English Sign Names

© 2000, 2003, 2012, 2015 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 1.3, updated 27 November 2015

Introduction

This article is a compilation of notes that I have made over the last year or so. As I have run across references to any type of "sign" names (inn, tavern, etc.), I recorded the location and the form of the sign name.

I have organized the sign names below by type.

Forms Seen in Sign Names:

• Animals
  
• Birds
  
• Mythological Creatures
  
• Other Items
  
• Color + Animal
  
• Number + (Other Item)
  
• References to Humans (incl. "head")
  
• Personal Names
  
• (Owner's byname) + Inn
  
• Unidentified
  
• Inns/Taverns which I have only found dated to temp. James I
  
• Inns/Taverns for which I have found a listing, but no dates
  

Bibliography & raw data

Animals

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Bear
Ursi	1425-6	Stonor, section i, p. 45; letter: 51	This letter was written in Latin.
Bear (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Boar
boore	24 August 1485	York, p. 734
boore	31 March 1487	York, p. 542
Boar (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Boar's Head (in Southwark)
Boreshed	27 Aug 1458?	Paston, vol. 3, p. 132; document: 370	appears twice in this document
Boreshed	27 Aug 1458?	Paston, vol. 3, p. 132; document: 370	appears twice in this document
Boar's Head (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 231
Bull
Bole	1377	Reaney & Wilson, p. 71 s.n. Bull
Bulle	10 Aug 1470	Paston, vol. 5, p. 80; document: 753
Bull	6 August 1476	York, p. 52	This document was written in Latin.
Bulle	6 August 1476	York, p. 53	This document was written in Latin.
Bole	1478 ?	Stonor, section ii, p. 51; letter: 214
Bull (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bull (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Lamb
Lamme	1320	Reaney & Wilson, p. 269 s.n. Lamb
Lamb (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Lion
Lyon	1522	Rutland, p. 83
Lyon (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Lion (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Ram
Ramme	14 Edw. II	Bardsley, p. 9
Ramme	1307, 1339	Reaney & Wilson, p. 371 s.n. Ram
Ramme	1320	Ewen, p. 230
Ram (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Roebuck
Robuck	1313	Bardsley, p. 551
Roebuck (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals

Birds

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Cock
Cok	1327	Ewen, p. 230
Kok	9 Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 189
[Le] Cok (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Cokke	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Cock (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Crane
Crane	bef. 1468	Stonor, supplementary, p. 8; letter: 345
Cranes (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Crane (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Eagle
Hegle	1273	Bardsley, p. 8
Hegle	1275	Ewen, p. 230
Egle	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Eagle (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Pie (for "magpie")
Pye	1339	Ewen, p. 230
Pye	1340	Reaney & Wilson, p. 350 s.n. Pie
Pye	1347	Reaney & Wilson, p. 350 s.n. Pie
Pye (may be standardized spelling)	1374	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 109
Pye (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Raven
Raven	1344	Reaney & Wilson, p. 372 s.n. Raven
Raven (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Swan
Swan	2 Hen. IV	Bardsley, p. 730
Swan	1337	Ewen, p. 230
Swan	1344	Reaney & Wilson, p. 435 s.n. Swan
Swan	1364	Reaney & Wilson, p. 435 s.n. Swan
swan	c. April 1487	York, p. 547
Swan (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230

Mythological Creatures

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Dragon
Dragon	1374	Reaney & Wilson, p. 141 s.n. Dragon
dragon	24 October 1484	York, p. 311
Dragon (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Mermaid
marmayd	12 May 1476	Stonor, section ii, p. 6; letter: 165
Mermaid (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 120, note 15.

Other Items

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Angell
Angell	06 Feb [1502/3]	Plumpton, p. 160; document: 173
Angel (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bell
Bell	1307	Bardsley, p. 92 s.n. Bell
Belle	1332	Reaney & Wilson, p. 37 s.n. Bell
Bell	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 92 s.n. Bell
Bell	1479	Paston, vol. 6, p. 11; document: 943
Bell (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 3
Bell	1522	Rutland, p. 83
Bell (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Belle	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Bow
Bowe	9 Edw. II	Bardsley, p. 122 s.n. Bow
Bowe	1403	Bardsley, p. 122 s.n. Bow
Bowe	1579	Bardsley, p. 122 s.n. Bow
Bow	1580	Bardsley, p. 122 s.n. Bow
Castle
Castell	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Crown
Attecroune	1420	Reaney & Wilson, p. 119 s.n. Crown
Crown (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Garland
[Le] Garland	2 Eliz.	Ewen, p. 230
Hamer
Hamere	1426	Reaney & Wilson, p. 214 s.n. Hamer
Harp
Harp	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 361 s.n. Harp
Harpe	1361	Reaney & Wilson, p. 218 s.n. Harp
Harpe	1388	Bardsley, p. 361 s.n. Harp
Harpe	7 Hen. V	Bardsley, p. 361 s.n. Harp
Harpe	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 361 s.n. Harp
Hat
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365 s.n. Hatt
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365 s.n. Hatt
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365 s.n. Hatt
Hatte	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Horn
Horn	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 398 s.n. Horn
Horne	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 398 s.n. Horn
Horns (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Rose
Rose	1242	Reaney & Wilson, p. 383 s.n. Rose
Ros	1273	Bardsley, p. 654 s.n. Rose
Rose	1273	Bardsley, p. 654 s.n. Rose
Rose	1273	Bardsley, p. 654 s.n. Rose
Rose	1305	Reaney & Wilson, p. 383 s.n. Rose
Rose (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 231
Runcy
Ralph de la Runce	Hen. III-Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 660 s.n. Runcy	(Runcy = porter/carrier 'beast of burden')
Ship
Shippe	1423	Reaney & Wilson, p. 406 s.n. Shipp
[Le] Schippe (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Star
Sterre	1322	Reaney & Wilson, p. 425 s.n. Starr
Sun
the Sonne	06 Sep 1461	Paston, vol. 3, p. 308; document: 481
Sword
[Le] Swerd (may be standardized spelling)	1380	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 115, paragraph 3
Swerde	c1470	Stonor, section i, p. 110; letter: 106
Sworde	09 Oct 1476	Stonor, section ii, p. 12; letter: 170
Sworde	16 Jan [1480]	Stonor, section ii, p. 98; letter: 260
Tabard
Tabard	1371	Reaney & Wilson, p. 438 s.n. Tabard
Wain
[Atte]wayne	1327	Reaney & Wilson, p. 471 s.n. Wain
Windmill
Wyndemylne	1522	Rutland, p. 93

Color + Animal

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Grayhorse
Grayhorse	2 Hen. VII	Bardsley, p. 334 s.n. Grayhorse
Grayhound
Grayhound	1522	Rutland, p. 83
White Hart (in Southwark)
Whyte Harte	1450 (written in 1465)	Paston, vol. 2, p. 155; document: 126
White Hart	1450 (written in 1465)	Paston, vol. 2, p. 155; document: 126
Whitehorse
Whithors	2 Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitehorse
Whytehors	1285	Ewen, p. 230
Whytehorse	1312	Ewen, p. 230
Whithors	1358	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitehorse
Whitelamb
Whitlambe	1379	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitelamb
Whitelomb	1428	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitelamb

Number + (Other Item)

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Sevenstar
Sevensterre	1355	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar
Seuesterrys	1379	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar
Sevesterre	1384	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar

References to Humans (incl. "head")

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Black Boy
Black Boye	1522	Rutland, p. 92
Maid's Head (in Norwich)
Maydes Hedde	22 Nov 1472	Paston, vol. 5, p. 163; document: 815
Maiden's Head
Maydenhede	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Saracen's Head
Sersyns hed	1522	Rutland, p. 93
[Paul or Pole]'s Head
Poules Heed (may be standardized spelling)	1405	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 193, paragraph 1

Personal Names

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
[Saint] George (located at "Syndyngburne")
George	1522	Rutland, p. 83
[Saint] George (located at Lombard Street, London)
George	05 Jun 1472	Paston, vol. 5, p. 144; document: 804	appears twice in this document
George	05 Jun 1472	Paston, vol. 5, p. 144; document: 804	appears twice in this document
Jorge	1479	Paston, vol. 6, p. 11; document: 943
Jeorge	17 Jan 1506	Paston, vol. 6, p. 172; document: 1078
George (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 3
[Saint] George (near Paul's Wharf, London)
George	25 Jul 1474	Paston, vol. 5, p. 206; document: 850
George	20 Nov 1474	Paston, vol. 5, p. 214; document: 857
George	05 Feb 1475	Paston, vol. 5, p. 223; document: 864
George	13 Jun 1475	Paston, vol. 5, p. 235; document: 873
George	10 Oct 1475	Paston, vol. 5, p. 238; document: 876
George	23 Oct 1475	Paston, vol. 5, p. 239; document: 877
George	23 Jan 1476	Paston, vol. 5, p. 247; document: 883
George	03 Feb 1476	Paston, vol. 5, p. 251; document: 885
George	21 Mar 1476	Paston, vol. 5, p. 258; document: 889
George	06 May 1476	Paston, vol. 5, p. 259; document: 890
George	30 Jun 1476	Paston, vol. 5, p. 261; document: 892
George	09 Mar 1477	Paston, vol. 5, p. 274; document: 904
Goorge	19 Nov 1477	Paston, vol. 5, p. 304; document: 921
George	01 Mar 1478	Paston, vol. 5, p. 313; document: 927	appears twice in this document
George	01 Mar 1478	Paston, vol. 5, p. 313; document: 927	appears twice in this document
George	20 May 1478	Paston, vol. 5, p. 320; document: 932
Georg	30 Jun 1479	Paston, vol. 6, p. 13; document: 946
Saint Lawrance
Saint Lawrance	1522	Rutland, p. 93	This location may have been named for the street ("Saint Lawrance lane") it was on, rather than the saint himself.
Wolsig?
Wolsak	? 1463	Stonor, section i, p. 66; letter: 71	This letter was written in Latin. This name may be a corruption of an older personal name which survives in the modern surname Wolseley.

(Possibly the owner's byname) + Inn (Tavern)

Several names listed in this section in a previous version of this article have been removed. Gray's Inn and Lincoln Inn are Inns of Court and Davis's Inn (better known later as Thavies Inn) is an Inn of Chancery. In all three cases, their names are not sign names.

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Bosom's Inn (this is the same location as the Saint Lawrance listed above)
Bosoms yn	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Mitford Tavern
Mitford taverne	28 March 1489	York, p. 643	Note: it is possible Mitford refers to a location instead of a byname.

Unidentified

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Unidentified:
Eden Berys	14 and 15 February 1483	York, p. 707
Lodyn Proche (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Choker (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2

Inns/Taverns which I have only found dated to temp. James I

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Bear and Harrow (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bull Head (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Croskeyes	1610	Bardsley, p. 220 s.n. Crosskeys
Talbot (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230

Inns/Taverns for which I have found a listing, but no dates

Some of these names likely date from the 17th-19th centuries. But without dated examples, it is impossible to determine when each name came into use for an Inn or Tavern.

Inn or Tavern Name:	Source:
Alfred's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Anchor (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Ape (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Badger (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Ball (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Board (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Brock (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Buck (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Bush (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Bushce (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Catt (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Camel (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Cleaver (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Coney (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Crab-tree (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Cross (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Crow (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Deer (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Devil (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Doe (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Dove (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Druid's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Eliphant (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Falcon (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Fox (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Griffin (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Hare (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Hart (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Hedghogg (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Heron (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Hind (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
King's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Leopard (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Oliphant (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Peacock (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Pigeon (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Prince (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Red Lyon (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Rook (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Squirrel (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Stagg (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Tankard (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Turk's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Vine (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Wolfe (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals

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