It is the opinion of Camden, Du Cange, Pegge, Sharon Turner, and other writers, that the custom of appropriating a permanent appellation to particular families, became fully established in this country at the period (sooner or later) of the Norman Conquest. The instances, however, exhibited below, prove that such custom was not, at any rate, universally prevalent at that time amongst us. And, indeed, whatever might have been the case in reference to "the high men of the lond," it is very certain that surnames, properly so called, were not completely adopted by the mass of the people until the close of the fourteenth century. But as the intention of this Note is simply to adduce original examples of individual designations, without inquiring into the circumstances attending their acquisition, or pointing to the causes, obvious enough for the most part, to which their various after-changes and modifications are to be attributed, the subject calls for no other general remark, except, perhaps, as to the prefixes "Le"[1] and "De," which, it may be noticed in passing, are, though not _constantly_, as is commonly asserted, attached to names in records of an older date than the time of Edward IV., when they began to fall into desuetude. [Footnote 1: This prefix was occasionally in Cheshire, and in the North with few exceptions, contracted into "A," as Thomas à Becket, Thomas à Dutton, &c.] With these introductory observations are now given, from the source above indicated,-- I. Examples of sons bearing a name different to that of their fathers:-- "1230. Will. fil. Silvestri, als. Will. Silvestre, fil. Silvestri Pudding de Holmestrete; "1232. Joh. de Worthestede, Tannator, fil. Simonis le Spencer; "1239. Sim. Pellipar (Pelter, or Skinner), fil. Ranulph. le Furmag. de N.; "1242. Will. Pryse, fil. Clementis Mayne de N.; "1249. Walt. de Swathingg de N. Aurifaber, fil. Joh. de Birlingham; "1273. Rob. Leck, fil. Add. de Tifteshale; "---- Rad. fil. Willi de Castelaire (Castleacre) qui vocatur Rads. de Lenn (Lynn); "1333. Rycard de Byteringe, fil. Johis le Yunge (Ling), Ballior; "1334. Joh. del Stonhous, fil. Ad. de Storston, Clici, C. N. "1354. Willm. de Bernham, fil. Adam. del Sartyn defti." Attention is requested to the last entry but one of this list; and it may be further mentioned, in reference to it, that sub ann. 1270 occurs this notice: "Adam _le Clerk_ de Stirston et Anger (?) _ux. ej._" II. Examples of wives described by names other than those borne by their husbands: "1255. Rob. de Wurthestede, et Basilia le Ro', ux. ej." 1288. Will. de Devenschyr, le Wayte, et Alicia de Wetinge, ux. ej. 1307. Johes Mengy de Besthorp, et Martha de Felmingham, ux. ej. ---- Thos. Toyth, et Juliana le Ropere, ux. ej. 1316. Agnes Richeman (Rickman), Relicta Ric. Holveston defti. 1318. Rob. de Poswyk, Taverner, et Alicia Godesman, ux. ej.