In my humble view, the various surname maps are good if you have a rare or unusual surname. I've long been suspicious of the view that all SMITHS were once SMITHS, all CLARKS were once CLERKS, always seemed a bit too simplistic. If trades became surnames and we have CARTERS why not CARRIERS. I think the Victorians spear headed surname 'histories' when coats of arms became all the rage. Over time, many surnames have been corrupted and the original meaning has been lost. Two diiferent names can appear to be the same one, being similar in sound, but different in origin. One of my surnames is fairly uncommon and is DUNCH from Norwich, thanks to a clerical error at marriage I have a whole branch on my tree spelling it DENCH..how many times has your own surname being spelt incorrectly. If some people had their way McMurtry would be Murphy :-) I think it all comes down to etymology and linguistics ....interesting subject. Angela

Hi Listers I'd like to recommend "Family Names and Family History" by David Hey, for an excellent exposition on various writers, theories and methodologies used to identify the source of names, usually 13th century. Amazon has some used copies at very affordable prices. Best wishes Carole > From: angelamciow@talktalk.net > To: isle-of-wight@rootsweb.com > Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:50:51 +0000 > Subject: [IoW] SURNAME ATLAS > > In my humble view, the various surname maps are good if you have a rare or > unusual surname. > > I've long been suspicious of the view that all SMITHS were once SMITHS, all > CLARKS were once CLERKS, always seemed a bit too simplistic. If trades > became surnames and we have CARTERS why not CARRIERS. > > I think the Victorians spear headed surname 'histories' when coats of arms > became all the rage. > > Over time, many surnames have been corrupted and the original meaning has > been lost. Two diiferent names can appear to be the same one, being similar > in sound, but different in origin. > > One of my surnames is fairly uncommon and is DUNCH from Norwich, thanks to a > clerical error at marriage I have a whole branch on my tree spelling it > DENCH..how many times has your own surname being spelt incorrectly. If some > people had their way McMurtry would be Murphy :-) > > I think it all comes down to etymology and linguistics ....interesting > subject. > Angela > > > ************************************** > You can contact the Isle of Wight List Administrator by emailing: > Isle-of-Wight-Admin@rootsweb.com > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ISLE-OF-WIGHT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Got a cool Hotmail story? Tell us now http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/

On 22 Feb 2010 at 19:50, Angela McMurtry wrote: > In my humble view, the various surname maps are good if you have a > rare or unusual surname. > > I've long been suspicious of the view that all SMITHS were once > SMITHS, all CLARKS were once CLERKS, always seemed a bit too > simplistic. If trades became surnames and we have CARTERS why not > CARRIERS. > > I think the Victorians spear headed surname 'histories' when coats of > arms became all the rage. > > Over time, many surnames have been corrupted and the original meaning > has been lost. Two diiferent names can appear to be the same one, > being similar in sound, but different in origin. > > One of my surnames is fairly uncommon and is DUNCH from Norwich, > thanks to a clerical error at marriage I have a whole branch on my > tree spelling it DENCH..how many times has your own surname being > spelt incorrectly. If some people had their way McMurtry would be > Murphy :-) > > I think it all comes down to etymology and linguistics ....interesting > subject. Angela > You confirm my own views, Angela, which is that trying to explain the origins and meaning of surnames is fraught with pitfalls and much too simplistic. I too suffer from the misspelling of my name. I think my favourites are STOCKDRILL and STOCKDULL (one thing I don't think I am is dull!). One useful thing, though, about having an unusual surname misspelt is that you don't have to respond to letters you don't much like (bills, etc) as you can always pretend they were addressed to the wrong person! I have expounded the views of Dr George Redmonds, probably the world's leading academic researcher of surnames, and I agree with him that each and every surname is unique in itself to a particular individual and can only be explained if traced right back to the original holder. -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE