Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

This was no doubt the popular pronunciation of the time, except that it was usually abbreviated into ' Sander,' or 'Saunder.' Thus, in 'Cocke Lorells Bote,'it is said

Here is Saunder Sadeler, of Frog-street Corner,

With Jelyan Joly at sign of the Bokeler.

Hence it is we find such entries as 'Thomas fil. Saundre,' 'John Alisaundre,' 'Edward Saundercock,'or ' Sandres Ewart,' and hence again such surnames as 'Sandercock,' 'Sanderson,' 'Saunderson,' 'Sanders,' and 'Saunders.' 'Timothy,' saving in 'Timms,' 'Timms,'Timson,' and 'Timcock,' seems to have been over-looked, and yet Glutton in 'Piers Plowman' is followed into the tavern by

Wat the warner, and his wife both,

Tymme the tinker, and twain of his 'prentices.

But, however unfortunate Paul's spiritual son may have been, the same cannot be said of Clement, his fellow-labourer. Raised to high distinction as the title of one of the greatest of the early fathers, a popular name among the Popes (for no less than fourteen were found to bear the sobriquet), Clement could not fail to meet with honour. Its usual forms were 'Clement,' 'Clemence,' and 'Clemency.' Diminutives were found also in 'Clem' and 'Clim.'Of the noted North English archer it is said, in one of the Robin Hood ballads

And Clim of the Clough hath plenty enough,
If he but a penny can spare;

and in the old song of the 'Green-gown' a rhyme is easily secured by the conjunction of such names as

Clem, Joan, and Isabel,

Sue, Alice, and bonny Nell.

PATRONYMIC SURNAMES.

The chief surnames whose paternity is traceable to 'Clement ' are 'Clements,' 'Clementson,' 'Clemms,' 'Clemson,' and 'Clempson.' Archangelic names are found in our 'Gabbs,' 'Gabbots,' and 'Gabcocks,' from ' Gabriel; ' and in our 'Michaelson,' 'Mitchels,' and 'Mitchelsons,' from 'Michael.'

But let us somewhat more closely analyse these names. As I have said before, from the most casual survey one thing is evident, they represent the Church's Calendar rather than the Church's Bible. They are the extract of sacred legends rather than of Holy Writ. There is not a single name to betray any internal acquaintance with the Scriptures. Nor could there well be. An English Bible was unknown, and had there been one to consult, the reading powers of the nation were too limited for it to have been much used. Many of the clergy themselves could not read. Thus the Bible, so far as extends beyond the leading incidents it contains, was a sealed book. This had its effect upon our nomenclature. We cannot find a single trace of acquaintance with its rarer histories. What a wide change in this respect did Wicklyffe and the Reformation effect ! With an English Bible in their hand, with the clearing away of the mists of ignorance and superstition, with the destruction of all forces that could obstruct the spread of knowledge, all was altered. The Bible, posted up in every church, might be read of all — and all who could probably did read it. This at once had its effect upon our nomenclature. Names familiar enough in our own day to those ordinarily conversant with the Scriptures, but till then absolutely unknown, were brought forth from their hiding-places and made subservient to the new

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