ALL THAT GLITTERS - is not Gold. Some sparkling English surnames -
Goldsack, Golden, Jewell, Silverstone, Diamond, Ruby, Garnett
How Surnames Began
Strange Surnames
Surnames have been around in England for hundreds of years. At first they were specific to one individual, like a nickname. By the Middle Ages they were used more often and eventually became hereditary. That's why some folks today bear a surname that describes an occupation or trade their ancestors followed centuries ago, like Cooper or Shepherd. Other surnames came from the town where our ancestors originally lived e.g. Buxton. Many were simply father's names with 'son' tacked on, like Wil-son, John-son etc.
We tend to take our surnames for granted. But if you've got a surname like the one I was born with, which was HALL, you start to yearn for something more exotic. I've always been fascinated by surnames; how they came about, why some are more widespread than others, why some are encountered once in a blue moon and why some have disappeared altogether. There are thousands of English surnames, including SMITH, our most popular surname.
So I've started collecting them. I hope you will join in. Tell me your favourite or unusual ones. This is meant to be a celebration of English surnames, from the weird to the wonderful, from the rare to the unusual. I've listed a few for starters.
Surnames have been around in England for hundreds of years. At first they were specific to one individual, like a nickname. By the Middle Ages they were used more often and eventually became hereditary. That's why some folks today bear a surname that describes an occupation or trade their ancestors followed centuries ago, like Cooper or Shepherd. Other surnames came from the town where our ancestors originally lived e.g. Buxton. Many were simply father's names with 'son' tacked on, like Wil-son, John-son etc.
We tend to take our surnames for granted. But if you've got a surname like the one I was born with, which was HALL, you start to yearn for something more exotic. I've always been fascinated by surnames; how they came about, why some are more widespread than others, why some are encountered once in a blue moon and why some have disappeared altogether. There are thousands of English surnames, including SMITH, our most popular surname.
So I've started collecting them. I hope you will join in. Tell me your favourite or unusual ones. This is meant to be a celebration of English surnames, from the weird to the wonderful, from the rare to the unusual. I've listed a few for starters.
What work did your ancestor do?
Cooper - someone who made barrels
Fletcher - a man who made arrows
Mason - a man who worked with stone
Fletcher - a man who made arrows
Mason - a man who worked with stone
Naylor - a nailmaker
Palfreyman - looked after horsesScrivener - a man who wrote out documents
Webster - someone who wove clothSome Surnames derived from Herbs, Spices & Fruit
Perhaps these names were used for people who traded in, or grew, such commodities.
Apple, Garlick, Ginger, Licorish, Marjoram, Orange, Pepper, Salt, Sugar, Woodroofe.
Birds of a Feather...
There are quite a few 'bird' surnames, for example -
Bird, Crow, Dove, Eagle, Goldfinch, Jay, Parrot, Pidgeon, Sparrow, Starling, Swann
Bird, Crow, Dove, Eagle, Goldfinch, Jay, Parrot, Pidgeon, Sparrow, Starling, Swann
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Weather the weather be hot - there's a surname there somewhere
SOME SURNAMES TAKEN FROM OUR VARIED WEATHER
Frost, Snow, Fogg, Rain, Rainbird, Rainbow, Cloud, Wind
Frost, Snow, Fogg, Rain, Rainbird, Rainbow, Cloud, Wind
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Were They really so Good?
Goodall, Goodenough, Goodhart, Goodlucke, Goodman,
Goodner, Goodwin, Goodyear
Goodner, Goodwin, Goodyear
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Surnames taken from the World of Nature - Flora, Fauna and a few Fish
Bee, Blackadder, Budd, Bugg, Bull, Bullock, Calf, Fox, Lamb, Goose & Gosling, Herring, Leafe, Rose, Salmon, Squirell, Trout, Twigge.
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