Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 2 Vol 3.djvu/643

 APPENDIX C 623 large class of small dwellers on the lands, and are fairly common in Lincoln charters. Indeed that district and the north of England seems, as is natural to have been slower in adopting Norman names than the more accessible parts of the kingdom. Like these, of Scandinavian origin, is Wiger, a Lincoln Canon (Egerton Ch., 429). The following (a) from Piers Ploughman, (b) from Chaucer's rustic pieces, give some idea of the popular forms of names prevalent among common folk in the last half of the fourteenth century, (a) Gibbe, Gregory, Hervy, Clement, Godefray, Griffin, Hikke, Hughe, Bette] Perkyn, Piers, Jagge, Danyel, Dawe, Wille, Watte, Waryn, Tomme, Hankyn. (b) Aleyn, Symkyn, Symond, Gerveys, Robyn, Nicholas, Adam, Walter, Ote, Perkyn, Hogge^ (Roger). There seems to have been more change in the nomenclature of our people from iioo to 1400 than from 1400 to 1900. As is well known nearly all surnames may be said to proceed from Origin of Christian names, place names, trade or professional names, and nicknames, surnames. It may sometimes be doubtful in which category to put them, but Nelson, for instance, clearly belongs to the first and not the second, as the Lanca- shire town so called is of modern origin; it is usually, and in the form Nielson always, son of Niel, but may be occasionally son of Ellen. Neel, Niel, Nele, Neale, has itself given birth to the modern Nigel (from lat. Nigellus), which has, like Reginald, been familiarized by Walter Scott, who, together with Dugdale, has done as much as anyone to establish pseudo-antiques in the language. The following curious or interesting surnames have been kindly supplied by H. J. Ellis, and seem worthy of insertion, though pages might be filled with curiosities of the kind: Gillebert Scerewind or Scorewind (modern Sherwin), occurs as witness Curious late twelfth century in co. Lincoln. (Harl. Ch. ^i^ H. 11, 55 F. 5, 6). surnames. Sivard Dogheafd, co. Derby, circa 11 70 (Harl. Ch. 45 H. 5). Alfred Pied de Vilain occurs as witness to a charter to Hurley Priory, early temp. Hen. II (Charter at Westm. Abbey). Richard Malamusca occurs as witness in Horsheath, Cambridge, late Hen. II (Add. Ch. 28338). John le King, witness, late twelfth century (Harl. Ch. 53 B. 23). Mainardus (Germ. Meinhart) cum barba, Ric. I (Harl. Ch. 83 D. 30). Rob. Crazenzloil (Crack-in-the-eye), temp. John (Harl. Ch. 45 B. 18). Galfr. Plantegenest, occurs in Keisby, co. Line, circa 11 70 (Add. 20903). Will. Barefot witness in London, late twelfth cent. (Cott. Ch. xyi, 40). Sabina uxor Osberti Piedefer and Will Piedefer (modern Pettifer), her son, occur in London early thirteenth cent. (Add. Ch. 7592). John Domesofte witness in same charter. Also in Harl. 50 B. 40, same date. Stephen Homo Regis occurs as a grantor of lands in co. Norf circa 1200 (Harl. Ch. 52 E. 21). Steffan Kingesman witness in Norfolk, circa 1200 (Harl. Ch. 52 E. 22).