Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

with also in our' Thomms,' 'Thorns,'and 'Toms.'Withso many representatives in the list of rational beings, we need not be surprised to find the lower order of creation under obligations to this title. It was with the death of St. Thomas of Canterbury, and the consequent popularity of his name, arose so many sobriquets of which the same name became a component part. The cat became a ' tom-cat,' a simple-natured man a ' tom-coney,' a silly fellow a ' tom-noddy' or 'tom-fool,' a romping girl a 'tom-boy,' and a wren a ' tom-tit.' Andrew has made little impression on English nomenclature, but in Scotland he is universal,1for not only is St. Andrew the patron saint, but some of his relics are said to have been brought thitherin the 4th century. 'Andrew,' 'Andrews,' and 'Anderson' are its surnames, but nearly all belong to the north side of the Tweed. 'James,' too, has failed to be popular in England, but 'John' in the shape of 'Jack' has robbed him, as we have seen, of nearly all his property. Such entries as 'James le Queynt,'or 'Ralph Jamson,' or 'William Gimmison,' were occasionally registered, and in the form of 'James'' Jameson' 'Jimson' and 'Jimpson' they still exist.2' Jamieson' is Scotch. Of the Gospel writers we have already noticed 'Matthew' and 'John.' In 'Mark' we see the progenitor not merely of our 'Marks' and

register of that period. It is found as 'Thomasing' in Worksworth Ch. (Derbyshire): 'Thomasing, filia William Sympson; buried Jan. 31, 1640.'

1 Thus Skelton, in Why come ye nat to Courte ? says:

'Twit, Andrewe, twit, Scot,

Ge hame, ge scour thy pot.'

2 An instance of the diminutive is found in 'Thomas Jemmitt,'recorded in Clutterbuck's Hertford, Index, vol. i.

PATRONYMIC SURNAMES.

the Latinized 'Marcus,'but of 'Marcock,' 'Markin,' and 'Marson' also. The mention of 'Luke ' recalls such names as 'Luckins,' 'Luckock,' 'Lucock,' or 'Locock,' 'Luckett,' and perchance 'Lockett.' It is in the form of 'Lucus,' however, that he is generally known. The author of 'Piers Plowman ' speaks of Marc,' 'Mathew,' 'Johan,' and 'Lucas.'

Of the later period of New Testament history, few names were better represented than 'Nicholas,' but it was 'St. Nicholas' of the fourth century who chiefly gave it its position. Owing to several well-known legends that connected themselves with this famous Archbishop of Myra, he became the patron saint of boys, sailors, parish clerks, and even thieves. Two of the most favoured curtailments of this name were 'Nicol' and 'Nick.' From the one we have derived our'Nicholls' and 'Nicholsons;' from the other our

Nixs,' 'Nicks,' 'Nixons,' 'Nicksons,' and 'Nickersons.'Judging from our surnames, 'Nick' was the more favoured term. In the old song 'Joan to the May-pole,' it is said:

Nan, Noll, Kate, Moll,
Brave lasses have lads to attend 'em;
Hodge, Nick, Tom, Dick,
Brave country dancers, who can amend 'em ?

But the most popular form of all was that of 'Cole'' or 'Colin,' which came to us through the Nor-mans. ' Colin' is one more instance of the diminutive

1 Thus, in Why come ye nat to Courte? Skelton introduces such fictitious characters as

Havell, and Harvy Hafter,

Jack Travel], and Cole Crafter.'