But it is with a man's last resting-place that his name will be found in
Anglo-Saxon times to be most especially associated. The principal words
used to denote a grave are _beorh_ (barrow), _byrgels_, and _hloew_
(low), in all of which the idea seems to be that of a mound raised over
the spot. We have Weardes beorh, "Weard's barrow," also Lulles, Cartes,
Hornes, Lidgeardes, and many others. We have Scottan byrgels, "Scotta's
barrow," also Hôces, Wures, and Strenges. And we have Lortan hlæw,
"Lorta's low," also Ceorles, Wintres, Hwittuces, and others. There is
another word _hô_, which seems to be the same as the O.N. _haugr_,
North. Eng, _how_, a grave-mound. It is found in Healdenes hô, Piccedes
hô, Scotehô Tilmundes hô, Cægeshô, and Fingringahô. It would hardly
seem, from the location of four of them, Worcester, Essex, Beds, Sussex,
that they can be of Scandinavian origin. Can the two words, _haugr_ and
_hlau_ (_how_, and _hlow_), be from the same origin, the one assuming,
or the other dropping an _l_?
I take the names of persons thus to be deduced from Anglo-Saxon
place-names, and which are in general correspondence with the earlier
names in the preceding chapter, though containing some new forms and a
greater number of compound names, to give as faithful a representation
as we can have of the every-day names of Anglo-Saxons. And as I have
before compared the names of those primitive settlers with our existing
surnames, so now I propose to extend the comparison to the names of more
settled Anglo-Saxon times.
Anglo-Saxon
Men's Names. Place-Names. English Surnames.
Abbod Abbodesbyrig } _Abbott_
Abbud Abbudesmearc }
Æcemann Æcemannes ceaster _Ackman, Aikman_
Acen Acenes feld _Aikin_
Ægelweard Ægelweardes mearc _Aylward_
Alberht Alcherdes ford _Allcard_
Alder Aldrestub _Alder_
Ælfgar Ælfgares gemæro _Algar_
Ælfred Ælfredes beorh _Alfred_, _Allfrey_
Ælfher, or }
Ælfheri } Ælfheres stapol _Alvary_
Æscmer Æscmeres weorth _Ashmore_
Æscmann Æscmannes yre _Ashman_
Alebeard Alebeardes âc _Halbard_
Amber Ambresbyrig _Amber_
Æthelstan Æthelstanes tûn _Ethelston_
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