USE AND ORIGIN OF SURNAMES. 25 
first instance, no doubt, there existed some reason 
for adopting them. Owing to the changes which 
time has introduced into this as well as other kinds 
of names, either by shortening long words, or by 
changing the orthography and pronunciation in 
a great variety of ways, it is Im numerous in- 
stances exceedingly difficult to discover the origi- 
nal form; and when the true source has been 
correctly traced, etymological inferences are gen- 
erally viewed with suspicion, and even sometimes 
appear ludicrous. As a matter of fact it admits 
of no doubt, that Ait is the legitimate representa- 
tive of Christopher, and Dick of Richard—with 
many besides; which, if they were viewed as the 
speculation of the etymologist, would scarcely be 
tolerated even as a jest. With respect, however, 
to the classes, which I now proceed to enumerate, 
there will not, I think, be much room for differ- 
ence of opinion. 
The first, and I believe the most numerous 
class of surnames is distinguished by the termina- 
tion son. Thus Johnson, Jackson, Williamson, 
Wilson, with many more, taking the denomina- 
tion from the father; and also, for particular 
reasons, sometimes from the mother, as JVelson, 
Alison, Pattison, Hanson, Moulson, &. There 
E 
