Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

surnominal, and now 'Jordan,' '' Jordanson,' 'Jordson,'Jurdan,' 'Judd,' and 'Judson '2 are with us to remind us of this peculiar and interesting epoch.3We have a remarkable confirmation of what I am asserting in thefact of the Baptist's other name of 'Elias' springing into a sudden notoriety at this time. If 'John' became thus so popular, it was inevitable 'Elias'should be the same; and so it was. Indeed, there was a time when it bid fair to be one of the most familiar sobriquets in England. For it was not merely the second Elias and the Jordan that had this effect. As the armies lay before Acre, remembrance of Elijahand the prophet of Carmel must have oft recurred to their minds. Out of many forms to be found in every early roll, those of 'Ellis,' ' Elys,' 'Elice,' 'Ellice,'

Elyas,' 'Helyas,' and the diminutive 'Eliot' or 'Elliot,' seem to have been the most familiar. Numberless are the surnames sprung from it. It is thus we get our 'Ellises' and 'Ellices,' our 'Ellsons ' and 'Ellisons,' our 'Elkin's' and 'Elkinsons,' our

1 Thomas Jordanson and Margery Jordanson occur in 'Three Lancashire Documents' (Cheth. Soc.).

2 'Jud,' now the pet form of George, was formerly that of Jordan. In Gower's lines, already quoted, it is said

'Hudde' ferit, quem 'Judde' terit,

This reminds us of Aron Judde in the Hundred Rolls.

3 Dean Stanley seems to have the impression that this custom was confined to the pilgrims of Italy and Spain. In his Sinai and Palestine, page 333, he says: 'The name of the river has in Italy and Spain, by a natural association, been turned into a common Christian name for children at the hour of baptism, which served to connect them with it.' Judging by existing traces merely, I doubt whether the practice was quite so familiar in those countries as our own.

PATRONYMIC SURNAMES.

'Elcocks' and 'Ellcocks,' and our 'Ellicots,'1 'Elliots,' and 'Elliotsons.' In the north 'Alis' seems to have gained the supremacy. Thus it is we have our many 'Allisons' or 'Alisons,'2 'Allkins' or 'Alkins,' 'Allcocks' or 'Alcocks,' and 'Allots.' 'Alecot,' as a synonym with 'Elicot,' I do not find to be at present existing, but as a Christian name it occurs at the same period with the above.3 'Fitz-ellis,' as the more aristocratic Norman form, is not

'Ellicot seems to be a sort of feminine from Elisota. 'Item do et lego Elisota; domicellae meae: 40s.'(Will of William de Aldeburgh, 1391. Test. Ebor. vol. i. p. 151.) 'Item, lego Elisotae, uxori Ricardi Bustard unam vaccam et ios.'(Will of Patrick de Barton, 1391. Test. Ebor. vol. i. p. 155.)

2 We cannot but believe, however, that in many instances these two are but the offspring of 'Alice,'at this period one of the most popular of female names. Nor must we forget that Alison was itself a personal name, this being the Norman-French pet form of Alice, after the fashion of Marion, Louison, Beaton, etc. We are all acquainted with the 'Alison' of the 'Canterbury Tales'

'This Alison answered: Who is there

That knocketh so ? I warrant him a thefe.'

We meet with it again in an old Yorkshire will: 'Item, to Symkyn, and Watkyn and Alison Meek, servandes of John of Bolton, to ilk on of yaim (them) 26s. 8d.'(Test. Ebor., vol. iii p. 21. Surtees. Soc.) This name is found in our more formal registers in such an entry as 'Alison Gelyot.'(Parl. Rolls.) With regard to 'Alis' and ' Elis,'and 'Alison' and 'Elison,'recorded in the text, I may remind the reader thatA and E were all but convertible letters with the Normans. One of their favourite female names, that of 'Aveline,'is found equally often as 'Eveline,' and in the form of 'Evelyn' it came down to the distinguishedwriter of the seventeenth century. 'Arnold' and 'Ernold,' 'Americ' and 'Emeric,' 'Amelia' and 'Emilia,' 'Anota and Enota,'and 'Arne-lot' and 'Emelot' are but other instances in point.

3 I am confirmed in my view by finding 'Eliot' registered as 'Alyott.' 'Alyott de Symondston held half an oxgang of land, xiid.' (De Lacy Inquisition (1311) Cheth. Soc.)