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Use this URL: http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name= followed by your surname to find out.

 

Surname: Gilbert

Recorded as Gilbert and the patronymic Gilbertson, this is an English surname, but one recorded throughout the British Isles. It is of Norman-French and even earlier pre 7th century Germanic origins. It derives from the personal name variously spelt as Gislebert, Guilbert or Gilebert. However spelt it is a compound with the elements "gisil", meaning a noble youth, and "berht", bright or famous. It is first recorded in England in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 and in the Latinized form of Gislebertus, and appears as a surname in the early 13th century (see below). The given name as Gilbert was very popular in medieval England, partly owing to the fame of St. Gilbert of Sempringham, (1086 - 1189), and the founder of the only native English monastic order. Early examples of the surname recording taken from surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include Anna Gylberte, who was christened on June 20th 1548, at St. Michael's Cornhill, and Anne, the daughter of Harry Gilbert, who was christened on December 21st 1558, at St. Matthew's, Friday Street, also in the city of London. Henry Gilbert, aged 38, was a "famine" emigrant who sailed from London aboard the ship "Northumberland", bound for New York on April 9th 1846. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Willelmus Gilberti. This was dated 1202, in the Curia Regis rolls of the county of Wiltshire, during the reign of King John of England, 1199 - 1216. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Guest Tzar Lysergic

Neat!

 

Surname: Silverman

Recorded in many forms including Silber, Silbermann, Silver, Silvers, Silverman, Silvermann, Zylberman, Zylberdik, and Silversmid, this surname is mainly English, Scottish, German, and Hebrew. Of pre 7th century origins, it has at least three distinct possible sources. Firstly it may be a metonymic occupational name for a silversmith, the derivation being from the Anglo-Saxon word "seolfar" meaning silver. Secondly it may originate as a nickname for a rich man, one who had a lot of silver, thirdly it may be locational from places on watersides where the water itself gave a silvery appearance. Examples of these places include the village of Silverley in Cumbria or Silverdale in Lancashire. Early examples of the surname recordings include: Radolfus Silberer of Oberschwaben, Germany, in 1249, whilst Thomas atte Selure, and Thomas del Silvere were both recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of the county of Worcestershire in 1327 and 1332 respectively. James Silvir was a witness of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1497, and William Silver de Stobo was a charter witness in 1506. Tradition holds that the surname Silver inscribed on a tomb in the Calton cemetery, Edinburgh, suggested to Robert Louis Stevenson the name of Long John Silver in the famous book "Treasure Island". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Lucas Siluer, which was dated 1205, in the "Book of Seals" for Lincolnshire", during the reign of King John, of England, 1199 - 1216. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Green

 

Recorded in the spellings of Green and Greene, this is one of the most widespread of English, and sometimes Irish, surnames. It is usually of pre 7th century origins, and derives from the word "grene" meaning green. As such it may be topographical for a person resident by a village green or even a place called Green, or as a status name for a young man who played the part of the mystic and fertile "Green Man" sometimes known as "Jack in the Green", in the May Day fertility celebrations. In this context "green" was symbolic of youthful ardour, spring, and the re-growth of nature. Sometimes the surname can be of Irish origins, and a translation of the ancient Gaelic given name "Uaithne". As this also means "green," it probably has the same basic meaning and origin as the English form. Examples of the early recordings taken from authentic rolls, registers and charters of the Middle Ages, include Richard de la Grene of the county of Norfolk in the year 1200; William Grene in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230; Robert Othegreen, and Henry on the Green, both of Worcestershire, in 1274. Among the many distinguished namebearers listed in the "Dictionary of National Biography" are Charles Green (1785 - 1870), an early aeronaut, who made the first ascent with a hydrogen gas balloon in 1821. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey de Grene. This was dated 1188, in the "Pipe Rolls" of the county of Kent", during the reign of King Henry 11 of England. He was known as "The Builder of Churches". 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Gregory

Recorded in over two hundred spelling forms and recorded in every European country is of Ancient Greek origins. Popular before the Christian era, it derives from "gregorien", a word meaning to be awake or watchful. The name was borne by two fathers of the Orthodox Church. The first being St. Gregory of Nazianzene (circa 325-390) and the second St. Gregory of Nyssa (circa 331-395). However its initial burst of popularity owed most to St. Gregory, The Great, the first Pope of all., 590 - 604 a.d. The famous Crusades of the 11th and 12th century gave it another boost. It was the fashion and practice, for returning warriors from the Holy Land to christen their children with biblical or saintly names, particularly those associated with the early church. This was one of the most popular and the popularity is reflected in the wide range of the surnames. These include Gregory, Greggs, Griggs, Grix (English), Grigor (Scots), Gligori (Italian), Gruger (German) and Hrinchenko of te Ukraine! The earliest of all recordings however are to be found in England, the first country to adopt both hereditary surnames and registers. Examples include John Grigory, in the Assize Rolls of the county of Somerset for the year 1280, and Joachim Gregorii, an attorney, of Magdeburg, Germany, in 1557. The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere in the world, is believed to be that of Willelmus Gregorii, in the charters known as "The Danelaw" for the county of Lincoln, England, in the year 1143. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Lewis

Recorded in over fifty different spellings from Lewis, Lois, Lowis and Loisi, to such as Ludovici, Lotze, Lohde, and Ludwikiewicz, throughout Europe this great and ancient name is generally accepted as being of pre 5th century Frankish origins. It derives from the personal name "Hludwig", composed of the elements "hlud", meaning loud or famous, plus "wig", battle. As such it was borne by the founder of the Frankish dynasty, who was recorded in the surviving chronicles of the Roman Empire as Ludovicus and Chlodovechus, the latter form becoming the French Clovis, Clouis, and later Louis. Lowis or Lewis is the Anglo-French form of the name, and Lowis le Briton was entered in the Red Book of the Exchequer", Essex, in 1166. The surname first appears on record at the beginning of the 13th Century (see below). William Lewys was noted as a witness in the 1267 Fines Court Rolls of Suffolk. Confusingly in Wales, Lewis was also used as an anglicization of the Welsh name Llywelyn, from "llyw", leader, and "eilyn", likeness. Llewelyn ap-Madoc, alias Lewis Rede, was archdeacon of Brecon, Wales, in 1437. One of the most natable bearers of the name was the American explorer Meriwether Lewis (1774 - 1807), who, with William Clark, led an overland expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean in the early years of the 19th Century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Lowis, which was dated 1202, in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

 

LOUD BATTLE BITCHES~!

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Surname: Neal

This interesting name has had a long and varied history. It is derived from the old Irish and Gaelic "Nial" meaning "the Champion" a fact which has no doubt contributed to its long popularity. What makes the name different is that it reached England via Iceland, Norway and France, being introduced by the Normans in 1066. It is often not appreciated that the original Vikings first landed in Ireland circa 7th Century and then "returned home" through Iceland before ultimately invading both Britain and what is now Normandy (the place of the Norse-men). The early recordings include Willemus filius Nigelli in the 1086 Domesday Book (Nigel being a variant of Nial), Willelmus Nel of Yorkshire in 1304, Roger Niel of Suffolk (1319), whilst Amos Neal was christened at St Giles Church, Cripplegate, on August 18th 1585, and married on August 21st 1608, to Elizabeth Brooke at St Gregory by St. Paul's Cathedral. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robertus Neel which was dated 1208, in the "Berkshire Curia Pipe Rolls", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

I'm The Champion, bitches! bow down.

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Sorry we have yet to research the origin of the surname xxx.

 

:(

With your surname, being xxx, it's no wonder they haven't researched it. You shouldn't have been surprised.

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My girlfriend's last name is Ruth, and they have no information on it. I'm guessing that it's of German ancestry, and that it's mostly a legacy of eating hot dogs and pointing at shit in the distance.

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Surname: Roy

In the British Isles this surname is recorded as Le Roy, Leroy, Leroi, Le Roi, and Roy. It has at least two possible national origins. Firstly it may be Norman-French and introduced after the famous Conquest of 1066. The derivation is from the word rey or roi, meaning a king or chief, and in medieval times was used as a nickname either for one who behaved in a regal fashion, or who had earned the title in some contest of skill, or more likely had been elected "king for the day" in a local festival. It could also be used as a personal name as for example Roi de Scallebi listed in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1188. Secondly it could be of Gaelic and Scottish origins and if so a nickname for a person with red hair, from "ruadh", meaning red. The creation of surnames from nicknames was a common practice in the Middle Ages, and many modern day surnames derive from medieval nicknames referring to personal characteristics. Early examples of surname recordings include Adam le Roy in the Feet of Fines of Suffolk in 1268, and Simon Roy in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279. Moritius Roy was witness in Perth during the reign of James 11nd of Scotland, and John Roy was sheriff of Inverness (1563). A coat of arms granted to the y family ghas the blazon of a blue shield charged with a silver lion rampant, on a silver border eight red torteaux. The Motto, "Qua tendis", translates as "Whither do you steer". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Raie. This was dated 1206, in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

Adam's my first name too. Crazy.

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Ah. Duh. Right.

 

...I was always told my name was of Welsh decent; apparently it's Scottish. And the original derivation seems to have migrated over from ancient German, via French protestant refugees. The More You Know.

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Yeah, it said that my entirely Welsh mother's surname (Reed) was English. Maybe the website is just biased against Wales itself.

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Surname: Gray

Recorded as Gray, Graye, Grey, Greye, de Grey, MacGray, McGray, McGrah, McGreay, McGrey, and possibly others, this ancient Anglo-Scottish surname has at least two possible origins. The first was Old English and a nickname or personal name for a man with grey hair or beard, from the pre 7th century word "graeg", meaning grey. Although the name means the same in Scotland and Ireland,name holders there took their name from the early Gaelic word "riabhach" which also means brindled or grey. The second separate origin is French and locational. As such it is from the village of Graye in Calvados, Normandy, and was introduced into the British Isles after the famous Conquest of 1066. The village was called from the Roman personal name "Gratus" meaning welcome, with the suffix "acum," a settlement. Early recordings of the surname include Baldwin Grai, in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1173, and Henry de Gray, in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire, dated 1196. Other examples include Henry Gray and Jone Darby married at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on November 30th 1539 and Catherine MacGray, christened at Endell Street lying in hospital, city of London on March 17th 1763. Thomas Gray (1716 - 1771), the poet, was most well known for his "Elegy in a Country Churchyard", published in 1751. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anschitill Grai. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King William 1st, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Guest Jesus Freaks on Coke
Yeah, it said that my entirely Welsh mother's surname (Reed) was English. Maybe the website is just biased against Wales itself.

There aren't really many Welsh surnames, other than maybe Llewellyn. They just co-opt English names.

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Oh, you're absolutely correct on that one. Even "Jones", a surname which is adorned by one in ten Welsh families, is of English origin.

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The site managed to name a bunch of specific cities and dates in Scotland where mine was used, so it's probably telling the truth. Now I just gotta figure out what the old German or middle French derivation of "moch" or "mock" is, since New-Moc(k/h) is apparently the root term which my surname got bastardized from.

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The site says they add new names every week. There are a couple of last names I looked up that weren't there yet.

 

Also, my biological father's last name translates to Neil in one of the other languages it's been through. That's kinda cool in a way. I guess.

 

Neal comes from my mom's first husband, and McCallister is what I consider my REAL last name. That one's got some cool history to it.

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Surname: Hawkins

Amongst the long list of British naval heroes, the names of Sir John Hawkins and Lord Hawkins (no relation), the conquerors with Sir Francis Drake of the 1588 Spanish Armada, stand almost supreme. The name itself, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Hafoc" meaning "Hawk", is descriptive for one who possessed that bird's ferocious instincts. The name, as a personal name without a surname is recorded in the spelling of "Havok" in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by William the Conqueror. In the spelling form as Hawkins, the name is a double diminutive or patronymic which translates as "the son(s) of the son (kin) of the Hawk". The surname as "Hawk" is very early, being first recorded in 1176, when Roger Havech appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Dover, Kent; as "Hawkin" the first recording is that of Roger Havekin in the Essex Rolls of 1298; and as Hawkyns, the medieval spelling, the name is recorded in the early 14th Century (see below), whilst Agnes Hawkins, who married Roger Carpinter (as spelt) at St. Peter Westcheap, London, on August 4th 1560, is an early example of the "modern" spelling. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margery Haukyns, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Hawkins

Amongst the long list of British naval heroes, the names of Sir John Hawkins and Lord Hawkins (no relation), the conquerors with Sir Francis Drake of the 1588 Spanish Armada, stand almost supreme. The name itself, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Hafoc" meaning "Hawk", is descriptive for one who possessed that bird's ferocious instincts. The name, as a personal name without a surname is recorded in the spelling of "Havok" in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by William the Conqueror. In the spelling form as Hawkins, the name is a double diminutive or patronymic which translates as "the son(s) of the son (kin) of the Hawk". The surname as "Hawk" is very early, being first recorded in 1176, when Roger Havech appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Dover, Kent; as "Hawkin" the first recording is that of Roger Havekin in the Essex Rolls of 1298; and as Hawkyns, the medieval spelling, the name is recorded in the early 14th Century (see below), whilst Agnes Hawkins, who married Roger Carpinter (as spelt) at St. Peter Westcheap, London, on August 4th 1560, is an early example of the "modern" spelling. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margery Haukyns, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

 

If you ever cut a promo, this should be what you say.

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Since I have two surnames...

 

Surname: Quinn

This interesting name is an ancient Celtic personal name derived from the Irish word, "conn" meaning "counsel". It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O' Cuinn" distinct septs of this name, the most notable being, the Dalcassian sept of Thomond, whose territory lay around Corofin in the barony of Inchiquin, County Clare, and of Antrim, where they have been associated with the Glens of Antrim. The first of this sept to bear the name was Niall O' Cuinn, who was killed at the Battle of Clontarf, in 1014. The name can be found as "O' Quinn" or "Mac Quinn" (the "O" and "mac", denoting "son of"), while O' Quinn is common all over Ireland, and especially in County Tyrone, Mac Quinn is more popular in County Kerry. Among the recordings in London is the marriage of Henry Quyn and Margaret Hewe on August 30th 1609 at St. Dunstan, Stepney, London and the christening of William Quin, son of Andrew and Hanna Quinn, on January 2th 1692, at St. Bride, Fleet Street. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mac Cuinn, which was dated 1027, Ancient Charters of the Isle of Man, during the reign of King Canute, 1013 - 1035. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

Surname: Anderson

This interesting surname is of English and Scottish origin, and is a patronymic of the surname Andrew, which is derived from the personal name from the Greek "Andreas", a derivative of "andreios", manly, from "aner", man, male. This was the name of the first of Jesus Christ's disciples, and it is also the name of the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia. The personal name was first recorded as "Andreas" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was first recorded in Scotland with one John Andree, who was present at the perambulation of the boundaries of Kyrknes and Louchor in 1395. The modern surname can be found as Andrew(e)s, Andress, Andriss, Anderson, Enderson, McAndrew and Kendrew. One William Anderson was an early settler in America, setting sail from London on the "Alexander" bound for the Barbadoes in May 1635. Among the recordings in London is the christening of Neal, son of Erasmus and Mary Anderson, on March 19th 1698, at St. Katherine by the Tower. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Rogerus Andreweson, which was dated 1272, in the "Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Karmel

Recorded as Carmo, Karmo, Carmel, Karmel, and Karmeli, this is a surname of Hebrew origins, although it is not necessarily Jewish. It originates from the the mountain range in Israel which extend to the south of the city of Haifa. It is thought that the deriavtion is from the ancient word 'keremel', which loosely translates as the vineyard of god! Locational surnames are usually 'from' names. That is to say names given to people after they left their original home to move somewhere else. The easiest way to identify a stranger in ancient times, was to call him or sometimes her, by the name of the place from whence they came. Spelling being at best erratic and local dialects very thick, soon lead to the development of 'sounds like' spellings. In this case it is said that the mountain range became a refuge for hermits, although it is most associated with the famous Christian knights known as the Crusaders who had bases there during their many attempts to 'free' the Holy Land from the grip of the Muslims. All were unsuccessful, but it did not stop returning knights from calling their children by biblical names, of which this was one. In addition the name was associated with the Carmelite Order of monks. Whilst monks themselves being celibate, did not adopt the name, secular servants at the monasteries may well have done.

 

 

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Surname: Byrne

Recorded as O' Byrne but more usually as Byrne, this is an Irish surname of great antiquity. Claiming descent from Bran, the king of Leinster, who died in 1052, this great clan originated in County Kildare where they held extensive territory until the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 - 1170, when they migrated to Wicklow where they occupied the country between Rathdrum and Shillelagh. Their name in Irish is properly O' Broin, meaning the male descendant of Bron, the raven. The O' Broins, like their neighbours the O' Tooles, were particularly noteworthy for their resistance to foreign aggression, and they continued to inaugurate native chiefs up to the end of the 16th Century. The seat of their chiefs was at Ballinacor, County Wicklow, and the territory over which they held sway was known as Crioch Branach. The celebrated "Leabhar Branach" or "Book of the O' Byrnes" deals with the exploits of the clan in these times. Alderman Alfred Byrne (1882 - 1956), a distinguished recent member of the clan, was ten times Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Byrne coat of arms has the blazon of a red shield charged with a chevron between three silver dexter hands couped at the wrist, the Crest being a mermaid with comb and mirror proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name may be that of Fiacha Mac Hugh O'Byrne, the military leader. This was dated 1544 - 1595, in the Historical Records of Dublin, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Kincaid

This is a Scottish habitation name from the lands of Kincaid near Lemoxtown in Campsie Glen, Stirlingshire. The place name is first recorded in 1238 as "Kincaith" and in 1250 as "Kincathe". The former spelling suggests derivation from the Gaelic "ceann", meaning head, or top, and "caithe", the pass, whereas the latter seems to be derived from "Cadha" meaning quagmire. Modern variants of the name are recorded as Kincade, Kinkead, Kinkaid and Kinkade. A notable bearer of the name was Sir John Kincaid (1787 - 1862), of the rifle brigade. He served in the Peninsula Wars and was severely wounded at Waterloo and on retirement from the army became inspector of factories and prisons for Scotland. He was knighted in 1852 while Senior Exon of the Royal Bodyguard of Yeomen of the guard. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Kyncade. which was dated 1450, Edinburgh. during the reign of King James 11, known as "The Last Catholic King" 1685 - 1688. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Surname: Black

This very old and famous surname, equally popular in Scotland and England, has at least two possible origins, the first being a nickname given by the invading Angles and Saxons to the native Celts and Britons who were darker-haired and darker-skinned than themselves. There is an ancient fable that Wulfricus Niger, otherwise known as Wulfric the Black circa 980, received his name after blackening his face in order to pass undetected through his enemies. The second possible origin is as a shortened form of Black-Smith, a worker in cold metals, as distinct from a White (Smith), one who worked in hot metals. The surname was popular in Scotland from the 15th Century. Adam Black of Edinburgh (1784 - 1874), a publisher, acquired the rights to the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1827. No less than ten Coats of Arms were granted to families of this name. Those borne by Gilbert Black, Dean of the Guild of Aberdeen (1672), depict a black saltire between a red mullet in chief and a red crescent in base, on a silver shield with a black chief. A demi lion proper is on the Crest, and the Motto, "Non Crux, sed lux", translates as, "Not the cross, but its light". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wulfhun des Blaca which was dated circa 901, in the "Old English Bynames Register", during the reign of King Edward, known as "The Elder", 899 - 924 A.D. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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