122 



Bishop's Cannings. 



Thus, the family of the Basings, is recognised in (simply) Basing 

 (Hants) ; and in composition, Basing-stoke (Hants), Bassing-bourne 

 (Oamb.), Bassing-ham (Line), Bassing-ton (Northumb.), Bassing- 

 field (Line.) : the adjuncts, stoke, bourne, ham, ton, Sfc., being 

 merely the ordinary Saxon words for village, stream, farm, town,fyc. 

 So with the family name of the Hornings, Mannings, and others : 

 which in composition become Hornings-ham, Manning-ford, &c. 

 Among such patronymics Mr. Kemble includes the name of Can- 

 nings: which in the present instance remains simple : but in com- 

 position is found elsewhere, as Canning- ton (Som.), Kenning-ton 

 (Surrey), Kenning-hill (Norfolk). This derivation of the word, 

 by one of the best Anglo-Saxon scholars of his day, not only simple 

 in itself, but supported by a large analogy, may serve as a good 

 illustration and key to the history of names. For in numerous 

 other cases, the course of derivation has been exactly the same as 

 in this. Cannings was first & family name, imported into England 

 twelve centuries ago. The foreign settlers who bore it, naturally 

 gave it to the place at which they settled. The next step was, that 

 individuals born in or connected with the place, distinguished them- 

 selves from other Johns or Williams, as John or William de Can- 

 nings. Presently the de fell into disuse, and so the word insensibly 

 passed into a family name once more. As such, it has not only 

 survived to the nineteenth century, but has become known to the 

 whole world: first, in connexion with one of England's most ac- 

 complished Orators, and now as her Representative in the Empire 

 of India. 1 



In Domesday Book, Bishop's Cannings appears to be called 

 Kaining-ham; i.e. Canning's estate or farm: but in other records 

 of or about that period, it is simply " Canynges m " as in Bishop 



1 In the 13th and 14th centuries when Ecclesiastics almost universally used 

 simply their Christian name followed by the place of their birth, or home, Simon 

 de Kanynges was Abbot of Hyde; a.d. 1292. John de Canynges, Prior of Ab- 

 ingdon, 1322. Richard de Canynges, Chantry Priest at Little Cheverell, 1297, 

 and Chaplain at Hardenhuish, in Wilts, 1299. A Nicholas Martyn de Canynges 

 was Rector of Boy ton, 1332. The first of the celebrated Bristol family who 

 used it as an established sirname was William Canynges, Bailiff of the City in 

 1361, the grandfather of the builder of Redcliff Church. 



