Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

In several of our early records of names we find 'Peter le Folle,' 'Alexander le Fol,' and 'Johannes Stultus' appearing in apparently honest and decent company. The old fool or jester was an important entity in the retinue of the medieval noble. He could at least say, if he might not do, what he liked, and I am afraid the more ribald his buffoonery the greater claim he possessed to be an adept in his profession in the eyes of those who heard him. His dress was always in character with his duties, being as uncouth as fashion reversed could make it. In his hand he bore a mock rod of state, his head was surmounted by a huge cap peaked at the summit and surrounded with little jingling bells, his dress was in colour as conflicting as possible, and the tout ensemble I need not dwell upon. We still talk of a ' foolscap,'and even our paper has preserved the term from the fact that one of the earliest watermarks we have was that of a fool's cap with bells. 'Fools,' I need not say, wherever else to be met with, are now obsolete so far as our directories are concerned.

I have just mentioned the henchman. This at once carries us without the baronial walls, and in whatever scene we are wont to regard the early suzeraine as engaging, it is remarkable how fully marked is our nomenclature with its surroundings. Several useful servitorships, however, claim our first attention. In such days as these, when the telegraph wire was

more commented upon than ' 'Henchmen,' 'or ' 'Henxmen."Without entering into the controversy, it may be sufficient to state that in the reign of Henry VIII. it meant pages of honour. They were the sons of gentlemen, and in public processions always walked near the monarch's horse.' (Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII, p. 327.)

SURNAMES OF OFFICE.

an undreamt-of mystery, and highways traversed by steam-engines would have been looked upon as some-thing supernatural indeed, we can readily understand the importance of the official 'Roger le Messager,' or 'John le Messager,' nor need we be surprised by the frequency with which he is met. In the ' Man of Lawes Tale' it is said--

This messager to don his avantage

Unto the Kinges mother rideth swift.

Though generally found as 'Messinger' or 'Massinger,'the truer and more ancient form is not wholly obsolete.' But if there were no telegraphs, neither was there any regular system of postage. The name of ' Ely le Breviter' or 'Peter le Brevitour ' seems to remind us of this. I do not doubt myself the ' breviter' was kept by his lord for the writing or conveyance of letters or brevets.2 Piers Plowman uses the word where, of the Pardoner's preaching, it is said

Lewed men loved it wel,

And liked his wordes,

Comen up knelynge

To kissen his bulles.

He bouched them with his brevet

And blered their eighen.'

1 Words terminating in this 'ager'seem invariably to have been changed in the manner seen above. Thus, besides 'Massinger' and Pottinger,' we have 'Arminger' from the old 'Armiger,' 'Firminger' from the once not unfamiliar 'Furmager,'or 'Clavinger' from 'Claviger.'

2 This is confirmed by the Promp. Par. ' Brevetowre: brevigerulus.'

3 Perhaps I ought to have placed 'le Breviter' in the dining-hall, as
but another name for the steward or steward's lieutenant. It was one
among other duties of this officer to set down not merely the courses as
they came in, but what and how much was placed before each, so that
all might tally with the sum allowed for culinary expenses. This is