On the other hand, Langley originally meant “long field” or “long glade” (paradoxically, also “wood” which is rather the opposite), so could be applied to a person living in or near the field/glade, since Bob Langley would be distinguished from the Bob Beck, whose house is beside the “stream”. (Or having the famous title “York”, applying to the county, not the city, but many of the earliest known examples of the surname York occur at the other end of the country in Wiltshire, Somerset, Cambridgeshire, etc) Much more likely it would have been applied to a family or person -from- the very-distant city of York. After all, William’s many neighbours named William all live in York. However, the name “York” would not have been applied to a person living in York. Location based names require a bit of care. Thanks for reading, and happy writing! Related Posts And if you liked the list, you might also like my book Master Lists for Writers, a go-to reference.īe sure to sign up for the blog, if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss any future lists for writers-you can do that below. I want to make it into a fantastic medieval last name generator. If you think of any medieval last names to add to this list, please let me know. Tyler (an occupation name for someone who does tilework) Kirk (this is a medieval surname used to indicate someone lives near a church) Griffen (this medieval last name, and variations of it, was also a first name in the Middle Ages) “Bosc” means “the woods”)Ĭhallenge (I have to admit this one sounds fake, but I can attest that it’s an authentic medieval English surname)ĭarcy (of course, we associate this medieval last name with the Regency era)ĭurandal (I think this would be a great knight name) If you’re naming a character, I hope you find the perfect last name! And if you’re writing something set in the Middle Ages or fantasy inspired by medieval England, you can use my medieval European and fantasy playlist to set the mood.Īnd be sure to bookmark the post or pin it to Pinterest for future reference!Īrundel (I was positive this was the name of a horse in a fantasy novel, but if it was, I can’t find it now)īosc (a medieval surname for someone who grows pears-haha, not really. If you need first names, I’ve got them! Check out my lists of medieval male names and medieval female names from England. “Richard Mersey” for a Richard who lives by the Mersey River (or whose parents or grandparents did), or “Joan Ludlow” for a Joan who lives in the town of the same name. You can always make up a place name by using a specific place in England, e.g. Compare Blacksmith.Hi all! This list of medieval English surnames includes patronyms, occupational names, and place names. It is also the most common surname among Native Americans. In most cases however the surname Smith was probably chosen because it is the most common (English) surname in North America (see 1 above). See McGowan.4: Americanized form (translation into English or assimilation) of various European surnames meaning ‘smith’ or ‘blacksmith’ for example German and Jewish Schmidt Dutch Flemish and North German Smit Ukrainian Rusyn or other Slavic Koval Slovak Kováč Slovenian Serbian and Croatian Kovač (see Kovac) and Jewish Kuznetz (see Kuznetsov).5: Native American: from English smith adopted as an occupational name for a smith often as a translation into English of a personal name based on an equivalent occupational name from any of the Native American languages such as Navajo atsidí ‘smith’ (see Atcitty). Compare Smithey.3: Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. The surname may be topographic for someone who lived in or by a blacksmith's shop occupational for someone who worked in one or habitational from a place so named such as Smitha in King's Nympton (Devon). See also Smither.2: English: from Middle English smithe ‘smithy forge’ (Old English smiththe). This surname (in any of the two possible English senses see also below) is also found in Haiti. It is very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below). This is also the most frequent of all surnames in the US. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes plowshares and other domestic articles but above all for their skill in forging swords other weapons and armor. Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents in other languages were the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Early examples are also found in the Latin form Faber. SMITH : 1: English and Scottish: occupational name denoting a worker in metal especially iron such as a blacksmith or farrier from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike hammer’).
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