Vol. I, p. 32, line 27. Dele Hence the great,' &c. P. 35, line 12, before may mean, read this designation. P. 83, line 31, for names, read name. P. 96, line 3, for is, read are. P. 163, last line, for Register, read Registration. AN ESSAY ON. ENGLISH SURNAMES. CHAPTER I. OF HISTORICAL SURNAMES. "Mieux que tout autre monument a-t-on dit, les noms héréditaires conservent le souvenir des ancêtres."-SALVERTE. "Il y a peu de grandes maisons du Royaume qui n'ait sa fable particulière sur son origine."-Dictionnaire de la Noblesse, 1783. Most Y an historical surname, I mean a name which has allusion to some circumstance in the history of the person who primarily bore it. In some cases the expression "accidental" would, perhaps, be more appropriate. nations, antient and modern, have had surnames of this kind. Those of Scropha and Asinia, borne by the families of the Tremellii and the Cornelii, have already been alluded to. To this class also belongs the surname of Nestingum, borne by a Saxon earl, in consequence of his having been rescued in infancy from the nest of an eagle. The Italian family of SantaS. II. 1 Croce (Holy-cross) were so denominated from one of their ancestors having brought the wood of the true cross into Italy. In many instances the name has survived all remembrance of the circumstance in which it originated. Beaufoy, for example, was perhaps given primarily to a vassal who had shown some particular instance of fidelity to his feudal superior; while Malfeyth may have been attached to one who had been guilty of an act of treachery. Makepeace, again, was probably assigned to a person who had officiated as a mediator between two hostile parties. In many cases, however, the memory of the event has been transmitted to our own times by tradition or actual record, and guaranteed by the heraldric ensigns of the family. In general the event redounds to the prowess and valour of the original bearer, either at the Norman Conquest, in the Crusades, or some other military expedition; though occasionally it rather reflects disgrace. Many of the names which have been given to foundlings belong to this chapter. A few have relation to feudal tenures. Among the surnames said to have originated at the battle of Hastings, and shortly afterwards, are those of Fortescue, Eyre, and Osborne. The name of FORTESCUE is said to have been bestowed on Sir Richard le Forte ("the strong "), one of the leaders in the Conqueror's army, who had the good fortune to protect his chief at the battle of Hastings, by bearing before him a massive escu or shield. The noble family descended from this personage use, in allusion to this circumstance and to their name, the punning motto,-forte-Scutum salus Durum-"A strong shield is the safety of commanders." |