Cornish Surname Meanings

[racing girl]

I have G. Pawley White's "A Handbook of Cornish Surnames", third edition (1999). Let me know if anyone would like a description of what your Cornish surnames mean.

Brenda

[MarkJ]

Being a Cornish speaker, I can usually work out what the names mean - especially those with Cornish language derivations. My own surname I wouldn't be able to work out, although I do know what it means.
It would be interesting to see what the book says about it - the name is Jose.

Mark

[BradinAustralia]

Hi

Great post!!! Lets see if you can with these:

TAPRELL / TAPERELL ETC
COCK
CHEGWIDDEN
RASHLEIGH




Many thanks


Brad

[Devonmade]

My maiden name was Pawley, The family lived around the Tamar Valley area. but were living in Mid Devon in the late 1700's.

Sue

[racing girl]

For Mark:
Jose - Romano-Celtic surname, borrowed from latin Joseus during Roman occupation. Well known during the 14th century.


For Brad:
Tapprell etc - not listed

Cock - Possibly fom cok, a sailing boat; or from cok, meaning empty and vain!

Chegwidden/Chegwin/Chegwyn - From chy gwyn* meaning white house. Placename Chegwidden, Constantine. Mainly found in Mid and West Cornwall

Rashleigh - not listed

*Later in the book is the surname Widden, which is from gwyn, meaning fair. Perhaps this "fair" refers to "pale" as in "white house" above?


For Sue:
Pawley/Pawle/Paulle - The Cornish form of Paul


Brenda

[racing girl]

Brad - From The Surname DB

Surname: Rashleigh
This interesting name is of early medieval English origin, and is a locational surname deriving from the place called "Rashleigh" near Wernworthy in Devonshire. The placename derives from a contraction of the Middle English "atterash", at the ash (tree), with "leye, lye", a clearing in a wood, glade or this wood, a development of the Old English pre 7th Century term "leah". The first recording of the surname, below, shows the original spelling of the placename, before the preposition "atte" was dropped to form "Rashleigh" or "Rashley", the modern surnames. The development of the name in Devonshire includes: John Rastheley (1539), Baldwyn Rasheley (1553), John Rashlye (1583), and Gyles Rayshley (1589). Alice Rashleigh was christened in West Down, Devon, on January 4th 1634, and the marriage of William Rashleigh and Agnes Gaunt was recorded at Teignmouth, Devon, on February 9th 1666. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John atte Rashlegh, which was dated 1292, Calendar of Inquisitions, Devonshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

[Devonmade]

Hi Brenda

Thank you, for the explanation for the surname "Pawley" perhaps it originated as the Son of Paul.

I have another name found in Corwall in the Launceston area. It is "Gynn" some of us pronouce it with a hard G others pronounce so that it sounds like "Gin"

Regards and many thanks

Sue

[annewilson]

For Brad

I also have CHEGWIDDENs in my tree specifically from the Constantine/Seworgan area

[SBSFamilyhistory]

hi Brenda,

I have Bartle's from St Erth, near St Ives. can you help with the meaning of this please.

Thanks Sue

[racing girl]

Hi Sue
The name isn't in the Cornish book, but it is listed at the Surname DB site:

Recorded in various forms including Bart, Barth, and diminutives Bartle, Bartell, the occupational Bartleman, double diminutives Bartley and Bartolett, and many others, this is an Anglo-Scottish surname. However spelled its origination is from the biblical name Bartholomew. This 'name' was introduced into Europe in the 12th century by Crusaders returning from the Holy Land. These knights had made many, all unsuccessful, attempts to wrest the country and specifically Jerusalem, from the infidel Muslim. It became the fashion in a period of Christian revival, for these returning warriors to call their subsequent children by names which had associations with the early days of the birth of the Christian faith. The Crusades themsleves may have had a low success rating, but the introduction of these 'given' names and ultimately 'surnames', was the opposite. They swept away many of the more cumbersome multi compounds of the Saxons and later Normans, leaving only the 'royal' names of William, Richard, and Henry with any measure of popularity. Curiously the only early kings to be given Christian names were Stephen (1135 - 1154) and John (1199 - 1216), and theirs were two of the worst reigns in British history. 'Bartholmew' was one of the most popular forms, and provided over fifty British surnames. The name means 'He who makes furrows' or more simply a farmer, Robert Bartelmeu being recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdon, in 1273. Other examples include Thomas Batelot of Sussex in the Subsidy Tax rolls of 1327, Robertus Bartlet of York in the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Janne Bartleman who married Thomas Scott in 1750, and Sarah Bartle, who married Sam Spencer, in 1752, both at St. Georges chapel, Hanover Square, London.