What's in a name?

Genealogical research is addictive. What could be more gripping than finding an exciting ancestor in the closet?

In Britain, most of the surnames are from professions, locations, or mean “son of”, translating to Mac, O’ or Son, or in the case of the Welsh, tacking an “s” on the end of the father’s name. Some of the Scots have descriptions of faces as surnames. I believe Cameron means “bent nose” or something equally embarrassing.

My father has been an amateur geneaologist for nearly 20 years. He has been assisted by coming from a long line of hoarders, pack rats and attic fanatics. So, he had a lot of papers and photos to work with. Our family name originates in the north of England, and in Old English translates as “field of barley”. As barley is the poor man’s cereal, it doesn’t take much to deduce that we were a poor lot. On the other side of Dad’s line, it seems we were French, which came as a bit of a shock. Mum’s people were originally Welsh, which would explain the dark hair and penchant for leeks.

My husband’s side is exotic. Four generations back were Hungarian aristocracy; more recently spice traders and rabbis.

Our very different histories converge a little more on our father’s side. That side of his family were Old French, and also originated in the North. The surname is the name of a very small fish. The jeweller who made our wedding rings engraved them with medieval fish swimming around the eternal circle of gold.

If I were to conclude that our surname originated in a profession, I could only become a Fishmonger or a Florist. And for those reading this blog who don’t know us, a prize will go to the person who guesses what it is.