1
This is easily proved. In the wardrobe accounts for Edward IV., 1480, occur the following items: —
“John Poyntmaker, for pointing of xl. dozen points of silk pointed with agelettes of laton.
“John Carter, for cariage away of a grete loode of robeux that was left in the strete.
“To a laborer called Rychard Gardyner working in the gardyne.
“To Alice Shapster for making and washing of xxiiii. sherts, and xxiiii. stomachers.”
Shapster is a feminine form of Shapper or Shaper – one who shaped or cut out cloths for garments. All these several individuals, having no particular surname, took or received one from the occupation they temporarily followed. – “Privy Purse Expenses, Eliz. of York,” p. 122.
2
Any number of such instances might be recorded. Mr. W. C. Leighton, in Notes and Queries, February 23, 1861, notices a deed dated 1347, wherein two John de Leightons, brothers, occur. Mr. Waters, in his interesting pamphlet, “Parish Registers” (p. 30), says that Protector Somerset had three sons christened Edward, born respectively 1529, 1539, and 1548. All were living at the same time. He adds that John Leland, the antiquary, had a brother John, and that John White, Bishop of Winchester 1556-1560, was brother to Sir John White, Knight, Lord Mayor in 1563.
3
“I also give to the said Robert … that land which Hobbekin de Bothum held of me.” – Ext. deed of Sir Robert de Stokeport, Knight, 1189-1199: Earwaker’s “East Cheshire,” p. 334.
1
This is easily proved. In the wardrobe accounts for Edward IV., 1480, occur the following items: —
“John Poyntmaker, for pointing of xl. dozen points of silk pointed with agelettes of laton.
“John Carter, for cariage away of a grete loode of robeux that was left in the strete.
“To a laborer called Rychard Gardyner working in the gardyne.
“To Alice Shapster for making and washing of xxiiii. sherts, and xxiiii. stomachers.”
Shapster is a feminine form of Shapper or Shaper – one who shaped or cut out cloths for garments. All these several individuals, having no particular surname, took or received one from the occupation they temporarily followed. – “Privy Purse Expenses, Eliz. of York,” p. 122.
2
Any number of such instances might be recorded. Mr. W. C. Leighton, in
3
“I also give to the said Robert … that land which Hobbekin de Bothum held of me.” – Ext. deed of Sir Robert de Stokeport, Knight, 1189-1199: Earwaker’s “East Cheshire,” p. 334.
4
I have seen Stepkin as a surname but once. Lieutenant Charles Stepkin served under the Duke of Northumberland, in 1640. – Peacock’s “Army List of Roundheads and Cavaliers,” p. 78.
5
6
Sill was the nick form of Sybil and Silas till the seventeenth century, when the Puritan Silence seized it. I have only seen one instance of the surname, “John Silkin” being set down as dwelling in Tattenhall, Cheshire, in 1531 (Earwaker’s “East Cheshire,” p. 56).
7
Nevertheless the surname did exist in Yorkshire in Richard II.’s reign:
“Willelmus Malkynson, and Dionisia uxor ejus, iiiid.” – W. D. S.
8
I need not quote, in proof of the popularity of
9
In this class we must assuredly place Figgins. In the Hundred Rolls appears “Ralph, son of Fulchon.” Here, of course, is the diminutive of the once common Fulke. Fick and Figg were the nick forms:
“1 Henry VIII. To Fygge the taborer, 6d.” – Churchwarden’s Books of Kingston-on-Thames, Brand’s “Pop. Ant.,” i. 147.
The London Directory has all the forms and corruptions as surnames, including Fick, Ficken, Figg, Figgs, Figgess, and Figgins.
10
Guion was not half so popular in England as Guiot. There are fifty-five Wyatts to three Wyons in the London Directory (1870). If Spenser had written of Guyon two centuries earlier, this might have been altered. Guy Fawkes ruined Guy. He can never be so popular again.
11
Cornwall would naturally be last to be touched by the Reformation. Hence these old forms were still used to the close of Elizabeth’s reign, as for instance:
“1576, March 24. Baptized Ibbett, d. of Kateryne Collys, bastard.
“1576, July 30. Baptized Isott, d. of Richard Moyle.” – St. Columb Major.
12
This connection of Scripture name with present circumstance ran out its full period. In the diary of Samuel Jeake, a well-known Puritan of Rye, occurs this reference to his son, born August 13, 1688: “At 49 minutes past 11 p.m. exactly (allowing 10′ that the sun sets at Rye before he comes to the level of the horizon, for the watch was set by the sun-setting), my wife was safely delivered of a son, whom I named Manasseh, hoping that God had now made me
A bishop may be instanced. Aylmer, who succeeded Sandys in the see of London, was for many years a favourer of Puritanism, and had been one of the exiles. His sixth son was
Again: “At Dr. Whitaker’s death, his wife is described as being ‘partui vicina,’ and a week afterwards her child was christened by the name of
13
Esther’s other name of Hadassah had a share of favour. So late as William and Mary’s reign we find the name in use:
“1691, May 24. Christened Hadasa, daughter of Arthur Richardson.
“1693, Sep. 4. Christened John, son of Nicholas and Hadassah Davis.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.
14
In the Lancashire “Church Surveys,” 1649-1655, being the first volume of the Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society’s publications, edited by Colonel Fishwick, occur Thurston Brown, Thurston Brere, Thurston Brich, on one single page of the index.
15
To tell a lie is to tell a