© Copyright 1999-2011 .. B. Tabor. All Rights Reserved

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Index A-H | Index I-Q

R

RACKLER (English). "Mound, gulley + wood clearing".

RADLIFF (English). Form of Radcliff.

RAE (English). Scottish form of Roe.

RAFFERTY (English).

RALEIGH (English). "Red clearing"; name of place in England.

RALF(E) (English). "Advice wolf" (Germanic).

RAMSEY (English). "Wild-garlic island," places in England.

RAND (English). Diminuitive of "Randolph"; or, "border, untilled land on a river-bank"; name of places in England.

RANDOLPH (English). "Shield wolf" (Germanic).

RANKIN (English). Diminuitive of "Randolph".

RASBURY (English). Form of Raspberry.

RASPBERRY (English). "Red land with brushwood" (no connection with the fruit), place in England.

RATCLIFF (English). "Red cliff".

RAY (English). "King," nickname based on appearance, being 'king' of a festivity, or service in the royal household (Old French); or, "female deer".

RAYMENT (English). "Might/counsel protector".

RAYNARD (French). "fox"; or (Germanic), "powerful or courageous".

REA (English). "Someone who lived along the river(s) Rea".

READING (English). ). "Clearing (ridding of trees)", or "folk of Red".

REDGRAVE (English). "Reedy ditch"; name of place in England.

REED (English). "Red faced/haired".

REESE (English). "Son of Rhys".

REEVE (English). "Chief magistrate, bailiff".

REGAN (English). ). For O Regan - "descendant of little king" (Irish).

REID (English). "Red faced/haired" or "reed-bed" or "roe headland".

REVERE (English). "At the slope"; or, "reaver, pirate"; or from French surname de Revoire (view).

REYES (Spanish). "One who plays the part of a king in a pageant" or "someone who works in the king's house" (Spanish).

REYNOLD (English). "Power power" (Germanic).

REYNOLDS (English). "Son of Renold".

R(H)INEHAR(D)T (German). "Mighty and powerful one" or "counsel hard" (Germanic).

RHODE (English). "Clearings".

RICE (English). "Ardour" (Welsh).

RICHARD (English). "Powerful brave" (Germanic).

RICHMOND (English). "Splendid hill" (Old French); name of places in England.

RIGBY (English). "Ridge farm" (Old Norse).

RITTER (German). "Knight" (German).

ROACH (English). "Rock".

ROBBINS (English). "Son of (diminuitive) Robert".

ROBERT (S) (English). "Fame bright" (Germanic).

ROBISON (English). "Son of Robert".

ROCHESTER (English). "Roof of Roman site," place in England.

RODDIN (English). "Barrel or copper maker".

ROE (English). "Roe (deer)," for speed, shyness, hunting.

ROEBUCK (English). "Roe buck," for resemblance to the animal.

ROGER (English). "Fame spear" (Germanic).

ROLFE (English). "Fame wolf" (Germanic).

ROLLIN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Rothlain".

ROLLINGS (English). "Renown + wolf" (Norman).

ROOKE (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Rourke".

ROSE (English). From either "cape" (Scots Gaelic), "wood" (Irish and Scots Gaelic) or "moor" (Cornish and Welsh). Or from Germanic feminine name meaning "fame kind".

ROUSER (German). "Rush, intoxication" (Germanic).

ROWAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Ruidhain".

ROWLAND (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Rothlain".

ROWLEY (English). "Rough wood/clearing," places in England.

RUBY (French). From Rubinus (late Latin), "ruby (from a jeweller's sign)".

RUMPF (German). "Maker/seller/user of the sieves used in gristmills" (Germanic).

RUSHING (English). "Rush bed or rushes".

RUSSELL (English). "Red (hair/face)" (Old French).

RUTLEDGE (English). "Red ledge".

RYAN (English).

RYDER (English). "Rider, knight, cavalryman"; or, "man at the ride (clearing)"

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SALINGER (English). "Saint Leger," place in England.

SALTER (English). "Dealer in salt".

SANDERSON (English). "Son of Alexander (=defender of men)".

SANDFORD (English). "Sandy ford," places in England.

SANDS (English). "Sands" (locality), places in England.

SAUL (English). "Asked for" (Hebrew).

SAVAGE (English). "Wild savage" (Old French).

SAWYER (English). "One who saws".

SAXON (English). "Saxon (race of people of the short sword)".

SAYER (English). "Assayer of metals" or "food taster".

SCARLET (English). "Scarlet," probably for favourite clothing, or for clothing made or sold.

SCHELL (German). "Roan horse/grey horse" (German).

SCHMIDT (German). "Smith" (Germanic).

SCHMUTZ (German). or "Dirt, mud" (German).

SCHOEN (German). From Sconi (Germanic), "handsome one".

SCHOEN (German). "Beautiful, handsome" (Germanic).

SCHOEN (German). "Beautiful" (German).

SCHOFIELD (English). "Field with a hut".

SCHOLES (German). "Farmer or clodhopper or soil" (Germanic).

SCHRIVER (German, Dutch). "Scribe" (Germanic).

SCHUH (German). "Shoe," for a shoemaker.

SCHULTZ (German). From Scultheizzo (Germanic), "village mayor" of "Head of a village"

SCHULTZ (German) (Germanic).

SCHWARTZBACH (German). "Black brook".

SCOTT (English). "From over the border or tattooed".

SCOTT (English). Nationality name for Scots.

SEARL(E) (English). "Armour" (Germanic).

SEBASTIAN (English). "Man from Sebastia (=venerable)" (Greek); Saint Sebastian.

SELBEY (English). "Willow farm" (Old Norse), places in England.

SELF (English). "Sea wolf," from Viking settlements in northeast England.(Germanic).

SEXTON (English). "Sacristan".

SHARP(E) (English). "Sharp, keen, smart".

SHARROCK (English). "Shore/short rock," place in England.

"Head of a village or magistrate"SHAW (English). "Thicket, small wood".

SHAWHAN (English). Form of Sharman.

SHEA (English).

SHEFFIELD (English). "Shed-field," or "sheep-field;" or "Field bordering the River Sheaf," places in England.

SHELBY (English). From Scelf-byr (Old Norse), "village on a ledge".

SHELDON (English). "Steep-sided valley" or "flat-topped hill," places in England.

SHELTON (English). "Place on ledge/plateau (shelf)," places in England.

SHEP(P)ARD (English). "Sheep herder, shephard".

SHIPLEY (English). "Sheep pasture," places in England.

SHIPMAN (English). "Shipworker, sailor" or "sheep-man, shephard".

SHIRLEY (English). "Bright (thinly-grown) wood," places in England.

SIBLEY (English). "Sibyl is Greek, one of the females acting as mouthpieces for the gods".

SIMON (English). "Hearkening" or "little hyena" (Hebrew); Simon Zelotes the Apostle, real first name of Saint Peter.

SIMPSON (English). Diminuitive of "son of Simon".

SIMS (English). Son of (diminuitive) Simon.

SINCLAIR (English). Diminuitive of "St. Clair".

SKELTON (English). "Place on a bank/hill".

SKINNER (English). "Skinner" (Old Norse).

SKIPPER (English). "Jumper, dancer" (Middle English); or, "shipmaster" (Middle English from Dutch).

SMART (English). "Smart, brisk, prompt".

SMITH (English). "Metal worker," also found as Anglicized version of German or other forms.

SMY (English). Form of Smythe.

SMYTHE (English). Form of Smith.

SOMERVILLE (English). "Sunny/south-facing village".

SORREL (English). "Chestnutty, reddish brown".

SOWELL (English). From Solier (Old French), "place of one story houses-a town in Normandy, France".

SPALDING (English). "Family/folk of a pioneer".

SPARKS (English). "Sprighty, lively".

SPARROW (English). "Sparrow".

SPENSER (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacSpallane or MacSpealla".

SPRINGER (English). "Jumper, leaper".

STANSFIELD (English). "Stony, stone's field".

STARKEY (English). "Firm, tough, stiff, harsh".

STEADMAN (English). "Farm man" or "groom/cavalryman (from steed man)".

STEEL(E) (English). "Steel-worker"; or, "firm, reliable".

STEPHENS (English). "Crown, wreath, garland".

STEWART (English). "Steward, keeper of a household".

STIEGER (German). "Climber" (German).

STILES (English). "Stile/ascent".

STOKES (English). "Of the stoc (religious site, outlying settlement)". Stoke is a place in England.

STONE (English). "Stone," for a dwelling near a large rock or cluster or rocks. Places in England.

STONER (English). "Stone, from a dwelling near a prominent rock or stone".

STORY (English). "Big, strong".

STREET (English). "Roman road" (Old English from Latin), places in England.

STRICKLAND (English). "Land for heifers," places in England.

STROUD (English). ). "Marshland overgrown with brushwood".

STUART (English). "Steward," alternate form Stewart.

SUCKLING (English). "Suckling, unweaned infant".

SUMNER (English). "Summoner, officer summoning people to appear in court".

SUTHERLAND (English). "County, south land".

SWAIN (English). "Boy, servant" (from the Old Norse word Sveinn); or, "swineherd".

SWEENEY (English). "Son of Peaceful" (Irish).

SWEET (English). "Sweet, pleasant".

SYNDER (German). "Tailor" (Germanic)

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TALBOT (English). From a Germanic name similar to "Dalabod" (='dale offer/command').

TARVER (English). "Maker/seller/user of a talleras," which features a targuet.

TARVIN (English). "Boundary" (from Welsh terfyn), name of place and river in England.

TATE (English). Derived from Old English word Tata; could mean "dear, glad, hilltop, dice, lock of hair, daddy or teat".

TATOM (English). From Tatham, place in England.

TAYLOR (English). "Tailor" (Old French).

TEAGUE (English). "Poet, philsopher" (Irish).

TENNANT (English). "Tenant (owner of a tenement)" (Old French).

TENNYSON (English).

TENPENNY (English).

THOMAS (English). "Twin" (Aramaic); often named after Thomas Becket.

THOMPSON (English). "Son of Thomas".

THORN (English). "Thorn, hawthorn," places in England.

THORNTON (English). ). "Thorn town".

THORPE (English). "Farm (especially 'outlying dairy farm')" (Old English, Old Norse).

TIDWELL (English). From Tidde-welle, "man of the people's spring".

TILLMAN (English). "Tile maker" or "farmer".

TIMMONS (English). Diminuintive of "Timothy (=honored by God)".

TIPTON (English). From Tipa-tun, "farmstead of the boldest among the people".

TISDALE (English). "Flat land on the River Tees".

TODD (English). "foxhunter".

TOWER (English). "Tower" (Old English, Old French); or, "tawer, leather-dresser" (Old English).

TOWLER (English). "Toller (one who collects taxes or tolls)".

TOWNS (English). "Farm, village, town".

TOWNSHEND (English). "End of the village/town, suburb".

TRAVERS (English). "Crossing, tollgate".

TRAVIS (English). Form of Travers.

TRENT (English). "Living on the bank of rivers called Trent, across + journey".

TRIPPER (English). "Dancer" (Germanic).

TROY (English). "Descendant of Footsoldier" (Irish); or "from Troyes".

TRU(E)MAN (English). "Trusty, faithful man".

TUCKER (English). "Fuller," one who fulled and burled cloth.

TURNER (English). "Turner (one who worked with a lathe)" (Old French).

TYNDALE (English). "Valley of the Tyne (=Keltic for 'river')".

TYRRELL (English). "Stubborn person, derivative of to pull"

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UNDERWOOD (English). "Below the wood".

UPSHAW (English). "Upper grove or thicket"

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VAUGHAN (English). "Little" (Old Welsh).

VEAL(E) (English). "Calf" or "old" (Old French).

VECK (English). "Bishop" (Old French).

VELDE (Dutch). "Field" (Dutch).

VERNON (English). "Alder tree" (Gaulish), places in France.

VETTERS (German). "Cousin, kinsman" (Germanic).

VICKERS (English). "Vicar, substitute parish priest for the rector or religious house where tithes are given".

VINES (English). "Vineyard or worker in one".

VOYLE (English). "Bald" (Welsh)

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WADDINGTON (English). "Place of the men from Waddow," places in England.

WAGNER (English;German). From Waganari (Germanic), "wagonmaker; wagon driver".

WAGNER (German). "Wainright" (Germanic).

WAINSCOTT (English). "Carterwright or wagon" or ). "someone living in a house with these signs".

WAINWRIGHT (English). "Wain (wagon) maker".

WAIT(E) (English). "Watchman" (Old French).

WALDO (English, German). "Of the forest" (German); or "foreign servant/slave" (Old English).

WALDRON (English). "House in a wood".

WALFORD (English). "Stream, ford".

WALKER (English). "Walker" - one who walked on cloth in troughs as part of the fulling process.

WALLACE (English). Scottish form of Wallis.

WALLIS (English). "Celt, Welshman, Breton, foreigner" (Old French).

WALPOLE (English). "Pool by a (Roman) wall," or "pool of the Welsh," places in England.

WALTER(S) (English). "Rule army/people" (Germanic normanized).

WALTON (English). "Place of the Welsh/slaves/serfs"; or, "place of the wood/by a wall/with a wall/by a stream (well)". Wal (foreigner) is the term invading Anglo-Saxons used to describe indigenous Britons.

WARD (English). "Watchman"; or, "guardhouse, fortress". In Ireland, form of McWard ("son of the bard").

WARE (English). "Wary, cautious, prudent".

WARNER (English). "Warin army" (German).

WARNER (German). "A warner" (Germanic).

WARREN (English). Common form of Warrenne.

WARRENNE (English). "From La Varenne (sandy soil, game preserve)," place in France (Gaulish).

WASHBOURNE (English). "Stream for washing clothes/sheep".

WASHINGTON (English). "Place/farm of the family of Wassa," places in England.

WATKINS (English). "From water".

WATSON (English). "Son of Watt".

WATT (English). Diminuitive of "Walter".

WEAKLEY (English). "Wych-elm wood/clearing".

WEATHERFORD (English). "River crossing for a wether (neutered ram)".

WEBB(E)(R)(English). "Weaver".

WEBSTER (English). "Weaver".

WEEKS (English). Derived from Wick.

WEEMS (English). "Caves" (Gaelic).

WELCH (English). Commoner form of Welsh.

WELSH (English). "Celtic, Welsh, English, foreign".

WESTLEY (English). "Western wood/clearing".

WHITAKER (English). "White field" or "wheat field"; places in England.

WHITE (English). "White, of hair or complexion".

WHITLOW (English). From Hwit-hloew, "white soil hill or burial mound".

WHITMORE (English). "White moor/mere".

WHITNEY (English). "(At the) White Island" or "White's Island".

WHITTIER (English). "White tawer, dresser of skins in white leather".

WILCOX (English). "William=will/resolve + Cock=hilltop or jest".

WILKINSON (English). "Son of (diminuitive) Will".

WILLARD (English). "Will/resolve bold" (Germanic normanized).

WILLIAM(S) (English). "Will/resolve helmet" (Germanic normanized); William the Conqueror.

WILLIFORD (English). "Will, desire + helmet protection" (Norman).

WILLOUGHBY (English). "Farm in the willows".

WILSON (English). "Son of Will".

WINN (English). "Friend".

WINTER (English). "Winter, being born in a hard winter or white haired".

WOLF(E) (English). "Wolf"

WOLFGANG (Germanic). From Wolf-gang, "advancing wolf".

WOODRUFF (English). "Woodruff, snoot scented herb".

WOODS (English). "Of the wood" or "crazy".

WOODWARD (English). "Woodkeeper, forester".

WOOL(L)E(R)Y (English). "Wolf meadow".

WOOLDRIDGE (English). "Wolf, powerful".

WOOTTON (English). "Place/farm in or by the woods".

WORKMAN (English). "Workman, builder".

WRIGHT (English). "Craftsman, builder".

WYATT (English). "Abode, hamlet".

WYNN(E) (English). "White" (Welsh); or, form of Winn

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YALE (English). From Denbighshire

YANCEY (French/Native American). "Englishman".

YATES (Englis). Gate-keepper

YAUGER (German). Form of Jagger.

YORK(E) (English). English Eburac (=yew tree), Latinzied, mistranslated by Anglo-Saxons as Eoforwic (=wild boar Wick), then Scandinavized by Vikings to "Vorvik", finally became "York". English city and county.

YOUNG(E) (English). "Young," perhaps meant as a synonym to 'junior'

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ZELLER (English). "Seller".

ZIMMERMAN (German). "Carpenter" (German).

ZURBUCHEN (German). "By the beech tree" (Germanic)

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