Definition of Names A-L

• www.RainerFamilyTree.co.uk

• Best minimum screen resolution 1024x768

• Allow blocked content if viewing with Internet Explorer

Ayer, Ayres, Ayris, Eyres

English: nickname for a man who was well known to be the heir to a title or fortune. Scots: habitation name from the city of Ayr in SW Scotland

Allies, Alliss, Alis, Hallis

1,Contracted form of Allins. Patronymic name of Allen. 2, From the Middle-English female given name, Alis (Alice) .

Appleton, Napleton

Habitation name from any of the many places with said name. So called from Old English æppeltûm orchard (Apple + tun enclosure, settlement)

Ashley

Habitation name from any of the numerous places in South and Midland England so called, from Old-English æsc Ash + lēah wood, clearing.

Bean

1, English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of beans. It may also of been a nickname for a man regarded as of little importance. 2, English nickname for a pleasant person, from Middle English bêne friendly, amiable. 3, Scots: Anglicized form of the Gael. Personal name Beathán.

Beckingham

Unfortunately my source (The Oxford Names Companion) has no information about this name. But you can find out more on this web page.

Bilton

Habitation name from places in Northumb. and Yorks.

Bland

Habitation name from a place so called in W Yorks.

Blyth(e), Bly(e), Blight.

1, English nickname for a cheerful person, from Old English blîðe merry, cheerful. 2, Irish Anglicized from Ó Blighe “descendant of blighe” 3, Cornish nickname from Corn.

Bunter

English occupational name for a sifter of flour, from Middle English bont(en) to sieve, sift.

Busby

Habitation name from a place in N Yorks, recorded in Domesday book as Buschibi.

Bushell, Bissill, Bishell, Bushill, Bussel......

English metonymic occupational name for a corn merchant or factor, one who measured corn, from Middle English buyscel, measure of corn.

Cork, Corck, Corke, Corker

English metonymic occupational name referring to a person who supplies or uses purple or red dye for use with cloth.

Dixie, Dicksee, Dixey, Dixcey

1,generally a diminutive of Dick. 2, according to Reaney and Dauzat, a nickname for a chorister, from L dixi I have spoken, the first word of the 39th Psalm.

Fuller, Voller.

The name Fuller is an occupational one which meant a dresser of cloth. The job of a fuller was to thicken and scour the raw cloth by stamping on it and beating it in water..

Green, Gre(e)ne, Greening, Greenman, Greenmon.

One of the most common and widespread English surnames. Either a nickname for someone who dressed in this colour, or who played the part of the “Green Man” in the May Day celebrations, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a village green.

Harris, Harrison, Harries (chiefly Wales).

1, English patronymic from the medieval given name Harry. 2, Jewish: assumed as an Anglicized form of various like-sounding Jewish names.

Hawkins, Hawkings, Hawken

Occupational name for a Hawker or nickname for someone supposedly resembling a hawk in some way. The Anglo-Norman French suffix -in being added.

Hoare, Hore

1, Nickname for an old man or someone with prematurely grey hair. 2, Topographic name for someone who lived by a slope or shore.

House, Howse, Hoose, Houser, Hous(e)man.

1.In the Middle Ages the majority of the population lived in cottages or huts rather than houses, and in most cases this name probably indicates someone who had some connection with the largest and most important building of the settlement, either a “religious” house or simply the local “Great House”. 2. A relatively modern spelling of Howes.

Isaac, Issac, Izhak, Ishak......

This is a Jewish, French and English name which derives from the male Hebrew given name of Yitschak. The traditional meaning of this name is, laughter. This originates from the bible. The son of Abraham and Sarah. It is said that they laughed with joy at the birth of their son. But it is more likely that the name meant ‘may God smile (laugh) on him’.

Ives, Ivey

This comes from the Norman personal name, Ivo. And was introduced into England at the time of the Conquest.

Jarvis, Jervis, Gervis, Gervase, Jarvie (Scotland).

1, From the Norman personal name Gervase. 2, Habitation name from Jervaulx in N Yorks., site of a famous Cistercian monastery.

Jones, Joynes, Joans.

1, Patronymic from the Middle English given name Jon(e) John. 2, Jewish: Anglicized form of some like-sounding Jewish surname.

Lang, Laing, Long, Longman.

1, Nickname for a tall person, from Old English lang, long, tall. 2, Irish: Anglicized form of Gael. Ó Longáin.

Lee(t)ch, Leach, Leche Leitch.

1. Occupational name for a physician. May also have been a nickname for a demanding or bloodthirsty person. 2. Local name for someone who lived by a boggy stream. (as in Old English, lacu stream)

Leonard, Len(n)ard, learnard, Learned.

Derives from a Norman personal name - leo Lion and hard hardy, brave, strong. A Saint of this name lived in the early Middle Ages and was thought of as the Patron Saint of peasants and horses.

Definition of Names in my family tree. A - L

Source: The Oxford Names Companion.