Connected with the former we have Nagle and Nail, corresponding with an
O.G. Nagal, ninth century, and an A.S. Negle and Næle, found in
place-names, p. 101. Then there are two Old German compounds, Hartnagal
(hard nail) and Swarnagal (heavy nail), respectively of the eighth and
ninth centuries. The former of these two names we have as Hartnoll, and
the Germans have it as Härtnagel. Then I find two more examples among
the Anglo-Saxons, Spernægle in a charter of manumission at Exeter, and
Dearnagle in a place-name, p. 98. Spernægle is "spear-nail," and
Dearnagle is probably the same, from O.N. _dörr_, spear. The latter of
these two names we seem to have as Darnell, and the Germans as
Thürnagel. Then we have Tuffnell, which, as Mr. Lower mentions, was in
the seventeenth century spelt Tufnaile, and might be taken to mean
"tough-nail," but for this we find no corresponding ancient name. There
is a Celtic Dufnal, to which, as being a name adopted from them by the
Northmen, and so having an increased chance of being represented, it
might perhaps be placed. But if this be the case (which I rather doubt),
it would have nothing to do with the present group. The sense in these
ancient names may be taken to be a warlike one, as in the case of other
names having the meaning of point or edge, acies. We find Nægling as the
name given by an Anglo-Saxon to his sword, in accordance with the
ancient custom, prevalent both among the Celts and the Saxons, of giving
names to weapons, and this assists to point the meaning as that of edge,
acies. And it seems to me hardly necessary to assume, with Mone
(_Heldensage_), any connection with the mythological smith, Weland.
Then there is another set of names of which we have a considerable
number, and the Germans still more, which appear to have been given at a
later period, and to be perhaps, at least in some cases, derived from
trade. Such are Horsnail, and the corresponding German Rosnagel;
Hoofnail, and the German Hufnagel; while there are others, such as
Isnell (iron nail), Coppernoll (and Germ. Kupfernagel), about which I
hardly know what to think.
HONE, HEAN, HEANEY, ONKEN, ENNOR, HONNER, HENFREY, ENRIGHT, ONWHYN,
ENOUGH.
A very common stem in A.S. names is _ean_, the meaning of which remains
yet unexplained. We seem to have received it both in the Low German
form _ean_ and the High German form _aun_ or _on_. The Honingas
(Oningas) among the early settlers must, I think, be placed to it. It is
very apt to intermix with another stem _an_, to which I formerly placed
a few names which I think should come in here.
Stem _ean_, _en_, _aun_, _on_.
A.S. Eana, Enna (found in Ennanbeorh), Hean (found in Heanspôl, &c).
Also Onna (found in Onnandun). Hona, found in Honingas. Ona, _Lib. Vit._
O.G. Ono, Oni. Eng. Hean, Heaney, Hone. Fries. Onno.
_Diminutive._
A.S. Honekyn (found in Honekyntûn, now Hankerton). Eng. Onken.
_Compounds._
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