Part 26 (1/2)

STARK, STARKIE, STARR, STARCH, STURGE, STURGIN, STURGEON, STERICKER.

From the A.S. _stearc_, _sterc_, O.H.G. _starah_, _starh_, stiff, strong, I take the above. This form _starc_ seems formed by metathesis from the above _strac_,--indeed, all the three forms, _strang_, _strack_, and _stark_, are etymologically very closely allied. This stem enters distinctly into the Teutonic system, but besides the simple form Stark, corresponding with O.G. Starco and Staracho, we have only Stericker, corresponding with an O.G. Starcher (_her_, warrior).

EAVESTAFF, LANGSTAFF, WAGSTAFF, HACKSTAFF, SHAKESTAFF, COSTIFF.

These names ending in _staff_ might naturally be taken to have been sobriquets, to be cla.s.sed along with Shakespear, Breakspear, and other names of the same kind. But as regards two of them at least, Hackstaff and Shakestaff, there may be something more to be said. There is an ending _staf_ in Teutonic names, for which Grimm, referring to Gustaf, thinks of O.H.G. _stab_, A.S. _staf_, staff,--in the sense, as I should suppose, of baton, or staff of office. There are only discovered as yet two Old German names with this ending, Chustaff and Sigestab. The former, which seems to be from _cunst_ or _cust_, science, learning, may be the original of the Swedish Gustaf, and possibly of Costiff, one of the curious names gathered by Mr. Lower. Corresponding with the O.G.

Sigestab, we find an A.S. Sigistef, a moneyer of Coenwulf. And there is also a Hehstaf, witness to a charter (_Thorpe_, p. 69). Shakestaff, then, might be a not very difficult corruption of Sigestef (which in the form of Sicestaf would approach still nearer). And Hackstaff might represent the A.S. Hehstaf, in which the second _h_ was no doubt strongly aspirated, and might be more like a hard _c_. I, however, only bring this forward as a possible explanation; there is quite as much to be said for the other view, unless other ancient names turn up.

NAGLE, NAIL, HARTNOLL, DARNELL, TUFFNELL, HORSENAIL, HOOFNAIL, ISNELL, BRAZNELL, COPPERNOLL.

There is in my view no more curious or puzzling set of names than those which, as above, are derived from _nagel_ or nail, clavis. It appears to me, though the line is difficult to draw, that they may be divided into two groups, one of which is the representative of ancient baptismal names, and the other of surnames of a later, perhaps a mediaeval, date.

Connected with the former we have Nagle and Nail, corresponding with an O.G. Nagal, ninth century, and an A.S. Negle and Naele, 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 Hartnagel. Then I find two more examples among the Anglo-Saxons, Spernaegle in a charter of manumission at Exeter, and Dearnagle in a place-name, p. 98. Spernaegle is ”spear-nail,” and Dearnagle is probably the same, from O.N. _dorr_, spear. The latter of these two names we seem to have as Darnell, and the Germans as Thurnagel. 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 Naegling 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 a.s.sists to point the meaning as that of edge, acies. And it seems to me hardly necessary to a.s.sume, 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 Heanspol, &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 Honekyntun, now Hankerton). Eng. Onken.

_Compounds._

(_Frid_, peace), A.S. Eanfrith--O.G. Aunefrit, Onfred--Eng. Henfrey.[55]

(_Hari_, warrior), O.G. Onheri--O.N. Onar--Eng. Honnor, Ennor. (_Rad_, _Red_, counsel), A.S. Eanred--O.G. Onrada--Eng. Enright (=Enrat?).

(_Wine_, friend), A.S. Eanwini, Inwine (found in Inwines burg)--Eng.

Onwhyn. (_Wulf_, wolf), A.S. Eanulf--O.G. Aunulf brother of Odoaker, fifth century--Eng. Enough. (_Ward_ guardian), Eng. Onword.

IMPEY, EMPEY, HEMP, HAMP, HAMPER, HEMPER.

Mr. Kemble finds Impingas in Impington, in Cambridges.h.i.+re, though it would seem incorrectly, as far as the tribe or family is concerned, the name being only that of a man, Impin. The name Impa is found also in Ympanleage, in Worcesters.h.i.+re. A sufficient meaning may perhaps be found in A.S. _impan_, to plant, engraft. To this stem I place Impey, Hemp, and probably Hamp, while Hamper and Hemper may be compounds (_hari_, warrior). There is a stem _umb_ in Old German names, which may perhaps claim relations.h.i.+p.