Your Surname: What Does It Mean ?
- Thread starter MysteriousStranger
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just kidding it means warrior.
Well my actual surname doesn't have an entry my mother's maiden surname is apparently very distinguished and has more than 70 Coats of Arms.
I'm quite surprised that I am the first one to mention this: Smith
The most common surname in the english speaking world.
The most common surname in the english speaking world.
Recorded in the spellings of Smith, Smithe, Smythe, and the patronymics Smiths, and Smithson, this is the most popular surname in the English speaking world by a considerable margin. Of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origins, it derives from the word 'smitan' meaning 'to smite' and as such is believed to have described not a worker in iron, but a soldier, one who smote. That he also probably wore armour, which he would have been required to repair, may have lead to the secondary meaning. The famous Anglo-Saxon Chronicles sometimes known as the first newspaper, in the 9th century a.d. uses the expression 'War-Smith' to describe a valiant warrior, whilst the later medieval Guild List of specialist trades has blacksmith, whitesmith, tinsmith, goldsmith and silversmith amongst its many members, but no trade of 'smith'. These descriptions of the skilled workers of the Middle Ages were exact, and it is our opinion after studying many early records that the original smiths were probably the guards of the local lord of the manor. This would account for the singular popularity of the name, as the early social records indicate that the trades of tailor and baker were much more prevalent than that of Smith in any form. What is certain is that over five hundred coats of arms have been granted to Smith nameholders, surely an indication of the soldier background, rather than a humble ironworker. The great family Smith is 'first' in all major cities of the English speaking world, yet curiously the greatest concentration of Smith's are in Aberdeenshire, Scotland! Why this should be so is far from clear. Not surprisingly the Smith name was one of the very first into the New American colonies, being held by the famous John Smith (1580 - 1631), explorer and writer, who helped to found the state of Virginia. He was reputedly saved from execution by Pocahontas, the Indian chief's daughter, who died in England in 1622. The first recorded spelling of the family name, and probably the first surname recorded anywhere in the world, is that of Eceard Smid. This was dated 975 a.d., in the English Surname Register for County Durham, during the reign of King Edward of England, known as "The Martyr", 975 - 979 a.d.
Hehe.. just as expected: no info on mine. It is just too rare.
But if i can just follow the roots back and (guess a lot) i think something either of builder of houses, keeper (or guard) of houses, maybe something to do with mining? Pretty much not sure. Many different possibilities.
Ah and i think no one important ever had this name.
But if i can just follow the roots back and (guess a lot) i think something either of builder of houses, keeper (or guard) of houses, maybe something to do with mining? Pretty much not sure. Many different possibilities.
Ah and i think no one important ever had this name.
My real one will not be divulged, but I will say I find it appropriate given the amount of thought I have had on the subject of joining the Marines and my love of piracy.
The one from my alias is simply out of my own head, but surprisingly has a legitimate real-world origin. I'm too lazy to post it here, however.
The one from my alias is simply out of my own head, but surprisingly has a legitimate real-world origin. I'm too lazy to post it here, however.
My last name comes from the English bastardization of the German word Handschuh, which means glove...
My last name means glove.
My last name means glove.
MysteriousStranger said:
Check the maths, there.
For the benefit of those pathetic mortals not already imbued with this prophetic wisdom:
Benjamin
When the Christian soldiers, known as "The Crusaders" returned home from their many attempts in the 12th century to 'free' the Holy Land, and specifically Jerusalem, from the infidels, they took to naming their male off-spring with Hebrew names. These, Adam, Thomas, Isaac, Abraham, as examples, replaced the popular Norman and Anglo-Saxon names such as William and Richard, and in due course they became surnames in their own right. However although as surnames these were not (in the British Isles) Jewish, when in 1290 Edward 1st expelled all Jews from Britain, their popularity waned. Curiously the Puritans of the 17th century adopted Hebrew names, and Oliver Cromwell himself personally revoked the order of exile in 1655, allowing Jewish adherents to return to Britain. The 'Benjamin' surname, like those above, is Hebrew in origin, but English as a surname, and maybe carried either by Christians or Jews. The name translates from the Hebrew as 'the son of the right hand', and according to the late Professor Reaney, was recorded as a surname in the counties of Berkshire, Wiltshire and Cambridge, before the year 1250, although he quotes no examples. Early recordings do however include Caterina Benjamini of Suffolk in the 1273 Hundred Rolls and Robert Benjamin of Bedford, also in the Hundred Rolls in the same year, but this time in Bedford. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Beniamin, which was dated 1166, the pipe rolls of the county of Norfolk, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as 'The church builder', 1154 - 1189.
Oh, and for the record, they didn't have Hyperbolic-Cactusass.
Don't ask why I searched that, I haven't a bloody clue.
MY last name is a native american name... so your website had no data on it.
Also, fairly unique name as well (I should hope). As for the meaning, I couldn't say. I don't know any of the Meskwaki Language. I might look that up though.
Also, fairly unique name as well (I should hope). As for the meaning, I couldn't say. I don't know any of the Meskwaki Language. I might look that up though.
McNamara, I KNEW it was Irish
This famous Irish name hails from County Clare where it is extremely prevalent. The sept of MacNamara was, after the O' Briens, the most important and powerful of the dalcassians of Thomond. They were hereditary marshals to the O' Briens and had the privilege of inaugurating the chief of the O' Briens, who was often a king. The Irish form of this name is MacConmara and is derived from the words 'cu', hound and 'na mara' of the sea, and was once connected with the forename Cumara, which was the name of the ancestor of the sept who was twenty-third in descent from Cormac Cas, King of Cashel (900-908). The sept in due course became two, the chief of West Clancullen, MacNamara Fyne (i.e., 'fionn', fair) and the chief of East Clancullen, MacNamara Reagh (i.e., Riabhach swarthy or grizzled). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas MacNamara, which was dated 1680, County Clare, during the reign of King Charles 11, 'The Merry Monarch', 1660-1685. 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.
This famous Irish name hails from County Clare where it is extremely prevalent. The sept of MacNamara was, after the O' Briens, the most important and powerful of the dalcassians of Thomond. They were hereditary marshals to the O' Briens and had the privilege of inaugurating the chief of the O' Briens, who was often a king. The Irish form of this name is MacConmara and is derived from the words 'cu', hound and 'na mara' of the sea, and was once connected with the forename Cumara, which was the name of the ancestor of the sept who was twenty-third in descent from Cormac Cas, King of Cashel (900-908). The sept in due course became two, the chief of West Clancullen, MacNamara Fyne (i.e., 'fionn', fair) and the chief of East Clancullen, MacNamara Reagh (i.e., Riabhach swarthy or grizzled). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas MacNamara, which was dated 1680, County Clare, during the reign of King Charles 11, 'The Merry Monarch', 1660-1685. 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.
All it says about mine is that there's about 90 different ways of spelling it, and it means "descendant of the warrior"
And then it goes off into a spiel about Kennedy meaning ugly head. MY NAME ISN'T KENNEDY! That was NOT what I wanted!!!
And then it goes off into a spiel about Kennedy meaning ugly head. MY NAME ISN'T KENNEDY! That was NOT what I wanted!!!
[em]This interesting surname is of Old French origin, and has two possible sources; firstly, it may be an occupational name for the gatekeeper of a town, or a doorkeeper of a large house, deriving from the Middle English "porter", a development of the Old French "portier". Secondly, it may be an occupational name for a man who carried loads for a living, especially one who used his own muscle power rather than a beast of burden or a wheeled vehicle, from the Old French "porteo(u)r" to carry, convey. The surname is distinguished by being first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 (see below), and early recordings include William le Portier (1190), in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire, and Nicholas le Portur (1263), in "Middle English Occupational Terms" of Surrey. London Church Records list the christening of Edward, son of Thomas Porter, on September 14th 1546, at St. Matthew's, Friday Street, and the christening of John, son of Edward Porter, on June 24th 1599, at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street. A Coat of Arms granted to a Porter family in Allerby, Cumberland, is a red shield, on a gold fess, three blue church bells, a silver border engrailed. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Milo Portarius, porter at Winchester Castle, which was dated 1086, in the "Domesday Book of Hampshire" , during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. 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.[/em]
Surname:Kline
It means small which is Ironic as everyone in my family is close to, if not exactly or over, six feet tall
It means small which is Ironic as everyone in my family is close to, if not exactly or over, six feet tall