Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

I saw a shole of shepherds out go,

Before them yode a lusty tabrere,

That to the merry hornpipe plaid, Whereto they danced.

Such entries as 'Arnold le Pyper,'or 'Robert le Pipere,' or 'William le Tabourer,' or 'John le Taburer,' are of frequent occurrence in mediaeval rolls.

The pipe, the tabor, and the trembling crowd,

is the order of the gentle author of the 'Faerie Queen;'so having disposed of the two former, the 'Crowder with his six-stringed viol duly engages our attention next, though he ought more correctly to have been yoked with the 'Fiddler.' 'Crouth' was but another form of the same word. An old Saxon Psalter thus renders Psalm cl. 4

Loves him in crouth and timpane,

Loves him in stringes and organe.

Wicklyffe, too, translates Luke xv. 25 as follows

'But his eldre sone was in the feeld, and whaune he cam and neighede to the hous he herde a symfonye and a crowde. ' 'Like our 'Harpers' and more northern 'Bairds,' the 'Crowder' or 'Crowther'(for as surnames both forms exist) was oftentimes blind, and thus gained the ear of an audience, if not appreciative, at least sympathetic. Seldom, indeed, did he leave cottage, or hall festival, or fair, without a guerdon, and a kind word to boot; for while customs fade out and die, pity, thank God, knows neither change of season nor chance of time. Mediaeval forms

1 Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy, says: 'Let them fly feast, sing, and dance, have their poppet-playes, hobby-horses, tabers, crouds, bag-pipes,' &c. (P. 276.)

SURNAMES OF OCCUPATION (COUNTRY).

of the above may be found in 'Richard le Cruder' or 'Thomas le Crowder.' But we have yet several more surnames to mention which prove the once great popularity of this latter class of instrument. 'German le Lutrere' and 'John le Leuter' have left no descendants, I think.' The more common term was lutanist, but of this I have found no instance. While the lute had generally ten strings, and was struck by the hand, the viele or viol had six, was of stronger make, and was played with a bow. It seems to have been a favourite instrument in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, for such registrations as 'Benedict le Viler,' 'Nicholas le Vylour,' 'Wyot le Vilur,' or 'Jacob le Vielur,' occur with tolerable frequency at that period. Another Norman-introduced word was that of ' gigue,'or ' gig.' This, however, seems to have differed from the others in being of the very roughest manufacture, and made specially for professional dancers. These 'giguers' were extremely popular at rural festivals of any kind. At one and the same instant they would be tripping it round on the ' light fantastic toe,' singing some not too select verses, accompanying themselves on their sturdy instrument, and yet would have a hand to spare for a trifle if you should offer it. If you doubted it you had but to try them. It is thus we have got our 'jig,' our 'gigot,' or leg of mutton, too, being so called from its resemblance thereto. The surnominal form is found in such entries as 'Walter le Gigur,' or 'Alexander le Gygur,'

1 The names of 'William Elyott, luter,' and 'William Spenser, harpour,' OUT in 1432 in an old York will. (Test. Eboracensia, voL ii. P. 21, Surtees Soc.) 'Haunce (Hans) the luter' and 'Philip the luter' are frequently mentioned in Privy Expenses (Princess Mary).