English Local Surnames

L ocal surnames is a convenient term for all surnames derived from a particular locality or place, but these are of more than one type. Hill, Moore and Wood were names given to men who lived near one of these natural features. Earlier, they appear as Richard Athill, Jordan atte More and Thomas Attewode. Sometimes the preposition was retained, in whole or in part, as in the modern Athill, Atmore or Amoore and Attwood. Many local surnames derive from places still on the map and easily recognisable. In early documents the place-name is usually preceded by de and it has been held that such a name as de Baildon implies descent from a land-owner who was a member of a family which was seated at Baildon (WRY). This is certainly true in many instances. Adam de Cokefeld, the first of this name, held the manor of Cockfield (Sf) of the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds from about 1130 and both land and surname continued in his family for a hundred years or more, whilst the Shirleys took their name from Shirley (Db) which they held before 1165.