Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

reminded that there was a time when 'Dame,' from dominus and domina alike, was applied to either sex. One or two exclamations of less objectionable import are also to be met with. 'William Godthanke'(A.) seems but a reversal of our 'Thank God,' while Ralph Godisped 1 (A.), fossilised in our 'Goodspeeds,'may represent 'God-speed-thee.' 1 'Richard Fare-wel' (A.), 'Simon Welfare' (A.), 'John Welcome'(Z.Z.),'William Adieu' (M.), would possess affixes readily given for their kindly and oft utterance. Our 'Rummelows,' ''Rummileys,' and 'Rumbelows,'without dispute, represent but the old well-known cry of 'Rombylow' or 'Rummylow,' the sailor's 'Heave-ho' of later days. In the 'Squire of Low Degree' it is said

Your mariners shall synge arow,

Hey how, and rumbylow.

The ancestor of those who bear the name was doubt-less a sailor at some period of his career.2

(d) Street-cries. — The calls of hawkers could not of course escape the good-humoured raillery of our forefathers. We find 'Robert Freshfissh'(X.) to have been a fishmonger, and 'John Freshfisch' is set down in the Rolls of Parliament. About the same time 'Margaret Fressheharyng' dwelt in the Metropolis. 'Agnes Godefouele ' (A.) and 'Basilia Godfowele' (A.) were manifestly poultry-women, for even the most respectable occupations were then, as I have already shown, itinerant. But perhaps the most curious thing of all is to notice the price-calls that have

1 'Good-speed' may belong to the same class as Swift, Golightly, Lightfoot, Roefoot, etc. — V. p. 388.

2 The Constable of Nottingham Castle in 369 was one StephenRummelowe, or Rumbilowe, for both forms are to be found.

'NICKNAMES.'

found themselves inscribed in our registers. The larger sums will have a different origin, but I place them here for convenience sake. The Writs of Parliament give us a 'Robert Peny;' the 'Wills and Inventories' (Surt. Soc.), a 'Thomas Fourpeni;' the Hundred Rolls, a 'John Fivepeni;' the 'Cal. Rot. Originalium,' a 'Thomas Sexpenne;' the 'York-shire Wills and Inventories' (Surt. Soc.), a 'John Ninepennies; ' and the Hundred' Rolls, a 'Fulco Twelpenes.'1'James Fyppound' (Fivepound) is mentioned in 'Materials for History of Henry VII.' So early as 1342 we find 'John Twenti-mark ' to have been Rector of Risingham (Norfolk, 1, 64); while William Hunderpound' was Mayor of Lynn Regis in 1417 (do. viii. 532). This latter may be a translation of a Norman sobriquet, for 'Grace Centlivre' and 'Joseph Centlivre' are set down in a Surrey register of the same date. ('Hist. and Ant. Survey,' Index.) In both cases, I doubt not, the nickname was acquired from the peculiarity of the source whence the income was derived. 'Centlivre' existed in the eighteenth century at least, for it was Mrs. Centlivre who wrote the 'Platonic Lady,' which was issued in 1707. 'Thomas Thousandpound,' the last of this class, ap-pears in the 'Wardrobe Accounts'(Edward I.), and concludes a list as strange as the most ardent 'lover of the curious' could desire.2

1 'Fulco Twelvepence' was perhaps related to 'Robert Shillyng,' found in the 'Patent Rolls' (State Paper Office).

2 A most anachronistic name is met with in the 'Calend. Inquis. Post Mortem,' 30 Henry VI., in the entry 'Robert Banknott.'A ' knot' was a small local prominence. On the bank or side of this the nominee doubtless dwelt.