216 
have the like heart or the like courage, the parents would some- 
times give unto the child the name of heare's-liart or hearn-hart! 
Ifrom this name Bearnhart we get the Norfolk surname Barnard, 
and, in like manner, Everard or Everhart from ever, a wild boar. 
In many instances the surname originated from the animal or 
]dant having been borne as an heraldic badge, or blazoned on a 
shield. “In the tournament and in the battle-field a knight pre- 
sented himself ■with the visor of his helmet down, and he was only 
known by the symbol he affected to bear. The designation of this * 
symbol, associated as it was with every one of his glorious exploits, 
became a veritable surname.”'^' 
In searching heraldic charges for animals, fishes, and plants, I 
have made a list of one hundred and sixty, which includes, as an 
old herald rvrites, “ Earthly animals with watery, savage beasts 
with tame, fowls of prey Avith homebred, these again Avith river 
foAvls, reptiles Avith things gressible, aery insects Avith earthly.” 
But a still more frequent origin of surnames is to be found in 
signs and sign-boards, Avhich, Avhen houses Avere not numbered, 
and fcAv people could read, Avere much more common than noAV. 
Camden Avrites : “ Many names that seem unfitting for men, as of 
brutish beasts, &c., came from the very signs of the houses Avhich 
they hdiabited.” 
The transition from John at the Bull and Charles at the Lamb 
to John Bull aird Charles Lamb is easy; and Eugene, living at 
the liam, might be called Eugene Aram. Of animals, birds, fishes, 
and plants used as signs, I have found upAvards of one hundred and 
fd’ty. 
In some instances the fine at the manor court, Avhen paid in 
kind, Avould give a name to the copyholder. Thus Richard, Avho 
brought every year a kid, might in time bo called Richard Kid. 
In like manner we read of one Avho held land by tenure, to say a 
certain number of paternosters for the souls of the kings of 
England, avIio Avas called Paternoster, and left that name to his 
posterity. 
Street cries and stall cries originated many surnames at a time 
Avhen it Avas customary for the seller to stand beside a beneb 
outside his shop, and proclaim the excellency of his Avares. The 
* Lower’s Essay on English Surnames. 
