Definition of Names M-W

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Mack, Maccus.

1, Scottish: from the Old Norse personal name Makkr, a form of Magnus. 2, Mainly U.S. Simplified form of any of the various Scots and Irish names beginning Mc-.

McIntyre, MacIntyre, McInteer, McEntire, McAteer............

Comes from the Gaelic name, Mac an tSaoir. Which translated means ‘the son of a mason or carpenter’.

Midwinter

Someone born around Christmas time.

Millican, Milligan, Millikin, Mulligan, O’Mellegan,...........

Irish: Anglicized form of Gael. Ó Maolagáin, descendant of Maolagán.

Monaghan, O’Monaghan,...........

Irish: Anglicized form of Gael. Ó Manacháin, descendant of Manachán, a personal name from the word manach Monk.

Moore, Moor, Moors.

1, English: topographic name for someone who lived on a moor or in a fen, or habitation name from any of the various places named with this word. 2, Nickname for a man of swarthy complexion. 3, Scots and Welsh: nickname for a large man, from Gael, mór, big, great.

Mullenger, Mullen, Mullings,..............

1, Irish: Anglicized form of Gael. Ó Maoláin, descendant of Maolán, a byname meaning Tonsured One, from maol bald. 2, English topographic name for someone who lived by a Mill, or occupational name for a Miller, from Anglo-Norman French mo(u)lin, mulin mill.

Nichols, Nicholas, Nicholson,..............

English and Welsh: from the given name Nikolaos (Greek) from nikān to conquer + laos people.

Nutman

Although this name is not included in my source, the name Nutt is. I would suggest that this would be the same definition: Either a metonymic occupational name for a gatherer and seller of nuts, or nickname for a man supposedly resembling a nut (e.g. In having a rounded head and dark complexion).

Partridge, Partriche, Partrick

Either a occupational name for a hunter of the bird, or a nickname from some fancied resemblance, or a house name for some living in a house distinguished by the sign of a partridge.

Pointer, Poynter.

Occupational name from Middle English pointer point maker. Point - a kind of lace used to fasten together the doublet and hose.

Powell, Powles

1, Welsh: patronymic name from the given name Hywel (Howell). 2 English: variation of the name Paul.

Rainer, Rayner, Raynor, Reyner, Reiner, Ranner.

Derives from the Norman personal name Rainer. Made up of the Germanic elements ragin for counsel and hari or heri for army.

Ransome, Rance Rand.

1, From the Middle English given name Rand(e), a short form of any of the various Germanic personal names with the first element rand, as for example Randolph. 2, topographic name for someone who lived on the margin of a settlement or on the bank of a river, or habitation name from a place named with this word, as for example Rand in Lincs. And Rand Grange in N Yorks.

Reynolds, Rennell........

From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ragin counsel + wald rule, which was first introduced to England by Scandinavian settlers in the Old Norse form Rögnvaldr.

Salked

Habitation name from Salkeld in Cumbria, so called from Old English salh willow + kylte wood.

Salmon, Salmond, Solmon,..........

From the Middle English, Old French given name Salmon, Saumon, a contracted form of Salomon. 2, Jewish: from the Yid. Male given name Zalmen. 3, Irish: translated form of Gael. Ó Bradáin.

Smith, Smyth, Smither.

The name Smith is an occupational one which meant a worker in metal. This probably comes from the word smitan, which means to strike or to hammer.

Taylor, Tayler, Tailour, Taylour

Occupational name for a tailor.

Thain, Thaine, Thayne.

Scots and English: occupational name for a noble retainer or attendant. In Scotland the term was used in the later Middle Ages to denote someone who held land directly from the king.

Thompson, Thomas,.......

From the popular medieval given name, of biblical origin.

Tinker, Tinkler.

Occupational name for a mender of pats and pans.

Todd, Tod.

This is an English name and is a nickname for someone who would resemble a fox. This could be because they were sly, or it might be that they were cunning. A more obvious reason is that they had red hair.

Townshend, Townsend, Townend, Townen.

Topographic name for someone who lived at the extremity of a village.

Trorey

I have no information with regard to the origin of this name.

Utting, Uttin.

From the Old English personal name Utting, in origin a patronymic name from the attested Utta.

Waterman

1, Occupational name for the servant of a bearer of the given name Wa(l)ter. 2, English and Dutch occupational name for a boatman or a water-carrier, or topographic name for someone who lived by a stretch of water. 3, Jewish: Anglicized form of Wasserman.

Watson, Watt, Watling,Watkin,........

From an extremely common Middle English given name, Wat(t), a short form of Walter.

White, Whyte, Whitt(e), Witt(e)......

This is an English, Scottish and Irish name. It is a nickname used to describe someone with white hair or a very pale complexion.

Whitehead, Whytehead.

This is an English and Scottish nickname which was given to someone who had fair hair, or whose hair was turning white before its time.

Definition of Names in my family tree. M - W

Source: The Oxford Names Companion.