Surnames as a Science Part 17

[28] From a similar origin is the name of the Scandinavian Vikings, Vik-ing, from _vik_, a bay.

[29] _Archaeological Journal._

[30] The reader must bear in mind that Ang.-Sax. _ae_ is p.r.o.nounced as _a_ in "ant."

[31] I take the word contained herein to be "ganz," an ancient stem in names.

[32] Properly, I think, "Maedlingas," as it has nothing to do with Ang.-Sax. "maegd," _maid_.

[33] The same, I take it, as the "Myrgingas" in the _Traveller's Tale_.

[34] Properly, I take it, "Trumingas," Ang.-Sax. "_trum_" firm, strong.

CHAPTER V.

MEN'S NAMES IN PLACE-NAMES.

We have seen in a preceding chapter that the earliest Saxon place-names in England are derived from a personal name, and that the idea contained is that of a modified form of common right. We shall find that a very large proportion of the later Anglo-Saxon place-names are also derived from the name of a man, but that the idea contained is now that of individual owners.h.i.+p or occupation. The extent to which English place-names are derived from ancient names of men is, in my judgment, very much greater than is generally supposed. And indeed, when we come to consider it, what can be so naturally a.s.sociated with a _ham_ as the name of the man who lived in that home, of a _weorth_ as that of the man to whom that property belonged, of a Saxon _tun_ or a Danish _by_ or _thorp_ as that of the man to whom the place owed its existence? If we turn to Kemble's list of Anglo-Saxon names of places as derived from ancient charters, in the days when the individual owner had succeeded to the community, we cannot fail to remark to how large an extent this obtains, and how many of these names are in the possessive case. Now, it must be observed that there are in Anglo-Saxon two forms of the possessive, and that when a man's name had the vowel ending in _a_, as noted at p. 24, it formed its possessive in _an_, while otherwise it formed its possessive in _es_. Thus we have Baddan byrig, "Badda's borough," Bennan beorh, "Benna's barrow" or grave, and in the other form we have Abbodes byrig, "Abbod's borough," Bluntes ham, "Blunt's home,"

and Sylces wyrth, "Silk's worth" or property. And as compound names did not take a vowel ending, such names invariably form their possessive in _es_, as in Haywardes ham, "Hayward's home," Cynewardes gemaero, "Cyneward's boundary," &c. I am not at all sure that _ing_ also has not, in certain cases, the force of a possessive, and that aelfredincgtun, for instance, may not mean simply "Alfred's town" and not Alfreding's town.

But I do not think that this is at any rate the general rule, and it seems scarcely possible to draw the line. From the possessive in _an_ I take to be most probably our present place-names Puttenham, Tottenham, and Sydenham, (respecting the last of which there has been a good deal of discussion of late in _Notes and Queries_), containing the Anglo-Saxon names _Putta_, _Totta_, and _Sida_. With regard to the last I have not fallen in with the name _Sida_ itself. But I deduce such a name from Sydanham, C.D. 379, apparently a place in Wilts, also perhaps from Sidebirig, now Sidbury, in Devon; and there is, moreover, a corresponding O.G. _Sido_, the origin being probably A.S. _sidu_, manners, morals. Further traces of such a stem are found in _Sidel_ deduced from Sidelesham, now Sidlesham, in Suss.e.x, and also from the name _Sydemann_ in a charter of Edgar, these names implying a pre-existing stem _sid_ upon which they have been formed.

As well as with the _ham_ or the _byrig_ in which he resided, a man's name is often found among the Anglo-Saxons, connected with the boundary--whatever that might be--of his property, as in Abbudes mearc, Abbud's mark or boundary, and Baldrices gemaero, Baldrick's boundary.

Sometimes that boundary might be a hedge, as in Leoferes haga and Danehardes hegeraew, "Leofer's hedge," and "Danehard's hedge-row."

Sometimes it might be a stone, as in Sweordes stan, sometimes a ridge, as in Eppan hrycg, "Eppa's ridge," sometimes a ditch or d.y.k.e, as in Tilgares dic and Colomores sic (North. Eng. syke, wet ditch). A tree was naturally a common boundary mark, as in Potteles treow, Alebeardes ac (oak), Bulemaeres thorn, Huttes aesc (ash), Tatmonnes apoldre (apple-tree). Sometimes, again, a man's name is found a.s.sociated with the road or way that led to his abode, as in Wealdenes weg (way), Sigbrihtes anstige (stig, a footpath), Dunnes stigele (stile). Another word which seems to have something of the meaning of "stile" is _hlip_, found in Freobearnes hlyp and in Herewines hlipgat. In Anglo-Saxon, _hlypa_ signified a stirrup, and a "hlipgat" must, I imagine, have been a gate furnished with some contrivance for mounting over it. Of a similar nature might be Alcherdes ford, and Brochardes ford, and also Geahes ofer, Byrhtes ora, and aescmann's yre (_ofer_, contr. _ore_, sh.o.r.e or landing-place). Something more of the rights of water may be contained in Fealamares broc (brook), Hykemeres strem (stream), and Brihtwoldes were (weir); the two latter probably referring to water-power for a mill. The sense of property only seems to be that which is found in Cybles weorthig, aescmere's weorth (land or property), Tilluces leah (lea), Rumboldes den (_dene_ or valley), Bogeles pearruc (paddock), Ticnes feld (field). Also in Grottes graf (grove), Sweors holt (grove), Pippenes pen (pen or fold), Willeardes hyrst (grove), Leofsiges geat (gate), Ealdermannes haec (hatch), and Winagares stapol (stall, market, perhaps a place for the sale or interchange of produce).

The site of a deserted dwelling served sometimes for a mark, as in Sceolles eald cotan (Sceolles old cot), and Dearmodes ald tun (Deormoda's old town, or inclosure, dwelling and appurtenances?).

But it is with a man's last resting-place that his name will be found in Anglo-Saxon times to be most especially a.s.sociated. The princ.i.p.al words used to denote a grave are _beorh_ (barrow), _byrgels_, and _hloew_ (low), in all of which the idea seems to be that of a mound raised over the spot. We have Weardes beorh, "Weard's barrow," also Lulles, Cartes, Hornes, Lidgeardes, and many others. We have Scottan byrgels, "Scotta's barrow," also Hoces, Wures, and Strenges. And we have Lortan hlaew, "Lorta's low," also Ceorles, Wintres, Hwittuces, and others. There is another word _ho_, which seems to be the same as the O.N. _haugr_, North. Eng, _how_, a grave-mound. It is found in Healdenes ho, Piccedes ho, Scoteho Tilmundes ho, Caegesho, and Fingringaho. It would hardly seem, from the location of four of them, Worcester, Ess.e.x, Beds, Suss.e.x, that they can be of Scandinavian origin. Can the two words, _haugr_ and _hlau_ (_how_, and _hlow_), be from the same origin, the one a.s.suming, or the other dropping an _l_?

I take the names of persons thus to be deduced from Anglo-Saxon place-names, and which are in general correspondence with the earlier names in the preceding chapter, though containing some new forms and a greater number of compound names, to give as faithful a representation as we can have of the every-day names of Anglo-Saxons. And as I have before compared the names of those primitive settlers with our existing surnames, so now I propose to extend the comparison to the names of more settled Anglo-Saxon times.

Anglo-Saxon Men's Names. Place-Names. English Surnames.

Abbod Abbodesbyrig } _Abbott_ Abbud Abbudesmearc } aecemann aecemannes ceaster _Ackman, Aikman_ Acen Acenes feld _Aikin_ aegelweard aegelweardes mearc _Aylward_ Alberht Alcherdes ford _Allcard_ Alder Aldrestub _Alder_ aelfgar aelfgares gemaero _Algar_ aelfred aelfredes beorh _Alfred_, _Allfrey_ aelfher, or } aelfheri } aelfheres stapol _Alvary_ aescmer aescmeres weorth _Ashmore_ aescmann aescmannes yre _Ashman_ Alebeard Alebeardes ac _Halbard_ Amber Ambresbyrig _Amber_ aethelstan aethelstanes tun _Ethelston_

Babel Babeles beorh _Bable_ Badherd Badherdes sled _Beddard_ Baldher Baldheresberg _Balder_ Baldric Baldrices gemaero _Baldridge_ Baldwin Baldwines heath _Baldwin_ Beored, or Beoret Beoredes treow _Berrette_ Beornheard Beornheardes lond _Bernard_ Beornwold Beornwoldes saetan _Bernold_ Blunt Bluntesham _Blunt_ Bogel Bogeles pearruc _Bogle_ Bohmer Bohmeres stigele _Bowmer_ Bregen Bregnesford _Brain_ Brochard Brochardes ford _Brocard_ Buga Buganstoc } _Bugg_ Bugga Bugganbroc } Bulemaer Bulemaeres thorn _Bulmer_ Buntel Bunteles pyt _Bundle_ Bunting Buntingedic _Bunting_ Burhgeard Burhgeardeswerthig _Burchard_

Carda Cardan hlaew _Card_, _Cart_ Ceapa Ceapan hlaew _Cheape_ Ceawa Ceawan hlaew _Chew_ Cerda Cerdan hlaew _Chard_ Cissa Cissan anstige _Cheese_ Chetol (Danish) Chetoles beorh _Kettle_ Creoda Creodan ac } _Creed_ Cridd Criddes ho } c.u.men c.u.menes ora _c.u.mmin_ Ceatewe Ceatewesleah _Chattoway_ Ceada Ceadanford _Chad_ Catt Cattes stoke _Cat_, _Catty_ Caestael Caestaelesham _Castle_ Cludd Cludesleah _Cloud_ Coten Cotenesfeld _Cotton_ Cruda Crudan sceat _Crowd_ Colomor Colomores sic _Colmer_ Cydd Cyddesige _Kidd_ Cyble Cybles weorthig _Keble_ Celc Celces ora _Kelk_ Cylman Cylmanstun _Killman_ Cynlaf Cynlafes stan _Cunliffe_ Cynric Cynrices gemaero _Kenrick_ Cyneward Cynewardes gemaero _Kenward_ Cyppa Cyppanham _Chipp_

Daegel, or Daeglesford } _Dale_ Deil Deilsford } Dearnagel Dearnagles ford _Darnell_ Daeneheard Daeneheardes hegerawe _Denhard_ Deorlaf Deorlafestun _Dearlove_ Deormod[35] Deormodes ald tun _Dermott_ Dodd Doddesthorp } _Dodd_ Dodda Doddan hlaew } Dolemann Dolemannes beorh _Dollman_ Duceman Ducemannestun _Duckman_ Ducling Duclingtun _Duckling_ Dunn Dunnes stigele _Dunn_ DoG.o.d DoG.o.deswel _Doggett_, _Dugood_ Dydimer Dydimertun _Tidemore_

Ealder Ealdersc.u.mb _Alder_ Ealdmann Ealdmannes wyrth _Altman_ Ealdermann[36] Ealdermannes haec _Alderman_ Ealmund Ealmundes treow _Almond_ Eanulf Eanulfestun _Enough_ Earn Earnesbeorh _Earney_

Eastmond Eastmondestun _Esmond_ Ecgell Ecgeles stiel _Edgell_, _Eagle_

Fealamar Fealamares broc { _Fillmore_ { _Phillimore_ Flegg Flegges garan _Flew_ Focga Focgancrundel _Fogg_, _Foggo_ Freobearn Freobearnes hlyp _Freeborn_ Frigedaeg Frigedaeges treow _Friday_ Fuhgel Fuhgeles beorh _Fuggle_, _Fowl_

Gandar Gandrandun _Gander_ Gaecg Gaecges stapol { _Gay_ Geah Geahes ofer { Gatehlinc Gatehlinces heafod _Gatling_ Geleca Gelecancamp _Jellicoe_ Geyn Geynes thorn _Gain_ Giselher Gislhereswurth _Giller_ G.o.dincg G.o.dincges gemaero _G.o.dding_ G.o.dmund G.o.dmundesleah _G.o.dmund_ G.o.dwin G.o.dwines gemaero _G.o.dwin_ Grobb Grobbes den _Grove_, _Grubb_ Grott Grottes graf _Grote_ Gund Gundestige _Gunn_, _Gundey_

Haerred Haerredesleah _Herod_ Heafoc Heafoceshamme _Hawk_ Ha.s.suc Ha.s.suces mor _Haskey_ Hering Heringesleah _Herring_ Hnibba Hnibbanleah _Knibb_, _Knipe_ Hayward Haywardes ham _Hayward_ Healda Healdan graf _Hald_ Healden Healdenes ho _Haldan_ Helm Helmes treow _Helme_ Helfaer Helfaeres gemaero _Helper_ Help Helpestonne _Helps_ Herebritt Herebrittes comb _Herbert_ Herewin Herewines hlipgat _Irwine_ Hiccemann Hiccemannes stan _Hickman_ Humbald Humbalding graf _Humble_ Hycemer, or } Higemar } Hycemeres strem _Highmore_ Hnaef Hnaefes scylf _Knapp_ Hocg Hocgestun _Hogg_, _Hodge_ Horn Hornes beorh _Horne_ Hringwold Hringwoldes beorh _Ringold_ Hwittuc Hwittuces leah _Whittock_ Hutt Huttes aesc _Hutt_ Hygelac[37] Hygelaces git _Hillock_

Kyld Kyldesby _Kilt_

Leofer Leoferes haga _Lover_ Laferca Lafercanbeorh _Laverick_ Leofmann Leofmannes gemaero _Loveman_ Leommann Leommannes graf _Lemon_ Leofsig Leofsiges geat _Lovesy_ Leofric Leofrices gemaero _Loveridge_ Lidgeard Lidgeardes beorh _Ledgard_ Lipperd Lipperdes gemaero _Leopard_ Lower Lowereslege _Lower_ Locer Loceresweg _Locker_ Lorta Lortanberwe _Lord_ Lorting Lortinges bourne _Lording_ Luder Luderston _Luther_ Ludmann Ludmannes put _Lutman_ Lull Lulles beorh _Lull_, _Lully_

Myceld Myceldefer _Muckelt_ Mul Muleshlaew _Moule_

Negle Neglesleah _Nagle_ Nael Naelesbroc _Nail_ Nybba Nybban beorh _Nibbs_

Oslac Oslaces lea _Hasluck_ Ogged Oggedestun _Hodgett_, _Howitt_ Oswald Oswaldes mere _Oswald_ Orlaf Orlafestun _Orlop_ Owun Owunes hild _Owen_

Pehtun Pehtuns treow _Peyton_ Pender Penderes clif _Pender_ Picced Piccedes ho _Pickett_ Pinnel Pinnelesfeld _Pennell_ Pippen Pippenes fen _Pippin_ Pyttel Pittelesford _Piddel_ Pitterich Piterichesham _Betteridge_ Pottel Potteles treow _Pottle_ Potten Pottenestreow _Potten_ Punt Puntes stan _Punt_ Puntel Punteles treow _Bundle_ Prentsa Prentsan hlaw _Prentiss_

Redwin Redwines thorn _Readwin_ Rahulf Rahulfes furlong _Ralph_ Rugebeorg Rugebeorges gemaero _Rubery_ Rumbold Rumboldes den _Rumbold_

Sceaft Sceaftesbirig _Shaft_, _Shafto_ Sceoll Sceolles ealdcotan _Sholl_ Scytta Scyttandun _Skeat_, _Shute_ Scyter[38] Scyteres flod _Shuter_ Scealc Scealces hom _Shawkey_, _Chalk?_ Scyld Scyldes treow _s.h.i.+eld_ Simaer Simaeres ford _Seymour_ Secmaer Secmaeres ora _Sycamore_ Sigbriht Sigbrihtes anstige _Sibert_ Sibriht Sibrihtesweald _Seabright_[39]

Siger Sigeres ac _Segar_ Snell Snellesham _Snell_ Snod Snodes hyl _Snoad_ Streng Strenges ho _Strong_ Stut Stutes hyl _Stout_, _Stott_ Stutard Stutardes c.u.mb _Stothard_, _Studeard_ Sucga Sucgangraf _Sugg_ Sumer Sumeresham _Summer_ Sumerled (Danish) Sumerledetun _Sommerlat_ Sunemann Sunemannes wyrthig _Sunman_ Sweor Sweores holt _Swire_, _Swears_ Sweord Sweordes stan _Sword_

Taecel Taecelesbroc _Tackle_ Tatmonn Tatmonnes apoldre _Tadman_ Tatel Tatlestrop _Tattle_ Thuner Thunresfeld _Thunder_ Thurgar (Danish) Thurgartun _Thurgur_ Thrista Thristan den _Trist_ Theodher Theoderpoth _Theodore_ Thurold (Danish) Thuroldes gemaero _Thorold_ Toma Tomanworthig _Tomey_ Ticcen Ticnesfeld _d.i.c.kin_ Tilgar Tilgares dic _Dilger_ Tilluc Tilluces leah _Tillick_, _Dilke_ Tilmann Tilmannes den _Tilman_ t.i.tferth t.i.tferthes geat _t.i.tford_

Upicen Upicenes hlyw _Hopkin_

Wahgen Wahgenes gemaero _Wain_ Wealden Wealdenes weg _Walden_

Wealder Wealderes weg _Walter_ Westan Westanes treow _Weston_ Wigheard Wigheardes stapol _Wyard_ Wighelm Wighelmes land _Whigam_ Wihtlac Wihtlaces ford _Whitelock_ Wihtric Wihtricesham _Whitridge_ Wilmund Wilmundes leah _Williment_ Willher Willheres triow _Willer_ Wicg Wicgestan _Wigg_ Uuigga Wuiggangeat Winagar Winagares stapul _Winegar_ Wileard Wileardes hyrste _Willard_ Wistan for } Wistanes gemaero _Whiston_ Wigstan? } Wulfsig Wulfsiges croft _Wolsey_ Wulfgar Wulfgares gemaero _Woolgar_ Wulfmer Wulfmeres myln _Woolmer_ Wulfric Wulfrices gemaero _Woolrych_ Wyner Wyneres stig _Winer_ Waring Waering wic _Waring_ Wifel Wifelesham _Whipple_ Woden[40] Wodnesbeorg _Woodin?_ Wydda Wyddanbeorh _Widow_

The above names are deduced entirely from the names of places found by Mr. Kemble in ancient charters. The list is not by any means an exhaustive one, as I have not included a number of names taken into account in Chap. IV., and as also the same personal name enters frequently into several place-names. With very few exceptions these names may be gathered to the roll of Teutonic name-stems, notwithstanding a little disguise in some of their forms, and a great, sometimes a rather confusing, diversity of spelling. I take names such as the above to be the representatives of the every-day names of men in Anglo-Saxon times, rather than the names which come before us in history and in historical doc.u.ments. For it seems to me that a kind of fas.h.i.+on prevailed, and that while a set of names of a longer and more dignified character were in favour among the great, the ma.s.s of the people still, to a great extent, adhered to the shorter and more simple names which their fathers had borne before them. Thus, when we find an aethelwold who was also called Mol, an aethelmer who was also called Dodda, and a Queen Hrothwaru who was also called Bucge, I am disposed to take the simple names, which are such as the earlier settlers brought over with them, to have been the original names, and superseded by names more in accordance with the prevailing fas.h.i.+on. Valuable then as is the _Liber Vitae_ of Durham, as a continuous record of English names for many centuries, yet I am inclined to think that inasmuch as that the persons who come before us as benefactors to the shrine of St. Cuthbert may be taken to be as a general rule of the upper ranks of life, they do not afford so faithful a representation of the every-day names of Anglo-Saxons as do the little freeholders who lived and died in their country homes. And, moreover, these are, as it will be seen, more especially the kind of names which have been handed down from Anglo-Saxon times to the present day.

In connection with this subject, it may be of interest to present a list of existing names of places formed from an Anglo-Saxon personal name, as derived from the same ancient charters dealt with in the previous list.

And in so doing I confine myself exclusively to the places of which the present names have been positively identified by Mr. Kemble. And in the first place I will take the place-names which consist simply of the name of a tribe or family unqualified by any local term whatever.

Name in Anglo-Saxon Charters. Present Name.

aefeningas Avening Gloucesters.h.i.+re Angemeringum Angmering Suss.e.x Ascengas Eas.h.i.+ng Surrey Banesingas Bensington Oxfords.h.i.+re Baerlingas Barling Kent Beadingum Beden Gloucesters.h.i.+re Berecingas Barking Ess.e.x Brahcingum Braughin Herts.

Byrhtlingas Brightling Suss.e.x Cerringes Charing Kent Ciwingum Chewing Herts.

Culingas Cooling Kent Cytringas Kettering Northampton Diccelingas Ditchling Suss.e.x Geddingas Yeading Middles.e.x G.o.delmingum G.o.dalming Surrey Hallingas Halling Kent Herlinge Harling Norfolk Horningga Horning Norfolk Meallingas Malling Kent Paeccingas Patching Suss.e.x Puningas Poynings Surrey Readingan Reading Berks.h.i.+re Rodinges Roothing Ess.e.x Staeningas Steyning Suss.e.x Swyrdhlincas } Swarling Kent (Swyrdlingas) } Terringes Tarring Suss.e.x Terlinges Terling Ess.e.x Totingas Tooting Surrey Wellingum Wellwyn Herts.

Werhornas Warehorne Kent Wihttringas Wittering Surrey Uoccingas Woking Surrey Wyrtingas Worting Hants.

I will now take the places which in a later and more settled time have been derived from the name of a single man, as representing his dwelling, his domain, or in not a few cases his grave.

Anglo-Saxon Man's Name. Place-Name. Present Name.

Abba Abbandun Abingdon Berks.

{ aegelesbyrig Aylesbury Bucks.