Author Topic: surnames where do they come from  (Read 18050 times)

Offline Redroger

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #36 on: Monday 23 July 12 20:51 BST (UK) »
One group that has not been explained (unless I missed it  ;) ) in this thread is the origin of names like King, Bishop, Pope etc. I have read that they were given to the people who played these parts in the medieval mystery plays. Some surnames have not surprisingly vanished into extinction, or near extinction e.g. Pimp, which is quite common in the 19th century Lincolnshire censuses, and of course Whore or Whoreson where the spelling has been changed to something less explicit e..g. Hoar etc.One I like particularly is the surname Pigg, which still exists in North Yorkshire.  I can recommend the ONS site Surnames of England and Wales for further research.
Ayres Brignell Cornwell Harvey Shipp  Stimpson Stubbings (all Cambs) Baumber Baxter Burton Ethards Proctor Stanton (all Lincs) Luffman (all counties)

Offline Redroger

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #37 on: Monday 23 July 12 20:53 BST (UK) »
Spare a thought too for those named Matterface; pronounced Mat-ter-fa-ce.
Ayres Brignell Cornwell Harvey Shipp  Stimpson Stubbings (all Cambs) Baumber Baxter Burton Ethards Proctor Stanton (all Lincs) Luffman (all counties)

Offline LoneyBones

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #38 on: Tuesday 24 July 12 10:59 BST (UK) »
Redroger, I think I recall reading that names like King, Bishop, Pope etc were derived from  "of the household of.."  eg, John Pope = John of the Pope's household. Actually, I do remember now, it was when I was looking for my PAPPS family. PAPPS is also a derivative of POPE.
Leonie.
Direct matriarchal line; ENNIS-Yeatman-Cooper-Papps-Ryland-Lechford/Luxford-Bagshaw-Henriett
ENNIS-Thomas-Bonnin-Aldridge-Williams-Harding-Brown.
ENNIS-Davis/Davies-Buck-Oakley-
JONES-Roberts-Handy-Ross-Warrillow-Eagles-Cotterill-Bailey.
JONES-Walton-Grayson-Stobbs-Baldwin-Ibbotson-Scott.
JONES-Goodwin-Parker-Instant-Hubbard-Hancock-Skinner.

STILL LOOKING FOR: Elizabeth Ann Balfour ENNIS nee DAVIS. Disappeared in Adelaide, South Australia. 1881.

Offline cavvytri

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #39 on: Tuesday 24 July 12 11:25 BST (UK) »
Spare a thought too for those named Matterface; pronounced Mat-ter-fa-ce.

My PE teacher many years ago had the unfortunate name of Miss Matterface...NOT a good name for a teacher of cheeky kids! Lovely woman though!
My Grandmothers name was DALRYMPLE- found out it was a village in Ayrshire, and my surname is SHERIFF, I guess my hubbys family used to lay down the law in olden times LOL
Amos,Burnside,Cowan,Hamilton,Lawrie,Reid,Skeldon,(East Lothian, Berwickshire)
Matthew,Tough,Sheriff,Guild,Gourlay,Cundall,Brown(Angus,Midlothian&Australia)
Dunn,Coombs,Dalrymple,Newman,Elliott, Embleton,Day
(Northumberland,Hampshire,Kent,Middlesex)
McPherson , Perth, Scotland
Cameron, Perthshire


Offline Redroger

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #40 on: Tuesday 24 July 12 14:38 BST (UK) »
Leonie, That is the alternative origin that I forgot to mention. Thanks.
Ayres Brignell Cornwell Harvey Shipp  Stimpson Stubbings (all Cambs) Baumber Baxter Burton Ethards Proctor Stanton (all Lincs) Luffman (all counties)

Offline Melbell

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #41 on: Thursday 26 July 12 17:49 BST (UK) »
I met someone once who was called Miss Crude.  Poor lady - she was anything but!

Melbell.

Offline Redroger

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #42 on: Friday 27 July 12 21:18 BST (UK) »
Maybe her ancestors had changed the name from Cruddas!
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Offline sallysmum

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #43 on: Thursday 16 August 12 12:18 BST (UK) »
Whilst trawling the PRs, time and time again I came across the name Snowball, which I thoguth was lovely!  Any ideas where that came from?

My maiden name is Russell, which is very apt as I am a redhead!

sallysmum
Pearson Newcastle/Allendale<br />Sparke Allendale<br />Rees, Davies Pembrokeshire<br />Spence Leyburn<br />Foster Armley to battle creek USA<br />Leeming N Yorkshire<br />Stewart or Stuart Gateshead
Scott Leyburn
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Offline Billyblue

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Re: surnames where do they come from
« Reply #44 on: Thursday 16 August 12 12:26 BST (UK) »
I met someone with the surname Snowball about 10 years ago, and wondered at the unusual name too.
 :)  :)  :)  :)  :)

Dawn M
Denys (France); Rossier/Rousseau (Switzerland); Montgomery (Antrim, IRL & North Sydney NSW);  Finn (Co.Carlow, IRL & NSW); Wilson (Leicestershire & NSW); Blue (Sydney NSW); Fisher & Barrago & Harrington(all Tipperary, IRL)