THE saying “What’s in a name?” took on a new meaning at the Rotary Club of Nowra’s dinner meeting last week when former mayor of Shoalhaven, Max Atkins, explained the origin of English surnames.
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Max was introduced by Rotarian Arthur King who said Max was also a former science master at Ulladulla High School.
While being the mayor from 1987 to 1999 (12 years), Max was also very well known in the cattle industry as a champion Limousin cattle breeder at his farm near Milton and set many Royal Easter Show and sale records for his cattle.
Rose gardening is also one of Max’s hobbies.
As a side interest Max enjoys researching the origins of English surnames.
He said surnames, as we know them today, were introduced about 1000 years ago in England.
However, it was some 500 years later in 1538 when with the introduction of parish registers hereditary names became more universally accepted.
Max suggested that the powers to be at the time saw this as a mechanism to better facilitate the collection of taxes.
It wasn’t until the late 17th Century that many families in midland England took permanent surnames.
English surnames developed from four main sources.
Geographical or local surnames - these are names derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived, and are generally the most common origin of English surnames.
Thus, many English surnames are derived from the name of an actual town, county, or estate.
County names in Great Britain, such as Cheshire, Kent and Devon have been commonly adopted as surnames.
A second class of local surnames is derived from cities and towns, such as Hertford, Carlisle and Oxford.
Other local surnames are derived from descriptive landscape features such as hills, woods, and streams that describe the original bearer's residence.
This is the origin of surnames such as Sykes (marshy stream), Bush and Attwood (near a wood).
Surnames that begin with the prefix ‘At’, can especially be attributed as a name with local origins.
‘By’ was also sometimes used as a prefix for local names.
Patronymic and matronymic surnames – derived from Baptismal or Christian names to indicate family relationships.
Max used the example ‘Wilson’ (the son of Will) or ‘Wilkinson’ (Will’s kin’s son).
Most of these surnames were derived from the paternal side.
However, there were a few that were derived from the maternal side, for example, surnames ending in ette or ing, for instance, Darling.
Occupational surnames – developed from a person’s job or trade.
Max used the examples of Baker, Taylor and Smith saying that with the many types of smiths in earlier years like blacksmiths, silversmiths and goldsmiths the surname Smith is now one the most common surnames in England.
These occupational surnames were further broken down with aspects of the trade or business.
He used the examples of Hooper and Cooper in beer barrel making and the numerous aspects of the woollen clothes cottage industry.
From sheep to the finished clothing item there was the Sheppard, Shearer, Skinner, Walker, Fuller, Spinner, Dyer, Taylor, Draper, Merchant and others that are still well known surnames in England.
Descriptive surnames – based on a unique quality or physical feature of the individual.
They are often derived from nicknames or pet names.
Max suggested Hawk, as in Bob Hawke, could have derived from a hooked beak (nose) or good eyesight being the feature of the original person with the surname Hawke.
These surnames also developed from an individual’s personal or moral characteristics, e.g. Goodman, Christian, etc.
By this time Max’s audience were speculating on the origins of their surnames.
Rotarian Polly Hill who gave the vote of thanks said up to now she had a clear understanding of the origin of her married and maiden surnames, however Max had put some doubts in her mind with his engaging and entertaining talk.