1365) seem to point to an alternative origin as a habitational name but no placename of suitable form is known. The spelling Forsythe is associated chiefly with northern Ireland.

Fosh : unexplained. Possibly to be linked with the names of William Foch 1588 in IGI (Davington Kent); Andrewe Foche 1591 in IGI (Lympne Kent); and if so perhaps of French specifically Gascon origin from the Gascon pronunciation of the name of the town of Foix.

Fost : probably a variant of Foss with excrescent -t; compare William Fosse 1577 William Foss 1600 Samuell Fost 1652 in IGI (Paignton Devon).

Gatford : 1: in Sussex and Surrey perhaps a variant of Catford with voicing of the initial consonant. However the G- spellings are very persistent and there is little sign of early variation with Catford apart from William Catford 1618 Richard Catford 1636 in IGI (Marden Kent) where the initial C- might be an error. Otherwise it might be one of the names in (2) -3 or (4) by migration. 2: from Gateford in Worksop (Notts) which is recorded as Gayteford Gaitford and Geitforth in the medieval period and as Gatford in 1544. The place-name derives from Old English gāt ‘goat’ (genitive plural gāta) influenced by Old Scandinavian geit ‘goat’ + ford ‘ford river crossing’. After 1500 there seems to be no sign of the gentry family of this name that had held the manor of Gateford since the 12th century. 3: perhaps sometimes from Gateforth near Selby (WR Yorks) commonly recorded in the medieval period as Gayteford and occasionally as Gateford and later as Ga(y)teforth. The place-name has the same etymology as Gateford (Notts) in (3) and the two surnames may have been confused. The Yorks name appears to have died out in N England during the 17th century (see Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames) though it may have survived further south by migration perhaps in an altered form. Some of the following early bearers may alternatively belong with (2). 4: perhaps sometimes an altered form of Gatward. Confusion as to the final element of Gatward is illustrated in Vincent Gatworth 1600 Elizabeth Gatward 1602 Jone Gatewood 1611 Roger Gateford 1618 in IGI (Stixwould Lincs). However the spellings in -worth -ward and -wood could equally well represent variants of Gat(e)ford. Stixwould is not far from Lincoln where Christofer Gaytforth is recorded in 1613 in IGI.

Gazzard : variant of Gozzard with typical 16th-century unrounding of o to a in Gloucs dialect. The family can be traced back to William le Gosherde 1298 in Berkeley Castle Muniments (Berkeley Gloucs).

Giddy : from Middle English gidi gedi ‘mad crazy; possessed by an evil spirit’ (Old English gydig gidig). Compare William Gidyheved 1347 in London Letter Books F ‘foolish head’.

Gill : 1: English and Scottish: in northern England and Scotland sometimes from Middle English Gille Old Norse Gilli which is of Irish (Gaelic) origin (see below) and pronounced with a hard g. As a personal name it is not found after c. 1200.2: English and Scottish: topographic name from Middle English gille ‘deep glen ravine’ (Old Norse (Norwegian) gil) pronounced with a hard g. The term is found mainly in northwestern England where Norwegian Vikings settled.3: English: from a short form of Middle English Gilliam a borrowing of Guillaume a Central French form of William (see Gilliam) which is also attested in pet forms such as Gillot and Gilmin (see Gillett Gilman). This name will have been pronounced with a hard g.4: English: from the Middle English personal name Gille a pet form of Gillian usually a female name but occasionally male. It also gave rise to the surnames Jill Gell and Jell and was pronounced with a soft g hence the spellings with J-.5: English: from the Middle English and Old French personal name Gille a variant of Giles 1.6: Scottish Irish and Manx: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille (Scottish) Mac Giolla (Irish) patronymics from an occupational name for a servant or a short form of the various personal names formed by attaching this element to the name of a saint. See McGill. The Old Norse personal name Gilli is probably of this origin and may lie behind some examples of the name in northern England. It is also a Manx surname meaning ‘son of the lad (i.e. servant)’.7: Scottish and Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac An Ghoill (see Gall 1).8: Norwegian: habitational name from any of the three farmsteads in western Norway named Gil from Old Norse gil ‘ravine’.9: Dutch: cognate of Giles.10: Jewish (Israeli): artificial name from Hebrew gil ‘joy’.11: German: from a vernacular short form of the medieval personal name Aegilius a later form of Latin Aegidius (see Giles 1). This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine).12: Polish and German: variant or a Germanized form of Polish Gil ‘bullfinch’.13: Indian (Punjab): Sikh name probably from Punjabi gil ‘moisture’ also meaning ‘prosperity’. There is a Jat tribe that bears this name; the Ramgarhia Sikhs also have a clan called Gill.

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).

Gilson : 1: English: ‘son of Gill’ from a Middle English pet form of either the female name Gillian (Latin Juliana) or of the male names Gilliam a variant of William and Giles. + -son. See Gill.2: English: patronymic meaning ‘son of Giles’ from the personal name Giles + -son.3: Irish (Down): adopted for Mac Giolla Seanáin see Gilsenan.4: Walloon and northern French: from a shortened form of Gilesson a pet form of the personal name Giles (see Gilles).

Glasspool : from a lost place called Glasspool (with Old English pōl Middle English pol(e) ‘pool’ as the generic element). The place was apparently in southern Hants to judge from the fact that one William Hacket de Glassepole 1516 in Plea Rolls (Hants) was a co-defendant of the John Glassepole de Botley cited below.

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.

Gobbett : probably from Middle English go bet ‘leave quickly make haste’ (as a command) ‘be gone!’ but derivation from Middle English (Old French) gobet ‘lump morsel mouthful’ is also formally possible. Compare Walter Gobiforn (‘go before precede’) 1212 in Pleas (Yorks); John and William Gobisid' (‘go beside get free escape’) 1379 in Poll Tax (Tickhill WR Yorks); and Golightly.

Godley : English: habitational name found mainly in Yorkshire and Surrey from Godly in Rishworth (Yorkshire) or Godley Bridge in Surrey which was the home of Geoffrey de Godelegh in 1228 and William de Godelegh in 1332. However the place in Surrey may have been named after this family as was Godley's Green in Sussex. Godley was the name of a hundred in Surrey but it was not a settlement and the Surrey and Sussex families may have originated outside the county from Godley in Cheshire for example or from Goodleigh in Uffculme (Devon) both of which are known to have given rise to surnames. These are all named from the Old English byname Gōda meaning ‘good’ + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England

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