marcAB10 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I'm shocked to see my last name was there.... SMITH this is the most popular surname in the English speaking world by a considerable margin altho i did find this a little wierd... The great family Smith is 'first' in all major cities of the English speaking world, yet curiously the greatest concentration of Smith's are in Aberdeenshire, Scotland! I'll give you a guess where i live... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanGX Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I quite liked my one: "Marshall, this is an English and French surname, but one of ultimately pre 7th century Germanic origins. Although generally regarded as deriving from the French word "mareschal", the ultimate origin of the word lies in the Old High German "marah" meaning a horse, plus "scalc", a servant. This indicates that the term "marshal" was originally occupational for one who looked after the horses, a very important function from the most ancient times in history'. By the 11th Century whatever the original meaning and however high or low the status, the word useage had developed to that of the most important person in a noble household, and as the highest office of state 'The Lord Chief Marshall'. In England where the earliest surname recordings are to be found, a good example is that of Rainald le Mareschall in the charters known as "Documents relating to the Danelaw", for the county of Lincolnshire, in the year 1140. There are no less than fifty-eight British coats of arms, and a similar number on the Continent, granted to members of this illustrious 'family'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Godfridus Marescal. This was dated 1086, in the famous Domesday Book for the county of Wiltshire. Godfridus was a Frenchman, who was granted lands in England by King William 1st, following the successful conquest of 1066." I've heard snippets of this before. There was also a general belief in the family that we're illigitimately linked to the Danish throne, but any information died with my gran as she thought it was a great shame! But glad to hear I'm part of an illustrious family. But what I would say is the whole Horse-marshal stuff hasn't translated into modern day, clearly. Our modern day horses have four wheels and I almost know nothing about them other than how to feed, water and shoe them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Im double rock hard, Craig meaning rock, Allan meaning, erm, rock And I though I was of pure Scottish heritage, turns out its a stinkin French name! http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swich Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Mine was all bull sh*t lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiceRocket Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Arse, looks like im french Same here plus my surname possibly is derived from a nickname for a person who had a snub nose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westcoaster Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 From the Irish gaelic, cruel or fierce warrior! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Foster Middle English, possibly derived from a foster-child, or foster-parent, or a corruption of forester, which means either scissor maker, woodworker or keeper of a forest. Or, possibly, 'one who has wood'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Oels The English version: http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=oels This most interesting and unusual surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, is a late variant of "Hole"... Our official family tree version: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Oels Both are a very interesting read. Well, for me, anyway. I always knew I was special (needs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Dron This is an English nickname for a lazy person, deriving from the Medieval English "drane" meaning a drone i.e. a male honey bee renowned for its inactivity. In Ireland the name is used as an anglicization of the Gaelic names O'Dreain and Drohan,, the latter name is widespread in counties Waterford and Wexford. In the modern idiom the name is spelt Drane and Dron. An interesting namebearer was Augusta Theodosia Drane (1823 - 1894). Mother provincial of the Dominican order of nums (1881 - 1894). Published historical and poetical works. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Drane. which was dated 1276, in the "Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire". during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 New name may be New surname? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Casey Seems mine is of Irish decent. Been to Fermanagh too so I've probably got some Irish blood, as well as the Chinese, mayalsian, English, german and mongol. Mongrel me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 A quote from my other halfs name... 'The derivation, in this instance, is from the Old French "bouche", mouth, denoting someone with a particularly large mouth' so true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 "Sorry we have yet to research the origin of the surname R****" What surname is R**** anyway?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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