New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesYup, that's what it says...
in reply to a message by Nanaea
Indeed, I was never debating that Baecestere is a Old English feminine form, just that as a Medieval English occupational name it is not necessarily or even usually female.
Inherited surnames are fairly rare 1100-1300 (e.g. John (the miller)Miller's son may be Henry Johnson or Henry Mill(er(s)) (but probably only sometimes and depending on whom he's talking to :)), but his grandson is more likely to be John Harries) which is why the conclusion is that although some of these men may be John Baxter son of Margaret the Baxter, the rest are probably John Baxter the Baxter.
Trades were more inheritable than surnames, and this probably contributed to the 'de-feminization' of Baxter - e.g. John Baxter may be both the son of Margaret Baxter AND John the Baxter himself.
Either I came across the dialect info elsewhere, or I made it up :)
I'm fairly sure I've read something recent on this though.
I'm away this weekend, but if I remember I'll check with a names scholar I know (he's always been up for random queries in the past) and get back to you. Won't be before next week though.
Did you buy a copy of DESN? It has its errors, but the range and depth of info on names is quite impressive.
I've been flicking through it again this past week, and the number of surnames that derive from women's names is huge...
Inherited surnames are fairly rare 1100-1300 (e.g. John (the miller)Miller's son may be Henry Johnson or Henry Mill(er(s)) (but probably only sometimes and depending on whom he's talking to :)), but his grandson is more likely to be John Harries) which is why the conclusion is that although some of these men may be John Baxter son of Margaret the Baxter, the rest are probably John Baxter the Baxter.
Trades were more inheritable than surnames, and this probably contributed to the 'de-feminization' of Baxter - e.g. John Baxter may be both the son of Margaret Baxter AND John the Baxter himself.
Either I came across the dialect info elsewhere, or I made it up :)
I'm fairly sure I've read something recent on this though.
I'm away this weekend, but if I remember I'll check with a names scholar I know (he's always been up for random queries in the past) and get back to you. Won't be before next week though.
Did you buy a copy of DESN? It has its errors, but the range and depth of info on names is quite impressive.
I've been flicking through it again this past week, and the number of surnames that derive from women's names is huge...
1
Replies
Ah, I see
"Trades were more inheritable than surnames, and this probably contributed to the 'de-feminization' of Baxter…"
Well, that would explain the entry in the book stating that "only two examples have been noted with a woman's christian name." I see now that the authors are referring to the surname as being more of an occupational title than an inherited name.
Very interesting book! Thanks for the recommendation. :)
-- Nanaea
"Trades were more inheritable than surnames, and this probably contributed to the 'de-feminization' of Baxter…"
Well, that would explain the entry in the book stating that "only two examples have been noted with a woman's christian name." I see now that the authors are referring to the surname as being more of an occupational title than an inherited name.
Very interesting book! Thanks for the recommendation. :)
-- Nanaea
1