Your Surname: What Does It Mean ?

[Sovvolf]

Wow, looks like this thread as been dragged back from the dead. Though while I'm here scouting about, notice my surname isn't here so might as well add it.

Spoiler: Skelly

This is an anglicized form of the Olde Gaelic name "O' Scolaidhe" or "O' Scolaire". The Gaelic prefix "O" indicated "male descendant of", plus "Scolaide", a Crier i.e. one whose duty it was to announce important forthcoming events, or "Scolaire", a student. Originally a Westmeath Clan, the Scullys were driven by Anglo-Norman pressure to Munster c.1170. One branch of the family settled in Lorrha (North Tipperary), and another established itself in South Tipperary, near Cashel. Clan members were interred by the famous Rock of Cashel and have a memorial there called Scully's Cross. The form Skelly is found mainly in Counties Roscommon and Westmeath. On September 1st 1601, Sara, daughter of John Skelly was christened at St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London. One, Bartholomew Skelly, a merchant of Drogheda, appears in the Jacobite attainders of 1692. In the modern idiom, the name is found as O' Scully, O' Scollee, Skelly, Skally, Scally and Scully. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of O' Scolaidhe, which was dated circa 1100, Ancient Records of Westmeath, during the reign of High Kings of Ireland "with opposition", 1022 - 1166. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Its Gaelic and of mostly Irish origin (which is appropriate given that I'm of Irish ancestry.

Captch: Shootem Jacob

:/.

 

[XIII's Number XIV]

Spoiler

This interesting surname recorded in several forms including McRae, MacRae, Rae, Ree, and Rea, is of Medieval Scottish origin, although there can be confusion with English nameholder of similar spellings. The derivation is from the pre 7th century Old English 'ra'. This word described the roe deer, and when used as a nickname was on the face of it, a description for a rather timid person. However the developed sense of humour of the medieval period was to say the least robust, and 'nicknames' often meant the reverse of what they appeared to describe. This is certainly the case with the Scottish Border clan 'Rae' (originally Raa) from the Dumfries region. They were one of the fiercest and most disruptive of the famous 'Reivers'. They were described in a 15th century warrant of the Scottish court as being as 'troublesome and contumacious as any of the borderers'. Their refusal to cooperate in the lawful business of the region being legendary! There are many recordings of namebearers, these dating from as early as 1231, when Robert Raa, described as a mason, witnessed a charter to the Abbey of Culross, Peter Rae 1671 - 1748 was a minister of Kirkconnel, Scotland, and published an account of the 1715 Jacobite uprising. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Vlui Ra, which was dated 1095, in the Records of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry 1 of England, known as 'The Lion of Justice', 1087 - 1100.

'troublesome and contumacious as any of the borderers'

Troublesome and contumacious as any of the borderers.

My ancestors were trolls.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Stearn: English. A Variant of the word Stern. [http://genealogy.familyeducation.com/surname-origin/stearn]

... Great last name I guess. It allows me to use an easy Campaign Slogan when I run for President: "Be Stern! Vote Stearn!"

 

[the rye]

I come from a long line aristocracy dating back to the Normans.
My surname Trollope has two possible meanings, troll valley or three wolves.

 

[staika]

Spoiler: Kennerknecht

Recorded in several spellings including Kener, Kenner, the diminutives Kenlin and Kenelin, and the compounds Kennerknecht, Kennerman, and Kennler, this is usually a German surname of ancient medieval origins. It is a nickname or perhaps a professional name, for somebody who was either very knowledgeable or at least claimed to be, a connoisseur, although a connoisseur of what is unclear. The Irish surname (Mac) Kenna may have been confused with the German spelling particularly in the USA, although the two origins are totally separate. (Mac) Kenna, the Mac is often dropped, is from the pre 10th century Gaelic Mac Cionaoith and translates as "the son of the sharing one", possibly a reference to a holyman or hermit. The surname in Germany is one of the first ever recorded, and early examples taken from the authentic surviving registers and charters of the period include - Heinrich Kennler of Wasserinne in the year 1276, and Hans Kennermannin of Weingarten in 1296. Other recordings include Petrus Kennigen of Konigheim in 1514 and Jacob Kenelin of Reutlingen in 1523. The first of all the recordings may be that of Albertus Kenli, of Zeuge near Stuttgart, Germany, in the year 1256.

Yay My last name is one of the first ever recorded in german history

I am actually surprised by how much they knew about my last name.