AS all the Regions with the whole worlds frame, and all therein was created by the Almightie,Cicero. for his laſt and moſt perfect worke, that goodly, vpright, provident, ſubtile, wittie, and reaſonable creature, which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , for his vpright looke; the Latines Homo, for that he was made of Molde; Petrus Nanuius. and we with the Germains, call Man of his principall part, the mind, being the verie image of God, and a pettie world within himſelfe: ſo he aſſigned in his divine providence, this ſo happy and worthy a region to men of anſwerable worth, if not ſurpaſſing, yet equalling the moſt excellent inhabitants of the earth, both in the endowments of minde, lineaments of bodie, and their deportment both in peace and warre, as if I would enter into diſcourſe I could very eaſily ſhew.

But overpaſſing their naturall inclination by heauenly influence,P • ol. in Quad ••• . anſwerable to the diſpoſition of Aries, Leo, and Sagittary, & Iupiter, with Mars Dominators for this Northweſt part of the world, which maketh them impatient of ſervitude, lovers of libertie, martiall and couragious. I will only in particular note ſomewhat, and that ſummarily of the Britaines, Scottiſh, and Engliſh, the three principall inhabitants.

The Britaines,Britains the moſt antient people of this Iſle antiently inhabited the ſame from ſea to ſea, whoſe valour and prowes is renowned both in Latine & Greek monuments, and may appeare in theſe two points which I will heere onely note. Firſt that the moſt p •• ſſant Roman forces, when they were at the higheſt, could not gaine of them, being but then a halfe-naked people,Plinius. in thirtie whole yeares the countries from the Thames to Str •• ling. And when they had gained them, and brought them into forme of a province, they found them ſo warlike a people, that the Romanes levied as many Cohorts,Notitia provin •• arum. companies, and enſignes of Britans from hence for the ſervice of Armenia, Aegypt, Illyricum, their frontire Countries, as from any other of their Provinces whatſoeuer.Pict-Britans. As for thoſe Britane which were farther North, and after as is moſt probable, called Pictes, (for that they ſtill painted themſelues when the Southerne parts were brought to civilitie,) they not onely moſt couragiouſly defended their libertie, but offended the Romans with continuall and moſt dangerous incurſions. The other remainder of the Britans, which retyred themſelues to weſt parts, now called W •• es, with like honour of fortitude, for many hundred yeares repelled the yoake both of the Engliſh and Norman ſlaverie. But ſince they were •• ted to the imperiall Crowne of England, Welſh-Britans. they have, to their iuſt praiſe, performed all parts of dutifull loyaltie and allegiance moſt faithfully therevnto.] Great alſo is the glorie of thoſe Britans,American or French Britans. which in moſt dolefull time of the Engliſh invaſion, with-drew themſelves into the Weſt parts of Gallia, then called Armorica: For they not onely ſeated themſelves, there maugre the Romans, (then indeede low, and neare ſetting,) and the French: but alſo impoſed their name to the countrey, held and defended the ſame againſt the French, vntill in our grandfathers memorie, it was vnited to France by the ſacred bonds of matrimonie.]

Next after the Britans,Scottiſhmen. • the Scottiſhmen comming out of Ireland, planted themſelves in this Iſlco • the North ſide of Cluid, B •• a lib. • . partly by force, partly by fauour of the Pictes, with whom a long time they annoyed the Southerne parts, but after many blody battels amongſt themſelves, the Scottiſhmen ſubdued them, and eſtabliſhed a kingdome in thoſe parts, which with 〈◊〉 courag • and warlike proweſſe, they have not onely maintained at home, but alſo hath purchaſed great honour abroad. For the French cannot but acknowledge they have ſeldome atchieved any honourable acts without Scottiſh hands, who therefore are deſervedly to participate the glorie with them. As alſo divers parts of France, Germany, and Suitzerland, cannot but confeſſe, that they owe to the Scottiſh Nation, the propagation of good letters and Chriſtian religion amongſt them.

After the Scottiſhmen, the Angles, Engliſhmen or Saxons, by Gods wonderfull providence were tranſplanted hither out of Germanie. Engliſhm •• A people compoſed of the valiant Angles, Iutes, and Saxons, then inhabiting Iutland, • olsten, and the ſea coaſts along to the river Rhene, who in ſhort time ſubduing the Britans, and driving them into the mountanous Weſterne parts, made themſelves by a moſt compleate conqueſt, abſolute Lords of all the better ſoyle thereof, as farre as Orkeney. Which cannot be doubted of, when their Engliſh tongue reacheth ſo farre along the Eaſt coaſt, vnto the fartheſt parts of Scotland, and the people thereof are called by the Highland-men, which are the true Scots, by no other name then Saxons, by which they alſo call vs the Engliſh.

This warlike, victorious, ſtiffe, ſtowt, and rigorous Nation, after it had as it were taken roote heere about one hundred and ſixtie yeares, and ſpread his branches farre and wide, being mellowed and mollified by the mildenes of the ſoyle and ſweete aire, was prepared in fulnes of time for the firſt ſpirituall bleſſing of God, I meane our regeneration in Chriſt, and our ingrafting into his myſticall bodie by holy baptiſme. Which Beda our Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtorian recounteth in this manner, and I hope you will give it the reading. Gregorie the Great Biſhop of Rome, on a time ſaw beautifull boyes to befold in the market at Rome, & demanded from whence they were▪ anſwer was made him out of the Iſle of Britaine Then asked he againe, whither they were Chriſtians or no • they ſaid no. Alas for pittie ſaid Gregorie, that the ſoule 〈…〉 be Lord of ſuch faire folkes▪ and that they which carrie ſuch grace in their 〈…〉 in their hearts. Then he would know of them by what name their Nation was called, and they told him 〈◊〉 , And iuſtly be they ſo called (quoth he,) for they haue Angelike faces, and ſeeme meete to be made cohair •• with the Angells in heaven.

Since which time, they made ſuch happy progreſſe in the Chriſtian profeſſion both of faith and works, that if I ſhould but enter into conſideration thereof, I ſhould be over-whelmed with mayn tides of matter. Many and admirable monuments thereof, do every where, at home preſent themſelves to your view, erected informer times, (and no ſmall number in our age, although few men note them,) not for affectation of • ame, or oſtentation of wealth, but to the glorie of God, increaſe of faith, of learning and to maintenance of the poore. As for abroad, the world ca • teſtifie that foure Engliſhmen have converted to Chriſtianitie, eight Nations of Europe, Wi • frid alias Boniface, the D •• ſhire-man converted the German Saxons, Franc ••• ns Hoſſians, and Thuringians, Willebred the Northerne man, the Friſians and Hollanders. Nicholas Braksp •• of Middleſex, who was after called Pope Hadrian the Normegians, and not long ſince, Thomas of W • lden of Eſſex, the Lit ••• ians. Neither will I heere note which ſtrangers have noted, that England hath bred more Princes renowned for ſanctitie, then any Chriſtian Nation whatſoever. It doth alſo redound to the eternall honour of England, that our countrimen have twice beene ſchoolemaiſt 〈…〉 France. Firſt when they taught the Gaules the diſcipline of the 〈◊〉 and after, when they and the Scottiſhmen firſt taught the French the liberall Arts, and perſuaded Carelus Magnus to found the Vniverſitie of Paris. They alſo brought into Fraunce the beſt lawes which the Parl • ament of 〈◊〉 and Burdeaux have now in vſe. 〈◊〉 . They at the loweſt ebbe of learning, amazed the world with their excellent knowledge in Philoſophie, and Divinitie: for that I may not 〈◊〉 of Alexander of Hales, the 〈…〉 Schoolemaſter to the 〈◊〉 Doctor Thomas Aq ••• , one Colledge in Oxford brought forth in one age thoſe foure lights of learning: 〈◊〉 colledge Sco • us the Subtile, Bradward • ne the Profound, Okham the Invincible, and Burley the Perſpicuous, and as ſome ſay, Baconthorpe the Reſolute; which Titles they hadde by the common conſent of the iudiciall and learned of that and the ſucceeding ages. Yet their militarie glorie hath ſurpaſſed all, for they have terrified the whole world with their Armes in Syria, Aegypt, Cyprus, Spaine, Sicill, and India.

They have traverſed with moſt happy victories both France and Scotland, brought away their Kings captives, conquered Ireland and the Iſle of Cypres, which King Richard the firſt gave frankly to Guie of Luſigni •• , and lately with a maidens hand, mated the mightieſt Monarch in his owne Countries. They beſide many other notable diſcoveries, twice compaſſed the whole globe of the earth with admirable ſucceſſe, which the Spaniards have yet but once performed. Good Lord, how ſpaciouſly might a learned pen walke in this argument! But leſt I ſhould ſeeme over prodigall in the praiſe of my countrimen, I will onely preſent you with ſome few verſes in this behalfe, and firſt this Latine Rythme of the middle time in praiſe of the Engliſh Nation, with ſome cloſe cautions. Its quilted as • t were out of ſhreds of divers Poets, ſuch as Schollers do call a Cento.

SVrnames given for difference of • amilies, and continued as hereditary in families, were vſed in no nation antiently but among the Romans, (and that after the league with the Sabines) which called thē Nomina, and Nomina Gentilitia, as the former were called Praenomina. But the French and wee termed them Surnames, not becauſe they are names of the ſire, or the father, but becauſe they are ſuper-added to Chriſtian names, as the Spaniards call them Renombres, as Renames.

The Hebrewes keeping memory of their Tribe, vſed in their Genealogies in ſteede of Surnames, the name of their father with Ben, that is, Sonne, as Melchi Ben-Addi, Addi Ben-Coſam, Coſam Ben-E •• adam, &c. So the Graecians, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Icarus the ſonne of Dedalus, Dedalus the ſonne of Eupalmus, Eupalmus the ſonne of Metion.

The like was vſed amongſt our aunceſtors the Engliſh, as C • oured Ceolwalding, Ceolwald Cuthing, Cuth Cuthwining, that is, Ceonred ſo • ne of Ceolwald, Ceolwald ſonne of Cuth, Cuthe ſon of Cuthwin, &c. And to this is obſerved by William of Malmeſbury, where he noteth that the ſonne of Eadgar was called Eadgaring, Libr. primo. and the ſon of Edmund, Edmunding.

The Britans in the ſame ſence with Ap for Mab, as Ap Owen, Owen Ap Harry, Harry Ap Rheſe, as the Iriſh with their Mac, as Donald Mac Neale, Neale Mac Con, Con Mac D • rm • tt, &c. And the olde Normans with Fitz for Filz, as Iohn Fitz-Robert, Robert Fitz-Richard, Richard Fitz-Ralph, &c. Scaliger de c • nſis linguae Lat: The Arabians onely as one learned noteth, vſed their fathers names without their owne forename, as Aven-Pace, Aven Rois, Aven-Z • ar, that is, the ſonne of Pace, Rois and Zoar; As if Pace had a ſonne at his circumciſion named Haly, hee would be called Aven Pace, concealing Haly, but his ſonne, howſoever hee were named, would be called Aven-Haly, &c. So Surnames paſſing from father to ſonne, and cōtinuing to their iſſue, was not antiently in vſe among any people in the world.

Yet to theſe ſingle Names were adioyned oftentimes other names, as Cognomina, or Sobriquetts, as the French call them, and By-names, or Nicke-names, as we terme them, if that word be indifferent to good and bad, which ſtill did die with the bearer, and never deſcended to poſteritie. That we may not exemplifie in other nations (which would afforde great plenty,) but in our own. King Eadgar was called the Peaceable, king Ethelred the Vnreadie, king Edmund for his Valour, Iron-ſide; king Harold the Hare-foote, Eadric the Streona, that is, the Getter or Streiner, Siward the Degera, that is, the Valiant, King William the firſt, Baſtard, king William the ſecond Rouſe, that is, the Red, king Henry the firſt Beauclarke, that is, Fine Scholler: ſo in the houſe of Aniou which obtained the Crowne of England, Geffrey the firſt Earle of Aniou was ſurnamed Griſogonel, that is, Grey-cloake, Fulco his ſonne Nerra, his grand-childe Rechi • , for his extortion. Againe, his grand-childe Plantagenet, for that he ware commonly a broome-ſtalke in his bonnet. His ſonne Henry the ſecond, king of England, Fitz-Empreſſe, becauſe his mother was Empreſſe, his ſonne king Richard had for ſurname Corde-Lion, for his lion-like courage, as Iohn was called Sans-terre, that is, Without land: So that wheras theſe names were never taken vp by the ſonne, I knowe not why any ſhould thinke Plantagenet to be the ſurname of the royall houſe of England, albeit in late yeeres many have ſo accounted it. Neither is it leſſe ſtrange, why ſo many ſhould thinke Theodore or Tydur, as they contract it, to be the ſurname of the Princes of this Realme ſince king Henry the ſeaventh. For albeit Owen ap Mer • dith Tydur, which married Katharine the daughter of Charles the ſixth king of France, was grandfather to king Henry the ſeventh, yet that Tydur, or Theodore was but the Chriſtian name of Owens grandfather. For Owens father was Meredith ap Tydur, Ap Grone, Ap Tydur, who all without Surnames iterated Chriſtian names, after the olde manner of the Britaines, and other nations heeretofore noted, and ſo lineally deduced his pedegree from Cadwallader king of the Britans, as was found by Commiſſion directed to Griffin ap Lewellin; Gitteu Owen, Iohn King, and other learned men both Engliſh and Welſh in the ſeaventh yeare of the ſaid king Henry the ſeventh.

Likewiſe in the line Royall of Scotland, Milcolme, or Malcolme was ſurnamed Canmore, that is, Great head, and his brother, Donald, Ban, that is, White: Alexander the firſt, the Prowde, Malcolme the fourth, the Virgine, William his brother the Lion. As amongeſt the Princes of Wales, Brochvail Schitrauc, that is, Gaggtothed, Gurind, Barmbtruch, that is, Spade-bearded, Elidir Coſcorvaur, that is, Heliodor the Great houſe-keeper, and ſo in Ireland Murough Duff. that is, Blacke: 〈◊〉 Roo. that is, Red: Nemoliah, that is, full of wounds: Patric Ban, that is, White: Gavelc • , that is, Fetters.

To ſeeke therefore the auntient Surnames of the royall, and moſt antient families of Europe, is to ſeeke that which never was. And, therefore greatly are they deceived which thinke Valoys to have beene the ſurname of the late French kings, or Borbon of this preſent king, or Habſburg, or Auſtriac of the Spaniſh king, or Steward of the late kings of Scotland, and now of BRITAINE, or Oldenburg of the Daniſh; For (as all know that have but ſipped of Hiſtories) Valoys was but the Apponage and Earledome of Charles yonger ſonne to Philip▪ the ſecond, from whome the late kings deſcended: ſo Borbon was the inheritance of Robert a yonger ſonne to ſaint Lewes, of whom this king is deſcended: Habſburg and Auſtria were but the olde poſſeſſions of the Emperors and Spaniſh Kings progenitours. Steward was but the name of office to Walter, who was high Steward of Scotland, the progenitour of Robert firſt King of Scots of that family, and of the King our Soveraigne. And Oldenburg was but the Erledome of Chriſtian the firſt Daniſh king of this family, elected about 1448. But yet Pl •• tagenet, Steward, Ʋalois, Borbon, Habsburg, &c. by preſcription of time have prevailed ſo farre, as they are now accounted ſurnames. But for ſurnames of Princes, well ſaid the learned Marcus, 〈◊〉 conſti •••• . Salon de Pace. Reges cognomiue now vt • ntur, q •• ia vt Regum familiae, & agnationes, & memoriae conſerventur, 〈◊〉 cognomina non ſunt neceſſaria prout in alijs inferioribus, quorum ipſa cognomina agnationum ac familiarum memori •• tutantur.

About the yeare of our Lord 1000. (that we may not minute out the time) ſurnames beganne to be taken vp in France, and in England about the time of the Conqueſt, or elſe a very little before, vnder King Edward the Confeſſor, who was all Frenchified. And to this time doe the Scottiſhmen referre the antiquitie of their ſurnames,Vit • Milcolumb • . although Buchanan ſuppoſeth that they were not in vſe in Scotland many yeares after.

But in England certaine it is, that as the better ſort, even from the Conqueſt by little and little tooke ſurnames, ſo they were not ſetled among the common people fully, vntill about the time of King Edward the ſecond: but ſtill varied according to the fathers name, as Richardſon, if his father were Richard, Hodgeſon, if his father were Roger, or in ſome other reſpect, and from thenceforth beganne to be eſtabliſhed, (ſome ſay by ſtatute,) in their poſteritie.

This will ſeeme ſtrange to ſome Engliſhmen and Scotiſhmen, which like the Arcadians thinke their ſurnames as ancient as the Moone, or at the leaſt to reach many an age beyond the Conqueſt. But they which thinke it moſt ſtrange, (I ſpeake vnder correction,) I doubt they will hardly finde any ſurname which deſcended to poſteritie before that time: Neyther have they ſeene (I feare) any deede or donation before the Conqueſt, but ſubſigned with croſſes and ſingle names, without ſurnames in this manner in England; Ego Eadredus confirmavi. ✚ Ego Edmundus corroboravi. ✚ Ego Sigarius concluſi. ✚ Ego Olfſtanus conſolidavi, &c. Likewiſe for Scotland, in an old booke of Dureſme in the Charter, whereby Edgare ſonne of King Malcolme, gave lands neere Coldingham to that Church, in the yeare 1097. the Scottiſh Noblemen witneſſes therevnto, had no other ſurnames than the Chriſtian names of their fathers. For thus they ſigned S.Signu • . ✚ Gulfi filij M • niani, S ✚ Culverti filij Donecani, S ✚ Olavi filij Oghe, &c. As for my ſelfe, I never hitherto found any hereditarie Surname before the Conqueſt, neither any that I know: and yet both I my ſelfe and divers whom I know, have pored and puſled vpon many an old Record and Evidence to ſatisfie our ſelves heerein: and for my part I will acknowledge my ſelfe greatly indebted to them that wil cleare me this doubt.

But about the time of the Conqueſt, I obſerved the very primary beginnings as it were of many ſurnames, which are thought very antient, when as it may be proved that their very lineall Progenitors bare other names within theſe ſixe hundred yeers. Mortimer and Warren are accounted names of great antiquitie,Rob. de Mon •• de ſundat. Monaſt. 〈◊〉 . yet the father of them (for they were brethren) who firſt bare thoſe names, was Walterus de ſancto Martino. He that firſt tooke the name of Clifford from his habitation, was the ſonne of Richard, ſonne of Puntz a noble Norman,Lib. Dunelmen. who had no other name. The firſt Lumley was ſonne of an antient Engliſh man called Liwulph. The firſt Gifford, Ge • itieg •• . from whome they of Buckingham, the Lords of Brimesfeld, and others deſcended, was the ſonne of a Norman called Oſbert de Belebe • . The firſt Windſor deſcended from Walter the ſonne of Other Caſtellan of Windſor. The firſt who tooke the name of Shirley was the ſonne of Sewall, deſcended from Fulcher without any other name. The firſt Nevill of them which are now, from Robert the ſonne of Maldred, a braunch of an olde Engliſh familie who married Iſabel the daughter and heire of the Nevills which came out of Normandy. The firſt Level came from 〈◊〉 de Perce ••• ll. The firſt Montacute was the ſonne of Drogo •• venis, as it is in Record. The firſt Stanley of them now Earles of Derby was likewiſe ſonne to Ad • vn de Aldeleigh, or Audley, as it is in the olde Pedegree in the Eagle tower of Latham. And to omit others, the firſt that tooke the name of de Burgo, or Burks in Ireland was the ſonne of an Engliſh man called William Fitz Aldelni • ; Record. regul Hibe •• iae. as the firſt of the Girald •• es alſo in that Countrey was the ſonne of an Engliſhman called Girald of Windſor. In many more could I exemplifie, which ſhortly after the conqueſt, tooke theſe ſurnames, when either their fathers had none at all, or elſe moſt different, whatſoever ſome of their poſteritie doe overweene of the antiquitie of their names, as though in the continuall mutabilitie of the worlde, converſions of States, and fatall periods of families, five hundred yeeres were not ſufficient antiquitie for a family or name, whenas but very few have reached thereunto.

In the autentical Record of the Exchequer called Domeſday, Surnames are firſt found, brought in then by the Normans, who not long before firſt tooke them: but moſt noted with de, ſuch a place as Godefridus de Mannevilla; A. de Grey. Walterus de Vernon; Robert de Oily, now Doyley; Albericus de Vere; Radulphus de Pomerey; Goſcelinus de Dive. Robertus de Buſl •• Guilielmus de Moiun; R. de Brai • ſe; Rogerus de Lacy; Giſlebertus de Venables, or with Filius, as Ranulphus, Aſculphi, Guilielmis; filius Oſbernie, Richardus filius Giſleberti; or elſe with the name of their office, as Eudo Depifer: Guil: Camerarius, Hervaeus Legatus, Giſlebertus Cocus, Radulphus Venator: but very many with their Chriſtian names onlie, as Olaff, Nigellus, Euſtachius, Baldricus, with ſingle names are noted laſt in every ſhire, as men of leaſt account, and as all, or moſt vnderholders ſpecified in that Booke. But ſhortly after, as the Romans of better ſorte had three names according to that of Iuvenal, Tanquam habeas trianomina, & that of Auſonius, Vide Politian •• 〈◊〉 libr. 3. Tria nomina nobiliorum. So it ſeemed a diſgrace for a Gentleman to have but one ſingle name, a • the meaner ſorte and baſtards had. For the daughter and 〈◊〉 of Fitz- 〈◊〉 a great Lord, as Robert of Glouceſter in the Librarie of the induſtrious Antiquary maiſter Iohn Stowe writeth, when king Henry the firſt would have married hir to his baſe ſonne Robert, ſhe firſt refuſing anſwered;

whereupon the king his father gave him the name of Fitz-Roy, who after was earle of Glouceſter, and the onely Worthy of his age.

To reduce ſurnames to a Methode, is matter for a Ramiſt, who ſhould happly finde it to be a Typocoſmie: I will plainely ſet downe from whence the moſt have beene deduced, as farre as I can conceive, hoping to incurre no offence heerein with any perſon, when I proteſt in all ſinceritie, that I purpoſe nothing leſſe than to wrong any man in any reſpect, or to make the leaſt aſperſion vpon any whoſoever. The end of this ſcribling labour tending onely to maintaine the honor of our names againſt ſome Italianated, who admiring ſtrange names, doe diſdainefully contemne their owne countrey names: which I doubt not but I ſhall effect with the learned and iudicious, to whom I ſubmit all that I ſhall write.

The moſt ſurnames in number, the moſt antient, and of beſt accompt, have been locall, deduced from places in Normandy and the countries confining, being either the patrimonaill poſſeſſions or native places of ſuch as ſerved the Conquerour, or came in after out of Normandy; as Aulbeny, or Mortimer, Warren, Albigny, Percy, Gournay, Devreux, Tankervil, Saint-Lo, Argenton, Marmion, Saint Maure, Bracy, Maigny, Nevill, Ferrers, Harecourt, Baskervile, Mortaigne, Tracy, Beufoe, Ʋaloyns, Cayly, Lucy, Montfort, Bonvile, Bovil, Auranch, &c. Neither is there any village in Normandy, that gave not denomination to ſome family in England; in which number are all names, having the French De, Du, Des, De-la prefixt, & beginning or ending with Font, Fant, Beau, Sainct Mont, Bois, Aux, Eux, Vall, Vaux, Cort, Court, Fort, Champ, Vil, which is corruptly turned in ſome into • eld, as in Ba • kerfeld, Somerfeld, Dangerfeld, Trubl • feld, Gr •• feld, 〈◊〉 , for B •• kervil, Somervil, Dangervil, Turbervil, Gree •• vil, 〈◊〉 vil; and in others into Well, as Boſwell for B • ſſevil, 〈◊〉 for Freſchevil. Mart. Cro • ar •• . As that I may note in paſſage, the 〈◊〉 Nobilitie take their names from places adding Ski or Ki thereunto.

Out of places in Britaine came the families of Saint Aubin, Mor • ey, D • nant, lately called Denham, D • le, Bal •• , Conqueſt, Valtort, Laſcells, Bluet, &c.

Out of other partes of Fraunce from places of the ſame names came, Courtney, Corby, B • ll • in, Crevecuer, Sai • t-Leger, Bohun, Saint George, Saint Andrew, Chaworth, Sainct Qu •• ti • , Gorges, Villiers, Cromar, Paris, Reims, Creſsy, Fines, 〈◊〉 , Coignac, Lyons, Chalons, Chaloner, Eſtampes, or Stampes, and many more.

Out of the Netherlands came the names of Levayne, Gaunt, Ipres, Bruges, Malines, Odingſells, Tournay, Doway, Buers, Beke; and in latter ages Dabridgecourt, Robſert, M •• y, Grand • ſon, &c.

From places in England and Scotland infinite likewiſe. For every towne, village, or hamlet hath made names to families, as Darbyſhire, Lancaſter, (do not looke that I ſhould as the Nomenclators in olde time marſhall every name according to his place) Eſſex, Murray, Clifford, Stafford, Barkley, Leigh, Lea, Haſting, Hamleton, Gordon, Lumley. Douglas, Booths, Clinton, Heydon, Cleydon, Hicham, Henningham, Popham, Ratcliffe, Markham, Seaton, Framingham, Pagrave, Cotton, Cari • , Hume, Poinings, Goring, Prideaux, Windſor, Hardes, Stanhope, Sydenham, Needehaus, Dimoc, Wi • nington, Allington, D • cre, Thaxton, Whitney, Willoughby, Apſeley, Crew, Kniveton, Wentworth, Fa • ſhaw, Woderington, Manwood, Fetherſton, Penrudock, Tremaine, Trevoire, Killigrew, Roſcarroc, Carminow, and moſt families in Cornewall, of whome I have heard this Rythme: By Tre, Ros, Pol, Lan, Caer and Pen, You may know the moſt Corniſh men. Which ſignifie a towne, a health, a poole, a church, a caſtle, or cittie, and a foreland, or promontory.

In like ſort many names among the Romans were taken from places, as Tarquinius, Gabinus, Volſcius, Vatinius, Norbanus, from Tarquini, Gabij, Volic • , Vatia, Norba, townes in Italie, Sigo • ius and other before him have obſerved; and likewiſe Amerinus, Carrinas, Macenas as Varre noteth. So Ruric • us, Fonteius, Fundanus, Agellius, &c. Generally, all theſe following are locall names, and all which have their beginning or termination in them, the ſignifications whereof, for the moſt parte, are commonly knowne. To the reſt now vnknowne, I will adioyne ſomwhat briefly out of A • fricus and others, reſerving a more ample explication to his proper place.

At a word, all which in Engliſh had Of ſet before them, which in Cheſhire and the North was contracted into A, as Thomas a Dutton, Iohn a Standiſh, Adam a Kirkby, and all which in La • ine old • vi • ences have had De praefixed, as all heeretofore ſp • cified, were borrowed from places. As thoſe which had Le ſet before them, were not •• call, but given in other reſpects. As I • Marſhall, Le L •• ner, Le Deſpencer, Le Scroope. Le Sav •• e, Le • av • ſour. Le Strange. Le Norice, Le Fſcriva • , Le Bl •• d, Le Molineux, Le Bret. As they alſo which were never noted with De or Le, in which number I have obſerved, Gifford B • ſſet, Arundel, Howard, Talb •• , Bellot, Bigot, Bagot, Ta • leboiſe, Tale •• ch, Gern •• , L • vell, Lovet, Forteſcu, Pancevolt, Tirell, Biund or Blunt, Biſſet, Bacun, &c. And theſe diſtinctions of locall names with De, and other with Le, or ſimply, were religiouſly obſerved in Recordes vntill about the time of king Edward the fourth.

Neither was there, as I ſaid before, or is there any towne, village, hamlet, or place in England, but hath made names to families, and ſo many names are locall which doe not ſeeme ſo, becauſe the places are vnknowne to moſt men, and all knowne to no one man: as who would imagine Whitegift, Powlet, Bacon, Creping, Alſhop, Tirwhit, Antrobus, Heather, Hartſhorne, and many ſuch like to be locall names, and yet moſt certainely they are.

Many alſo are ſo changed by corruption of ſpeach, and altered, ſo ſtrangely to ſignificative wordes by the common ſort, who deſire to make all to be ſignificative, as they ſeeme nothing leſſe than locall names; as Wormwood, Inkepen, Tiptow, Moone, Maners, Drinkewater, Cuckold, Goddolphin, Harleſtone, Waites, Smalbacke, Loſcotte, Devill. Neithe • mill, Bellows, Filpot, Wod • l, &c. for Ormund, Ingepen, Tiptoft, Mahune, Manors, Derwentwater, Cuckswold, Godolchan, Hudleſton. Th •• ts, Smalbach, •• ſcot, Davill, or D'Eivill, Nettervil, Bell-houſe, Phillipot, Wahul, &c.

Neither is it to be omitted, that many locall names had At prefixed before them in olde Evidences, as At More, A • Stow, At Ho, At Bower, At Wood, At • owne, &c. which A • , as it hath beene removed from ſome, ſo hath it beene conioyned to other, as Atwood, Atſlowe, Atho, Atwell, Atmor. As S alſo is ioyned to moſt now, as Mannors, Kn • les, Crofts, Yates, Gates, Thornes, Groves, Hills, Combes, Holmes, Stokes, &c.

Rivers alſo have impoſed names to ſome men, as they have to Townes ſituated on them; as that olde Ba • on • ur-Teys, that is, on the river Teys running betweene Yorkſhire and the Biſhoppricke of Dureſine, Derwent-water, I de • , Troutbecke, Hartgill, Eſgill, Wampull, Swale, Stoure, Temes, Trent, Tamar, Grant, Tine, Croc, Lone, Lun, Calder, &c. as ſome at Rome were called Tiberij, An • eni, Aufidij, &c, bicauſe they were borne neere the rivers Tibris, Anten, Auſidus, as Iulius Paris noteth.

Divers alſo had names from trees neere their habitations, as Oke, Aspe, Box, Alder, El •• e, Elder, Beach, Coigniers, that is, Q • ince, Zouch, that is, the trunke of a tree, Curſy and Curſon, the ſtocke of a Ʋine, Pine, Plumme, Cheſney or Cheyney, that is, Oke, Dauney, that is, Alder, Foulgiers, that is, Fearne, Vine, Aſhe, Hawthorne, Turres, Buſh, Haſle, Coularay, that is, Haſ • ewood, Bucke, that is, `Beech, Willowes, Thorne, Broome, Blocke, &c. which in former time had at praefixed, as at Beech, at Furres, at Aſhe, at • lme. And heere is to be noted, that diverſe of this ſorte have beene ſtrangely contracted, as at Aſhe into Taſh, at Oke into Toke, at Abbey into Tabbey; at the End into Thend; As in Saints names, Saint Olye into Tolye, Saint Ebbe into Saint Tabbe, Saint Oſyth into Saint Tows.

Many ſtrangers alſo comming hither, and reſiding here, were named of their Countries, as Picard, Scot, Lombard, Flemming, French, Bigod, that is, ſuperſtitious, or Norman. (For ſo the Frenchmen calld the Normans, becauſe at every other word they would ſweare,) By God; Bretton, Britaine, Bret, Burgoin, Germain, Weſtphaling, Dane, Daneis, Man, Gaſcoigne, Welſh, Walſh, Walleys, Iriſh, Corniſh, Cornwallis, Faſterling, Maigne, Champneis, Poitevin, Angevin. Loring, that is, de Lotharingia, &c. And theſe had commonly Le praefixed in Records and Writings, as Le Fle •• ing, Le Picard, Le Bret, &c. viz. the Flemming, the Picard.

In reſpect of ſituation to other neere places riſe theſe vſuall names, Norrey, North▪ South, Eaſt, Weaſt▪ and likewiſe Northcote, Southcote, Eſtcote, Weſtcote; which alſo had originally At ſet before them. Yea the names of Kitchin, Hall, Sellar, Parler, Church, Lodge &c. may ſeeme to have been borrowed from the places of birth, or moſt frequent abode; as among the Greekes, Anato •• us. i. Eaſt Zephirius, i. Weaſt, &c.

Whereas therefore theſe locall denominations of families are of no great antiquitie, I can not yet ſee why men ſhould thinke that their Aunceſtours gave names to places, when the places bare thoſe very names, before anie men did their Surnames. Yea the very terminations of the names are ſuch as are onely proper and appliable to places, and not to perſons in their ſignifications, if any will marke the Locall • erminations which I lately ſpecified. Who would ſuppoſe Hil, Wood, Field, Ford, Ditch, Pole, Pond, Towne, or Ton, and ſuch like terminations to bee convenient for men to beare in their n • mes, vnleſſe they could alſo dreame Hilles, Woods, Fieldes, Fordes, Ponds, Pounds &c. to have beene m • tamorphoſed into men by ſome ſupernaturall transformation.

And I doubt not but they will confeſſe that Townes ſtand longer then families continue.

It may alſo be prooved that many places which nowe have Lordes denominated of them, had Lordes and owners of other Surnames, and families not many hundred yeeres ſince. But a ſufficient proofe it is of anti • nt deſcent where the inhabitant had his Surname of the place where he inhabiteth, as Compton of Compton, Terringham of Terringham, Egerton of Egerton, Portington of Portington, Skeffington of Skeffington, Beeſton of Beeſton, &c.

I know nevertheleſſe, that albeit moſt Townes have borrowed their names from their ſituation, and other reſpectes; yet ſome with apt terminations have their names from men, as Edwarſton, Alfredſton, Vbsford, Malmeſbury, corruptly for Maidu • p • ſbury. But theſe names were from fore-names or Chriſtian names, and not fro • Surnames. For Ingulphus plainely ſheweth, that W • burton▪ and Leffrington were ſo named,pag. 491. becauſe two knights, Wiburt, and Leofric there ſometimes inhabited. But if any ſhould affirme that the Gentlemen named Le • frington, Wiburton, Lancaſter, or Leiceſter, Boſſevill, or Shordich, gave the names to the places ſo named, I woulde humbly, without preiudice, crave reſpite for a further day before I beleeved them. And to ſay as I thinke, verily when they ſhall better adviſe themſelves, and marke well the terminations of theſe, and ſuch like Locall names, they will not preſſe me ov • r eagrely heerein.

Notwithſtanding, certaine it is that Surnames of families have beene adioyned to the names of places for diſtinction, or to notifie the owner, as Melton Mowbray, Higham Ferrers, Minſter-L • vel, Stanſted Rivers, Drayton-Baſſet, Drayton-Beauchamp, &c. for that they were the poſſeſſions of Mowbray, Ferrers, Level, &c. Neither do I denie, but ſome among vs in former time, aſwell as now, dreaming of immortalitie of their names, have named their houſes after their owne names, as Camois-Court, Hamons, Bretts, Bailies, Theobaldes, whenas now they have poſſeſſors of other names. And the olde verſe is, and alwayes will be verified of them, which a right worſhipfull friend of mine not long ſince writ vpon his new houſe: Nunc mea, mox • uius, ſed poſteà neſcio cuius.

Neither muſt all, having their names from places, ſuppoſe that their Aunceſtors were either Lordes, or poſſeſſors of them; but may aſſure themſelves, that they originally came from them, or were borne at them. But the Germans and Polonians doe cleare this errour by placing In before the Locall names, if they are poſſeſſours of the place, or Of, if they onelie were borne at them, as Martinus Cromerus noteth. The like alſo ſeemeth to be in vſe in the Marches of Scotland, for there you ſhall have Trotter of Folſhaw, and Trotter in Fogo, Haitly of Haitly, and H •• ly in Haitly.

Whereas ſince the time of king Henry the third the Princes children tooke names from their natall places, as Edward of Carnarvon, Thomas of Brotherton, Ioann • of Acres, •• dmund of Woodſtocke, Iohn of Gaunt, who named his children by Cath. Swinford, Beaufort of the place wher they wer born • u • nothing to our purpoſe, to make further mentiō of thē whenas they never deſc • nded to their poſteritie.

After this locall names, the moſt names in number have beene derived from Occupations, or Profeſſions, as Taylor, Potter, Smith, Sadler, Arblaſter, that is, Baliſtarius, Archer, Taverner, Chauſer, i. Hoſier, Weaver, Pointer, Painter, Walker, • d eſt, Fuller in olde Engliſh, Baker, Baxter, Boulengem, all one in ſignification, Collier, Carpenter, Ioyner, Salter, Armorer, Spicer, Grocer, Monger, id eſt, Chapman, Brower. Braſier, Webſter, Wh • eler, Wright, Cartwright, Shipwright, Baniſter, id eſt, Balneator, Forbiſher, Farrar, Goff, id eſt, Smyth in Welſh. And moſt which end in Er in our tongue, as among the Latines, Artifice • s names have arius, as lu • tcariarius, veſtiarius, calcearius, &c. or eo, or • o for th • ir termi • ations, as Linteo, Pellio Phrygio. Neither was there any trade, craft, arte, profeſſion, occupation never ſo meane, but had a name among vs commonly ending in Er, and men accordingly denominated, but ſome • re worne out of vſe, and therefore the ſignificatio •• vnknowne, and other have beene mollified ridiculouſly by the bearers, leſt they ſhould ſeeme vilified by them. And yet the like names were amōg the nobleſt Romans, as Figul • s, Pictor, Fabritius, Scribon •• s, Sal •• tor, Ruſticus, Agricola, Carbo, • unarius, &c. And who can deny but they ſo named may be Gentlemen, if Virtue which is the ſoule of Gentrie ſhall ennoble them, and Virtus (as one ſaieth) Nulli praluſa eſt omnibus patet. Albeit Doctour Turner in a Booke againſt Stephan Cardiner ſaieth the contrary, exemplifying of their owne names. At which time wiſe was the man that tolde my Lord Biſhop that his name was not Gardiner, as the Engliſh pronounce it, but Gardiner vvith the French accent, and therefore a Gentleman.

Hitherto may be referred many that end in Man, as, Tubman, Carreman, Coachman, F • rriman, Clothman, Chapman, Spelman, id eſt, Learned man, Palf • iman, Horſman, &c.

Many have beene aſſumed from offices, as, Chambers, Chamberlaine, Cooke, Spenſer, that is, Steward, Marſhall, Latimer, that is, Interpretour, Staller, that is, Conſtable or Standard-bearer, Reeve, Wo • dreeve, Sherif • , Sergeant, Parker, Foſter, that is, Nouriſher, Forraſter, contractly Forſter, Hunter, Kempe, that is, Souldier in olde Engliſh; (for Alfricus tranſlateth T • ro, Yong-Kempe) Faulconer, Fowler, Page, Butler, Clarke, Proctor, Abbot, Frier, Monke, Prieſt, Biſhop, Spigurnell, that is, a ſealer of Writs, which office was hereditarie for a time to the Bohunes of Midherſt. Deacon, Deane, Bailive, Franklin, Leach, Warder, i. Keeper; & frō th • nce Woodward, Millward, Steward, Dooreward, tha •• , Porter, Beareward, Heyward, Hereward, that is, Conſerver of the armie, Bond, that is, Paterfamilias, as it is in the booke of olde termes belonging ſometimes to Saint Auguſtine in Canterbury, and we retaine it in the compound Huſb • nd. In which booke alſo Horden is interpreted a Steward.

Names alſo have beene taken of honours, dignities, or eſtate, as King, Duke, Prince, Lord, Baron, Knight, Valuaſor, or Vavaſor, Squire, Caſtellan, partly for that their anceſtours were ſuch, ſerved ſuch, acted ſuch parts, or were Kings of the Beane, Chriſtmas Lords, &c. And the like names we reade among the Greeks and Romans, as Baſi • us, Archias, Archel •• , Regulus, Servius, Flaminius, Caeſarius, Auguſtulus: who notwithſtanding were neither Kings, Prieſts, Dukes, or Caeſars. Others from the qualities of the minde, as Good, Through good, Goodman, Goodchild, Wiſe, Hardie, Plaine, Light, Meeke, Bold, Beſt, Prowd, Sharpe, Still, Sweete, Speede, Quicke, Sure, &c. As thoſe old Saxon names, Shire, that is, Cleere, Dyre, that is, Welbeloved, Blith, Chauces. that is, merry, Drury, that is, jewell. Alſo theſe French names, Galliard, that is, Frolicke, Muſard, that is, Delayer, Bland, that is, Faireſpoken, Coigne, that is, Valiant, Baud, that is, Pleaſant, Barrat; Kus, Ruſh, that is, Subtile, and ſo is Prat in the old booke of Petreborrough, Huttin, that is, Mutiner. As among the Grecians, Agathias, A • dragathius, Sophocles, Eubulus, Eumenius; Thraſeas. Among the Romans, Prudentius, Lepidus, Cato, `Pius, Valeus, Conſtans, Aſper, Tacitus, Dulcitius, &c. And accordingly names were borrowed, as Plutarch ſaieth, from the nature of the man,Plutarch. in Matio & Sylla. from his actions, from ſome marke, forme or deformitie of his body, as Macrinus, that is, Long, Torquatus, that is, Chained, Sulla that is, White and Red: And in like ſort, Mnemon, that is, Mindefull, Grypus, that is, Hawkesnoſe, Callinicus, that is, Faire Victor. From the habit • des of body, and the perfections or imperfections thereof, many names have beene impoſed, as Strong, Ar •• ſtrong, Long, Low, Short, Broad, Bigge, Little, Speed, Faire, Goodbody, Free body, •• ll, that is, Faire, Bell • t, that is, Bel • ulus, proper in French: Helder, that is, Thinne, Heile, that is, Healthfull, Fairfax, that is, Faire-lockes, in antient Engliſh Whitlocks. As thoſe Britiſh names ſtill in vſe amongſt vs, Vachan, that is, Little, Mool, that is, Bald, Gam, that is, Crooked, Fane, that is, S • lender, Grim, that is, Strong, Krich, that is, Curlepate, Grig, or Krig, that is, Hoarſe. No more to bee diſliked than this Greeke and Roman names, Ner • , that is, Strong, as alſo Romulu • ; Longus, Longinus, Minut •• s, Macros, Megaſthenes, Caliſtus, Calliſthenes, Paulus, Cincinnatus, Criſpus, Caluus, Terentius, that is, tender according to Varr • . Gracchus, that is, Thinne, Baſſus, that is, Fatte, Saluſ •• us, that is, Healthfull, and Cocles one-eye. As Pap • rius Maſonius reporteth that Philippus Auguſtus King of France, was ſurnamed Borgne for his blinking with one eye.

Others in reſpect of age have received names, as Yong, Olde, Baby, Child Stripling, as with the Romau • ▪ Senec •• , Priſcus, Iuvenalis, Iunius, Virginius, &c.

Some from the time wherein they were borne, as Winter, Summer, Chriſtmas, Day, May, Sunday, Holiday, Munday, Paſcall, Noel▪ Penticost: as with the ancient Romans, Ianuarius, Martius, Manius, Lucius, F • ſtus, and Vergilius borne at the riſing of the Vergiliae, or ſeaven ſtarres, as Pontanus learnedly writeth againſt them which write his name Ʋirgilius.

Some from that which they commonly carried,Claud. • a • cher. as Palmer, that is, Pilgrime, for that they carried Palme when they returned from Hieruſalem. Long-ſword, Broad-ſpeare, Forteſcu, that is, Strong-ſhield, and in ſome ſuch reſpect, Breake-ſpeare, Shake-Speare, Shotbolt, Wagſtaffe, Bagot, in the old Norman, the ſame with Scipio, that is, a ſtay or walking ſtaffe with the Latines, which became a ſurname, for that Cornelius ſerved as a ſtay to his Blinde father. Likewiſe Biliman, Hookeman, Talevas, of a ſhield ſo called, whereof William ſonne of Robert de Beliſme Earle of Shrewsbury had his name.

Some from parts of the body, as Head, Redhead, Whitehead, Legge, Foote, Pollard, Arme, Hand, Lips, Hart, as Corculum, Capito, Pedo, Labeo, Naſo, among the Romans.

Garments have alſo occaſioned names, as Hos, Hoſatus, Hat, Cap, Frocke, Petycote, Gaicoat: as with the Romans, Caligula, Caracalla, Fimbria, and Hugh Capet, from whom this laſt houſe of France deſcended, was ſo called, for that hee vſed when he was young to ſnatch off his fellowes caps, if we believe Du Tillet.

Not a few from colours of their complexions, garments, or otherwiſe have gotten names, as White, Blacke, Browne, Red, Greene, and thoſe Norman names: Rous, that is, Red, Blunt or Blund, that is, Flaxen haire, and from theſe Ruſſell and Blundell, Gris, that is, Gray, Pigot, that is, Speckled, Blanch and Blanc, that is, White, with thoſe Britiſh or Welſh names, who whereas they were wont to depaint themſelves with ſundry colours, have alſo borrowed many names from the ſaid colours, as Gogh, that is, Red, Gwin, that is, White, Dee, that is, Blacke, L • uid or • lud, that is, R • ſſet: Names to be no more diſliked than Albinus, Candidus, Flavius, Fulvius, Fuſc •• , 〈◊〉 , C • cc •• us, Rutilius, Rufus, Niger, Nigrinus, among the Roman • and Pyrrhus, Chlorus, Le • cagus, Chryſes, 〈◊〉 , &c. among the Graecians.

Some from flowers and fruits, as Lilly, Li • , Roſe, Peare, Nut, F • lbert, Peach, Peſcod, Vetch, as faire names, as Lentu • us, Piſ • , Fabius, among the Romans. Others from beaſts, as Lambe, Lion, Boare, Beare, Bucke, Hind, Hound, Fox, Wolph, Hare, Hog, Roc, Broc, Badger, &c. Neither are theſe & ſuch like to be diſliked, whenas among the nobleſt Romans, Leo, Ʋrſicinus, Catulus, Lupus, Leporius, Aper, Apronius, Canimus, Caſt • r, &c. and Cyrus, that is, Dog, with the Perſians were very vſuall.

From fiſhes likewiſe, as Playce, Salmon, Trowt, Cub, Gurnard, Herring, Pike, Pikerill, Breme, Burt, Whiting, Crab, Sole, Mullet, Baſe, &c. nothing inferiour to the Roman names, Murena, Phocas, Orata, that is, Gilihed, &c. for that happily they loved thoſe fiſhes more than other.

Many have beene derived from birds, as Corbet, that is, Raven, Arondell, that is, Swallow: the Gentlemen of which name, do beare thoſe birds in their Coat-armours, Biſſet, .i. Dove, Larke, Tiſſon, Chaffinch, Nitingall, Iay-Cocke, Peacocke, Sparrow, Swanne, Crow, Woodcocke, Eagle, Alecocke, Wilcocke, Handecocke, Hulet or Howlet, Wren, Goſling, Parret, Wilde gooſe, Finch, Kite, &c. As good names as theſe, Corvinus, Aquilius, Milvius, Gallus, Picus, Falco, Livia, .i. Stockedove, &c Therefore I cannot but mervaile why one ſhould ſo ſadly mervaile ſuch names of beaſts and birds to be in vſe in Congo in Africa, when they are and have beene common in other Nations, as well as they were among the Troglodites inhabiting neere Congo in former times.

Of Chriſtian names as they have been without change, many more have beene made, as Francis, Herbert, Guy, Giles, Leonard, Michael, Lewis, Lambert, Owen, H • wel, Ioſcelin, Humfry, Gilbert, Griffith, Griffin, Conſtantine, Iames, Thomas, 〈…〉 Godfrey, G • rvas, Randall, Alexander, Charles, Daniel, &c.

Beſide theſe & ſuch like, many ſurnames are derived from thoſe Chriſtian names which were in vſe about the time of the Conqueſt, & are found in the Record calld Doomeſday book, & elſe where; as Achard, Alan, Alpheg, Aldelme, Aucher, A • ſel • , A • ſelm, A • ſger, Askaeth, Haſcuith, Alberic, Bagot, Baldric, Bardolph, Belchard, Berenger, Berner, Biſo, Brient, Ca •• t, Knout or C • ute, Carbonell, Chettell, Colf, Corbet Corven, Crouch, Degory, Dod, Done, Donet, as it ſeemeth frō Donatus, Dru, Duncan, Durand, Eadid, Edolph, Egenulph, El • er, Eud • or Fde, Fabian, Fulcher, Gamelin, Gernegan, Girth, Goodwin, Godwin, Goodrich, Goodlucke, Grime, Grimbald, Guncelin, Guthlake, Haco or Hake, Hamon, Hamelin, Harding, Haſting,Brand, a ſtirring vp, Iunius. Herebrand, and many ending in Brand, Herman, Hervye Herward, Howard, Heward, Hubald, Hubert, Huldrich, Iollan, Ioll, contractly from Iulian, Iuo, or Iue, Kettell, Leofwin, Lewin, Levin, Liming, Macy, Maino, Maynerd, Meiler, Murdac, Nele, Norman, Oddo or Hode, Oger, Olave, Orſo or Vrſo, Orme, Osborne, Other, Payne, Picotte, Pipard, Pontz, Pu • tz, Reyner, Remy, Rolph, Rotroc, Saer, Searle, Semar, Sewal, Sanchet, Siwald, Siward, Staverd, Star, calf, Swain, Sperwicke, Talbot, Toly, Tovy, Turgod, Turrold, Turstan, Turchill, Vctred, or Oughtred, Vde, Vivian, Voner, Wade, Walarand, Wistan, Winoc, Walklin, Warner, Winebald, Wigod, Wigan, Wi •• arc, Woodnot, &c.

And not onely theſe from the Saxons and Normans, but alſo many Britan or Welſh Chriſtian names, as well in ancient time, as lately hath been taken vp for Surnames, when they came into England, as Chun, Blethin, Kenham, frō Cynan or Conanus, Gittin-Mervin, Bely, Sitſil, or Ceſil, Caradoc, Madoc, Rhud, Ithell, Meric, Meredith, Edern, Bedow, from the Engliſh Bede, .i. A devout prayer, beſide the Welſh Chriſtian names vſuall and knowne to all As in like manner many names were made from the Praenomina among the Romans, as Spurilius, Statilius, Titius, from Spurius, Statius, Titus, And as Qu • itilian ſaieth, Agnom •• & cognomina 〈…〉 .

By contracting or rather corrupting of Chriſtian names, we have Terry from Theodorie, Tillius. Frerry from Frederic, Collin and Cole from Nicholas, Tebald from Theobald, Ieſſop, from Ioſeph, Aubry, from Alberic, Amery, from Almeric, Garret, from Gerrard, Nele, from Nigel, Elis, from Elias, Bets, from Beatus, as Bennet, from Benedict, &c.

By addition of S to Chriſtian names, many have beene taken, as Williams, Rogers, Peters, Peirs, Davies, Harris, Roberts, Simonds, Guyes, Stevens, Richards, Hughes, Iones, &c.

From Nicknames or Nurſenames, came theſe (pardon me if it offend any, for it is but my coniecture,) Bill for William, Clem for Clement, Nat for Nathaniel, Mab for Abraham, Kit for Chriſtopher, Mund for Edmund, Hall for Harry, At and Atty for Arthur, Cut for Cuthberd, Mill for Miles, Baul and Bald for Baldwin, Ran for Randal, Crips for Crispin, Turk for Turktetill, Sam for Sampſon or Samuell, Pipe for Pipard, Gib for Gilbert. Dan for Daniel, Greg for Gregory, Bat for Barthobnewe, Law for Lawrence, 〈◊〉 for Timothy, Rol for Rolland, Ieff for Ieffrey, Dun for Duncan or Dunſtan, Duke for Marmaduke, Daye for David, God. For Godfrey or Godard, for otherwiſe I cannot imagine how that moſt holy name vnfit for a man, and not to be tolerated, ſhould be appropriate to any man: and many ſuch like which you may learne of Nurſes.

By adding of S to theſe Nicknames or Nurſenames, in all probabilitie we have Robins, Nicks, Nicolls, Tho • s, Dickes, Hickes, Wills, Sims, Sams, Iecks, Iucks, Collins, Ienks, Munds, Hodges, Hobs, Dobi, Saunders from Alexander, Gibs from Gilbert, Cuts from Cuthberd, Bats from Barthol •• we Wats from Walter, Philips from Philip, Hai • es from Anulphus, as ſome will, for Ainulphesbury in Cambridgſhire is contracted to Aiusbury, and ſuch like.

Many likewiſe have beene made by adioyning Ki •• and Ius to thoſe nurſenames, making them in Ki • s as it were diminutives, & thoſe in Ius, as Patronymica. For ſo Alfric Archbiſhop of Canterbury, & the moſt ancient Saxon Grammarian of our Nation, noteth that names taken from Progenitours, do end in Ins; ſo Dickins, that is, little Dick, Perkins from Peir or Peter, little Petre; ſo Tomkins, Wilkins, Hutchins, Huggins, Higgins, Hitchins; from Hughe, Lambkins, Hopkins, Hobkins; from Hob, Dobbin • , Robbins, Atkins; from Arthur, Gibbins, Simkins, Hodgekins, Hoskins, Watkins, Ienkins, Iennings, Tipkins; from Tibald, Daukins; from Davy, Rawlins from Ra • ul, that is, Rafe, and Hankin for Rand • ll in Cheſhire. In this manner did the Romans very names, as Conſtans, Conſtantius, Conſtantinus; Iustus, Iuſtulus, Iuſtinus, Iuſtinianus: Aurelius, Aureolus, Aurelianus, Auguſtus, Auguſtinus, Auguſtinianus, Auguſtulus, &c,

Beſide theſe, there are alſo other diminitive names after the French Analogie in Et or Ot, as Willet; from Will, Haket; from Hake, Bartlet; from Bartholmew, Millet from Miles, Huet from Hughe, Allet from Allan, Collet from Cole, Guyet from Guy, Eliot from Elias and Beckvet, that is, Little Sharpe noſe.

But many more by addition of Son, to the Chriſtian or Nickname of the father, as Williamſon, Richardſon, Dickſon, Harryſon, Gibſon; for Gilbertſon, Simſon, Simondſon, Stevenſon, Dauſon; for Daviſon, Moriſon, Lawſon, id eſt, Lawrenſon, Robinſon, Cutbertſon, Nicholſon, Tomſon, Willſon, Leweſon, Iobſon, Waterſon, Watſon, Peerſon, and Pierſon, Peterſon, Ha • ſon from Hankin, Wilkinſon, Daniſon for Daniel, Beniſon, and Benſon from Bennet, Deniſon, Patiſon; from Patrick, Ienkinſon, Matiſon; from Mathew, Colſon; from Cole, or Nicholl, Rogerſon, Herdſon; from Herdingſon, Hodgskinſon, Hugheſon, Hulſon; from Huldric, Hodſon from Hod or Odd • , Nelſon from Neale or Nigell, Davidſon, Saunderſon, Iohnſon, Raulſon; from Raoul or Ralf. So the ancient Romans vſed Publipor, Marcip • r, Lucipor; for Publij puer, Marci puer, Lucij puer, according to Varro: As afterwards in the Capitolin Tables, they were wont to note both father and grandfather for proofe of their gentry in abbreviations, as A. Sempronius, Aulifilius Lucij Nep • s, that is, 〈◊〉 Se • pronius, ſonne of Aulus, grandchild or nephew of Lucius, C. Martius, L. F. C. N. &c. Neither is it true which ſome ſay, Omnia nomina in Son ſunt boralis generis, whenas it was vſuall in every part of the Realme.

Some alſo have had names from their mothers, as Fitz-parnell, Fitz-Iſabell, Fitz-Mary, Fitz-Emme, Mandle • s, Suſans, Mawds, Grace, Emſon, &c. As Veſpaſian the Emperour, from Veſpaſia Polla his mother, and Popaea Sabina the Empreſſe, from her grandmother.

In the ſame ſence it continueth yet in them which deſcended from the Normans, Fitz-Hughe, Fitz-william, Fitz-Herbert, Fitz-Geffrey, Fitz-Simon, Fitz-Alian, Fitz-Owen, Fitz-Randoll, being names taken from their Progenitours, as among the Iriſh, Mac-william, Mac-Cone, Mac-Dermot, Mac-Mahon, Mac-Donell, Mac-Arti, .i. the ſonne of Arthur.

So among the Welſh-Britans likewiſe, Ap-Robert, Ap-Evans, Ab-Yihel, Ap-Hary, Ap-Hughe, Ap-Rice, Ap-Richard, Ap-Howell, Ap-Enion, Ap-Owen, Ap-Henry, Ap-Rhud, which be contracted into Probert, Bevans, Bythell, Parry, Pughe, Price, Prichard, Powell, Benion, B • wen, Peurbye, Prud, &c.

So in the borders of England and Scotland, Gawis I • k, for Iohn the ſonne of Gawin, Richies Edward, for Edward the ſonne of Richard, Iony Riches Will, for William the ſonne of Iohn, ſonne of Richard. The like I have heard to be in vſe among the meaner ſort in Cornwall.

Daintie was the deviſe of my Hoſt at Grantham, which would wiſely make a difference of degrees in perſons, by the terminations of names in this word Son, as betweene Robertſon, Robinſon, Robſon, Hobſon; Richardſon, Dickson, and Dickinſon; Willſon, Williamſon, and Wilkinſon, Iackson, Iohnſon, Ienkinſon, as though the one were more worſhipful than the other by his degrees of compariſon.

The names of aliance, have alſo continued in ſome for ſurnames, as where they of one family being of the ſame Chriſtian name, were for diſtinction called R. Le Frere, Le Fitz, Le Coſm, that is, Brother, the Sonne, &c. all which paſſed in time into Surnames.

Many names alſo given in merriment for By-names or Nicke-names have continued to poſteritie: as Malduit for ill ſchollerſhip, or ill taught, Mallieure commonly Mallyvery, i. Malus Leporarins, for ill hunting the hare, Pater noſter for devout praying. The Frenchman, which craftily, and cleanely conveyed himſelfe and his priſoner, T: Crioll a great Lord in Rent, about the time of King Edward the ſecond out of Fraunce, and had therefore Swinfield given him by Crioll, as I have read, for his fine conveyance, was then called Fineux, and left that name to his poſteritie. So Baldwin le-Pettour, who had his name, and held his land in Suffolke, Per ſaltum, ſufflum & pettum, ſive bumbulum, for dauncing, pout-puffing, and dooing that before the King of England in Chriſtmaſſe holy dayes, which the worde Pet ſignifieth in French. Inquire if you vnderſtand it not of Cloacinas chaplaines, or ſuch as are well read in A • ax.

Vpon ſuch like occaſions names were given among the Romans,Macrobius. as Tremellius was called Scropha or Sow, becauſe when he had hid his neighbours Sow vnder a padde, and commanded his wife to lie dovvne thereon; he ſware when the owner came in to ſeeke the Sow, that hee had no Sow but the great Sow that lay there, poynting to the padde, and the Sow his vvife. So one Cornelius was ſurnamed Aſina, for that when he was to put in aſſurance for payment of certaine ſummes in a purchaſe, hee brought his Aſſe laden with money, and made ready payment. So Auguſtus named his dwarfe Sarmentum, Suetonius. i. ſprigge, and Tiberius called one Tricongius, for carowſing three gallons of wine. So Servilius was called Ala, for carrying his dagger vnder his arme-pit, vvhen hee killed Spurius. So Pertinax the Emperor being ſtubbernly reſolute in his youth to be a wood monger as his father vvas,Capitolinus. vvhen hee vvoulde have made him a Scholler, vvas named Pertinax. So the father of Valens the Emperour, who was Camp-maiſter heere in Britaine, for his faſt holding a rope in his youth, vvhich 〈◊〉 ſouldiers could not plucke from him, vvas called 〈◊〉 . About vvhich time alſo Paul a Spaniard, a common Informer in Britaine vvas named Catena, i. the Chaine, for that he chained and fettered many good men heere, vvith linking together falſe ſurmiſes, to their vtter vndooing in the time of Conſtantinus, who alſo that I may remember it in paſſage, named his attendant ſcholler by no vnfitting name, Muſonius. But what names the beaſtly monſter, rather than Emperour Commmodus gave to his attendants, I dare not mention, leſt I ſhould be immodeſtly offenſive to chaſte eares, and modeſt mindes. But hitherto with modeſty may be referred this of the familie of Gephyri, i. Bridges in Greece, who tooke their name from a Bridge; for vvhen their mother was delivered of nine children at a birth, and in a fooliſh feare had privily ſent ſeven of them to be drowned at a bridge, the father ſodainely comming to the bridge, ſaved them, and thereupon gave them that name. Of theſe, and the like, we may ſay, Propi • ra ſunt honori, quàm ignominiae. Infinite are the occaſions which in like manner have made names to perſons, I will onely reporte one or two French examples, that thereby you may imagine of others in other places and former ages.

In the firſt broyles of Fraunce, certaine companies ranging themſelves into troupes, one Captaine tooke newe names to himſelfe and his company from the furniture of an horſe. Among theſe new named gallants, you might have heard of, Monſieur Saddle, (to engliſh them) Mounſieur Bridle, Le Croupier, Le Girte, Horſh ••• , Bitte, Trappiers, Hoofe, Stirrope, Curbe, Muſrole, Frontſtall, &c. Moſt of the which had their paſport, as my Author noteth, by Seign ••• de la Halter. Another Captaine there alſo gave names to his, according to the places where he found thē, as Hodge, Hieway, River, Pond, Vine, Stable, Street, Corner, Gall • ws, Taverne, Tree, &c. And I have heard of a conſort in England, who when they had ſerved at Sea, tooke names from the equipage of a ſhippe, when they would ſerve themſelves at land, as, 〈◊〉 , Ball • ſt, Planke, F • re-decke, Decke, Loopehole, Pumpe, Rudder, Gable, Anchor, Miſen ſaile, Capſon, Maſte, Bolt.. So that is true which Iſidore ſaieth, Names are not alwayes given according to Nature, but ſome after our owne will and pleaſure, as we name our landes and ſervants according to our owne liking. And the Dutchmans ſaying may be verified, which when he heard of, Engliſhmen called God and Divell, ſaide, that the Engliſh borrowed names from all things whatſoever, good or bad.

It might be heere queſtioned, whether theſe ſurnames were aſſumed and taken at the firſt by the perſons themſelves, or impoſed and given vnto them by others. It may aſwell ſeeme that the locall names of perſons were partely taken vp by themſelves, if they were owners of the place, as given by the people, who have the ſoveraignty of words and names, as they did in the Nicke-names before Surnames were in vſe. For who would have named himſelfe, Peaceable, Vnready, Without-land, Beauclerke, Strongbow, Gagtooth, Blanch-mayne, Boſſue, i. Crook-backe, but the concurrent voyce of the people, as the women neighbours gave the name to Obed in the booke of Ruth; and likewiſe in Surnames. In theſe pretty names, as I may terme them, from floures, fiſhes, birdes, habitudes, &c: it may bee thought that they came from Nurſes in former times heere, as very many, or rather moſt in Ireland and Wales doe at this preſent. Theſe Nicke-names of one ſillable turned to ſurnames, as Dickes, Nickes, Toms, Hobbes, &c. may alſo ſeeme to proceed from Nurſes, to their Nurſlings; or from fathers and maiſters to their boyes and ſervants. For, as according to the old proverb, Omnis herus ſerv • Monoſyllabus, in reſpect of their ſhort commands: ſo Omnis ſervus har • Monoſyllabus in reſpect of the curtolling their names, as Wil, Sim, Hodge, &c. Neither is it improbable, but that many names that ſeeme vnfitting for men, as of brutiſh beaſts, &c. came frō the very ſignes of the houſes where they inhabited; for I have heard of them which ſaid they ſpake of knowledge, that ſome in late time dwelling at the ſigne of the Dolphin, Dull, White-horſe, ••• ket, Peacocke, &c. were commonly called 〈◊〉 at the Dolphin, Will at the Bull, George at the White horſe, Robin at the Racket, which names as many other of like ſort, with omitting At, became afterward herod • ta • le to their children.

Heereby ſome inſight may bee had in the originall of Surnames, yet it is a matter of great difficultie, to being them all to certain heads, whenas our language is ſo greatly altered, ſo many new names daily brought in by Aliens, as French, Scots, Iriſh, Welch, Dutch, &c. and ſo many old words worne out of vſe. I meane not only in the old Engliſh, but alſo the late Norman, for who knoweth nowe what theſe names were, Giffard, Baſſet, Gernon, Mallet, Howard, Peverell, Paganell, or Paynell, Taile boiſe, Talb • t, L • vet, Panc • volt, Tirrell, &c. which are nothing leſſe than locall, and certainely ſignificative, for they are never noted, as I ſaid before in olde evidences with De as locall names, 〈◊〉 alwayes abſolutely, as W. Giffard, R. Baſſet, as Chriſtian names are, when they are made Surnames; and yet I will not affirme, that all theſe heere mentioned were at anie time Chriſtian names, although doubtleſſe ſome were.

For wee knowe the ſignifications of ſome of them, as Mallet, an Hammer, Bigot, a Norman, or ſuperſtitious Tailebois. Nicotlus. i. Cutwood, Lovet, Little Woolfe, and Baſſet, (as ſome thinke) Fatte; Giffard is by ſome interpreted Liberall; and Howard, M. Lambert p • • amb, Cantu, pa. 538. High Warden, or Guardian (as it ſeemeth an office now out of vſ • ) whenas Heobeorg ſignified in olde Engliſh High defence, and He • h-faeder, Patriarch or High father. Certaine it is, that the firſt of that right noble family who was knowne by the name of H • ward, was the ſonne of William de Wigenhall, as the honourable Lord William Howard of Naworth, third ſonne to Thomas late Duke of Norffolke, an eſpecial ſearcher of Antiquities, who equalleth his high parentage with his vertues, hath lately diſcovered.

To find out the true originall of Surnames,Change of names is full of difficulty, ſo it is not eaſie to ſearch all the cauſes of alterations of Surnames, which in former ages have beene verie common among vs, and have ſo intricated, or rather, obſcured the trueth of our Pedegrees, that it will be no little hard labour to deduce many of them truly from the Conqueſt; Somewhat nevertheleſſe ſhall be ſaid thereof, but more ſhall be left for them which will ſound deeper into this matter.

To ſpeake of alteration of names, omitting them of Abraham, and Sara, Iacob, and Iſrael, in holy Scriptures, I have obſerved that the change of names, hath moſt commonly proceeded from a deſire to avoyd the opinion of baſenes.Cre •• as Guid ••• So C • d • marus when he ſucceeded Ochus in the kingdome of Perſia, called himſelfe by the princely name Darius. So new names were given to them which were deified by the Paganiſh conſecration, as Romulus was called Quirmus, Melicertus was called Portunus, and Palaemon, Likewiſe in adoptions into better families and teſtament, as the ſonne of L. Aemilius, adopted by Scipio, tooke the name of Scipio Africanus. So Auguſtus who was firſt named Thureon, tooke the name of Octavian by teſtament: by enfranchiſing alſo into new Citties, as he which firſt was called Lucumo, when he was infranchiſed at Rome, tooke the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priſcus. So Demetrius Mega when he was there made free of the Citty, was called Publius Cornelius. Cicero Epiſt. 36. lib. 13.

Likewiſe ſlaves when they were manumiſed, tooke often their maſters names, whenas they had but one name in their ſervile ſtate. As they which have read Artemidorus, do know, how a ſlave, who when he dreamed he had tria virilia, was made free the next morning, and had three names given him.

Neither is it to be forgotten, that men were not forbidden to change name or ſurname, by the reſcript of Diocleſian L. Vinc. c. de mutat. nom. ſo be that it were Sine aliqua fraude, iure licito. As that great Philoſopher which was firſt called Malchus in the Syrian tongue, tooke the name of Porphyrius, as Eunapius reporteth: as before Suetonius the Hiſtorian looke to ſurname 〈◊〉 , whenas his father was Suetonius L • uis. Thoſe notvvithſtanding of ſtrange baſe parentage were forbidden L. ſuper 〈◊〉 c. de quaeſt. to inſert, or inthruſt themſelves into noble and honeſt families by changing their names, which will growe to inconvenience in England, as it is thought, by reaſon that Surnames of honourable and worſhipfull families are given now to meane mens children for Chriſtian names, as it is growen nowe in Fraunce, to the confuſion of their Gentry, by taking new names from their purchaſed landes at their pleaſures.Alex. ab Alexandro Genial. dier. lib. 2. c. 28. Among the Romans nevertheles they that were called ad Equeſtrem ordinem, having baſe names, were new named nomine ingenuorum veterum que Romanorum, leſt the name ſhould diſgrace the dignitie,In Philebo. when according to Plato, comely things ſhould have no vncomely names.

It was vſuall amongeſt the Chriſtians in the Primitive church, to change at Baptiſme the names of Catechu • e • i, which were in yeeres, as that impious Renegado, that was before called Lucius, was in his Baptiſme called Lucianus. So the Popes vſe to change their names, when they enter into the Papaci • , which as Plati • a ſaith, was begunne by Pope Sergius the ſecond, who firſt changed his name, for that his former name was Hoggeſ-mouth, but other referre the change of names in Popes to Chriſt, who changed Simon into Peter, Iohn and Iames into Bonarges: Onely Marcellus, not long ſince choſen Pope, refuſed to chaunge his name, ſaying, Marcellus I was, and Marcellus I will be, I will neither change Name nor Manners. Other religious men alſo when they entred into ſome Orders, chaunged their name • n times paſt, follovving therein, (as they report) the Apoſtle, that chaunged his name from Saule to Paule, after he entred into the Miniſtery, borrovving (as ſome ſay) that name from Sergius Paulus the Roman lievtenant,Chryſoſtomus. but as other will from his lovve ſtature, for hee was but three cubites high, as Saint Chryſoſtome ſpeaking of him. Tricubitalis ille tamen coelum aſcendit.

Of changing alſo Chriſtian names in Confirmation we have ſaide before; but overpaſſing theſe forraine matters let vs ſay ſomewhat as concerning chaunge of names in England.

As among the French in former time, and alſo nowe, the heire tooke the fathers ſurname, and the yonger ſonnes tooke names of their landes allotted vnto them. So likewiſe in times paſt did they in England; Lib Prioratus de Wroxhall. and the moſt common alteration proceeded from place of habitation. As if Hugh of Suddington gave to his ſecond ſonne his Mannour of Frydon, Yvo Catnotenſis in his Epiſtles complaineth of th •• . to his third ſonne his Mannour of Pantley, to his fourth his Wood of Albdy; the ſonnes calld themſ • lves De Frydon, De Pantley, De Albdy; and their poſteritie removed De. So Hugh Montfortes ſecond ſonne called Richard being Lord of Hatton in Warwickeſhire tooke the name of Hatton. So the yongeſt ſonne of Simon de Montfort Earle of Leiceſter ſtaying in England, when his father was ſlaine, and brethren fled, tooke the name of Welſborne, as ſome of that name have reported. So the name of Ever came from the Mannour of Ever, neere Vxbridge, to yonger ſonnes of L. Iohn Fitz-Robert de Clavering, from whom the Lorde Evers, and ſir Peter Evers of Axholme are deſcended So ſir Iohn Cradocke knight great grandfather of ſir Henry Newton of Somerſetſhire tooke firſt the name of Newton, which was the name of his habitation: as the iſſue of Huddard in Cheſhire tooke the name of Dutton.

Bnt for varietie and alteration of names in one familie vpon divers reſpects, I will give you one Cheſhire example for all, out of an antient roule belonging to ſir William Brerton of Brerton knight, which I ſawe twenty yeares ſince. Not long after the Conqueſt William Bellward lord of the moietie of Malpaſſe, had two ſonnes, Dan-David of Malpaſſe, ſurnamed Le Clerke, and Richard; Dan-David had William his eldeſt ſonne ſurnamed De Malpaſſe, from whom the Baron Dudley is deſcended by heire generall. His ſecond ſonne was named Philip Gogh, one of the iſſue of whoſe eldeſt ſonnes tooke the name of Egerton; a third ſonne tooke the name of David 〈◊〉 , and one of his ſonnes the name of Goodm •• . Richard the other ſonne of the aforeſaid William Belward had three ſonnes, who tooke alſo divers names, viz. Thomas de C • tgrave, William de Overton, and Richard Little, who had two ſonnes, the one named Ken-clarke, and the other Iohn Richardſon. Heerein you may note alteration of names in reſpect of habitation in Egerton, Cotgrave, Overton, in reſpect of colour in G • g • , that is, Red, in reſpect of qualitie in him that was called Goodm • n, in reſpect of ſtature in Richard Little, in reſpect of learning in Ken-clarke, in reſpect of the fathers Chriſtian name in Richardſon, all deſcending from William Bellward. And verily the Gentlemen of thoſe ſo different names in Cheſhire would not eaſily be induced to beleeve they were deſcended from one houſe, if it were not warranted by ſo antient a proofe.

In reſpect of ſtature I could recite to you other examples, but I will onely adde this which I have read, that a yong Gentleman of the houſe of Preux, being of tall ſtature attending on the Lord Hungerford, Lord Treaſourer of England, was among his fellowes called Long H: who after preferred to a good marriage by his Lorde, was called H. Long, that name continued to his poſteritie, knights and men of great worſhip.

Other took their mothers ſurnames, as A. Audley yonger brother to Iames lord Audley, marrying the daughter and heire of H. de Stanley left a ſonne William, that tooke the name of Stanley, from whome Stanley Earle of Derby, aud other of that name are deſcended. Geffrey the ſonne of Robert Fitz-Maldred, and Iſabel his wife, heire of the Norman houſe of the Nevilles, tooke the name of Nevill, and left it to his poſteritie which was ſpread into very manie honourable families of England. In like manner the ſonne of Ioſcelin of Lovan a yoonger ſonne to the Duke of Brabant, when he had married Agnes the onely daughter of William Lord Percy ſo named of Percy forreſt in the county of Maen, from whome they came, (and not of piercing the king of S •• ts through the 〈◊〉 , as H • ct • r B •• tius fableth) his ſonne and poſteritie vppon a compoſition with the ſame Lady, tooke her name of Percy, but retained theyr olde coate armour, to ſhew from whome they deſcended; So Adam de Montgomery marrying the daughter and heire of Carew of Molesford, her ſonne relinquiſhing his owne, left to his poſteritie his mothers name Carew, from whom the Barons Carew, the Carews of Haccomb, of Berry, of Authony, Beddington, &c. have had their names and originall. Likewiſe Ralph Gernon marrying the daughter of Cavendiſh, or Candiſh, left that name to his iſſue, as Th: Talbot, a learned Genealogiſt hath prooved. So Robert Meg the great favourite of king Iohn took the name of Braybrooke, whereof his mother was one of the heires. So ſir Iohn de Haudlow marrying the daughter and heire of the Lorde Burnell, his poſteritie tooke the name of Burnell. So ſir Tibauld Ruſſell tooke the name of De Gorges to him and his iſſue, for that his mother was ſiſter and one of the heirs of Ralfe de Gorges, as it appeareth in the controverſie betweene Warbleton and the ſaide Tibauld de Corges for the coate of Armes Lozengy, Or, and Azure, 21. of Edward the third, before Henry Earle of Lancaſter, and others, at the ſiege of Saint Margaret. Not many years ſince, when Iames H • rſey had married the daughter of De-Le-vale of Northumberland, his iſſue tooke the name of De-la-vale.

Heerevnto may they alſo bee referred who changed their names in remembrance of their Progenitours being more honourable, as the ſonnes of Geffrey Fitz-Petre, tooke the name of Magnavilla or Mandevile, when they came to be Earles of Eſſex, becauſe their grandmother Beatrix was of the houſe of Mandevile, as appeareth by the Abby booke of Walden. So Thomas de Molton tooke the name of Lucy, and many other, which I omit.

Others alſo have taken the name of them whoſe lands they had: As when King Henry the firſt gave the lands of the attainted Robert Moubray Earle of Northumberland, being 120. Knights fees in Normandy, and 140. in England, to Nigall or N •• le de 〈…〉 who in the battell at 〈◊〉 , tooke Robert Duke of 〈◊〉 priſoner: he commanded withall, that his poſteritie ſhould take the Surname of Mo • bray, which they accordingly did, and retained the ſame as long as the iſſue male continued, which determined in Iohn Mo • bray Duke of Norfolke, in the time of King Edward the fourth: whoſe heires were married into the families of Howard and Barkeley.

Remembrance of benefits made others to change their names, as William Mortimer deſcended from thoſe of Richards Caſtle, tooke the name of La-Zouch, and named his ſonne Alan de la-Zouch, for ſome favour received from the Lord Zouch of Aſhby de la-Zouch, as appeareth by Inquiſition. 11. & 21. Ed. 3.

In reſpect of adoption alſo, very many in all ages have changed their names: I neede not particulate it, for all know it. Some of their owne diſlike of their names, have altered them: for as I have read in the booke of Forneſſe, William Fitz-Gilbert Baron of Kendall, obtained licence of King Henry the ſecond, to change his name and call himſelfe and his poſteritie Lancaſter, from whom the Lancaſters in Weſtm • rlaud &c. are deſcended.

Heerevpon ſome thinke that without the Kings licence new names cannot be taken, or old names given away to others. Yet Tiraquell the great Civilian of France, in Leg. quin. Conub. Tit. 92. ſeemeth to incline, that both name and Armes may be transferred by will and teſtament, and produceth Auguſtus, who by his Teſtament commanded Tiberius and Livia to beare his name. How in former times Herevile, • . Wirl • y. Dunvile, Clauwowe, gave and granted away their Armes, which are as ſilent names, diſtinctions of families; and the ſame was thought vnlawfull afterward, when the Lord 〈◊〉 would have done the ſame, ſhall be declared in more convenient place. But the inconvenience of change of names, hath beene diſcovered to be ſuch in France, that it hath beene pr • pounded in 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 , that it ſhould not be permitted but in theſe two reſpects, eyther when one ſhould bee made heire to any with eſpeciall words, to aſſume the name of the teſtatour; or when any one ſhould have a donation ſurmounting a thouſand crownes, vpon the ſame condition. But to retyre to our purpoſe.

Not a few have aſſumed the names of their fathers Baronies, as in former times the iſſue of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, tooke the name of Clare, which was their Barony: and in late time, ſince the Suttons came to the Barony of Dudley, all their iſſue tooke the name of Dudleyes: that I may omit others. The diſlike of others hath cauſed alſo a change of names, for King Edward the firſt, diſliking the iteration of Fitz, commanded the Lord Iohn Fitz-Robert, a moſt ancient Baron,Lib. Monaſterii Sibeton. (whoſe Anceſtours had continued their Surnames by their fathers Chriſtian names,) to leave that manner, and to be called Iohn Clavering, which was the capitall ſeate of his Barony. And in this time, many that had followed that courſe of naming by Fitz, tooke them one ſetled name, and retained it as Fitz Walter, and others.

Alſo at that time the names of Thomſon, Richardſon, Willſon, and other of that forme began to be ſetled, which before had varied according to the name of the father. Edward the fourth likewiſe (as I have heard,) loving ſome whoſe name was Picard, would often tell them that hee loved them well, but not their names, wherevpon ſome of them changed their names: and I have heard that one of them which tooke the name of Ruddle, being the place of his birth in that reſpect. And in late yeares in the time of King Henry the eight, an ancient worſhipfull gentleman of Wales, being called at the panniell of Iury by the name of Thomas Ap William, Ap Thomas, Ap Richard, Ap Hoel, Ap Evan Ʋaghan, &c. was adviſed by the Iudge to leave that old manner. Wherevpon he after called himſelfe Moston, according to the name of his principall houſe, and left that Surname to his poſterity.

Offices have brought new names to divers families, as when Edward Fitz-Th •• bald, of Ireland, the Earles of Ormond and others deſcended from them, tooke the name of Butler. So the diſtinct families of the Conſtables in the County of Yorke, are ſaide to have taken that name, from ſome of their Anceſtours which bare the office of Conſtables of ſome Caſtles. In Like manner the Stewards, Marſhalls, Spencers. That I may ſay nothing of ſuch as for well acting on the ſtage, have carried away the names of the perſonages which they acted, and have loſt their owne names among the people.

Schollers pride hath wrought alteration in ſome names which have beene ſweetned in ſound, by drawing • hem to the Latine Analog •• . As that notable Non-reſident in our fathers time Doctor Magnus, who being a foundling at Newark vppon Trent, where hee erected a Grammer ſchoole, was called by the people T. Among vs, for that he was found among them: But he profiting in learning, turned Among vs, into Magnus, and was famous by that name, not onely heere, but alſo in forraine places where he was often Ambaſſadour.

It were needeleſſe to note heere againe, how many have taken in former times the Chriſtian name of their father, with prefixing of Fitz or Filz, as Fitz-bugh, Fitz-alan, Fitz-william, or adding of Son, as Richardſon, Tomſon, Iohnſon, &c. and ſo altered their Surnames if they had any. Whereas divers ancient Gentlemen of England do beare Coates of Armes, which by old roules and good proofes are knowne to belong to other names and families, and cannot make proofe that they matched with thoſe families, it is worth obſervation, conſidering how religious they were in elder times in keeping their owne Armes: whether they were not of thoſe ancient houſes whoſe Armes they beare, and have changed their names in reſpect of their habitation, or partitions and lands gotten by their wives. As Pickering of the North, beareth Ermin a Lion rampant Azure crowned, Or, which, as it is in the old Abby booke of Furneſſe, was the coat of Roger de Miyth • rp. In the ſame booke the coate of Dacr • , Gules 3. Eſcal • pes Arg. is the coate of R. Ger •• th of Cumberland, and ſo the three pillowes Ermin of Redman of Northumberland, is the coate of Ran. de Greyſtock. So Ʋfford E. of Suffolk, and Peit • n, Fetiplace, and Hide, and many other Gentlemen of the ſame Armes, may ſeeme to haue beene of the ſame ſtocke, and to haue varied their names in diuers reſpects.

Finally, among the common people which ſway all in names, many Surnames haue bene changed in reſpect of occupations, and not a few have beene changed in reſpect of maſters, for in every place we ſee the youth very commonly called by the names of their ocupations, as Iohn Baker, Thomas Taylor, Will Butcher, Dic Barber, and many by their maſters names, as Iohn Pickering, Thomas Watkins, Nicholas French, whenas they ſerved maiſters of thoſe names, which often were conveyed to their poſteritie, and their owne Surnames altogether forgotten. Some other cauſes of alteration of names may be found, as for crimes committed when men have beene enforced to leave their countries. But heereby it may be vnderſtood that an Alias or double name cannot preiudice the honeſt: and it is knowne that when Iudge Catiline tooke exception at one in this reſpect, ſaying, that no honeſt man had a double name, & came in with an Alias. The party asked him what exception his Lordſhip could take to Ieſus Chriſt, Alias, Ieſus of Nazareth.

I doubt not but ſome men among vs in changing their names, do imitate olde Goffer Simon the Cobbler in Lucian, who when he grew fat in the purſe, would needes be called for Goodman Si •• on. Maſter Simonides, as ſome women do follow the good Greeke wench, Meliſſarton, that is, Pretty honny-Bee, who when of a Commediant ſhee became a wealthy mans wife, 〈◊〉 would be ſaluted Madam Pithias, or Prudence. And ſome likewiſe can change themſelves from ſhee, to hee, and conſequeetly their name, as Cenis the wench, into Ceneus the yong man, as you may ſee in Ovid.

Among the alteration of 〈…〉 how Kings of Armes, 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 are new named with a bole of wine powred vpon their heads by the Prince or Earle Marſhall, when they are inveſted, and the Kings crowned, as Garter, Clerenceux, N • rrey: L •• caſter, Yorke, Richmond, Somerſet, &c. which is as ancient as the time of King Edward the third. For we reade, that when newes was brought him at Windſor, by a Purſuvant, of the victory at the battell of Auroy, 〈◊〉 . hee bountifully rewarded him, and immediately created him Herold, by the name of Windſor.

Heere might I note that women with vs at their marriage do change their ſurnames and paſſe into their huſbands names, and iuſtly for that then Non ſunt du • , ſed car • vna: And yet in Fraunce and the Netherlands, the better ſort of women will ſtill retaine their owne name with their husbands, as if Mary daughter of Villevill be married to A. Vavin, ſhe will write herſelfe Mary Vavin Ville vill. But I feare husbands will not like this note, for that ſome of their dames may be ambitiouſly over-pert and too-too forward to imitate it.

Beſide theſe former alterations, the tyran Time which hath ſwallowed many names, hath alſo in vſe of ſpeach, changed more by contr • cting ſyncopating, cu • telling and mollifying them, as beſide them before mentioned. Adr • • y is now turned into Darcy, Aldethelight into Awdley, Sabrigworth into Sapsford, Sitſil into Cecil, Mount •• y into Mungey, Dunevet into Knevet, if you bel • eve Leland, Gr • vile into Greenefeild, Haverington into Harrington, Bourgchier into Bowcer, Le Dai • erell into Dairell, Ravensford into Rainsford, Mohune into Moone, Danvers into Davers, Gernegan into Ierningham, Cah • rs into Chaworth, Din •• t into Dinham, Wooderington into Witherington, Estlegh into Aſt • y, Turbervile into Troublefeild, De Oilei • into D • iley, P • gli into Polye, De Alanſon into Daliſon, Purefoy into Purfrey, Cavend • ſh into Cand • ſh, Ʋeinour into Fenner, Harecourt into Harcot, Sanctpaul into Sampol, Forteſen into F • ſk • , Ferrers 〈…〉 , Culwen into Curwen, P •• tevin into Petſin, Berenger into Be • ger. Montacute into Montague, Ger •• us into Garniſh, Pul •• ſton into P • ſton, Cholmondley into Cholmley, Groſvenour into Gravener, Meiſuilwarin into Manwaring, after into Man • ering, Fitz-Gerard into Garret, Ok • ver into Oker, Vvedale into Vdall, Damprecourt firſt into Dabrig • court, now into Dabſcot, Leventhrop into Lenthrop, Wilburnhame into Willbram, A • kow from Aſcouth, and that from the old Chriſtian name Aſcuith, which in Latine was Haſculphus and Haſtulphus, that is, Speedy helpe, &c.