Surnames

I have gathered information on both sides of my parent's families. This page is dedicated to giving a background on some of the families’ surnames. I know some of the information on this page is somewhat repetitive, but I wanted to show all the information I had gathered and some sites had information that went into further detail.

Dad’s Side

Wallace is my maiden name. I haven't found much information on the family. The origin of the Wallace name is Scottish, English, and Welsh. The definition is a Scottish form of WALLIS, from the Old French 'le waleis," meaning "foreigner or stranger." Often used to denote native Welsh and Bretons. Other spellings of Wallace are: Wallis, Wallish, Welsh, Walsh, and Wales. Another site I found had this information on the Wallace surname. “Scottish and northern Irish: from Anglo-Norman French waleis ‘Welsh’ (from a Germanic cognate of Old English wealh ‘foreign’), hence an ethnic name for a Welsh speaker. In some cases this clearly denoted an incomer to Scotland from Wales or the Welsh Marches, but it may also have denoted a Welsh-speaking Scot: in western Scotland around Glasgow, the Welsh-speaking Strathclyde Britons survived well into the Middle Ages. Jewish: this surname has been adopted in the 19th and 20th centuries as an Americanized form of various Ashkenazic Jewish surnames, e.g. Wallach.” This information is also from another site. “The same as Wales or Welch, and formed thus--Gaulish, Wallish, Wallis, and also Welsh or Welch, a name given to the Britons by their Danish and Angles invaders, because they originally came from Gaul.”

Sources:
http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/w/bl_name-WALLACE.htm
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4 http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496&fid=10&fn=&ln=Wallace0
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857. http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/w/wallace.php

The Gilbert surname is “English (of Norman origin), French, and North German: from Giselbert, a Norman personal name composed of the Germanic elements gisil ‘pledge’, ‘hostage’, ‘noble youth’ (see Giesel) + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’. This personal name enjoyed considerable popularity in England during the Middle Ages, partly as a result of the fame of St. Gilbert of Sempringham (1085–1189), the founder of the only native English monastic order.” It can also be “Jewish (Ashkenazic): Americanized form of one or more like-sounding Jewish surnames.” Another version I found is from German origin. It means “bright pledge, from Gisle, a pledge; or gold-like, bright, from the Saxon Geele, yellow.”

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/g/gilbert.php

The Snodgrass surname is “Scottish: habitational name from a place near Irvine in the former county of Ayrshire, named with northern Middle English snod ‘smooth’, ‘sleek’, ‘even’ + grass ‘grass’.” Another site had this information: “locality. Grass trimmed and smooth; short grass.”

Sources:

Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496&fid=10&fn=&ln=Snodgrass

Morgan Morgan's surname originates from Welsh. The definition is derived from the given name Morgan, from "mor", the sea, and "gan," born. Other spellings of Morgan are: Morgen, Morgain, and Morgaine. Other sites contained this information: “from Mor, the sea, and gan, born; the same as Pelagius--born on the sea, from the Greek, the sea. Mor, the sea, and gan, by or near--near the sea, a locality.” “Welsh: from the Old Welsh personal name Morcant, which is of uncertain but ancient etymology. Irish: importation of the Welsh surname, to which has been assimilated more than one Gaelic surname, notably Ó Muireagáin. Scottish: of uncertain origin; probably from a Gaelic personal name cognate with Welsh Morcant.”

http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/m/bl_name-MORGAN.htm

I didn’t find much on the Fluharty surname. I know that with the information I have found for my tree the spelling changes to Fleehartee. It is “possibly a variant of Irish Flaherty.”

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West is from my dad's side of the family. The origin of West is English and Irish. The definition is a name given to a person "from the west," or one who "lives to the west." Other spellings of West are: Weste. Another site had this information: “English and German: from Middle English, Middle High German west ‘west’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived to the west of a settlement, or a regional name for someone who had migrated from further west.”

Sources:

http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/w/bl_name-WEST.htm

The Leasure surname is an Americanized spelling of the French names Leger (also Legère) or Lesueur.

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Mom’s Side

McDaniel is my mom's madien name. I have found lots of information on the McDaniel's. The name has changed over the years. From MacDonnell to McDonald. The McDaniel origin is Scottish. The definition is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Donald," which means world ruler. Derived from the Gaelic, "Mac Dhamhnuill." Other spellings of McDainel are: MacDonald,McDonnell, McDonaill, and McDonall. With many variations of the McDaniel I researched some of the others too. The following information was found at other websites. “Altered form of Irish McDonnell ‘son of Donal’, from an incorrect association of the Gaelic patronymic with the personal name Daniel.” McDonnell is “Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dhomhnuill, a patronymic from the personal name Domhnall.” “This family was for many centuries reputed the most powerful of any in the Highlands of Scotland, being styled 'King of the Isles,' for many generations, during which they were successful in asserting their independence. Somerled, Thane of Argyle, flourished about the year 1140, and was the ancestor of all the McDonalds. He married the daughter of Olans, Lord of the Western Isles, whereupon he assumed the title of 'King of the Isles.' He was slain, in 1164, by Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland. Donald, from whom the clan derived their name, was his grandson.” McDonald is “Scottish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dhomhnuill, a patronymic from the personal name Domhnall, which is composed of the ancient Celtic elements domno- ‘world’ + val- ‘might’, ‘rule’.”

Sources:

McDaniel
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496&fid=10&fn=&ln=McDaniel

McDonnell
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?fid=10&ln=McDonnell&fn=&yr=&html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496

McDonald
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?fid=10&ln=McDonald&fn=&yr=&html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496

http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/m/bl_name-MCDONALD.htm

The Haddix surname is “English: patronymic form of Haddock. Haddock, which is what Haddix is derived from Haddock. Haddock is “from a medieval survival with added initial H- of the Old English personal name Ædduc, a diminutive of Æddi, itself a short form of various compound names with the first element ead ‘prosperity’, ‘fortune’. Habitational name from Haydock near Liverpool, which is probably named from Welsh heiddog ‘characterized by barley’.” Also “from Middle English hadduc ‘haddock’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller, or a nickname for someone supposedly resembling the fish.”

Sources:

Haddix
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496&fid=10&fn=&ln=haddix

Haddock
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?fid=10&ln=Haddock&fn=&yr=&html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496

Smith is from my mom's side of the family. The origin of Smith is English. The definition is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "smitan," to smite or strike, SMITH and its derivations are an occupational name for a man who works with metal (smith or blacksmith), one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and is derivations the most common of all surnames. Other spellings of Smith are: Smyth, Smythe, and Schmidt. “English: occupational name for a worker in metal, from Middle English smith (Old English smið, probably a derivative of smitan ‘to strike, hammer’). Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents were perhaps the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes, plowshares, and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armor. This is the most frequent of all American surnames; it has also absorbed, by assimilation and translation, cognates and equivalents from many other languages (for forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988). The most common of all surnames, and might of itself furnish matter enough for a volume. The word is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Smitan, to smite or strike. 'From whence comes Smith, all be he knight or squire, But from the Smith that forgeth at the fire?' Verstegan. Among the Highland clans, the smith ranked third in dignity to the chief, from his skill in fabricating military weapons, and his dexterity in teaching the use of them. In Wales there were three sciences which a villain (tenant) could not teach his son without the consent of his lord, Scholarship, Bardism, and Smithcraft. This was one of the liberal sciences, and the term had a more comprehensive sense than we give to it at this time. The smith must have united in this profession, different branches of knowledge which are now practiced separately, such as raising the ore, converting it into metal, etc. The term was originally applied to artificers in wood as well as metal, in fact, to all mechanical workmen, which accounts for the great frequency of the name. The New York City Directory for 1856 (in which the names of the heads of families only, are given,) contains the names of more than eighteen hundred Smiths, of whom seventy-four are plain James Smiths, and one hundred and seventeen, John Smiths! We see in the papers, that John Smith dies, is married, hanged, drowned, and brutally murdered, daily! John Smith doesn't identify anybody, and is therefore no name at all. This numerous family is the subject of many laughable anecdotes and witty sallies. A wag, on a certain occasion, coming late to the theater, and wishing to get a seat, shouted at the top of his voice, 'Mr. Smith's house is on fire!' The house was thinned five per cent., and the man of humor found a snug seat. In many neighborhoods the name is so frequent that it is necessary to append some soubriquet to identify the person. 'Can you tell me where Mr. Smith lives, mister?' 'Smith--Smith--what Smith? there are a good many of that name in these parts--my name is Smith.' 'Why, I don't know his t'other name, but he's a sour, crabbed sort of fellow, and they call him 'Crab Smith.' ' 'Oh, the deuce! s'pose I'm the man.' But the best piece of humor relating to the name is the following which we take from Lower, which appeared some years since in the newspapers, under the title of 'The Smiths. 'Some very learned disquisitions are just now going on in the journals touching the origin and extraordinary extension of the family of 'the Smiths.' 'Industrious explorers after derivatives and nominal roots, they say, would find in the name of John Smith a world of mystery; and a philologist in the Providence Journal, after having written some thirty columns for the enlightenment of the public thereanent, has thrown down his pen, and declared the subject exhaustless. 'From what has hitherto been discovered, it appears that the great and formidable family of the Smiths are the veritable descendants, in a direct line, from Shem, the son of Noah, the father of the Shemitish tribe, or the tribe of Shem; and it is thus derived--Shem, Shemit, Shmit, Smith. Another learned pundit, in the Philadelphia Gazette, contends for the universality of the name John Smith, not only in Great Britain and America, but among all kindred and nations on the face of the earth. Beginning with the Hebrew, he says, the Hebrews had no Christian names, consequently they had no Johns, and in Hebrew the name stood simply Shem or Shemit; but in the other nations John Smith is found at full, one and indivisible. Thus, Latin, Johannes Smithius; Italian, Giovanni Smithi; Spanish, Juan Smithas; Dutch, Hans Schmidt; French, Jean Smeets; Greek, Russian, Jonloff Skmittowski; Polish, Ivan Schmittiwciski; Chinese, Jahon Shimmit; Icelandic, Jahne Smithson; Welsh, Iihon Schmidd; Tuscarora, Ton Qa Smittia; Mexican, Jontli F'Smitti. 'And then, to prove the antiquity of the name, the same savant observes, that 'among the cartouches deciphered by Rosselini, on the temple of Osiris in Egypt, was found the name of Pharaoh Smithosis, being the ninth in the eighteenth dynasty of Theban kings. He was the founder of the celebrated temple of Smithopolis Magna.' We heartily congratulate the respectable multitude of the Smiths on these profound researches--researches which bid fair to explode the generally received opinion that the great family of the Smiths were the descendants of mere horse-shoers and hammer-men!'”

Sources:
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4 http://landing.ancestry.com/learn/clues/fact.aspx?html=freetrial&sourcecode=17397&o_xid=0031936496&o_lid=0031936496&o_xt=31936496&fid=10&fn=&ln=Smith
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/s/smith.php

http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/s/bl_name-SMITH.htm

The Fast surname is “North German: nickname for a reliable steadfast person, or from a short form of any of the various personal names beginning with the element fast ‘steadfast’, ‘firm’, for example Fastert.”

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The Burner surname is “English: topographic name for someone who lived by a stream, from Middle English burn ‘stream’ + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.”

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I didn’t find much on the Minear surname. It is an “Americanized form of Dutch Mynhier.”

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Robinson is from my mom's side of the family. The origin is English and Jewish. The definition of Robinson is 1) Son of Robbin or Robin; 2) Derived from the Polish word "rabin," meaning rabbi. Other spellings of Robinson are: Robeson, and Robison.

Sources:

http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/w/bl_name-ROBINSON.htm