Please keep in mind:

Until the 17th Century, surnames were only common with aristocracy.
Commoners later adopted the practice to appear more sophisticated.
Titles, locations, parents, and physical descriptions gradually became surnames;
John of Argyle (John de Argyle), John the Tailor, John son of John, John who lives by the village Green, John the Tall man. Spelling was phonetic or spontaneous.
Some cultures use the family names in front of the given name.

Below are the derivations of selected family names.

With so many people coming to this country to avoid persecution or begin a new life, many changed their names to something completely different.

Scribes often recorded a name as they understood it. Translation into "foreign" languages may be literal (Schwartz becomes Black), phonetic, approximate (Houch becomes Hawk), abbreviated, or distorted into a more acceptable form.

Members of the same family, and individuals, used different names or spellings at different times. Rev. John Clarke used or dropped the "e" several different times in one document.

Official or religious names were often quite different from the name the person went by every day; "Mary Elizabeth" might be known as Mae, Liz, Beth, Betty or even Sissy.

And of course the patronymics; Thomas' son John might be; John ap Thomas, John Thomasson, John fitz Thomas, etc. But Thomas' daughter would not be Jane Thomasson. She would have been Jane Thomasdottor or Thomasdatter (son, sen, or, and er spellings were specific to a culture).

Example from Broken Arrow: Gustafson is a variation of Gustavsson, a Swedish patronymic name that comes from an Old Norse given name Gustaf or Gustav, which is composed of the elements Gaut ( Geatas in Old English) + staf = staff. Gaut (or Geatus ) is the tribe of Scandinavians to which Beowulf belonged, and the term used by the English to reference that race. The son of the man named Gustaf was called Gustavsson, Gustafsson, Gustafson. The Norwegians and Danes generally used and single -s and an -en rather than the -sson of the Swedes, ie. Gustafsen...The Norman-French used the prefix "Fitz" to mean child of... Many other cultures had their own prefixes to indicate of the father('s name) , including the Scots ('Mac'Donald), Irish ('O'Brien), Dutch ('Van'Buren), the French ('de'Gaulle), Germans ('Von'berger) Spanish/Italian ('Di'Tello) and the Arab-speaking nations ('ibn'-Saud).

From: Surnames: What's in a Name? * Name Origins & Meanings * Broken Arrow Publishing.

Clan Ferguson Society of North America Home Page

Ferguson Library Home Page

Famous Scots - Adam Ferguson

Ferguson Home Page

Fuller: English Occupational name for the dresser of cloth. The fuller scoured and thickened cloth by trampling it in water.

Fuller Home Page

Geise is a form of the name Gilbert, an English, French (Norman), and Low German given name from Gislebert, which was a Norman given name derived from the Germanic elements gisil = hostage, noble youth + berht = bright, famous. St. Gilbert of Sempringham (1085-1189) was responsible for making it a popular name during the Middle Ages. Geiselbrecht is the German cognate form and Geise is a diminutive version. Other cognates, diminutives, and patronymic forms also exist.

Giesbrecht is a Low German (German lowlands) cognate of the English surname Gilbert, which was Gislebert in Germany. It is derived from the Germanic elements gisil = hostage, noble youth + berht = bright, famous -- and was an extremely popular name during the Middle Ages. Other Low German versions are Geiselbrecht, Gelbrecht, Gilbrecht, Gilbracht. Geoffrey Gilbert who died in 1349 was a representative in English Parliament in 1326, and it likely Giesbrecht as a cognate would have been in existance around that same time.

Green, when derived from an Irish context, is a translation of several Gaelic surnames originating from uaithne = green, and glas = grey, green, blue: O hUaithnigh was the surname that became Hooney, and glas became Glass. When an English surname, it is derived from the color as a Nickname or the man who liked to wear green, who played the "Green Man" in the May Day celebration, or who lived near the village green.

Verdon, The French form of the name is Verdu/Verdun. In Catalan it was called Verdu (accent over the -u). The name can also be a French form of the Italian name Verde, from the Italian word verde = green. It is presumed to have been a nickname for someone who always dressed in green. The diminutive form of the French version was often Verdon. Variations of Verde are Verdi, Virde, Virdi, Lo Verde. French forms of Verde are Vert, Vert, Ver, Levert. Other diminutive forms of the name (as in Little Green, Greenie, Greenette, etc.) are Verdelli, Verdini, Verdicchio, (all Italian); Verdel, Verdelet, Verdet, Verdon, Verdonnet (French).

Greene Family URLs

JOHN GREENE is known as John Greene of Quidnesset to distinguish him from another contemporary John Greene

"GREEN / GREENE FAMILY GENEALOGY"

My GREEN Family Ancestral Line; in JACK MOUNT'S HOME PLACE - (Green Genealogy)

Hamilton: is an English Place name, derived from its elements hamil =treeless hill + tun =settlement, for a literal translation of 'treeless hill town.' Hamilton was earlier described as Hameldon, Hambledon, and Hambleton.

DeHart is likely a spelling variation of DeHerdt, a Flemish cognate of the surname Hart, which is a nickname meaning "stag" from Old English heorot, which the medieval timers used to describe someone they thought resembled the male deer in some fashion.

Harts is a patronymic form of the English nickname Hart, which described the man who had some resemblance to the stag, according to his fanciful neighbors. What aspect of the male deer isn't clear -- or may have varied. When of Irish origin, Hart is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name O hAirt, meaning 'descendant of Art' whose name meant bear, or hero. Variations of the nickname are Heart, Hurt, Hort, and of the Irish patronymic name: Harte, O'Harte, and O'Hart. When of Jewish heredity, Hart is a variation of several similar-sounding surnames.

Hawkins is a patronymic form of the English surname Hawkin, from the given name Hawkin, which was a diminutive form of Hawk. Hawking and Hawken are variations.

Higgs is a variation of the English surname Hick, from the medieval given name Hicke, which was a pet form of the name Richard. The Norman pronunciation of the R gave the English trouble, so they wound up placing an H as substitution in the cases of several Norman-based given names (Hobb for Rob, etc.) Hitch, Ick, Icke are variations. Diminutive forms include Hicking, Hickin, Hicken, Hicklin, Higgett, Higgitt, Higgon, Hitching, Hitchin, Hitcheon, Hitchcock, Hedgecock, Hitchcott, Hedgecote, Hitchcoe, Hickock, Hiscock, Hiscoke, Hiscott, Hiscutt, Hiskitt. Hickes, Hicks, Higgs, Hutches, Ickes, Hickeson, Hixon, Hitchisson are patronymic forms.

Hutchin is an English and Scot patronymic name from the medieval given name Huchin, which is a diminutive form of Hugh. Hutcheon is a variation found mainly in Scotland -- other variations are Hutchen, Houchen, Howchin. Hutchins, Hutchings are primarily found in Devon and Somerset as patronymic forms; Scottish patronymic forms include Hutchison, Hutcherson, Hutcheson. Hutchinson is found all over, but is most common in Northern Ireland and Northern England.

James is an English patronymic name derived from Hebrew Yaakov > Latin Jacobus > Late Latin Jacmus -- and believed originating in the Hebrew term akev = heel. A biblical story contains the mention of a heel in the birth of Jacob. In English, Jacob and James are distinctly separate names, but throughout the rest of the world, the two are considered the same name in cognate form. Cognates of James are Jacqueme (French); Jayume, Jaulmes, Jaume, Jaumes (Provencal); Giacomo, Giamo, Giacomi, Iacomo, Iacomi, Como, Comi, Cumo (Italian); Jaime (Spanish); Juame (Catalan). There are dozens of diminutive forms of James. Patronymic forms include Jameson, Jamisom, Jamieson, Jemison, Jimpson, Jimson, Gemson, Gimson (English); McKeamish, McJames, (Scot); Di Giacomo (Italian); Jaimez (Spanish).

Janson is a variation of the English Patronymic name Jane, derived from the Middle English given name Jan, a variant of John. The feminine name Jane was not around during the period of time when surnames originated. Other variations are Jaine, Jayne, Jean, Jenne, Genn, Jaynes, Jeynes, Jannis, Janns, Jenness, and Jennison, among others.

Janzen is one of the many cognates of the Patronymic surname -- John -- which was from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'Jehovah has favoured me with a son.' It was adopted into Latin as Johannes and throughout the early Christian era in Europe (and still today!) enjoyed great popularity as a given name. In Wales the name is called Evan, or Ioan, in Scotland it is Ian or Iain, the Irish version is Sean, the German is Johann and Hans; in Dutch and Flemish it becomes Jan; in French it is Jean; Italian is Giovanni, Gianni, Vanni ; in Spain it is Juan; it Portugal John becomes Joao; the Greek form is Ioanni; Czechoslovakians have Jan, while Russians prefer Ivan.

In Poland it becomes Jansz or Iwan. The variation Janzen is found in several languages as a patronymic form of Jan (John), including Low German, Dutch, and Danish. Other German patronymic forms are Johansen, Jansen, Johanning, Jans, Jahns, Jantzen, Janz, Janning ; other Dutch forms are Jans, Johansen, Janse, Jansen, Janssen ; and other Danish versions are Johannesen, Johansen, Johnsen, Jensen, Joensen, and Jantzen.

John is one of the most popular of the medieval names, and took several forms even in medieval times. John derived from Hebrew Yochanan... Jahncke (Jähncke) is a diminutive form of the German (of Slavic origin) cognate of John, including Jann, Jahn (Low German). Other diminutive forms include Johnikin, Johnigan, Jonikin, Jonigan (English/Irish); Jeannet, Jeanet, Joannet, Jouandet, Jeandet, Jantet, Jentet, Jouanneton, Jeannin, Jouannin, Jouanny, Jany, Janny, Jeandin, Jentin, Jeannenet, Jeannot, Jouanot, Jeandon, Janton, Jenton, Jeannel, Jeandel, Jantel, Jeanneau, Jeandeau, Jenteau, Jeannequin, Jannequin, Johanchon, (French); Giovannelli, Gianelli, Giovannilli, Gianiello, Gianilli, Cianelli, Iannelli, Ianello, Ianniello, Iannilli, Zannelli, Zuanelli, Zuenilli, Vannelli, Nanelli, Giovannetti, Ninotti, Zanetello, Zanettini, Nannini, Notti, Noto (Italian); Jähnel, Jähne, Jäne, Jähndel, Jähnel (German); Juanico (Spain); Johnke, Jönke, Jenne, Jennemann (Low German); Jansema (Frisian); Jähncke, Jäncke, Jänke, Jahnisch, Janisch, Jansch, Jannuscheck, Janoschek, Jenicke, Jentzsch, Jentsch, Genicke, Genike, Gentzsch, Gentsch, Wahnncke, Wanka, Wanjek, Wandtke, Nuschke, Nuscha (German of Slav origin)

Johnson: English Patronymic Name:One of the earliest first names was John (gift of God), which in the 17th century replaced William as the most popular name for a male. As a patronymic name, Johnson from England and Scandinavia became the most widely found name in America, and its Welsh version Jones the fifth-most prolific.

Lindsey is a spelling variation of Lindsay, an English and Scottish Place name from Lindsey in Lincolnshire, first found in the form Lindissi, a derivative of the British name Lincoln. The Old English element eg =island was added since the area was virtually cut off from the surrounding fenland. Lincey and Linsey are other variations.

Marshall: originally cared for the lord's horses, and acted as an early vet and farrier. Later on, the term evolved to describe an official in a noble's household in charge of the military affairs. It's an English Occupational name, either way.

Ready/Reed: Scottish Patronymic Name...of the Scotsman Reedie in Angus. Also, in some cases, a Descriptive English name, as in -- always ready. Sometimes, meaning the descendent of Little Read (red), the nickname for a redhead, or the pet form of Redmond "counsel, protection." Requested by: Kathleen Cocuzzo.

Redman is polygenetic, derived independantly from surnames Read and Roth. When arriving from the former it originates from the Old English read = red and designated the man with the red hair or ruddy complexion. The softening of the -E- sound in OE read to modern English red is not well-explained. Variations of Read are Reade, Reed, Redd, Reid, Redman, Readman, Ride, Ryde, and Ryder. Roth is the German Nickname and Jewish Assumed Ornamental Name for the person with red hair, derived from German rot = red. Variants are Rothe, Rother, and the Jewish variations are Roter, Roiter, Royter, among others.

Reid/Reed: Scottish Patronymic Name...English nickname from OE read (red) for red hair or complexion. (Gaelic Ruadhan, which was a diminutive form of ruadh = red. Anglicized versions from Gaelic that include O'Ruane, O'Rowane, Roan, Rowan, O'Roan, Rouane, Roane, Rewan, Ryoan, Raun, Roon.)

Sweet: Swett is a variation of Sweet, an English Nickname for a popular person, derived from Old English swete. Given names Swet(a) -- masculine, and Swete -- feminine, were derived from this word, and survived into the early Middle Ages, and may be the source of the surname. Swett isn't the only variant: Swetman, Sweetman, Sweatman, and Swatman are among the English varieties. There are cognative versions many countries including Sussman (German), DeZoete (Flemish), and Susser (Jewish).

Bob Sweet Main Page - SWEETs in New Brunswick

Ballentine Surnames Index Page

Ballentine Family 

Ballentine Branches Newsletter

Ballentine-Huxford Family History

BYRD/BIRD,DUGGER Family Home Page

Hacker's Creek HCPD TOP PAGE 

Bath Co, VA, Homepage

BIRD and BURD of New Jersey

There are many BYRD / BIRD / BORT families in the same area of Virginia/West Virginia. Some English, some Swiss or "German." The spellings were often interchangeable or phonetic. Some are related by blood and intermarriage. Many were just neighbors sharing the same names. The Byrd's, the McClintic's, and the Lee's (some of the earliest settler's of Virginia) are all closely related and intermarried with the Capito's and Hart's.

My McClintock and Latta Homepage!

Associated BYRD surnames: CARPENTER, CULPEPER, DEAN, HAMILTON, HORSMANDAN, KINKEAD, LEE, MAYSE, MCCLINTOC, MONTGOMERY, WILLIAMS

Capito/Eckert families

The Capitos came from Alsace to Berlin, Prussia and then to Franklin, Rockingham County, VA in about 1775.

The Ehrhart / Erhart / Ehrhardt / Airheart Bunch very slow loading

Eckert search 's Home Page

Sandra Duncan's purplevw's Home Page, a cousin through the CAPITO / HART line.

Associated CAPITO surnames: LORIMER, STEINBECK, ECKERT, KIMBERLY, MCELHOSE, MCCLEARY, and TOMLINSON. BYRD, CRAVENS, HART, HAMILTON, HERDERBERG, MEALS, STEINBECK, WEAVER, WHEATON, VANCE

Surnames fall into the following general family groups:

2) MORGAN, LINDSEY, REANBECK, Baugher (Bracher), GEISE (Geiser), Turveey (Thoene), Volke from Olean, NY; Titusville & Warren, PA.

3) HAWK, STEINBECK (Stenbock, Steinbach), CAPITO (Capiteau), BALLENTINE (Ballantine), JOHN (Johns, Jahn), BOWSER (Bauser, Bausser), KIMBERLY, Cowell, Crisman (Crissman/Christman), Stevens, ECKERT (Eckert, Eckhart), Herderberg, Tomlinson.

4) 1600-1800s: BYRD (Bird, Bort, Burd, Birt, etc.), HART, HAMILTON, Pemanpieh, Bougainvillea, Lee, Lorimier, McClintic, Scudder, Withers, Dean, Hull, Cravens, Tavenner, Swisher (Schweitzer), Atherton.

RootsWeb Lists -- Interactive Search

U.S. Surname Distribution

Federal Population Censuses: 1790-1890

The USGenWeb Project

Other Related Family Sites:

GENDEX -- Site Information: yeschwartz

Tackett Family Assn. Genealogy Home Page

Descendants of RICHARD DE TILSTON

On the Trail of Our Ancestors (Donna Speer Ristenbatt Genealogy)

Obadiah Holmes

Abbotsford

Tallman Family - Cover Page

barrette family

Related Surnames Index

Notable Women Ancestors

Bible Family Genealogy Page

The surname BIBLE was originally spelled in Germany as BIEBEL. Most of the BIBLE descendants can trace their lineage back to a HANS ADAM BIEBEL, who was born in Goersdorf, Alsace (which was at one time part of the German Palatinate). He arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on November 30, 1750 aboard the ship Sandwich. After 1756, but before 1773 HANS ADAM moved his family to the Rockingham County area of Virginia. From there this family has migrated across the United States.

Kelly Family Genealogy

Surnames.com is a genealogy website to assist you in preserving your family history, stories and genealogy.

Harriet Martineau

Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Pages: The Ashley and Hatmaker and Maystead Family Home Page

VINCE DELGADO

Jacobus Volkertson, AKA

Raven Genealogy & Family History Home Page

"Keelan Clan Homepage"

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