The great rarity of this name is a curious problem (Chapter XV). The name Capper exists, though it is not very common.
Thomas le Batur.
Thresher.
But, being a Londoner, he was more probably a gold-beater, or perhaps a beater of cloth. The name Beater also survives.
Alexander de Leycestre
Leicester, Lester.
For the simpler spelling, once usual and still adopted by those who chalk the names on the mail-vans at St. Pancras, cf. such names as Worster, Wooster, Gloster, etc. (Chapter XI).
Robert le Noreys.
Norris, Nurse.
Old Fr. noreis, the Northerner (Chapter XI), or norice(nourrice), the nurse, foster-mother (Chapter XX).
Reginald le Blond
Blount, Blunt.
Fr. blond, fair. We have also the dim. Blundell. The corresponding English name is Fairfax, from Mid. Eng. fax, hair (Chapter XXII).
Randolf ate Mor.
Moor.
With the preposition retained (Chapter XII) it has given the Latin-looking Amor.
Hundred Rolls
Modern Form
Matthew le Pevrier.
Pepper.
For the reduction of pepperer to Pepper cf. Armour for armourer, and see Chapter XV.
Godfrey le Furmager.
Cheeseman, Firminger.
From Old Fr. formage(fromage). The intrusion of the n in Firminger is regular; cf. Massinger, messenger, from Fr. messager, and see Chapter III.
Robert Campeneys.
Champness, Champneys.
Old Fr. champeneis(champenois), of Champagne (Chapter XI).
John del Pek.
Peck, Peaks, Pike, Pick.
A name taken from a hill-top, but sometimes referring to the unrelated Derbyshire Peak.
Richard Dygun.
Dickens.
A diminutive of Dig, for Dick (Chapter VI).
Peter le Hoder.
Hodder.
A maker of hods or a maker of hoods? The latter is more likely.
Alan Allutarius.
Whittier.
Lat. alutarius, a "white-tawer", Similarly, Mid. Eng. stan-heawere, stone-hewer, is contracted to Stanier, now almost swallowed up by Stainer. The simple tawer is also one origin of the name Tower.
Peter le Rus.
Russ, Rush, Rouse.
Fr. roux, of red complexion. Cf. the dim. Russell, Fr. Rousseau
(Chapter XXII).
MIDDLESEX JURYMEN
Hundred Rolls
Modern Form
Roger de la Hale.
Hall, Hale, Hales.
One of our commonest local surnames. But it has two interpretations, from hall and from heal (Chapter XII).
Walter de la Hedge.
Hedge, Hedges.
Other names of similar meaning are Hay, Hayes, Haig, Haigh, Hawes (Chapter XIII)
John Rex
King.
One of our commonest nicknames, the survival of which is easily understood (Chapter XV).
Stephen de la Novels Meyson.
Newhouse.
Cf. also Newbigging, from Mid. Eng. biggen, to 'build (Chapter XIII).
Randolf Pokoc.
Pocock, Peacock.
The simple Poe, Lat. pavo, has the same meaning (Chapter XXIII).
William de Fonte.
Spring, Wells, Fountain, Attewell.
This is the most usual origin of the name Spring (Chapter IX).
Robert del Parer
Perrier
Old Fr. périer(poirier), pear-tree. Another origin of Perrier is, through French, from Lat. petrarius, a stone-hewer.
Adam de la Denne.
Denne, Dean, Done.
A Mid. English name for valley (Chapter XII).
Hundred Rolls
Modern Form
Robertus filius Gillelmi.
Wilson.
For other possible names to be derived from a father named William, see Chapter VI.
William filius Radolfi.
Rawson.
A very common medieval name, Anglo-Sax. Raedwulf, the origin of our Ralph, Relf, Rolfe, Roff, and of Fr. Raoul. Some of its derivatives, e.g. Rolls, have got mixed with those of Roland. To be distinguished from Randolf or Randall,
