212 
Y 
:N0TES on NORFOLK NAMES DERIVED FROM THOSE 
OF ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND PLANTS. 
P>Y W. H. Bidwell. 
Rend 2 ^fh January, iS8i. 
It sometimes happens that the only book n e can lay our hands on, 
to pass a tedious half-hour, is a Post-ollice Directory ; but doubtless, 
even from its pages, we might learn, had we skill to improve them, 
many useful lessons. The menial occupations of bearers of aristo- 
cratic names might teach us the instability of human greatness; 
or the proud position of descendants of smiths and bakers show us 
the advantage of steady perseverance in honest trade, I will 
not attempt to point the moral to any such reflections, but rather 
ask your attention to a few notes on names of places and people 
derived from, or identical with, those of animals, birds. Ashes, and 
plants. This subject may seem to claim the attention of the 
antiquary rather than the Naturalist, but I think it must interest 
those who make these creatures their study, to notice what a large 
number of English surnames they have contributed, and how many 
old or local names of the fauna of the county, which would other- 
wise become obsolete, are thus j^reserved to us in modern surnames. 
In making a list of names of places in Norfolk which originate 
in those of animals, birds, or plants, I have followed the Rev. 
George Mumford in the derivations of the names of villages, which 
he has given in his book on Local Names. 
It is probable that in the majority of these a personal name is 
commemorated. AVhen otherwise, perhaps some wild beast fre- 
quented the place; some remarkable bird visited it; or some 
noteworthy tree grew near. 
Noting such names in alphabetical order, wo have first : — 
Acle, taking its name from the Anglo-Sa.xon ac, an oak — a tree 
