Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

of battle, but we can have no conception of the mangling that the bodies of horse and rider underwent, the inevitable result of the earlier manner of warfare. Death is mercifully quick now upon the battle-field. We have still three or four professional surnames that remind us of this. We have still our 'Jackmans,' or Jakemans,' as representatives of the former cavalry; so called from the 'jack' or coat of mail they wore. It is this latter article which has bequeathed to our youngsters of the nineteenth century their more peaceful and diminutive jacket. Thus mailed and horsed, they had to encounter the cruel onslaught of our 'Spearmans,' and 'Pikemans,' and 'Billmans,'names that themselves suggest how bloody would be the strife when hatchet blade, and sharp pike, and keen sword clashed together. To cover and shield the body, then, was the one thought of these early days of military tactics, and at the same time to give the fullest play to every limb and sinew. This was a work of a most careful nature, and no wonder it demanded the combined skill of several craftsmen. Such occupative sobriquets as 'Adam le Armerer' or 'Simon le Armurer' are now represented by the curter 'Aymer' or 'Armour.' In the 'Knight's Tale' it is said

There were also of Mattes division

Th' armerer, and the bowyer, and the smith,

That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith.

Our 'Frobishers,' 'Furbishers,' and 'Furbers,'once found as 'Richard le Fourbishour' or 'Alan le Fourbour,' scoured and prepared the habergeon, or jack just referred to, while 'Gilbert le Hauberger' or 'John le Haubergeour' was more immediately en-

SURNAMES OF OFFICE.

gaged in constructing it. Our present Authorized Version, I need hardly say, still retains the word. In 'Sire Thopas,' too, it is used where it is said

And next his schert an aketoun,

And over that an habergoun.

Our classical-looking 'Homers' are the naturally corrupted form of the once familiar 'le Heaumer,' he who fashioned the warrior's helmet.' Our 'Sworders,' imagine, forged him his trusty blade,2while our 'Sheathers ' furnished forth its slip. Our 'Platers 1 I would suggest as makers of his cuirass, while our 'Kissers ' — far less demonstrative than they look — are but relics of such a name as 'Richard le Kissere,' he who manufactured his cuishes or thigh armour, one of the most careful parts of the entire dress.3

1 The old Norman word was either 'healme' or ' heaume.' The more ordinary term for the former now is 'helmet.'Hall, writing of the Battle of Bosworth Field, after mentioning the fact of the armies coming in sight the one of the other, says: 'Lord, how hasteley the souldyoures buckled their healmes, how quickly the archers bent their bowes and frushed their feathers, how redely the bilmen shoke their billes and proved their staves.' (Hall, Richard III, fol. 32 b.)

2 It is thought by several writers that the 'Sworder' was one who performed feats of jugglery, the sword, after the fashion of the times, forming the most important feature in his art, his hairbreadth tricks being especially popular with the country people. It is quite possible this may be its real origin. The only early instances I find of the name are in the Parliamentary Writs and the Parliamentary Rolls, where are recorded respectively a 'John le Serdere' and a 'Henry Swerder.'

3 In Mr. Riley's interesting Memorials of London there is recorded not merely a 'Richard le Kissere,'but the occupation itself is clearly marked in the entry, 'Walter de Bedefont, kissere.' (P. xxii.) There need be no hesitation in accepting the statement that the 'kisser' was thus occupied. It is merely spelt according to the then pronunciation. 1n the Statutes of Arms it is said: 'And no son of a great lord, that is to say, of an earl or baron, shall have other armour than mufflers and