Names in English - Unizd.hr

Names in EnglishNames in EnglishggFirst names and surnames

Personal namesPersonal namesPersonal namesPersonal namesPersonal names in English are divided into first names, surnames gand middle names.An official name formula in England requires a first name,a surname,and a middle name, if there is one.Legally, today it is possible to change a name in England and there is a special procedure for it. But, traditionally the change of one’s name wasn’t permitted without a permit of clerical authorities.When they marry, women in England can choose between taking husband’s surname, leaving their maiden surname or adding husband’s surname to her surname.

Names in Old EnglishNames in Old EnglishNames in Old EnglishNames in Old EnglishWhen we speak about OE period we can talk about names only. There were no surnames. Sources for the research of AS names were chronicles, inscriptions, legends, libri vitae, etc. One of the most important is Domesday book from 1086 It is a list of owners users and values of lands in England after the 1086. It is a list of owners, users and values of lands in England after the Norman Conquest.One of the main problems with texts from this period is the lack of a uniform ortography. Every scribe wrote in his own way.Another very important work from earlier period is Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum from 731, composed by a monk Venerable Bede. There are 215 names mentioned in it, but they are mostly aristocratic and the names of clergymen.names of clergymen.

AS namesAS namesAS namesAS namesAn important fact for Anglosaxon names is that they had to be distinctive and each man could have only one name. This is why the naming system had to be able to produce a great number of different, fresh names. This was possible because of many elements from which names could be built.In AS world there were monothematic and dithematic names In AS world there were monothematic and dithematic names. Monothematic names were composed of only one element of the name bank, and dithematic were composed of two elements.Most names were dithematic, such as Aelfrīc, Wulfstān, Aelfstān, Wulfrīc, Æð l d Cē lf d Pē h dÆðelweard, Cēolferd, Pēohtræd .Each of these names carried a unique idea, produced by the combination of two name elements. This type of naming is characteristic for Germanic tribes, and we can find similar naming systems in continental Germanic tribes, and we can find similar naming systems in continental Germanic languages.

AS namesAS namesAS namesAS namesIn Historia... we can find 90 different name themes. Let’s see what are they about:nobility and renown – Æðel- (noble), Beorht-/ -beorht (radiant), Brego- (prince), Cūð- (renowned), Cyne- (royal), -frēa (lord), -mær (renowned), Torht- (radiant);national pride – Peoht- (Pict), Swæf- (Swabian), Þēod- (nation), Wealh- / -wealh (Celt), and probably Seax- (Saxon);

Ōreligion – Ælf- (supernatural being), Ealh- (temple), Ōs- (deity);strength and valour – Beald- / -beald (brave), Cēn- (brave), Hwæt- (brave), Noð- (boldness), Swīð-/-swīð (fem. strong), Þrŷd-/-þrŷd (fem. power), Weald- / -weald (power);warriors and weapons – Beorn- (warrior), -bill (sword), -brord (spear), Dryht- (army), Ecg- (sword), ā ( ) H / h ( ) W lf / lf ( lf i ) d h S if i -gār (spear), Here- / -here (army), Wulf- / -wulf (wolf; warrior), and perhaps Seax- if meaning

(dagger);battle – Beadu-, Gūð- / gŷð fem., Heaðu-, Hild- / -hild fem., Wīg-, and also Sige- (victory);peace - frið; -prudence – Ræd- / ræd (counsel); defence – Bōt- (remedy), Burg- / -burg (fem., protection), -helm (protection), and –mund(protection).

AS namesAS namesAS namesAS namesFrom these, we can see wishes characteristic for Germanic, warrior tribes, and we can see which values were important for them. Of course there was also a certain magic present in naming, which was normal in all early medieval Europe. People were a special name would give extraordinary qualities to its bearerextraordinary qualities to its bearer.Unfortunately, in the texts from this AS period there are few women mentioned, so we don’t know many female names, but the naming system was the same. There were some themes that were used for both sexes,

d h d f l l f l and some that were used for only male, or female names.This naming system does not change until the Norman Conquest.

ME namesME namesME namesME namesAn important source for names of early ME period is again p y p gDomesday book, because it shows us names from the period immediately after the Conquest.After the Conquest, many immigrants came to England. All l dl d bi h bb b i d b N landlords, bishops, abbotts etc. were substituted by Normans; many merchants came to England, and they all brought names with them. Soon after, AS names were almost completely substituted by Norman names, which were also mostly Germanic originally, but Norman names, which were also mostly Germanic originally, but have gone through French filter. By 1250, almost all AS names were forgotten.Names that become popular in that period are Alan, Alice, Christine, p p p , , ,Geoffrey, John, Maud, Robert, Walter, William ...

ME namesME namesME namesME names

ME names came from other sources too ME names came from other sources, too. Some of them came from Irish, e.g. Brian, Murdoc, Muriel, Neil . Many came from Biblical and Christian tradition, from saints or Fathers of the Church , such as John, Peter, Simon, Stephen, ThomasPeter, Simon, Stephen, Thomas

ModE namesModE namesModE namesModE namesSince there were some major sound changes Since there were some major sound changes between the ME and ModE period, these changes were also reflected on the naming system.In this period we can divide names into those existing in previous periods and new namesexisting in previous periods, and new names.Sources for the research of names in this period are too vast.are too vast.

ModE namesModE namesModE namesModE namesHere we have to mention some new trends in naming.Puritan movement evoked the names from the Old Testament and from Hebrew tradition, e.g. Abraham, Aaron, Esther, Ruth; or Habakuk, Malachi, Jemima, Mahalia, Keziah ...F R i L ti d G k b l d thi From Renaissance on, Latin and Greek names became popular, and this influenced the popularity of names ending in –a, such as Lucia with Lucy, Luce, Anna with Anne, Helena with Helen.Literature was also very influential in that period. Names ending in –inda, y p g ,were promoted by literary works.Some poets invented new names for the need of their works: Sir Philip Sidney invented Pamela, Richard Lovelace invented Lucasta, William Shakespeare invented Juliet Jonathan Swift invented Vanessa and so onShakespeare invented Juliet, Jonathan Swift invented Vanessa, and so on.

Mod E namesMod E namesMod E namesMod E namesWith the arrival of the House of Hannover on the throne of England in 1714, some G i d l i i E l d G C li Ch l d Alb German names gained popularity in England: George, Caroline, Charlotte, and Albert. In 18th and 19th centuries, literature recalls some forgotten names, such as Cedric, Guy, Nigel, Wilfred ; or Arthur, Edith, Hugh, Maud, Alfred, Roger.In the 20th century there was a great fashion of borrowing some foreign In the 20th century there was a great fashion of borrowing some foreign names,such as Josephine, Louise from French; Danish Karen; Celtic Catriona, Fiona; Russian Natasha.Finally, we have to mention the British colonial history, which has its repercussions on the naming system. Namely, many immigrants from ex-colonies brought their o t e a g syste . a e y, a y g a ts o e co o es b oug t t e naming systems to Britain, and today it is normal in England to hear names such as Krishna, Arjun, Sanjay, Shakti, Kanti from Hindu tradition; Surinder, Rupinder from Sikh tradition; Muhammad, Abdallah from Muslim tradition.It is very interesting to see that in 2001 Mohammed took 26th place on the list of t s ve y te est g to see t at 00 o a ed too 6t p ace o t e st o top 50 male names in England and Wales.

ByBy namesnamesByBy--namesnamesBy-name is an addition to a name and its purpose is the precise identification of a person.It was present in English since OE times, and later by-name becomes a surname.4 types of by-names: familial, locative, honorific or occupational and characteristic.Familial by name was mostly composed by adding sunu or dohtor to father’s Familial by-name was mostly composed by adding –sunu or –dohtor to father s name, e.g. Wulfgÿð Ælfswïðe dohtor, Wulfhëah Ordhëages sunu; or by adding –ing to father’s name: Ælfråd Æðelwulfing .Locative by-names: Ælfweard æt Dentune, Godcild of Lamburnan, Clac on Castre.Occupational are rare because of the type of documents that survived, e.g. Wïcing bätswegen .Characteristic by-names are the most interesting and they are mostly nicknames: Godwig së bucca...g

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnamesThe tradition of surnames came to England with e t a t o o su a es ca e to g a w t Normans. They used to take the names of their estates as by-names and since they became hereditary, they became surnames.became surnames.This practice became common in all of England in 13th-14th centuries.A h f h i i h b f Another reason for the increase in the number of surnames must have been the dicrease in the number of first names, and people just had to distinguish between many Johns, Williams, Roberts...

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnamesAccording to their origin, we can group English surnames into four groups: 1. surnames from geographic names; 2. surnames from familial relationships (patronyms), 3. surnames from occupations or status; 4. surnames from nicknames.

1.Locative surnames derive from the name of the place where somebody lived, or from the name of the estate somebody owned, e.g. Thomas atte Forde... Many such surnames derive from some little places or trees: Noke, Nash (atte an ake, atte an asce).Many such surnames come from ethnonyms: English, Scott, Breton, Fleming, Angwin Irish Welsh Wallas Gall Norman Cornish CornwallisAngwin, Irish, Welsh, Wallas, Gall, Norman, Cornish, Cornwallis ...

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnamesFamilial surnames are mostly patronyms, but rarely there are some y p y ymatronyms. In OE these were composed by adding –ing or –sunu to father’s name: e.g. Dudding, Ēadrīcessunu .Many surnames ending in –son in the North of England are thought

b S di i i flto be Scandinavian influence.After the Norman Conquest AS names disappear, but many of them can be found in today’s surnames: e.g. Cwēnhild in Quennell, Ēadwacer in Edicker Wæcerhild in WackrellĒadwacer in Edicker, Wæcerhild in Wackrell.The greatest number of surnames derived from hyporistic forms of names:

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnames- Richard – Rich, Richings, Ritchie; Hitch, Hitchcock, Hitchen, Hitchman, gHitchmough; - Rickard – Ricard, Rick, Ricky;Hick, Hicken, Hicklin, Hickman; Dick, Dickels, Dicken, Dickin, Dicketts; Digg, Diggen; Higgins, Higgs.R b R bb R bb R bj h R b R bb R bbi R ki - Robert – Rabb, Rabbets, Rabjohn, Rabnott; Robb, Robbie, Ropkins,

Robins, Roblin; Dobb, Dobbie, Dobbin; Hob, Hobbins, Hoblin, Hopkin; Nabb, Nap, Nopp;Hugh Hugo Hue Hew How; Hewell Hewett Hewlett Hewlins; Hudd - Hugh – Hugo, Hue, Hew, How; Hewell, Hewett, Hewlett, Hewlins; Hudd,

Hudden, Hudman, Hudsmith;-William – Will, Wilkin, Wilcock, Willet, Willott; Willmott, Wellemin, Wellerman; Gill Gilliam Gillet GuillermanWellerman; Gill, Gilliam, Gillet, Guillerman...

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnamesOccupational or honorific surnames derive from occupations or p pstatus: Abbot, Prior, Chancellor , Chamberlain, Steward, Monk, Dean, Reeve, Sergeant. Having such surnames doesn’t mean that bearer really was of that occupation. S f h d i f i di l i Some of the surnames derive from extinct medieval occupations such as: Billeter (lijevaoc zvona), Chaucer (postolar), Cheesewright(sirar), Barker (štavitelj kože), Deathridge (proizvođač kresiva), Lister(bojalac), Slaymaker (izrađivač čunaka za tkalački stan), Thrower(bojalac), Slaymaker (izrađivač čunaka za tkalački stan), Thrower(izrađivač svilenoga konca).

SurnamesSurnamesSurnamesSurnamesMany surnames derive from nicknames Many surnames derive from nicknames, although they are not always transparent: e.g. Head Broadhead Redhead Coxhead Ramshead; Head , Broadhead, Redhead, Coxhead, Ramshead; Leg, Foot, Shanks (noge): Barefoot, Cruickshanks, SheepshanksSheepshanks.Some relate to mental characteristics: Good , M d (b ) Wi R t (h ) D ftMoody (brave), Wise, Root (happy), Daft(reckless), Sturdy , Pennyfather.

Top SurnamesTop SurnamesTop SurnamesTop SurnamesTop 20 surnames in England and Wales in 2002 are:p g1. Smith 11. Roberts2. Jones 12. Robinson3 Williams 13 Thompson3. Williams 13. Thompson4. Taylor 14. Wright5. Brown 15. Walker6 D 16 Wh6. Davies 16. White7. Evans 17. Edwards8. Thomas 18. Hughesg9. Wilson 19. Green10. Johnson 20. Hall

ScotlandScotlandScotlandScotlandSmith Brown Wilson Campbell Stewart Thomson Robertson A d Anderson Macdonald Scott Reid Reid Murray Taylor Clark Clark Ross Watson Morison Paterson Young Mitchell

United StatesUnited StatesUnited StatesUnited StatesSmith (1.006%) Johnson (0.810%) Williams (0.699%) Jones (0.621%) Brown (0.621%) Davis (0.580%) Miller (0.424%) Wil (0 339%) Wilson (0.339%) Moore (0.312%) Taylor (0.311%) Anderson (0 311%) Anderson (0.311%) Thomas (0.311%) Jackson (0.310%) White (0 279%) White (0.279%) Harris (0.275%) Martin (0.273%) Thompson (0.269%) p ( )Garcia (0.254%) Martinez (0.234%) Robinson

Prezimenska statistika: Prezimenska statistika: Engleskag

1. Smith (kovač)2 Jones (John)

11 King (kralj)12 Davies (David)2. Jones (John)

3 Brown (smeđ) 4 Williams (William)

12 Davies (David)13 Green (zelen)14 Clark (službenik)4 Williams (William)

5 Taylor (krojač)6 White (bijel)

14 Clark (službenik)15 Baker (pekar)16 Wright (kolar)6 White (bijel)

7 Harris 8 Wilson

16 Wright (kolar)17 Davis (David)18 Evans

9 Johnson (John)10 Martin

19 Thomas20 Thurner

Prezimenska statistika: Prezimenska statistika: Njemačkaj

1 Müller (mlinar) 2 Schmidt (kovač)

11 Hoffman (dvornik)12 Bauer (seljak)2 Schmidt (kovač)

3 Schneider (krojač)4 Fischer (ribar)

12 Bauer (seljak)13 Koch (kuhar)14 Klein (malen)4 Fischer (ribar)

5 Meyer (čuvar posjeda)

14 Klein (malen)15 Schröder (krojač)16 Schmitz (kovač)

6 Weber (tkalac)7 Becker (pekar)

16 Schmitz (kovač)17 Schmitt (kovač)18 Schwarz (crn)

8 Wagner (kolar)9 Schäfer (pastir)

( )19 Wolf (vuk)20 Neumann (doseljenik)

10 Schulz (predstavnik)

Švedska

1. Johansson 2 Andersson

11. Gustavsson 12 Jo(h)nsson2. Andersson

3. Karlsson4 Nilsson

12. Jo(h)nsson13. Jansson14 Hansson4. Nilsson

5. Eriksson 6. Larsson

14. Hansson15. Jönsson16. Bengstsson6. Larsson

7. Olsson 8. Persson

16. Bengstsson 17. Magnusson 18. Olofsson

9. Johnson 10.Pet(t)ersson

19. Lindberg20. Lindström