Walker – someone who pounded wool with their feet, part of the wool making process.Īrkwright – someone who made chests (arks)ĭempster – derived from deemester, an old English word for a judgeĭavies and Davis – both derived from Davy’s (David’s) sonįitz – from the Norman-French ‘fils de’ (son of). Some common surnames and where they derive from: For example, a child christened John Oliver might result in later generations adopting Oliver as their surname. Sometimes a middle name might become a surname. Many Welsh surnames follow this pattern, with Jones (from ‘John’s son) being the most common. An ‘s’ at the end of a personal name also meant ‘son of’, for example Richards, Stevens, Williams and so on. Those derived from where the person lived might include Hill, Dale, Bridge, Forest and Wood also York, Lancaster, London etc.Īnother common way of distinguishing people would be ‘son of’, for example Johnson (son of John), Richardson, Wilson, Harrison etc. Some surnames derive from personal traits or looks, such as Armstrong, Swift, Red and Short. ![]() Irish, Welsh and Highland Scottish names mostly derive from Gaelic personal names whereas traditional English and lowland Scottish surnames also reflect society as it was in the mid to late Middle Ages.Ĭommon surnames such as Smith, Wright, Fletcher, Knight, Cook, Squire, Taylor and Turner are all based around medieval trades or occupations. Today there are perhaps as many as 45,000 different English surnames, derived from all kinds of sources: nicknames, physical attributes, trades, place names etc. However it was still common in some parts of the country to find a person entered under one surname at baptism, married under another name and then buried under a third. The introduction of parish registers in 1538 helped establish the idea of hereditary surnames. For example, John Blacksmith might become John Farrier as his trade developed. To begin with, surnames were fluid and changed over time, or as a person changed his job. These descriptions would grow to form the surnames we recognise today. As the country’s population grew, it became necessary to distinguish between people and so names began to include descriptions of the person, such as Thomas son of John, Peter the Baker, Richard the Whitehead, Mary Webster, etc. ![]() Surnames weren’t widely used until after the Norman Conquest in 1066. ![]() Even among the knightly class, hereditary surnames were rare. Most people moved so little that they needed only a first name to identify themselves. By unfree, the ‘great unwashed’ were either villeins, bordars and cottars, or serfs of varying status, all bound to the land by their lords and masters. Historians generally agree that in AD1000 England about 10% of the population were slaves, the rest were unfree. In England, surnames are also commonly known as last names due to the practice of writing the given names first and then the family name or surname last. There are many other amazing medieval names for boys waiting for you on our list.Have you ever wondered where your surname comes from? Or when people start using surnames (last names) and why? Rinan is another, and we can see him working well beside Rylan and Ryan. The rhyming buddies Nerian and Derian also appear to be destined to shine on the right little guy. He feels like a nice alternative to Preston with his buttoned-up styling. Dalston seems at home toward the top of the baby names charts, and we’re surprised to not see him there. Burmudo The Gouty - The King of Lon from 984-999 suffered from a severe case of gout to the point. Below, you will find names suitable for male and female pups, ideas based on the names of medieval beasts and monsters, smooth and cool medieval. While a lot of medieval names for boys are rare, many still fit today’s top trends. Medieval-themed dog names are a great way to pay homage to one of the coolest periods in time and offer some rare ideas that will make your canine stand out among their typically named doggo friends. If you’re definitely looking for something this rare, pay attention to the popularity column listed on each name. These unique names are perfect for someone looking for something to stand out. Woden is another that has all but disappeared. There’s also Tolan, a serious name with a powerful sound. Rowson is interesting, and we can totally see this rare find on a little scholar. That said, many more medieval boy names have dimmed in popularity. As you scroll through our list, you’ll see plenty of familiar faces. Marco is another, and he’s a name that easily crosses language and border barriers. Milo has seen a sudden resurgence on the charts, and we couldn’t be happier to see this pint-sized prince appearing more often. There’s also Nathan, a pick who’s held onto popularity with his handsome styling. Thomas is likely one you’ve seen a time or two, and his origins date back hundreds of years. ![]() Many medieval names for boys are still popular today. “(The dweller in the cottage near) the river dam,” based on the Anglo-Saxon wer, a dam in a river
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