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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: jane k on Tuesday 22 November 11 11:53 GMT (UK)

Title: Origins of a surname
Post by: jane k on Tuesday 22 November 11 11:53 GMT (UK)

Can anyone suggest a good website where I could find out more about the origin of a surname - I`m sure I used to know one but can`t find it now.

The surname I am interested in is `Solomon` - the family is in Kent in the 18th century & there is no indication that they were Jewish

Many thanks         Jane

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: stanmapstone on Tuesday 22 November 11 12:04 GMT (UK)

According to "The Oxford Names Companion" Solomon is a variation of Salomon; Jewish, English, French, Venetian, German, Danish/Norwegian, Polish, and Hungarian: ultimately from the Hebrew male given name Shelomo (a deriv. of shalom- peace) which was fairly widespread in the Middle Ages among Christians and has for generations been a popular Jewish name. Among Christians it was also used as a nickname for a man who was considered wise, and for someone who had played the part of King Solomon in a miracle play.

Stan

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: jane k on Tuesday 22 November 11 15:35 GMT (UK)

Thanks Stan

Kind regards     Jane

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: Hall of Names on Friday 25 November 11 10:52 GMT (UK)

Hi Jane

You could check our website:

http://www.hallofnames.org.uk

Many thanks.

Wendy

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: Skoosh on Friday 25 November 11 11:51 GMT (UK)

Jane,  according to "Black's Surnames",  Salmon & Salmond (our First Minister) are old Scots spellings of Solomon, and were in use as early as the 12th century.

Skoosh.

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 25 November 11 12:19 GMT (UK)

Distribution:
http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Surnames.aspx

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: stanmapstone on Friday 25 November 11 12:34 GMT (UK)

With http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Surnames.aspx  the map shows the surname distribution at Royal Mail Postal Area level.javascript:swapOptions();

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: jane k on Friday 25 November 11 14:38 GMT (UK)

Thanks very much indeed everyone - most people seem to assume that because of the surname the family must have been Jewish at some point but I don`t think that was the case  - unless it was a very long time ago -

Jane

Title: Re: Origins of a surname
Post by: Redroger on Friday 25 November 11 18:42 GMT (UK)

You ned to widen your searches as some of these sites do not have comprehensive listings.