ETYMOLOGY MADE INTERESTING.
The Origin and Curious Evolution of Some English Surnames.
Baltimore Sun.A recent magazine article by Sir Herbert Maxwell presents in a very readable form the derivation of a number of common names. it will be news, for example, to many readers that Snooks was once known as Sevenoakes.
Some persons are not aware that Elizabeth is to be accounted an uncouth form of Isabel, which was formed from Isabeau on a false supposition that Isabeau was masculine. Eliza, it is stated, is not a shortened form of Elizabeth, but is the equivalent of Alice.
Marion, we know, is in line with Marie, Mary and Maria.
Patronymics have been much multiplied through pet names. The Saxons formed pet names by adding to the original name — often abreviated — kin and cock, and the Normans introduced et and ot, en and on.
From William we have the pet names Will, Wilcock, Wilkin, Wilett, Willey, Willemot, Bill and Guili (Latin). From these we get, in order, Williams, MacWilliams, Williamson, Wills, Wilson, Wilcox, Wilkins, Wilkison, Wilkinson, Willett, Willetson, Wilmot, Willing, Wilson, Gill, Gilson, Gilkins, Gillon and Gillott.
Robert — through Robin, Dobb, Hob, Rob and Hobkin — gives us Roberts, Robertson, Robins, Robinson, Robison, Probyn, Dobbs, Dobson, Hobbs, Hobson, Robbs, Robson, Hopkins and Hopkinson.
Phillip gives us Phipps, Philpot and Philpots.
Richard has been distorted by affection into the pet names Rich, Richie, Dick, Diccon, Hitchin and Hitchcock.
From these in turn we have Richards, Richardson, Rickards, Pritchard, Rixon, Ritchie, Richison, Dick, Dixie, Dixson, Dickens, Dickenson, Hitchins, Hitchison, Hitchcock and Hithcox.
David has given us Davidson, Dodson, Dodds, Davy, Davison, Daw, Dawson, Dawkins and O’Dowd.
We have from Henry the derivations Hal, Hallet, Harry, Harriet and Hawkins.
From John we get Jack and Jenkins; from Simeon, Simkins. Thackeray’s ancestor was a thatcher.
Malthus got his name from malthouse, and the common family name of Bacchus would be more correctly spelled bakehouse.
Macpherson means parson’s son. Vickers was the vicar’s son.
Wallace means a Welshman, and Bruce is a Norman name. Sinclair, Montgomery, Hay and Vance are, like Bruce, names derived from lands in Normandy.
Many English surnames end in ford (house), lea, ton (farm), and by (dwelling), from the old practice of naming persons after their native place. Aylesford, Grimston, Habersham and Ormsby are examples.
Winslow is from words that mean Wine’s Hill.
From Lea we get Lee, Leigh and Legh.
The Welsh Ap son, with Robert, has become Probert, Ap Rhys has become Price, Ap Owen has become Bowen, and Ap Hugh has become Pugh.
A prosperous Dublin snuff dealer, name Halfpenny, has had his appellation shortened, it is narrated, to Halpen, and then enlarged to an imposing McAlpin.
It is interesting in this connection to know that Finn and Finley are Celtic surnames, equivalent to our White.
Duff, Macduff and Dow are for Black.
Glass is for Gray.
Roy, Corkran and Cochrane all mean read.
Our Mr. Brown is the Celtic Mr. Dunn or Mr. Donnan.
Moore and Moran answer to our Bigg. On the other hand Beggs is good Celtic for Little or Small.
Oliphant (elegant) is a name derived from a shop sign.
The reader will perceive that many of our christian names and surnames have had curious histories.
Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Jul 31, 1892
*I put in all the breaks to maker it easier to follow.
Roots, Branches, Twigs & Leaves 