In the 1950s the surname researcher Richard Blewett asked ‘are the Stevens at present in Cornwall descendants of Breton Celtic immigrants’, citing the Cornish revivalist Robert Morton Nance. This was repeated by G.Pawley White in 1972 who claimed that Stevens was the ‘Cornish form’ of Stephens. But is this actually the case? In 1881 both … Continue reading Which is more ‘Cornish’, Stevens or Stephens?
Tag: Cornish
What’s the point of the Cornish language?
Do languages have a life after death? The answer from Stuart Dunmore is a resounding yes. Stuart has an article forthcoming with the rather forbidding title of ‘A Cornish revival? The nascent iconization of a post-obsolescent language’. The Cornish language as a traditional, vernacular means of communication died somewhere around 1800, possibly living out its … Continue reading What’s the point of the Cornish language?
More Cornish surnames from places: Bosence, Buckthought and Carbines
Here are three more uniquely Cornish surnames that stem from placenames. In 1545 we find Richard and Thomas Bossens living at Sancreed in west Penwith. They no doubt lived at or were from the hamlet now spelt Bosence. Early 14th century spellings of Bosence were Boswyns or Boswens, which suggests the meaning was windy house. … Continue reading More Cornish surnames from places: Bosence, Buckthought and Carbines
Three surname puzzles: Badge, Bersey and Cheffers
These three surnames were all a lot more common in Cornwall in the later 1800s than anywhere else, but their origin is unclear or open to debate. If any reader has anything which will help clarify these particular puzzles do leave a comment. Badge might be a short version of Badger, which could apply to … Continue reading Three surname puzzles: Badge, Bersey and Cheffers
Calf, Cogar and Creeper
Here are three less common surnames, this time from nicknames or occupations. Calf was supposedly a nickname in English for a calf-like person (skittish maybe?), or perhaps for someone whose job was tending calves. Mary Calffe was buried at Bodmin in 1563 and the name was present from that point on in the Bodmin-Fowey district, … Continue reading Calf, Cogar and Creeper
Aunger, Betties and Cattran
Here are three more family names that were largely confined to Cornwall in the 1881 census. These three have their origins in first names. Aunger is supposedly from a Norman-French first name Aunger or Anger. It was found in Cornwall at an early period, appearing close to the border with Devon in the 1530s and … Continue reading Aunger, Betties and Cattran
Addicoat, Angear and Beskeen
I had to make a hard decision when collating the entries for my The Surnames of Cornwall. Which names to include, which to leave out? Previous works on the subject had relied on the subjective choice of the author. Partly in order to justify my method to the disappointed, I decided to be more objective. … Continue reading Addicoat, Angear and Beskeen
Cornish studies resources 