The Romance of Names Part 5

Clark.

One of our commonest names. We now spell the common noun clerk by etymological reaction, but educated people p.r.o.nounce the word as it was generally written up to the eighteenth century (Chapter III).

Stephen le Hatter

Hatter

The great rarity of this name is a curious problem (Chapter XV). The name Capper exists, though it is not very common.

Thomas le Batur.

Thresher.

But, being a Londoner, he was more probably a gold-beater, or perhaps a beater of cloth. The name Beater also survives.

Alexander de Leycestre

Leicester, Lester.

For the simpler spelling, once usual and still adopted by those who chalk the names on the mail-vans at St. Pancras, cf. such names as Worster, Wooster, Gloster, etc. (Chapter XI).

Robert le Noreys.

Norris, Nurse.

Old Fr. noreis, the Northerner (Chapter XI), or norice (nourrice), the nurse, foster-mother (Chapter XX).

Reginald le Blond

Blount, Blunt.

Fr. blond, fair. We have also the dim. Blundell. The corresponding English name is Fairfax, from Mid. Eng. fax, hair (Chapter XXII).

Randolf ate Mor.

Moor.

With the preposition retained (Chapter XII) it has given the Latin-looking Amor.

Hundred Rolls

Modern Form

Matthew le Pevrier.

Pepper.

For the reduction of pepperer to Pepper cf. Armour for armourer, and see Chapter XV.

G.o.dfrey le Furmager.

Cheeseman, Firminger.

From Old Fr. formage (fromage). The intrusion of the n in Firminger is regular; cf. Ma.s.singer, messenger, from Fr. messager, and see Chapter III.

Robert Campeneys.

Champness, Champneys.

Old Fr. champeneis (champenois), of Champagne (Chapter XI).

John del Pek.

Peck, Peaks, Pike, Pick.

A name taken from a hill-top, but sometimes referring to the unrelated Derbyshire Peak.

Richard Dygun.

d.i.c.kens.

A diminutive of Dig, for d.i.c.k (Chapter VI).

Peter le Hoder.

Hodder.

A maker of hods or a maker of hoods? The latter is more likely.

Alan Allutarius.

Whittier.

Lat. alutarius, a "white-tawer", Similarly, Mid. Eng. stan-heawere, stone-hewer, is contracted to Stanier, now almost swallowed up by Stainer. The simple tawer is also one origin of the name Tower.