English surnames of Norman origin
Background and History
The Vikings were to the distant posts, traders and mercenaries but to the adjacent lands they were conquerors. Importing ‘more their semen than their culture’, they became part of the lands they put under their control.
Assimilation to French
In France their territory was identified as Normandy, a derivation from the Norseman that they were. They acquired the land by treaty (Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte) and though originally ethnic Scandinavians, in a relatively short time they took up and were absorbed into the French hierarchy controlling large tracts of land in what is now France and the Channel Islands. The Norman Conquest of England occurred in 1066. A bastard son with a spurious claim to the English throne defeated Harold Godwinson on the field in the Battle of Hastings bringing the French language and culture not to England in general but to the upper echelon of society with an assortment of barons and royalty creating the divide between Saxons and Normans so prevalent in the tales of Robin Hood and Sir Walter Scott.
Conquest of England
The conquest started in the South East of England and spread to all of modern England and the East coast of Ireland. Left today in history are the names of people descended from the Normans. The names are so entrenched they are ’more English than the English’ sometime in exactly the same form as the original French (e.g. de Vere) and sometimes so corrupted as to appear Anglo-Saxon and be unrecognizably Norman (e.g. Burke).
The Modern Norman Name
Norman names have a history of almost one thousand years in England. Sometimes, the history of a name is described as originally French though if it is Norman, the Frenchness of the line would have dissolved many generations ago. Walt Disney for example is described as having a name of French origin ('d’Isney') though the name is Norman and there is no French in his background. Were his name 'Palmer' or 'Trotter' there would be no explanation of the name though these names are as French as 'Disney'. They are all Norman names.
Exceptions
Even if recognizably French, not all French names in the English speaking world originate with the Normans. The “Auld Alliance” between France and Scotland caused a number of Scottish names to have French origins but with different backgrounds and different histories than the Norman names like 'Sinclair' or its variation 'St. Clair'. And there are anomalies - Frenchmen emigrating from a French speaking culture settling eventually in the English speaking world. Names originally French Canadian or Acadian are common in English speaking Canada often duplicating the Norman names ('Henry' for example). Some have come full circle as English speakers with Norman names have assimilated into the French culture and their names have become French again. (e.g. Talbot).
Preservation of the French Spelling
Sometimes because baronies are literate the names have specific French spelling. 'Lemessurier' is a common name and still retains its original French spelling. Notwithstanding the spelling, Norman names have all taken on an English pronunciation. 'Trottier' is pronounced 'Trotter' even though sometimes it retains its original French spelling. Sometimes the English pronunciation does not relate directly to the spelling of the word. 'Beauchamps' can be pronounced 'Beecham.' Because the Normans retained the French language for several generations after the conquest, there evolved a class distinction still prevalent today based on family names with the French surnames being more socially desirable - leading the main character in Keeping Up Appearances to pretentiously pronounce her name 'Bouquet' rather than 'Bucket' which is its actual spelling and modern pronunciation.
Names beginning with 'Fitz'
The French for son is 'fils' and is 'filius' in Latin (which is relevant because the Domesday Book was in Latin). 'Fils de' became 'fitz' in Norman names and often denoted an illegitimate son. Although more identified with Ireland, any name beginning with 'Fitz' is a Norman name (except 'FitzPatrick' which Henry VIII created by decree).
Transformations from the 'de'
A common trait of a Norman name is the prefix ‘de’. It means 'of' in both Latin and French and would denote the origin of the person. It seems the most expedient to exclude from the name. So royal names like 'Lyons' were in the past ’de Lyon'. Sometimes there was a space between the 'de' and the main appellation and sometimes they appear as one word. In French, the prefix 'de' is abbreviated to 'd' apostrophe if followed by a vowel. Many of the names with this abbreviation survive in their original form (e.g. D'Arcy) The capitalization of the 'D' is incorrect but more acceptable in modern English. Dropping the apostrophe altogether is also common as in 'Dalton'. Sometimes the prefix 'de' is used before a place name that is of Anglo-Saxon origin (e.g. Mortimer, Berkeley and Oxenford) the probable result of the generations after the conquest speaking French but associating with existing towns.
Norman Names in Fiction
The most famous of the Norman names is fictitious. In Thomas Hardy's ‘Tess of the d'Urbervilles’ Tess Durbeyfield is sent to visit the Baron of d’Urberville in an effort to find employment with the distant cousin. The tragedy of the novel follows from this fatal error. But no one questioned, that 'Durbeyfield' was the same name as 'd’Urberville'. Such is the prevalence and understanding of the Norman names. It was telling for the book that the poverty stricken Tess’ spelling reflected an illiterate background (and perhaps an illegitimate ancestor) whereas the barony (though having been purchased by a figurative bastard) would still spell the name in the correct Norman French form.
The Signatories of the Magna Carta
Less than 150 years after the Norman invasion, the most important document in political and legal history was signed by a group of then hereditary barons who would have still spoken French as a first language and held on to their Norman heritage. The Magna Carta made the King subject to the laws, gave women property rights and guaranteed the right to a fair trial before their peers - all necessities for the existence of the modern society. The signatories were Earls, Sheriffs, Lords and Barons: Eustace de Vesci, Robert de Ros, Richard de Percy, William de Mowbray, Roger de Montbegon, John FitzRobert Clavering, William de Forz, John de Lacy, Saer de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, Richard de Montfichet, William de Huntingfield, Roger Bigod and Hugh Bigod, Robert de Vere, Geoffrey de Mandeville, Henry de Bohun, Richard de Clare and Gilbert de Clare, William D'Albini, Robert Fitzwalter, William Hardel, William de Lanvallei, William Malet, William Marshal II, and Geoffrey de Say and the Norman King John the great great grandson of William.
Invitation to Compile Comprehensive List
The further purpose of this page would be to add the Norman names, the original spelling and perhaps some information on the barony or the more famous or notorious clan members. Wikipedia has that strength as an institution that many can work on the same project at the same time. We have the ability to assemble the most comprehensive and perhaps only list of Norman names that exists. This is not an intellectual exercise. The impact of the Normans is reflected in every episode of history their descendants participated up to modern times. Financial backgrounds, hereditary titles and royalty itself is impacted by Norman backgrounds as well as the study of genealogies. Still in modern times a Norman last name is the most important indicia of admittance to Oxford and Cambridge! (Surnames and Social Mobility: England 1230-2012 Gregory Clark, University of California, Davis, Neil Cummins London School of Economics Working Papers No. 181 - November 2013) And the Norman invasion is seen as the symbol of Brexit, being the first time England was taken over by continental Europe and the EEC being the second.
An extensive list can be found in Wiktionary at:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_surnames_from_Anglo-Norman
Explanations and histories of the Norman names: Talbot, Rossell (Russell), Breton and Stewart may be found at http://www.ancestraljourneys.org/normans.shtml
A sourcebook for the Norman people which contains references to the Norman Names Is: The Norman People, H.S. King & co. London 1874. https://archive.org/details/normanpeopleand00unkngoog
Also review the following categories for references:
