278 On Proper Names, 



• 2. From his trade or occupation, as Smith, Wright^ }^^* 

 •^ter^ Baker, Leach, Kemp, Clerk, &c. ■ '^^\) 



3. From his father or mother, sls Jackson, Dickson, Robert- 

 son, Mollison, Bettison, Megson, &c, 



4. From some quality or attribute, inherent or imputed, as 

 Hardy, Bold, Wise, Long, Short, Grey, Green, Cruickshanks, 

 Longshanks, Littlejohn, 8lc. 



5. From natural objects or productions, chiefly animals or 

 vegetables, as Lyon, Lamb, Hawk, Salmon, Hose, Hawthorn, 

 Lilly, &c. 



These five classes comprise about ninety-five per cent, of 

 all English sirnames, and a few words only will be required on 

 each of them, in the way of explanation. The small re- 

 mainder are of different species, mostly monosyllabic, and 

 are often very difficult to trace. When successfully investi- 

 gated, they are often found to belong to one or other of the 

 five classes above enumerated. 



The first division, or the sirnames derived from towns, dis- 

 tricts, or habitations, is by far the most numerous, as it com- 

 prehends nearly one-half of the whole. This large class may 

 be best subdivided by its termination, of which the most fre- 

 quent are the following : 



1. Ton, a town, as Flixfon (or Felivtown) the happy or 

 pleasant town ; Newton, the new town ; Preston, the sheriff 

 town ; Norton, the north town ; Sutton, the south town, 

 Jjcington, the long town, &c. 



2. Wood, as Firwood, the wood of fir ; Norwood, the north 

 wood ; Haslewood, the wood of hazles ; Elmwood, the wood 

 of elms. 



3. Ley, lea, or lee ; a pasture, as Broadley, the broad field, 

 Langley, the long field, or pasture ; Ousley, the field of the 

 Ouse ; Hanley, the field of the haven ; Netherley, the lower 

 field ; Beverley, the beaver field. 



4. Hill, as Churchill, the hill of the church ; Bethell (a word 

 compounded of a Celtic and a Saxon monosyllable), the bed 

 of the hill ; Wardell, the hill of the ward ; Farnell, the hill 

 of the fern. 



5. Ing, a swampy bottom, and sometimes an appropriated 

 part of a common field, as Withering, the hill of withers or 



