Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

soon after coming into possession removed them into Herefordshire, and the Southern Marches of the Principality. Doubtless the object of both was that of setting up a barrier against hostile encroachments on the part of the Scotch and Welsh; but the result was the spread of a peaceful and useful industry in two widely separated districts. Two other settlements, in Norfolk and Suffolk, one by Henry I., the other under the direction of Edward III., made East Anglia for centuries the Yorkshire of England. When we talk so familiarly of worsted,'or 'lindsey-wolsey,' or I kerseymere; or bocking,'we are but insensibly upholding a reputation which centuries ago the several villages that went by these names had obtained through Flemish aid. Thus was it then that at length our country was enabled to produce a cloth which could afford a comparison with that of the Flemish cities themselves. Of this incoming many surnames of this date remind us, the most importantof which I have already mentioned in my chapter upon local names, 'Fleming,' as a general name for all these settlers, being the commonest.

When, however, we turn to the occupations them-selves connected with the industry, we cannot but be struck by the wonderful impress it has made upon our nomenclature. The child's ancient rhyme

Black sheep, black sheep,
Have you any wool?

Yes, sir; yes, sir;
Three bags full

carries us to the first stage, and to the first dealer.In our 'Woolers' and 'Woolmans,' in our obsolete

SURNAMES OF OCCUPATION (TOWN).

Woolmongers' and 'Woolbuyers,'1 in our 'Packers' 2 and once flourishing 'Woolpackers,' and in our' Lanyers' and 'Laners,' relics of the old and more Norman'Bartholomew le Laner' or 'John le Lanier,' we can see once more the train of laden mules bearing their fleecy treasure to the larger towns or distant coast. No wonder that Piers Plowman and others should make familiar mention of the 'pack-needle,' when we reflect upon the enormous number of sacks that wouldbe in constant use for this purpose; and no wonder 'Adam le Sakkere' (i.e. 'Sacker'), and 'Henry le Canevaser' are to be met with as busied in their provision a Another proof of the engrossing importance of this one English article of commerce is left us in our ' Staplers.'The 'stapleware' of a town was, and is still, that which is the chief commodity dealt in by that particular market. A 'stapler,' however, has for centuries been a generally accepted title for a wool-

1

Here is Glyed Wolby of Gylforde squyere,

Andrew of Habyngedon, apell byer.
(Cocke Lorelle's Bote.)

I am afraid the reader will scarcely recognise 'Wool-buyer' in 'Wolby,' but I doubt not such was the trader referred to. 'Geoffrey le Wolle-byer' occurs in the Parliamentary Writs.

2 One of Edward III.'s statutes says: 'That a certain number of portours, pakkers, gwynders (winders), and other laborers of wools and all other merchandizes, be sufficiently ordained for the place where the staple is., (Stat. of Realm, vol. i. P. 341.)

3 It is not impossible that this species of cloth was in use by the lower classes for articles of apparel. Chaucer, in his Romance, refers to such a habit when he says:

'She ne had on but a straite old sacke,

And many a cloute on it there stacke,
This was her cote, and her mantele.'