NAMES—THEIR DERIVATION.
A.
Abbott. Abbud, an abbot, chief governor, father, or superior of an abbey, convent, or monastery.
Adkin. Eard, earth; cyn, kin, kind. Earth-relative. Akin, contraction of the name.
Albert. Eal, all; beorht, bright. All bright; illustrious.
Alder. Aldor, life.
Alice. Ætheling, corrupted into Adeline, thence into Alice. A princess.
Alison. Alice, a princess; sun, a son. Son of Alice; son of a princess.
All. Eal, all, every, whole.
Allingham. Alling-hám, from All; ing, descendant; hám, home. Home of Alling; home of the offspring of All.
Apgar. Abgar, Irish ab, a father; gár, a spear, a dart. Defender of the father.
Appleton. Æppel-tún, from æppel, an apple; tún, town. An apple garden; an orchard.
Askin. Æscwine, from æsc, an ash-tree, ash, ash-spear, a ship, a man; wine, a friend. Boats were made of ash, hence a small ship, a skiff. Among the northern nations it was supposed that the first man was made out of ash: hence the word came to signify a man, the chief of men, a leader. Æsc, the name of Hengist’s son, was a leader.
Ashton. Æsc, Æsc; tún, town. The town of Æsc.
Asquith. Æsc, Æsc; cýth, home. The home of Æsc; the home of the ash.
B.
Bancroft. Bán, pronounced bawn, bone; croft, a level tract of country, an enclosed field. A graveyard.
Bald. Báld, bold, courageous, honorable.
Baldwin. Báld, pronounced bawld, bold; win, a contest, battle. Bold in battle. Baldewin, Boldwin, less ancient forms of the name.
Banham. Bán, bone; hám, home. The bone-home; the grave.
Barton. Bere, corn; tún, town. A corn-farm; a corn-village; a grange.
Beal. Beal, evil. Beale, identical in derivation.
Beda. Beada, counsellor, persuader, exhorter.
Bedell. Bædel, a beadle. A messenger belonging to a court, or public body; a petty officer in a church.
Beck. Béc, or bóc, a book. Beck, Bock, Bok, analogous names.
Beckingham. Beck, Beck; ing, a son; hám, home. The home of the son of Beck.
Bishop. Bisceop, a bishop, a high-priest, a prelate.
Blake. Blæc, black. Black, of like parentage.
Boardman. Bórd, a shield; man, a man. A warrior; a knight.
Brice. Brice, fragment, rupture, violation, use, service. Bryce, only another spelling of the same.
Brock. Bróc, a brook, a rivulet. Brook, Brooke, from the same root.
Brooks. Brook, Brook; s for sun, son. Son of Brook.
Bronson. Brown, from brún, brown, and sun, son. Son of Brown.
Bront. Bront, raging, streaming. Brunt, doubtless, from the same source. Some, perhaps, would consider it a corruption of burnt, made brown.
Browning. Brown, Brown; ing, a descendant. Descendant of Brown.
Burn. Byrne, burning, a coat of mail, a corselet.
Burr. Búr, a chamber, a bower. Perhaps, from beorg, or beorh, a hill.
Burwick. Búr, a chamber; wic, a dwelling, village, camp. The guest-chamber.
C.
Caster. Ceaster (Latin castra, a camp), a city. Chester, from the same derivation.
Caton. Anglo-Saxon for Cato, the Greek for downwards.
Chapman. Cépman, a merchant, a trader. Ceapman, in Chaucer’s day.
Chichester. Originally, Cicester, the equivalent of cyren-ceaster, or cyrn-ceaster; from cyren, new wine; ceaster, a city, fort, castle, town. Castle of new wine.
Clark. Clerc, Latin clericus, a clerk. Clarke, similarly derived.
Cliffe. Clif, a crag, an overhanging rock. Cliff, another form of the name.
Clifford. Cliffe, Cliffe; ford, a stream, a current. Cliffe’s ford.
Codman. Codd, scrip, satchel, small bag; man, a man. A cashier; a banker.
Coke. Cóc, a cook. Cook, Cooke, analogous forms.
Compton. Comp for comb, a valley; tún, town. A valley-town.
Cope. Cop, a cap, hood, or cloak.
Copp. Copp, the head, top, apex, a cup.
Coulter. Colter, a colter, a knife, a dagger. Colter, the commoner form of the name.
Cox. Cokes, from cóc, cook; sun, son. The son of Coke, or Cooke. Coxe, of kindred significance.
Cumberland. Combra, of valleys; land, land, ground, earth, field, region, country. A region of valleys.
Cunningham. Cunning, experience; hám, home. A home of art and letters.
Cunnington. Cunning, experience; tún, town. A cunning town; an enterprising town.
Cuthbert. Cúth, known, certain, familiar, domestic; beorht, brightness, a glistening, light, sight, glance. Known brightness; familiar glance.
D.
Dade. Dǽd, deed, exploit, achievement.
Dadaker. Deád, dead; æcer, acre. An acre set apart for the dead. Dedaker, of analogous derivation.
Dager. Dagor, day.
Dalton. Dál, a dale, a small valley; tún, a town. A valley-town.
Dalrymple. Dál, a vale; hrympelle, a wrinkle, a ripple, a fold. An undulating vale.
Davies. Davie, diminutive for David; sun, son. Son of Davie. Davis, abbreviation of the same.
Dodd. Deád, dead.
Dunham. Dunholm, from dún, mountain; holm, an island. A mountainous island.
Durham. Deór, beast; hám, home, dwelling. A park; a dwelling for wild animals. Dereham, an earlier form of the name.
Dyer. Dýre, dear, costly, precious.
E.
Earl. Earl, noble, earl, man. Earle, of similar significance.
Edgar. Eard, earth; gár, dart, spear. Earth-dart; defender of the earth.
Edmund. Eard, earth; mund, hand. Earth-hand; tiller of the soil.
Edmunds. Edmund, Edmund; s for sun, son. Son of Edmund. Edmundson, Edmondson, lengthened forms of the same name.
Edson. Eard, earth; sun, son. Son of earth. Edison, the same word, but of more euphonious pronunciation.
Edward. Eard, earth; weard, guardian, watchman. An earth-protector.
Edwards. Edward, Edward; sun, son. Son of Edward.
Egbert. Ecg, edge; beorht, glance. Side-glance.
Eldrick. Eal, all; rice, rich, powerful. All-powerful. Eldridge, doubtless, from the same roots.
Elmer. Ethelmer, from éthel, a home; mǽre, illustrious. An illustrious home.
Ely. Élig, from él, eel; ig, an island. Eel-island.
Emery. Earm, arm; rice, powerful. Mighty in battle. Emmery, Emory, cognate forms.
Emerson. Emery, Emery; sun, son. Son of Emmery.
Engle. Engel, an angel. Ingle, a slightly modified phase of the name.
Englebert. Engel, an angel; beorht, brightness. An angel of brightness.
Erwin. Eard, earth; wine, friend. Earth-friend. Ervin, Ervine, names of similar import.
Eton. Eten, a giant. Eaton, the accepted spelling.
F.
Fager. Fæger, beauty, fair, beautiful.
Farnham. Fearn, a fern; hám, habitation. Habitation of the fern.
Farr. Farr, a wild boar.
Farrington. Farringdún, from fearn, a fern; g, for the sake of euphony; dún, a hill. A hill of fern.
Fell. Fell, gall, anger, death, a skin, cruel, severe.
Field. Feald, a field, a fold.
Fielding. Field, Field; ing, descendant. Descendant of Field.
Finch. Finc, a small bird. Fink, Finck, Fenke, kindred forms.
Firman. Fir, the living, chief of living beings, man; man, man. The living man.
Fisk. Fisc, a fish. Fiske, the more common name.
Fleming. Fleming, a runaway, a banished man. Flemming, another spelling.
Fletcher. Flett, house, chamber, bed, hall, palace; cher for er, a personal suffix. A companion; a bed-fellow; a prince.
Fogg. Fog, agreement, compact.
Foote. Fót, a foot.
Forsyth. Forthsíth, death. Forsythe, another spelling of the name.
Fotheringham. Fother, a load, a burden; ing, son; hám, dwelling. The home of the son of burden.
Foulk. Folc, folk, people. Foulke, an equivalent.
Frederick. Freá, a lord; rice, rich, powerful. A mighty lord.
Frick. Possibly a corruption of Frig, pronounced Freeg, the goddess of love, the Saxon Venus, and wife of Odin.
G.
Galt. Irish gaill, genitive of gall, stranger; tún, town. Town of the stranger. Gault, of similar derivation.
Galvin. Irish gaill, of the stranger; vin for wine, friend. Friend of the Gall, the stranger.
Gate. Geát, a gate.
Gates. Gate, Gate; s for sun, son. Son of Gate.
Giddings. Gidding, from gidd, song, divination; ing, descendant; s for sun, son. Son of a descendant of song.
Gilbert. Irish giolla, a servant; beorht, bright. A witty servant.
Gilling. Gill, Gill; ing, son. Son of Gill; son of a servant.
Gillingham. Gilling, Gilling; hám, home. The home of Gilling; the home of the son of Gill.
Gipson. Gilp, glory; sun, son. The son of glory. Gibson, of like derivation.
Gladwin. Glæd, pleased; wine, a friend. A happy friend.
Glenning. Glen, a valley; ing, descendant. Son of Glenn; son of a valley.
Godfrey. Gód, good; freá, lord. A beneficent master.
Goodacre. Gód, God; æcer, acre. God’s acre.
Goodwin. Gód, good; wine, a friend, a benefactor. Godwin, of similar signification.
Gould. Gold, a precious metal.
Graff. Græf, a grave. A ditch; a moat; a fosse. Groff, of like derivation.
Graham. Grǽg, gray; hám, home. A weather-beaten home. Gramm, most probably a corruption of the same.
Grave. Græf, a grave.
Graves. Grave, Grave; sun, son. Son of Grave. Greaves, Greves, Grieves, modifications of the name.
Gregg. Grǽg, gray. Grigg, corruption of the name.
Gregson. Grǽg, gray; sun, son. Son of Gregg. Grayson, the same in another form.
Grindler. Grindel, a clog; er for Irish fear, a man. The wearer of a wooden shoe.
Grindrod. Grund, ground; rod, a rod. Divining-rod.
Grund. Grund, ground.
Grunder. Grund, ground; er for fear, man. A farmer.
Guilford. Gild, tribute; ford, a stream. Stream-tribute; ferry-toll.
Gummery. Guma, man; ríce, kingdom. Kingdom of man.
Guthrie. Gúth, fight, war; ríce, kingdom. Kingdom of sin.
H.
Haeseler. Hæsel, a hat; er, a personal suffix. A hatter.
Hamill. Hám, home; il, a hedgehog. Home of the hedgehog.
Hamilton. Hamill, Hamill; tún, farm. Farm of Hamill.
Hamlet. Hám, home; let, implying diminutiveness. An humble home.
Hammond. Hám, house; mund, hand. A house-hand; a servant.
Hampshire. Hâm, or hamp, home; scíre, shire, district, county, stewardship, charge, business. Home-district. Hampsher, corruption of the name.
Hampton. Hám, or hamp, home; tún, town. Home-town.
Hampstead. Hám-stede, from hám, home, and stede, place. Homestead.
Hamric. Hám, home; rice, rule, kingdom. Home-rule. Hamrick, from the same roots.
Hancock. Hean, poor, needy, humble, worthless, despised; cóc, a cook. A needy cook.
Hard. Heard, hard, stubborn, unsubmissive.
Harding. Hard, Hard; ing, son. Descendant of Hard.
Harold. Hár, hoar, gray with age; eald, old. A veteran chief.
Harper. Hearpere, a harper.
Hart. Heort, a hart, a stag.
Hartford. Heort, a hart; ford, a ford, a stream, a current. The hart’s ford, or the place of its crossing the stream.
Hatfield. Heat-feld, from heat, heat; feld, a field, a plain. An open, sun-scorched plain.
Hebel. Hebel, thread of the shuttle.
Heber. Heber, a goat.
Hebener. Heben, heaven; er, indicative of a personal suffix. An inhabitant of heaven.
Helmbold. Helm, helmet, cover, protector; báld, bold, stout. A stout protector.
Herbert. Here, a host; beorht, bright, shining. An illustrious host.
Hild. Hild, battle.
Hildebrand. Hild, battle: brand, a brand, a torch. A battle-torch.
Hildeburn. Hild, battle; bryne, a burning, scorching, heat, fire. Battle-heat.
Hoar. Hár, hoar, white, or gray with age.
Holdcraft. Hold, kind, devoted, faithful, friendly; cræft, craft, contrivance, skill, employment, strength, power, talent, ability, excellence, virtue. Faithful employment; friendly power.
Holme. Holm, a sea, a billow.
Holmes. Holme, Holme: s for sun, son. Son of Holme
Holt. Holt, a grove, a forest.
Hope. Hopa, hope.
Hopkin. Hopa, hope; cyn, kind, kin. A relative of Hope.
Hopkinson. Hopkin, Hopkin; sun, son. Son of Hopkin. Hopkins, an abbreviation of the name.
Humphrey. Hám, home; freá, lord, protector. Defender of home.
Humphreys. Humphrey, Humphrey; s for sun, son. Son of Humphrey. Humphries, Humphriss, Humphrys, kindred names.
Huntting. Hunt, Hunt; ing, a descendant. Son of Hunt.
Hurlock. Hár, hoary; loc, lock of hair. A hoary lock of hair. Harlock, a less common name, but one more closely related to the parent words.
Husband. Hús, house; bond, bound, tied. House-bound; house-tied: hence, one that is bound to the house.
Hustin. Hústing, a place of council.
Huston. Hús, house; tún, a farm. House-farm; kitchen-garden.
Huxley. Huxlic, from hucs, hucx, or husc, irony, slight, contempt, reproach, and lic, like. Ironical-like; disgraceful; contemptuous; vile.
I.
Idell. Ídel, idle, vain, empty, useless.
Inskip. In, an inn, a dwelling; scipe, denoting form, condition, state, office, dignity. An innkeeper; a landlord. Inskeep, a kindred name.
Irwin. Eard, earth; wine, friend. Earth-friend. Irvin, Irvine, from the same roots.
Irving. Irvin, Irvin; ing, a descendant. Son of Irvin.
Isdell. I’s, ice; dǽl, a dale, a small valley. Ice-dale.
Isenberg. I’sen, iron; beorg, mountain. Iron-mountain.
Isenberry. I’sen, iron; berry, corruption of beorg, or beorh, mountain. Iron-mountain.
Isham. I’s, ice; hám, house, dwelling. Ice-house.
J.
Jackson. Jack, nickname for John; sun, son. Son of Jack. Jacques, French for James, is the most probable derivation of Jack.
Jameson. Jame, James; sun, son. Son of James.
Jamieson. Jamie, James; sun, son. Son of Jamie; son of James. Jamison, Jemison, Jimison, kindred terms, founded upon nicknames common to James in parts of Scotland and Ireland.
Jenkin. Jen, abbreviation for Jennie, Jane, John; cyn, kin, kind. Related to Jennie, Jane, John.
Jenkinson. Jenkin, Jenkin; sun, son. Son of Jenkin. Jenkins, abbreviated form of same.
Jenks. Jen, Jennie; k for cyn, kin; s for sun, son. Son of a relative of Jennie.
Johnson. John, Hebrew word signifying “gracious gift of God;” Anglo-Saxon sun, son. Son of John.
Jonson. Jon, contraction of John, John; sun, son. Son of John.
Jones. Jon, John; s for sun, son. Son of John.
K.
Keith. Cíth, pronounced keeth, a germ, sprig, blade.
Kemp. Cempa, a young soldier, a warrior, champion, novice.
Kendall. Cyn, kin, kindred, race, tribe, nation, kind; dǽl, dale, valley. Valley-kindred. Kindell, derivable from the same roots.
Kenworthy. Cyn, kindred; weorthe, worthy, honorable. Worthy kindred.
Kenyon. Cyn, nation, people; yeong, young. Young nation.
Kertell. Kertl, a woman’s garment, a vest, mantle, kirtle.
Keyser. Káser, an emperor. Keiser, of similar origin.
Kim. Cim, feet, or bases of a pillar.
Kimball. Cimbal, cymbal. Kemble, Kimble, Kimple, analogous names.
Kissel. Cystel, a chestnut.
Kisterbock. Cist, choice; bóc, a volume, a book. A choice volume.
Kitt. Kitte, a vessel, a bottle.
Kitson. Kitt, Kitt; sun, son. Son of Kitt. Kitts, abbreviation of the same.
L.
Lambeth. Lamb-hýth, from lamb, lamb, and hýth, measure, gain, profit. Lamb’s measure.
Lambert. Lamb, Lamb; beorht, brightness. The Lamb of Glory.
Lancaster. Land, ground, earth, field; ceaster, a camp, a castle, city, fort. An earth-fort.
Landreth. Land, field; ríthe, a well, a fountain, a river. A field-well; a spring.
Lever. Leófra, lever, comparatives of leóf, leef, dear, agreeable. More agreeable; more pleasing.
Levering. Lever, Lever; ing, offspring. Son of Lever.
Lea. Liga, a flame.
Lester. Lædheceaster, from lædhe, hateful, unpleasant, loathsome, and ceaster, a city. A loathsome city. Leister, of like derivation.
Limbert. Lim, limb, member; beorht, brightness. Limb-brightness.
Liming. Lim-ing, from lim, limb; ing, implying action, originating from. Limning; painting.
Lind. Lind, linden, or lime-tree; also, what was made of lime-wood—shield, buckler, banner.
Linden. Linden, made of lime-tree.
Lindsey. Lindes-íg, from lindes, genitive of lind, lime-tree, and íg, an island. The island of the lime-tree. Lindsay, another form of spelling.
Lipp. Lippe, lip.
Lipkiss. Lippe, lip; cyss, kiss. Lip-kiss.
Lippincott. Lippe, lip, genitive lippan, of lip; coth, disease, malady. Lip disease.
Lipson. Lippe, Lipp; sun, son. Son of Lipp.
Lipton. Lipp, Lipp; tún, home. Home of Lipp.
Litchfield. Liced-feld, from licced, licked, lapped, and feld, a field, a plain. A licked plain; a pasture-field.
Lonsdale. Londes-dǽl, from londes, genitive of lond, land; dǽl, dale, valley. Land’s-dale.
Loth. Loth, a band.
Lothrop. Loth, band; thorpe, a village.
Lyster. Lyster, a favorer. Lister, of like origin.
Lytle. Lytle, little, small, slender.
M.
Manchester. Manig-ceaster, from manig, many, much; ceaster, city, fort, castle, town. Many castles.
Manning. Mann, Mann; ing, offspring. Son of Mann.
Marx. Marcs, from marc, a mark; s for sun, a son. Son of Marc.
Mase. Mase, a whirlpool, a gulf.
Maslin. Mæslen, or maslin, brass.
Max. Max, noose, mesh, net, snare.
Maxfield. Max, Max; feld, a field. Max’s field.
Maxwell. Max, Max; wæl, a well. Max’s well.
Meadowcroft. Mǽdewe, a meadow; croft, a small enclosed field. A meadow-field.
Mearns. Mearn, mourned; s for sun, son. A mourned son.
Mear. Mere, lake, pool, sea.
Mears. Mear, Mear; s for sun, son. Son of Mear.
Medlar. Méd, meed, merit, reward, recompense; lǽr, doctrine. Reward of doctrine.
Medway. Mǽd, meed, meadow, trunk of a tree; wǽg, a wave. Meadow-wave; a river.
Meredith. Mere, lake, sea; diht, ordering, direction, predicting, foretelling. Sea-predicting.
Merscher. Mersc-ware, from mersc, marsh, fen, and ware, used only as a termination, denoting inhabitants, dwellers. Marshmen; fenmen.
Merton. Meretún, from mere, lake, sea; tún, town. Sea-port; lake-port.
Metsinger. Metssunge, from mettsung, messing, food, meat; ere, indicating a person. A victualler; a provider. Messinger, another form of the name.
Michener. Perhaps Micg-ærn, from micg-an, to water; ærn, a place, a secret place, a closet, a habitation, a house. An urinary; a drain.
Midding. Midding, a dunghill.
Middlesex. Middel, middle; Sexe, Saxons. The Middle Saxons.
Middleton. Middel, middle; tún, town. The middle town.
Mitchell. Mycg, a midge, a gnat; el, a termination denoting a person. A dwarf; a pigmy.
Monteith. Mon, man; téth, teeth. Human teeth.
Montgomery. Munt-guman-ríc, from munt, mountain; guman, of man, genitive of guma; ríc, pronounced ree, a postfix denoting dominion, power. Mountain of man’s power; acme of human greatness.
Muckle. Mucxle, a muscle, a shell-fish.
Mumford. Mund-ford, from mund, a contraction of munden, remembered, and ford, ford. A remembered ford.
Munce. Munc, a monk. Munch, Munk, of similar derivation.
Murberry. Murberie, possibly from múr, a wall, from the resemblance of the fruit in roughness to a wall, and berie, a berry. Mur itself signifies a mulberry.
Murdock. Mere, a sea; docce, a dock. A naval dock.
N.
Nabes. Næbb, a face; s for sun, sun. The sun’s face.
Nachtigall. Næctegale, nightingale, from næcte, night, and gale, a singer. A night-singer.
Nachod. Næcud, naked, uncovered.
Nadely. Nædl, a needle, líc, like. Needle-like.
Nægele. Nægel, a nail, a pin, a nail of the hand. Nagel, Nagele, Naglee, other forms of the name.
Nebeker. Neb, face, countenance, mouth, neb, nib, nose; æcer, field, land, anything sown, sown corn, an acre. Face-pimples.
Nebel. Neb, face, countenance; el, termination denoting a person. Human face.
Nebhut. Neb, face, head, mouth; húth, spoil, booty, prey. Blotched countenance.
Nedel. Nedl, a needle.
Needham. Neád, need, necessity, infirmity; hám, home, house, dwelling, village, farm. An almshouse; an infirmary.
Neef. Nefe, a niece, a granddaughter. Neff, from the same root.
Nesenger. Nesse, a headland; ing, originating from; er, a personal suffix. One raised upon a headland.
Ness. Nesse, a cape. Nesz, another form of the name.
Neswanger. Nesse, or næs, a rock, support, headland, ness, cape, promontory; wang, a plain, field, wong, land; er, a personal suffix. Possessor of a rock-plain.
Neswenger. Nesse, rock; wengere, a pillow, bolster. Rock-pillow.
Nester. Nest, support, food, wages; er, a personal suffix. A supporter; a wage-earner. Nester, a kindred name.
Neth. Neth, wickedness, malice, cunning, hatred, strife, zeal, punishment, slaughter.
Nething. Neth, Neth; ing, offspring, descendant. Son of Neth.
Nette. Nett, a net.
Netterville. Nett, a net; er, a personal suffix; French ville, a villa, a town. A fishing-place.
Nettinger. Nett, a net; ing, expressive of action; er, a personal termination. A seiner; a fisherman.
Nettleton. Netele, a nettle; tún, a farm. A nettle-farm.
Newbold. Newe, new, late, young; báld, bold, courageous, honorable. Lately honorable.
Newcomb. Newe, new; comb, a valley. New valley.
Newcomet. Newe, new; cometa, a comet. A new comet.
Newell. Neowel, prone, prostrate, depressed, profound, deep. Newhall, perhaps, from the same root.
Nipe. Nip, darkness.
Nippes. Nipp, Nipe; s for sun, son. Son of Nipe.
Norman. Nor, contraction of north, north; man, a man. North-man.
Northrop. Nor, north; thorpe, town. North town.
Norwood. Nor, north; wud, wood. Northwood.
Nye. Nye, a nye, a nest.
Nyholm. Nye, a nest; holm, the deep sea, an abyss, the ocean, a river island. Nest-water; nest-island.
Nyman. Nye, a nest; man, man, or woman. Nest-woman.
Nystrom. Nye, a nest; streom, a stream. Nest-stream.
O.
Obdyke. Ob, off; díc, bank, mound. Off the bank. Opdyke, from the same roots.
Oberdick. O’ber, over, above; díc, dyke, ditch, trench, moat. Overflowing ditch.
Oberholt. O’ber, above; holt, a forest. Mountain-forest.
Ofar. O’fer, a margin, brink, bank, shore.
Orcutt. Or, free from; coth, disease. Free from disease.
Ord. O’rd, beginning, origin, author, edge, sword, battle-array.
Ordmann. O’rd, the front of an army; mann, man. A general; a commander.
Orfe. Orfe, cattle. Orf, Orff, of similar derivation.
Orgill. Orgel, pride, arrogance.
Orgs. Org, pride; s for sun, son. Son of pride.
Orme. Or, free from; me, me. Free me from.
Ormerod. Or, free from; me, me; rod, rod. Free me from the rod. Ormrod, of like import.
Ormond. Or, free from; mond, care, protection. Free from care; without protection.
Ormsby. Orm, Orme; s, sign of genitive; bý, a termination denoting habitation, dwelling. Habitation of Orme.
Ormston. Orm, genitive Ormes, Orme; tún, house. Home of Orme.
Orth. O’rth, breathing.
Orthwein. O’rth, breathing; wine, a man. A living man.
Orton. Or, free from; tún, house, farm, village, town. Free from the cares of home, or of the town.
Orwig. Or, free from; wig, warfare, battle, strife. Free from warfare.
Osbeck. O’s, a hero; béc, a book, a volume, a writing. Hero-book; a novel.
Osborne. O’s, a hero; beorn, chief, general, prince, king. Hero-king. Osborn, Osbourn, Osbourne, kindred names.
Osler. O’s, hero; lǽr, lore, learning. Hero-lore.
Osmond. O’s, hero; mond, hand, defence, protection, security. Hero-protection.
Osmun. O’s, hero; mund, a hand. Heroic hand.
Osmus. O’s, hero; mús, mouse, flesh, muscle. Heroic muscle.
Osner. O’s, hero; nere, refuge, safety, preservation. Heroic preservation.
Oswald. O’s, hero; wald, ruler, governor, lord. Heroic ruler.
Ost. Ost, East. Also, a knot, a scale.
Oster. Oster, Easter.
Overholt. Ouer, over; holt, a forest. Hill-forest.
Oxenford. Oxen, from oxan, genitive of oxa, an ox; ford, a ford. The ford of the ox. Oxford, abbreviation of same.
P.
Palen. Pællen, purple.
Pennington. Pening, a penny; tún, dwelling, house. A mint; a bank.
Pepper. Peppor, or peopor, pepper.
Peppercorn. Peppor, pepper; corn, corn. A peppercorn.
Pile. Píl, a pile, dart, pole, stake.
Pilking. Píl, a pile, dart; cyng, a king, ruler, prince. Pile-king; warrior-king.
Pilkington. Pilking, Pilking; tún, house. Home of Pilking.
Pitt. Pitt, a well, a hole.
Pitfield. Pitt, a well; feld, a field, pasture, plain. A plain full of excavations.
Pitkin. Pitt, Pitt; cyn, kindred, posterity, nation. Pitt’s posterity.
Pitts. Pitt, Pitt; s for sun, son. Pitt’s son; son of Pitt.
Pitman. Pitt, a pit, a hole, a well; man, a man. A man who works in a pit; a pitman.
Pittenger. Pitt, Pitt; eng for ing, descendant; er, a personal suffix. Descendant of Pitt.
Plag. Plæga, play, sport, pastime, wager.
Plagman. Plæga, play, pastime, wager; man, a man. Man of pleasure. Plagemann, a cognate form.
Plumly. Plume, a plum; líc, form, shape, substance. Plum-shape.
Porter. Port, port, haven, town, city, gate of a town; er, a personal suffix. A gate-keeper.
Portman. Port, a city; man, a man. A citizen.
Preston. Preost, a priest, presbyter, clergyman; tún, a house. A parsonage.
Prevost. Prafost, prevost, president.
Priestly. Preost, a priest; líc, like. Priest-like.
Pund. Púnd, a pound, a fold.
Punger. Pung, a purse; er, a personal termination. A purser.
Punt. Punt, a boat.
Pusey. Púse, a purse, a bag.
Poole. Púl, pronounced pool, a pool.
Pyle. Pyle, a pillow, a cushion. Pywell, perhaps, from the same root.
Pyne. Pín, a pine.
Pyott. Pytt, a pit, a well. Piatt, a kindred name.
Q.
Quain. Queán, a barren cow.
Queen. Quén, a wife. Quen, Quein, of similar derivation.
Quick. Cwic, quick, living, active.
Quicksell. Cwic, active; sel, a companion. An active companion. Quicksall, a slightly modified term.
R.
Raake. Ræce, a rach, a setting dog.
Rackham. Ræce, Raake; hám, house. Home of Raake.
Radcliff. Rád, that on which one rides, a road; clyf, a rock, a steep descent. A road-cliff. Radcliffe, another spelling.
Raddington. Ræding, Reading; tún, town. Town of Reading.
Raddish. Rædic, from rǽd, red, and isc, an adjective termination denoting like. Red-like; a radish. Radisch, Radish, of similar origin.
Rader. Rád, traveling, journeying; er, a personal suffix. A traveler.
Radeker. Rǽd, red; æcer, acre, field, land. A red field.
Radfield. Rǽd, red; feld, a plain. A red plain.
Radford. Rǽd, red; fōrd, a ford, a stream. A red ford.
Radley. Rǽd, red; líc, like. Red-like.
Rae. Rá, a roebuck, a hart.
Raeder. Rá-deór, a roebuck.
Rafferty. Ræfter, a rafter, a perch. Doubtless, a corruption of ræfter, produced by removing t, and placing it at the end of the word.
Rahill. Rá, a roe, a hart; hill, a hill. Roe-hill.
Rahm. Ram, or ramm, a ram. Rahme, of like significance.
Rahn. Rán, a whale.
Rahner. Rán, a whale; er, a personal suffix. A whaler.
Raith. Ræth, quick. Rath, of like import.
Ramm. Ramm, a ram, a male sheep.
Rammage. Ram, a ram; mæg, female. The female of the ram; an ewe.
Ramsey. Rammes-íg, from rammes, genitive of ramin, ram; ig, an island. Isle of Ram. Ramsay, from the same roots.
Ramson. Ram, Ramm; sun, son. Son of Ramm.
Ranck. Ranc, proud, haughty, rebellious, rank, fruitful. Rancke, slightly altered form.
Rand. Rand, a border, rim, edge, a shield, a bosc.
Randall. Ran, a deer; dál, or dǽl, a dale, a valley. Deer-valley. Randell, Randle, of like parentage.
Randolph. Ran, plunder, dǽlf, a delving, a digging. Plunder-delving.
Rankin. Ran, a deer; cyn, kin, race, tribe, kind. Deer-tribe.
Rankins. Rankin, Rankin; s for sun, son. Son of Rankin. Ranken, from the same.
Ranks. Rank, Rank, from rænc, pride, and s for sun, son. Son of Rank; son of pride.
Rapp. Ráp, a rope, a cord.
Rapson. Ráp, Rapp; sun, son. Son of Rapp.
Rasbold. Rǽs, a rush, an onset, an attack; báld, bold, audacious, courageous, honorable. A courageous attack.
Rasch. Rǽs, a rush, an onset, an attack.
Ratcliff. Ræt, a rat; clyf, a nest. Rat-nest.
Rathfon. Rathe, swift, nimble, ready; fon, a fan. A nimble fan.
Rau. Rawe, head of hair.
Rauch. Reác, smoke, reek, vapor.
Raucher. Reác, smoke; er, a personal suffix. A smoker.
Rauchfuss. Reác, smoke; fús, ready. Smoke ready. Ready for smoke.
Rawle. Rǽw, a corpse; el, denoting a person. Human corpse. Rawley, of like derivation.
Rawlings. Rawl, Rawl; ingas, sons of. Sons of Rawl, or Rawle. Rawlins, contraction of the same.
Rea. Rea, a padder, a highwayman, an assailant, a stroller.
Reabey. Rea, a highwayman; bý, a habitation. Dwelling of a highwayman.
Reabon. Rea, an assailant; bon, fatal. A deadly assailant.
Reach. Reác, smoke, reek, vapor.
Read. Read, red. Reade, Reed, from the same root.
Reading. Read, Read; ing, offspring. Son of Read. Redding, of like origin.
Reardon. Reardian, to speak, converse, read.
Reaser. Reás, rushed; er, a personal suffix. A hurried person.
Reath. Réthe, savage, fierce, hard, severe, austere.
Reck. Rec, an interpreter, explainer. Recke, another spelling.
Reckefuss. Rec, an interpreter; fús, ready. A ready interpreter.
Reckless. Recce-leas, from recc, care; leas, free from. Free from care; careless; reckless.
Reddick. Rædic, a radish.
Reddington. Redding, Redding; tún, house. Home of Redding.
Redmond. Rǽd, ready; mond, hand. Ready hand.
Redner. Rǽd, ready; nere, a refuge. A ready refuge.
Reece. Resce, a rush. Rees, Reese, more modernized forms of the name.
Reeh. Reh, a deluge.
Reehm. Hream, a shout.
Reel. Reol, a reel.
Reen. Rén, robbery. Perhaps, from rén, rain.
Reenan. Rínan, pronounced reenan, to rain.
Regelmann. Regel, a rule, a law, a canon; mann, man. A ruler; a lawyer.
Rehfuss. Reh, a deluge; fús, prompt, quick, ready. A ready deluge.
Rehm. Rem, cream.
Rein. Rein, pure, sincere, chaste.
Reinhart. Rein, sincere, pure, clean, chaste; heart, or heort, a heart. A pure heart.
Reining. Rein, Rein; ing, an offspring, a descendant. Son of Rein.
Reinking. Rein, sincere, honest; cyng, a king. An honest king.
Reme. Rem, cream.
Remington. Rem, Reme; ing, offspring; tún, town, dwelling. House of the son of Reme.
Rench. Renc, pride, arrogance.
Rendell. Rene, a water-course; dál, a dale, a valley. A valley stream.
Reneker. Reonig, tired, weary, sad; er, a personal termination. A tired person; a mourner.
Renne. Rene, a course, race, life, a water-course. Sometimes written Renn.
Rennick. Rénig, showery, having watery eyes, blear-eyed.
Resch. Resce, a rush.
Ressler. Resele, a riddle.
Retter. Rét, cheerful; er, denoting personality. A cheerful person.
Rhawn. Hrán, Anglicised form would be rhán, a whale.
Rhea. Rǽh, a doe, a roe.
Rheem. Hream, a shout, clamor, a crying out, wailing, hue and cry.
Rice. Rice, power, dominion, greatness, kingdom, region.
Riceman. Rice, power, greatness; man, a man. A man of power; a person of influence.
Richard. Rice, or riche, rich, powerful, mighty; ard, implying an ensign of office. A mighty ruler.
Richardson. Richard, Richard; sun, son. Son of Richard. Richards, contraction for the same.
Richmond. Riche, mighty, powerful; mond, a hand. A mighty hand.
Ridd. Rídda, a knight, a rider.
Rider. Ríd-ere, from rídan, to ride, sit or rest upon, press; ere, implying person. A rider; a knight. Ryder, from the same roots.
Ridge. Ricg, a stack, a back.
Ridings. Rid, Ridd; ings, descendants of. Sons of Ridd.
Riegel. Rige, rye; el, a termination denoting a person. A rye-man; a cultivator of rye; baker of rye-bread.
Riegg. Rige, rye, by transposing the positions of g and e, becomes Rieg, and this differs from the name under consideration only in the absence of the additional g. Rigg, of similar import.
Riehl. Rihel, doubtless the original, is from rih, hairy, rough, and el, denoting personality. A hairy man; a rough person. Riehle, Rile, Riley, of analogous derivation.
Riff. Rif, a womb. Rife, perhaps, from the same root.
Riffert. Rifter, a sickle, a reaper.
Rigby. Rig, Rigg; bý, habitation. Dwelling of Rigg.
Rigger. Rigg, Rigg; er, implying person. One who is a Rigg.
Riggin. Rigg, Rigg; in, an inn, a dwelling. Rigg’s inn.
Riggins. Riggin, Riggin; s for sun, son. Son of Riggin.
Riggs. Rigg, Rigg; s for sun, son. Son of Rigg.
Righter. Riht-ere, from riht, right, justice, law, true, just; ere, denoting a person. A governor; a ruler.
Rightley. Riht-líce, from riht, right, just; líce, like, ly. Right-like; rightly; justly.
Riling. Ril, Ril, Riehl; ing, offspring. Descendant of Riehl. Rilling, of similar significance.
Rimby. Rím, a number, reckoning, computation, calendar; bý, a habitation. Home of an arithmetician.
Rimer. Rím, number, reckoning, calendar; er, a personal suffix. An arithmetician; a reckoner; an astronomer. Rimmer, derivable from the same roots.
Rind. Rind, the rind, bark; fús, ready. Prepared bark.
Rindge. Hrincg, or ringe, a ring.
Rinear. Rín, course, course of years, life; ear, ocean, sea. Life-sea; sea of life.
Rinehart. Rín, race, course: heort, the heart. Race-heart; rapid heart-action.
Ringe. Ringe, a ring. Ring, an abbreviated form of the name.
Ringeisen. Ringe, a ring; isen, made of iron. An iron ring.
Ringer. Ringe, a ring; er, denoting a person. Ring-maker.
Ringgold. Ringe, a ring; gold, gold. A gold ring. Ring-gold, of like derivation.
Ringle. Ringe, a ring; el, a termination denoting a person. Ring-wearer; betrothed lady.
Ringley. Ringe, a ring; líce, like, ley, ly. Ring-like.
Rink. Rinc, a soldier, warrior, hero, a valiant or honorable man, a man. Rinick, doubtless, a corruption of the same.
Rinker. Rinc, a warrior, a valiant man; ere, an agent. A warrior.
Rínne. Rine, a race, course, life.
Ripley. Ríp, harvest, reaping; ley, a song. A harvest-song.
Ripp. Ríp, harvest, reaping.
Rippel. Ríp, harvest, reaping; el, denoting a person. A reaper; a harvester.
Ripperger. Ríp, harvest; earg, weak, evil, wretched, idle; ere, a person. An idle harvester.
Rishel. Risel, a handle. Rishell, Rissell, other spellings.
Risdon. Rísendan, a jangling fellow.
Risk. Risce, a rush.
Risley. Risel, doubtless, first changed to risle, a handle.
Ristine. Ríst, Rist; ine for in, an inn, a dwelling. Rist’s inn.
Ritner. Rit, ears of corn, a heap of fruit, corn, or grain; nere, support, protect, refuge. Corn-support.
Ritter. Rít, rides; ere, a person. A rider.
Ritterson. Ritter, Ritter; sun, son. Son of Ritter.
Roach. Reohche, a roach, a thornback. Roache, Roche, Roatch, Roesch, Roetsck, cognate forms.
Roat. Rót, cheerful, rejoicing, splendid, adorned.
Roats. Roat, Roat; s for sun, son. Son of Roat. Roetz, possibly, from the same.
Rodbard. Reod, red; beard, beard. Red beard. Robert is, in Anglo-Saxon, Rod-beard, and doubtless comes from the same roots.
Rodd. Reod, red.
Rodden. Reod, red; ian, indicative of a verb. Redden; make red.
Roddy. Reod, red; ig, an adjective termination. Ruddy; florid.
Rode. Reód, a reed.
Rodearmel. Reod, red; earm, arm; el, indicating a person. A red-armed person.
Rodebaugh. Reod, red; bæc, back. Red back. Rodenbaugh, of like derivation.
Rodel. Reod, red; el, a personal suffix. A person of ruddy complexion.
Rodgers. Rodger, from reod, red; ierre, anger, indignation, fury; and s for sun, son. Son of Rodger; son of red-visaged anger. Rodgerson is an unabbreviated form of the name, and Rogers a slight modification thereof.
Rodig. Reod, red; ig, an adjective termination. Ruddy.
Rodiger. Rodig, ruddy; er, a person. A ruddy person.
Rodine. Rod, Rode; inne, an inn. Rode’s inn.
Rodisch. Reod, red; isc, an adjective termination denoting the external quality of a subject. Reddish.
Rodman. Reod, red; mann, man. A ruddy man; a red-complexioned person.
Rodner. Reod, red; nere, support, protection. A zealous support. Perhaps, from rǽdanere, a reader, an interpreter.
Rodney. Rǽdne, law, counsel, control, condition.
Rodrick. Roder, firmament, sky, heavens; ríce, power, dominion, greatness, kingdom. Heavenly power. Roderick, a more closely related form.
Roe. Rá, pronounced rō, a roe, a doe.
Roebuck. Rá, a roe; buc, a buck. A roebuck.
Roeck. Roec, smoke.
Roecker. Roec, smoke; er, a person. A smoker.
Roeckle. Roec, smoke; le for el, denoting a person. A reeking, steaming person.
Roedel. Rá, a roe; dǽl, a dale, a valley. The vale of the roe. Roedell, of like significance.
Roeder. Rá-deór, a roebuck.
Roeger. Rǽge, pronounced ro-ge, a roe, a doe; ere, an agent. A roe-hunter.
Roegler. Rǽge, a roe; lǽr, learning. Roe-knowledge.
Roehl. Hreol, a reel. Roell, of kindred meaning.
Roehler. Hreol, a reel; ere, an agent. A spinster; a dancer. Roeller, from the same roots.
Roehm. Rá, roe; hm for hám, home, dwelling, habitation. Home of the roe.
Roellig. Hreol, a reel; ig, an adjective ending. Reeling; whirling.
Roeper. Reapere, pronounced roepere, a seizer, spoiler, robber.
Roerich. Rá, roe; ríce, a region, a country. The region of the roebuck.
Roese. Rose, a rose.
Roeser. Rose, a rose; ere, an agent. A rose-grower.
Roessing. Roess, Roese; ing, offspring. Son of Roese.
Roessler. Rose, a rose; lǽr, lore, learning. Rose-knowledge.
Roff. Róf, famous, renowned, illustrious, brave.
Roffel. Róf, famous, illustrious; el, denoting a person. A famous person. Roffle, of kindred signification.
Rogge. Rǽge, pronounced rōge, a roe, a doe.
Rohde. Ród, pronounced rohd, genitive rohde, rood, cross. Belonging to the cross.
Rohe. Reoh, rough, fierce, stormy, cruel.
Rohlfing. Hreol, a reel; fing, doubtless, a contraction of finger, a finger. The reel-finger. Perhaps the name is derivable from hreol, a reel, and fiong, hatred. Hatred of the reel.
Rohm. Róm, pronounced Rohm, Rome.
Rohman. Róman, pronounced Rohman, genitive of Róm. Belonging to Rome.
Roland. Row, sweet, quiet; land, land, ground, earth, field, region, country. Sweet land; quiet country. Rolan, Rowland, kindred terms.
Rolen. Row, sweet; leán, reward, price. Sweet reward.
Rolf. Row, quiet, restful; lf for líf, life. A quiet life. Roloff, Rolph, cognate terms.
Rolfing. Rolf, Rolf; ing, offspring, descendant. Son of Rolf.
Romberg. Róm, Rome; beorg, a hill fortification, citadel, defence, refuge. Citadel of Rome.
Romberger. Róm, Rome; beorg-ere, defender of a citadel. Defender of the citadel of Rome.
Rombold. Róm, Rome; báld, bold, courageous. Courageous Rome.
Romel. Róm, Rome; el, denoting a person. Citizen of Rome. Rommel, Rommell, of like origin.
Romig. Reómig, tired, weary.
Rommelman. Rommel, Romel; man, a servant. The servant of Romel.
Romoser. Róm, Rome; O’ster, Easter. Roman Easter.
Ronald. Rún, pronounced rown, a letter, magical character, mystery, council, meditation, conversation; ald, an age. An age of mystery.
Ronaldson. Ronald, Ronald; sun, son. Son of Ronald.
Ronan. Rúnan, pronounced rownan, a whisperer, a sorcerer.
Rone. Rún, a letter, a mystery, a council; e, indicating person. A man of mysteries; a sage. Roney, Rooney, from the same roots.
Rood. Ród, pronounced rood, rood, cross.
Roof. Róf, pronounced roof, top, the highest part of a house or chamber.
Roohr. Rure, pronounced ruher, a noise.
Rook. Róc, pronounced rook, a rook. Rooke, Ruch, Ruck, other spellings.
Rooks. Rook, Rook: s for sun, son. Son of Rook.
Rookstool. Rook, Rook; stól, pronounced stool, seat, chair, throne. Rook’s chair or throne.
Room. Rúm, pronounced rowm, room, space, place, wide, open, spacious, ample, of good cheer or heart, august, fortunate. Roome, of like import.
Roomes. Roome, Room; s for sun, son. Son of Room.
Roop. Roop, rop, a distaff.
Root. Rúte, pronounced originally rowte, rue, a plant.
Roots. Root, Root; s for sun, son. Son of Root.
Roper. Rop, a distaff; er, a person. The woman who twirls the distaff.
Roppel. Rop, a distaff; el, a personal ending. A distaff.
Roray. Rure, pronounced ruhr-e, a noise, the final e taking the French sound of a.
Rorer. Rure, a noise; ere, an agent. One who makes a noise; a babbler; a prattler.
Rose. Rose, pronounced raws, a rose. Ross, Rosse, Roos, analogous forms.
Rosebery. Rose, a rose; berige, a berry. The fruit of the rose.
Roseman. Rose, Rose; man, a servant. A servant of Rose. Rosemann, of like derivation.
Rosen. Rose, Rose; en, resembling. Resembling Rose; rosy; blooming.
Rosenacker. Rosen, Rosen; æcer, acre. Rosen’s acre; ground belonging to Rosen.
Rosenfeld. Rosen, Rosen; feld, field, pasture, plain. Rosen’s field; a blooming pasture. Rosenfelt, from the same roots.
Rosensky. Rosen, rosy, flushed; Danish sky, a cloud. A crimson cloud.
Rosewarne. Rose, a rose; wearn, a hindrance, obstacle, resistance, denial. Rose-obstacle.
Rosewig. Rose, a rose; wig, war, warfare, battle. Rose-warfare.
Roskeep. Rose, a rose; ceáp, a bargain, sale, business, chattel. Rose-sale.
Rosney. Rose, a rose; ney, from the Irish, an individual, an agent. Rose-dealer.
Rost. Rǽst, pronounced rost, rest, repose, a place of rest, a bed.
Rowan. Rówan, pronounced roow-an, to row, to sail. Rowand, Roan, from the same root.
Rowe. Reowe, an Irish mantle or rug, soldier’s cloak, a frieze cassock, a priest’s garment. Row, of like significance.
Rowson. Row, Rowe; sun, son. Son of Rowe.
Rox. Rocks, from Rock, Rock; s for sun. Son of Rock. Rock is from the Irish roc, pronounced rokh, a rock.