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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
It may possibly be considered an inquiry, rather curious than useful, to trace from the earlier periods of our history the practice of assuming Surnames and to ascertain at what time this custom became established in England. Of the various classes into which they may be divided, it is not my intention to speak, further than to notice, very briefly, the most obvious sources whence they were at first derived in this country. This branch of the subject would lead me into a much wider field than the present limits admit, and as it has already engaged the attention of different antiquaries, amongst whom Camden stands foremost, the reader, who may be tempted to inspect a minute classification of them, will find in his “Remaines” materials sufficiently copious to satisfy his curiosity.
page 105 note a Hæc cognomina in Chartis, maximè in subscriptionibus, non continuo ac recto ordine post nomen, sed supra inter lineas adscribi solebant; unde et Supra-nomina dicta volunt viri docti, quæ vox reperitur in chartariis maximè. Italicis, transiitque ad nostrum Gallieum idioma, vulgò Surnom.” Du Cange Gloss. Voce Cognomen.
“Vulgò, sed non adeò rectè, Sirname. a G. Surnom, It. Sopranome, Cognomen, q. d. Supernomen, i. e. Nomen addititium, sc. respectu nominis baptismo inditi.” Lve's Junius, Voce Surname.
page 106 note b Adam's Roman Antiquities, pp. 32. 34.
page 106 note c Ibid. p. 33.
page 106 note d “About the year 1000 (that we may not minute out the time) surnames began to be taken up in France—but not in England till about the Conquest, or else a very little before, under King Edward theConfessour, who was all frenchified. And to this time do the Scottish men also referre the antiquity of their Surnames, altho' Buchanan supposed that they were not in use in Scotland, many years after. Yet in England certain it is, that as the better sort, even from the Conquest, by little and little, took Surnames, so they were not settled among the common people fully untill about the time of King Edward 2d, but still varied according to the Father's name, as Richard-son, if his father were Richard,” &c. &c. Camden's Remaines, ed. 1657, p. 109.
page 107 note e Boucher's Supplement to Johnson's Dictionary, voce “Ap.” Thus also in the Hebrew the word “Ben”, as Ben-David, Ben-Joseph, &c.
page 108 note f Camd. Remaines, pp. 138, 139.
page 108 note g Lysons's Cheshire, p. 357.
page 108 note h Ibid. p. 141. Ibid. p. 142.
page 108 note k Life of Waynflete, p. 13.
page 109 note l Holinshed's Chronicle, p. 232. “Hæc cognomina raro imponebantur Episcopis Clericis, Monachis: forsan quod illorum dignitas et tituli essent cognomenti loco ad eos designandos; neque scommatica vocabula decerunt sacri ordinis Ministros; nee dignitatum sæcularium nomina, quæ à prædiis deducta erant, eis convenirent.” DuCange Gloss, vece Cognomen.
page 109 note m Lowth's Life of Wykeham, p. 9.
page 109 note n The father of Waynflete was called indifferently Richard Patten or Barbonr, notwithstanding the perfect dissimilarity of the two names. There are, however, proofs that the former was considered the proper surname of the bishop's family. On the tomb of Richard are the arms of Patten, and which, with certain variations made by the bishop, are also to be found on the seal of Magdalen College Oxford, &c. Godwin (de Præsul. Angliæ, p. 233) calls Waynflete, “filius Ricardi Patten,” and further observes, “Hinc patet cognomen illi genuinum fuisse Pattini, Waynfleti ascititium, ex more illius temporis clericorum.”
page 109 note o Life of Waynflete, p. 10.
page 109 note p Ibid, p. 12.
page 110 note q Fuller's Worthies, p. 51.
page 110 note r Barrington's Observations, p. 372.
page 110 note s Camden's Remaines, p. 144.
page 110 note t Co. Litt. B 1. a 3.
page 110 note u Ibid. Burn's Eccles. Law. article Confirmation.
page 111 note x Barlow v. Bateman, 3 P. Williams, 65.
page 111 note y 4 Brown's Parl. Cases, 194.
page 111 note z See the case of Leigh v. Leigh, reported in 15 Vesey 92; and others there quoted.