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Quiz about Origin of Surnames
Quiz about Origin of Surnames

Origin of Surnames Quiz for Experts | Names


There are four categories here: names derived from other names, like Jackson; from locality, like Hill; 'nicknames', like Cruickshank which means bowlegged and occupational names such as Smith, Baker, etc. See if you find your way in it.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
flem-ish
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
65,794
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
4 / 10
Plays
1721
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Names that derive from father's names sometimes derive from the shortened form or petform of that name. It's quite coincidental but the author of Oliver Twist had a surname that actually derived from the same first name as the author of Clarissa Harlowe had. What was the full form of that first name? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Surnames that derive from women's names are relatively rare. Yet there are a few of them. The name of hero of one of Sinclair Lewis's books derives from Barbara via Babbs - a shortened form for Barbara. What is the name of that hero?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 3 of 10
3. Which of these might also be a derivation from a woman's name? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. John Drinkwater may be an ironic nickname for somebody who always was drunk, but it could also be a nickname for somebody too poor to get himself beer or wine. Some nicknames are French in origin. Which of these is the only one that has no link with the idea of short French: court? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Plenty of names can be explained in various ways and also actually originated in different ways. Sir Simon Fraser had 3 'fraises' or strawberries in his coat of arms. That need not mean he descends from strawberry-sellers. The origin was probably La Freseliere in France. What first name may Bate or Batte as in 'Bateman's' have been a derivation of? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Some explanations are quite surprising. The author of the 'Catcher in the Rye' seems to have a name that derives from a locality in France. Which of these place-names is the one that via phonetic analysis comes closest to the name Salinger? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A popular name in Scotland was Alexander. It led to many Sandies and even McAlisters, Sandersons and Saunders. Less easy to notice is the link the name Alexander has with one of the famous producers of portwine, most of which happen to be British as connoisseurs will know. It's not Graham's and it's not Osborne or Taylor's but: _________'s

Answer: (eight letters {;} do not add 's or s.)
Question 8 of 10
8. Among the 'locality names' some are easy to recognise if one takes into account some traditional components of such names e.g. 'bourne' which is an older word for a stream; 'by' which meant farm; 'lea' which was a clearing in a wood; 'ness' which was a headland; 'ey' which was an island. What kind of trees were there near to a place that was labelled: Ayckbourne ?

Answer: ({Plural;} 4 letters)
Question 9 of 10
9. Many names seem easy to explain, but are not. Blake need not have a link with 'black'. The link could equally well be with 'bleak', which actually means the opposite 'pale'. And somebody called Bishop need not be a descendant of a bishop but of his servant. An easy one however is Butler. What word is this name related to? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Catchpole is a most peculiar name. It was a nickname for taxgatherers because they used to take in kind what they could not take in money. So what may the link be? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Names that derive from father's names sometimes derive from the shortened form or petform of that name. It's quite coincidental but the author of Oliver Twist had a surname that actually derived from the same first name as the author of Clarissa Harlowe had. What was the full form of that first name?

Answer: Richard

Richard gives derivations such as Richards, Richardson. But also Dickson, Dickinson and Dickens from the pet form Dick.
2. Surnames that derive from women's names are relatively rare. Yet there are a few of them. The name of hero of one of Sinclair Lewis's books derives from Barbara via Babbs - a shortened form for Barbara. What is the name of that hero?

Answer: Babbitt

3. Which of these might also be a derivation from a woman's name?

Answer: Emmett

Eliott derives from Elias. Actually means Elias-son. Emerson means Emery's son. Everett or Everts is unrelated to anything like little Eve. The true link is with Ever- as in Everton which means 'fenced in place' near 'a place with wild boars'. Ever (zwijn) is Dutch for boar. Emmett is Emmy' son - from Emma.
4. John Drinkwater may be an ironic nickname for somebody who always was drunk, but it could also be a nickname for somebody too poor to get himself beer or wine. Some nicknames are French in origin. Which of these is the only one that has no link with the idea of short French: court?

Answer: Curtiss

Shorthose is the one who wears short 'hoses'. Courtenay is the one with the short nose. Courtauld is a 'shortie'. But Curtiss is not a short person, but a courteous one , from French 'la cour', English 'the court'.
5. Plenty of names can be explained in various ways and also actually originated in different ways. Sir Simon Fraser had 3 'fraises' or strawberries in his coat of arms. That need not mean he descends from strawberry-sellers. The origin was probably La Freseliere in France. What first name may Bate or Batte as in 'Bateman's' have been a derivation of?

Answer: Bartholomew

Bastien or Bastian is short for Sebastian, and can be excluded. So can Basil and Bertram. Bart (as in Bartleby's) is a derivation from Bartholomew. Bate - as in Bates - is one of the shortened forms. Bateman is either a petname of that short form or equivalent to Bateson. There are other explanations too: e.g. the man with the bat or cudgel. Or Bates-man in the meaning of Bate's servant.
6. Some explanations are quite surprising. The author of the 'Catcher in the Rye' seems to have a name that derives from a locality in France. Which of these place-names is the one that via phonetic analysis comes closest to the name Salinger?

Answer: Saint Leger

No doubt Saint Leger. There is a Saint Ligier too, but phonetically that one does not fit in as well as an Anglicized pronunciation of Saint Leger.
7. A popular name in Scotland was Alexander. It led to many Sandies and even McAlisters, Sandersons and Saunders. Less easy to notice is the link the name Alexander has with one of the famous producers of portwine, most of which happen to be British as connoisseurs will know. It's not Graham's and it's not Osborne or Taylor's but: _________'s

Answer: Sandeman

8. Among the 'locality names' some are easy to recognise if one takes into account some traditional components of such names e.g. 'bourne' which is an older word for a stream; 'by' which meant farm; 'lea' which was a clearing in a wood; 'ness' which was a headland; 'ey' which was an island. What kind of trees were there near to a place that was labelled: Ayckbourne ?

Answer: oaks

People being named after where they were from is still a popular phenomenon. A few traditional examples: {Scot;} {Fleming;} Brooks ... but even Beckett can be explained that way because a beck is a stream and Beckett might derive from beck-head.'Top' of the stream. Ackroyd is an oak clearing.
9. Many names seem easy to explain, but are not. Blake need not have a link with 'black'. The link could equally well be with 'bleak', which actually means the opposite 'pale'. And somebody called Bishop need not be a descendant of a bishop but of his servant. An easy one however is Butler. What word is this name related to?

Answer: bottle

He was the one who poured out wine for his master. He may have cut the roast for him too , but he certainly was not the one who slaughtered the cattle.
10. Catchpole is a most peculiar name. It was a nickname for taxgatherers because they used to take in kind what they could not take in money. So what may the link be?

Answer: poultry

People unable to pay their taxes seldom had anything worth taking . Certainly not any cattle. All the 'polecatcher' could do was to confiscate the few hens and chickens they had in their yard. To catch is related to French chasser.
Source: Author flem-ish

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