Glossary
The words behind the names
148 terms you’ll meet in our surname histories, from patronymics to Pipe Rolls.
A
AbbeyPeople, land and societyA religious community of monks or nuns.- Agent suffix (-er, -ster)Kinds of surnameAn ending meaning "one who does", as in Baker or Webster.
- AnglicizationKinds of surnameChanging a name from another language so that it fits English spelling or sound.
- Anglo-Norman invasion of IrelandHistoryThe arrival of Norman lords in Ireland from 1169.
- Anglo-SaxonLanguagesThe Germanic peoples who settled England from the 5th century, and their culture.
- Annals of the Four MastersRecords and documentsA great chronicle of Irish history compiled between 1632 and 1636.
- Ap / AbKinds of surnameA Welsh prefix meaning "son of", from "mab".
- ArgentHeraldrySilver, usually shown as white.
- Assize RollsRecords and documentsRecords of the royal judges' courts held around the counties.
- AtteKinds of surnameA Middle English word meaning "at the", used in topographical bynames.
- AzureHeraldryBlue.
B
- Baptismal nameKinds of surnameAn older term for a personal name: the name given at baptism.
- BaronyPeople, land and societyThe lands of a baron; in Ireland and Scotland also a land division within a county.
- BendHeraldryA diagonal band from the top left of the shield (as you look at it) to the bottom right.
- BezantHeraldryA gold disc, named after the gold coins of Byzantium.
- BlazonHeraldryThe formal written description of a coat of arms.
- Bluff King HalKings and queensHenry VIII, king of England 1509–1547.
- BretonLanguagesThe Celtic language of Brittany, and the people of Brittany.
- The BruceKings and queensRobert I, king of Scots 1306–1329.
- The Builder of ChurchesKings and queensIn SurnameDB's histories, Henry II, king of England 1154–1189.
- BurgessPeople, land and societyA citizen of a town with full rights to trade and take part in its government.
- BynameKinds of surnameA descriptive second name, such as "John the smith", used before surnames were inherited.
C
- Calendar of documentsRecords and documentsA published summary of a series of historical records.
- CantonHeraldryA small square in the top corner of the shield.
- CartularyRecords and documentsA book in which a monastery or estate copied its charters.
- CelticLanguagesThe family of languages that includes Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton.
- ChargedHeraldryBearing a symbol, or "charge", on a shield or another symbol.
CharterRecords and documentsA formal written grant of land, rights or privileges.- ChevronHeraldryAn upside-down V shape across the shield, like the rafters of a roof.
- ChiefHeraldryA broad band across the top of the shield.
- ChieftainPeople, land and societyThe head of a clan or sept.
ChristeningRecords and documentsThe baptism and naming of a child in church.- CinquefoilHeraldryA five-petalled flower.
ClanPeople, land and societyA kinship group sharing a name and loyalty to a chief, especially in the Scottish Highlands.
Coat of armsHeraldryA design of colours and symbols on a shield, used to identify a person or family.- Compound nameKinds of surnameA personal name built from two meaningful elements.
- The ConfessorKings and queensEdward the Confessor, king of England 1042–1066.
- The ConquerorKings and queensWilliam I, king of England 1066–1087.
- CornishLanguagesThe Celtic language of Cornwall.
- Count of BloisKings and queensStephen, king of England 1135–1154.
- CoupedHeraldryCut off cleanly with a straight edge.
- Court RollsRecords and documentsRecords of a manor's own court.
- CrescentHeraldryA half moon with its horns pointing upward.
- CrestHeraldryThe emblem above the helmet in a full coat of arms.
CrusadesHistoryReligious wars fought by European Christians in the Holy Land between 1096 and 1291.- Curia Regis RollsRecords and documentsRecords of the king's court from the 1190s to 1272.
D
- DanelawHistoryThe part of England under Danish law from the late 9th century.
- DeKinds of surnameA French word meaning "of" or "from", found in early records before a place name.
- Dialectal formKinds of surnameA form of a name shaped by the speech of a particular region.
- Dictionary of National BiographyRecords and documentsA reference work of notable people in British history.
- DiminutiveKinds of surnameA "little" or affectionate form of a name, made with an ending such as -kin, -cock, -ot or -et.
Domesday BookRecords and documentsThe great survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror and completed in 1086.
E
- Edward of CaernarfonKings and queensEdward II, king of England 1307–1327.
- EmigrantHistorySomeone who leaves their country to live in another.
- ErasedHeraldryTorn off, leaving a ragged edge.
- ErmineHeraldryA fur pattern of black spots, like stoat tails, on white.
- EscallopHeraldryA scallop shell, the badge of pilgrims.
- Ethnic nameKinds of surnameA surname that shows where a person or their family came from.
- ExchequerRecords and documentsThe royal department that collected and accounted for the Crown's money.
F
- Farmer GeorgeKings and queensGeorge III, king of Great Britain and Ireland 1760–1820.
- The Father of the NavyKings and queensIn SurnameDB's histories, Edward III, king of England 1327–1377.
- Feet of FinesRecords and documentsCourt copies of agreements settling disputes over land, kept from 1195 to 1834.
- FessHeraldryA broad horizontal band across the middle of the shield.
- FieldHeraldryThe background colour or pattern of the shield.
- FiliusKinds of surnameLatin for "son of", used in medieval records.
- FitzKinds of surnameA Norman French prefix meaning "son of", from Latin filius.
- FlemishLanguagesThe Dutch dialect of Flanders, and the people of Flanders.
- Fleur-de-lisHeraldryA stylised lily, long associated with the French royal family.
- The FrenchmanKings and queensIn SurnameDB's histories, Henry III, king of England 1216–1272.
G
- GaelicLanguagesThe Celtic languages of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
- GermanicLanguagesThe family of languages that includes English, German, Dutch and the Scandinavian languages.
- Good Queen BessKings and queensElizabeth I, queen of England 1558–1603.
- Great FamineHistoryThe Irish famine of 1845–1852, caused by potato blight.
- GreekLanguagesThe language of ancient Greece, source of several Christian personal names.
- GulesHeraldryRed.
H
- Habitational nameKinds of surnameA locational surname taken from a particular named settlement.
- The Hammer of the ScotsKings and queensEdward I, king of England 1272–1307.
- HebrewLanguagesThe language of the Old Testament, source of many biblical personal names.
- High King of IrelandKings and queensThe overking claimed by the most powerful Irish kings.
- HuguenotsHistoryFrench Protestants, many of whom fled persecution in France.
- Hundred RollsRecords and documentsRecords of royal inquiries into land and rights in 1274–75 and 1279–80.
- Hundred Years' WarHistoryA long series of wars between England and France from 1337 to 1453.
I
K
L
- LacklandKings and queensJohn, king of England 1199–1216.
- LatinLanguagesThe language of the Romans, and of the medieval Church and government.
- LatinizationKinds of surnameWriting a name in Latin form, as clerks did in medieval records.
- LeKinds of surnameA French word meaning "the", found in early records before an occupation or nickname.
- The Lion of JusticeKings and queensHenry I, king of England 1100–1135.
- The LionheartKings and queensRichard I, king of England 1189–1199.
Locational surnameKinds of surnameA surname taken from a place: a town, village, farm or estate.- Lord of the ManorPeople, land and societyThe holder of a manor and its rights over land and tenants.
M
- Mac / McKinds of surnameA Gaelic prefix meaning "son of", found in Scottish and Irish surnames.
ManorPeople, land and societyA medieval estate held by a lord, with its own tenants and court.- ManxLanguagesThe Gaelic language of the Isle of Man.
- MartletHeraldryA small heraldic bird shown without feet.
- The Merry MonarchKings and queensCharles II, king of England, Scotland and Ireland 1660–1685.
- Metonymic nameKinds of surnameAn occupational name that refers to a worker's tools or goods rather than the job itself.
- MetronymicKinds of surnameA surname formed from a mother's personal name.
- Middle AgesHistoryThe period of European history from about the 5th to the late 15th century.
- Middle EnglishLanguagesEnglish as spoken from about 1100 to 1500, after the Norman Conquest.
- MottoHeraldryA short phrase shown with a coat of arms, often in Latin.
- MulletHeraldryA star, usually with five points.
- Muster rollsRecords and documentsLists of people gathered for military service or a census.
N
- NamebearerKinds of surnameAnyone who carries a particular surname.
New WorldHistoryThe Americas, as seen by European settlers from the 16th century.
Nickname surnameKinds of surnameA surname that began as a nickname for someone's looks, character or habits.
Norman ConquestHistoryThe conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1066.- Norman FrenchLanguagesThe French brought to England by the Normans in 1066.
- NormansHistoryThe people of Normandy, in northern France, who conquered England in 1066.
O
- O' (Ó, Ua)Kinds of surnameAn Irish Gaelic prefix meaning "grandson" or "descendant of".
Occupational surnameKinds of surnameA surname taken from a person's job, trade or office.- Old EnglishLanguagesThe language of Anglo-Saxon England, spoken from about 450 to 1100.
- Old FrenchLanguagesFrench as spoken from about the 9th to the 14th century.
- Old NorseLanguagesThe language of the Vikings and medieval Scandinavia.
- OrHeraldryGold, usually shown as yellow.
P
- PaleHeraldryA broad vertical band down the middle of the shield.
- ParishPeople, land and societyThe area served by a local church and its priest.
- Parish registerRecords and documentsA parish church's record of baptisms, marriages and burials.
- PassantHeraldryWalking, with one forepaw raised.
PatronymicKinds of surnameA surname formed from a father's personal name, such as Johnson or Williams.- Personal nameKinds of surnameThe individual name a person is given, such as John or Matilda.
- Pet formKinds of surnameA familiar short form of a personal name, such as Hob or Dob for Robert.
Pipe RollsRecords and documentsThe yearly accounts of the royal Exchequer, among the earliest English records of names.- Plantation of UlsterHistoryThe settlement of English and Scottish colonists in Ulster from 1609.
Poll TaxRecords and documentsA tax charged on each person, or "head".- PrefixKinds of surnameAn element added to the start of a name, such as Mac, O', Fitz, ap, de or le.
- ProperHeraldryShown in its natural colours.
- Provinces of IrelandPeople, land and societyIreland's four historic provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht.
R
RampantHeraldryStanding on one hind leg, with the forelegs raised, as if to attack.- Register of FreemenRecords and documentsA list of people given the "freedom" of a town, the right to trade and practise a craft there.
- Richard of BordeauxKings and queensRichard II, king of England 1377–1399, born in Bordeaux.
- RufusKings and queensWilliam II, king of England 1087–1100.
S
- SableHeraldryBlack.
- SaltireHeraldryA diagonal cross, like the X of St Andrew's cross.
- SeptPeople, land and societyA branch of an Irish or Scottish family group descended from a common ancestor.
- ShieldHeraldryThe central part of a coat of arms, on which the design is displayed.
- StewardPeople, land and societyAn official who managed a household or estate.
- Subsidy RollsRecords and documentsLists of people who paid taxes, or "subsidies", granted to the Crown.
- SuffixKinds of surnameAn ending added to a name, such as -son, -s, -kin or -er.
- SurnameKinds of surnameA family name passed down from one generation to the next.
