English Sign Names: Raw Data

© 2000, 2003, 2012, 2015 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 1.2, updated 27 November 2015

Sources:

• Bardsley: Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., reprinted 1996; originally published London, 1901).
  
• Ewen: Ewen, C. L'Estrange, A History of Surnames of the British Isles (Originally pubished: London, 1931. Reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, 1993, 1995).
  
• Hanawalt (London): Hanawalt, Barbara A., Growing Up in Medieval London (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1993).
  
• Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute): Hanawalt, Barbara A., 'Of Good and Ill Repute': Gender and Social Control in Medieval England (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998).
  
• Paston: Gairdner, James, ed. The Paston Letters. Microprint edition. (Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1983).
  
• Plumpton: Kirby, Joan, ed. The Plumpton Letters and Papers. Camden Fifth Series, volume 8. (London: Cambridge University Press, 1996).
  
• Reaney & Wilson: Reaney, P. H. and R. M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 3rd edition (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1995).
  
• Rutland: Jerdan, William, ed., "The Visit of the Emperor Charles V to England, A.D. 1522", Rutland Papers (Camden Society, 1842) (Reprint: New York: AMFS Press, 1968), pp. 59-100.
  
• Stonor: Carpenter, Christine, ed., Kingsford's Stonor Letters and Papers 1290-1483 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).
  
• York: Attreed, Lorraine C., ed., York House Books 1461-1490 (Wolfeboro Falls, NH: Alan Sutton for RIchard III & Yorkist History Trust, 1991).
  

p. 230:

Note: These may be modernized spellings.

"An observer in the time of James I noted the names of forty-eight inns and taverns between Charing Cross and the Old Tower of Lond, some of which, like the Bell, Angel, Swan, Bear and Harrow, Bull Head, Bull, Lyon, Horns, Talbot, Cranes, etc., correspond to modern surnames"

p. 230, paragraph 3 dates:

Atte Cok

to 1327 in Hunts.

p. 230-231:

Note: These may be modernized spellings.

"The following family names are all known to have been inn signs and they also correspond to heraldic emblems.

Animals: Ape, Badger, Bear, Boar, Brock, Buck, Bull, Catt, Camel, Coney, Deer, Doe (Hind, Hart, Roebuck), Dragon, Fox, Griffin, Hedghogg, Lamb, Leopard, Lion, Oliphant (Eliphant), Ram, Squirrel, Stagg, Wolfe

Birds: Cock, Crane, Crow, Dove, Eagle, Falcon, Heron, Peacock, Pigeon, Pye, Raven, Rook"

p. 231:

"Tavern signs were not confined to representations of animals and birds; common devices were Anchor (now Anker), Ball, Bell, Board, Bush, Cleaver, Crab-tree, Cross, Devil, Prince, Rose, Tankard, and so on, now are represented as surnames in the modern directory. The surname Garland, in some cases, may have been derived from an inn sign. Garland formerly meant a King's crown, and there was a messuage in Huntingdon or neighbourhood called Le Garland (2 Eliz.)".

p. 231:

"Tavern names such as King's Head, Druid's Head, Turk's Head, Alfred's Head, Boar's Head, are common..."

p. 231:

"... there are other possible derivations for surnames, corresponding to names of hostelries; e.g. Griffin, Raven, Peacock, and Tankard were baptismal names; Badger is an occupation; Hare was the heir and so on..."

p. 71, paragraph 3 "... and becoming an apprentice in 'Davys Inn'." 15th C [references Note 9]

Note 9 gives the source as: P.R.O. Cl/94/14.

NOTE: it is not clear if the author standardized any of the spellings of these taverns and inns. Given the variety of spellings, it would seem likely that at least some of the original spellings have been preserved.

p. 108, paragraph 2 discusses a number of court cases but gives no specific dates. The locations this paragraph discusses includes:
The Bushce tavern
The Lodyn Proche
The Crown [references Note 15]
Le Schippe [references Note 16]
the Red Lyon
"Le Cok" in Woodstreet
The Vine in the parish of St. Helen
The Choker in the high street [references Note 17]

Note 15 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Guildhall, Consistory Court 9064/1 ms. 5, 5v, 6, 26v, 30, 31, 64v, 65, 66, 81v, 114, 116, 166v, 119, 119v, 122v, 155v. P.R. O. C1/136/79.
Note 16 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Guildhall, Consistory Court 9064/1, ms. 68, 83, 84, 91v.
Note 17 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Ibid., ms. 110v, 114v.

p. 120, Note 15, also mentions:
an inn called "the Mermaid"

p. 108, paragraph 3, discusses a court case that took place in 1516. The inns/taverns discussed in this paragraph include:
The Bell Inn
The George in Lombard street

p. 109 mentions:
The Pye in Queenhithe [references Note 20]

Note 20 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Arthur H. Thomas, Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls of the City of London 1323-1482 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1929, p. 184 (1374).

p. 115, paragraph 3, discussing events that occurred in 1380, mentions:
Le Swerd

p. 193, paragraph 1, discussing events that occurred in 1405, mentions:
"Poules Heed" tavern

Context in the documents indicates that the George by Paul's Wharf provides lodging.

atte Whyte Harte in Suthewerk	1450 (written in 1465)	vol. 2, p. 155; document: 126
atte White Hart	1450 (written in 1465)	vol. 2, p. 155; document: 126
the Boreshed in Suthwerke	27 Aug 1458?	vol. 3, p. 132; document: 370
the Boreshed	27 Aug 1458?	vol. 3, p. 132; document: 370
the Sonne	06 Sep 1461	vol. 3, p. 308; document: 481	located at Ipswich
the Bulle at Cludeys at Westminster	10 Aug 1470	vol. 5, p. 80; document: 753
the George in Lombard Street	05 Jun 1472	vol. 5, p. 144; document: 804	appears twice in this document
the George in Lombard Street	05 Jun 1472	vol. 5, p. 144; document: 804	appears twice in this document
... Norwyche ... at the Maydes Hedde	22 Nov 1472	vol. 5, p. 163; document: 815
the George by Powlys Wharff, in London	25 Jul 1474	vol. 5, p. 206; document: 850
the George, at Powlys Wharffe	20 Nov 1474	vol. 5, p. 214; document: 857
the George, at Powlys Wharfe	05 Feb 1475	vol. 5, p. 223; document: 864
the George, at Powles Wharf	13 Jun 1475	vol. 5, p. 235; document: 873
the George, by Powlys Wherf, in London	10 Oct 1475	vol. 5, p. 238; document: 876
the George, by Powlys Wherff, in London	23 Oct 1475	vol. 5, p. 239; document: 877
the George, at Powlys Wharffe	23 Jan 1476	vol. 5, p. 247; document: 883
the George, by Powlys Wharf, in London	03 Feb 1476	vol. 5, p. 251; document: 885
the George at Powles Wharff	21 Mar 1476	vol. 5, p. 258; document: 889
the George, by Powlys Wharf, in London	06 May 1476	vol. 5, p. 259; document: 890
the syngne of the George, at Powles Wharffe	30 Jun 1476	vol. 5, p. 261; document: 892
the George, by Powlys Wharffe	09 Mar 1477	vol. 5, p. 274; document: 904
the Goorge, be Powll Warffe	19 Nov 1477	vol. 5, p. 304; document: 921
the signe of the George next to Poulys Wharf	01 Mar 1478	vol. 5, p. 313; document: 927
the seyd George	01 Mar 1478	vol. 5, p. 313; document: 927
the signe of the George, at Powlys Wharff, in London	20 May 1478	vol. 5, p. 320; document: 932
the Jorge in Lumbard Strete	1479	vol. 6, p. 11; document: 943
the Bell at Billinges gate, a brue hous	1479	vol. 6, p. 11; document: 943
the Georg, at Powlys Qwharfe, in London	30 Jun 1479	vol. 6, p. 13; document: 946
the Jeorge, in Lumbard Strett	17 Jan 1506	vol. 6, p. 172; document: 1078

Context in the documents indicates that the Angell provides lodging.

at the Angell Behind St Clement kirk without the Temple Barr at London

06 Feb [1502/3]

p. 160; document: 173

apud London in ffriday strete apud signum Ursi	1425-6	section i, p. 45; letter: 51	This letter was written in Latin.
ad signum vocatum Wolsak in Flete strete	? 1463	section i, p. 66; letter: 71	This letter was written in Latin.
Thomas Rogers of Greyysyn	1466	section i, p. 73; letter: 79
at þhe Swerde in Fletestrete	c1470	section i, p. 110; letter: 106
of þhe marmayd	12 May 1476	section ii, p. 6; letter: 165
at the Sworde in Flete strete	09 Oct 1476	section ii, p. 12; letter: 170
Robert Holbenne of Greysyn	? 02 Nov 1476	section ii, p. 17; letter: 174
his howne place cald the Bole	1478 ?	section ii, p. 51; letter: 214
at the Sworde in Flestrete	16 Jan [1480]	section ii, p. 98; letter: 260
from Billyngisgate to the Crane [a footnote says "Now Three Cranes Wharf"]	bef. 1468	supplementary, p. 8; letter: 345
att Lyncoll yn	c1480	supplementary, p. 14; letter: 351

p. 52-53: Lease of Inn Called 'The Bull'; 6 August 1476 [This document was written in Latin.]
Capitio de le Bull [header for this document, p. 52]
vocatum le Bulle situatum in Conyngstrete [p. 53]

p. 310-311: Theft During Dice Game; 24 October 1484
in the tapster house of the dragon in Lop Lane ... of the same inn ...

p. 542: Report of Earl of Lincoln's Treason; 31 March 1487
... John Hoton, hostler at the signe of the boore within the said citie ...

p. 547: Mayor's Letter Testimonial for City Hostler; Undated, c. April 1487
William Maunsell, late osteler at the signe of the swan ...

p. 643: Attack in City Streets; 28 March 1489
... went to Mitford taverne ... to the same tavern

p. 707: Reported Slander of the Duke of Gloucester; 14 and 15 February 1483
... at the ale at Eden Berys in Gothyrngate...

p. 734: Meetings with Sir Henry Percy and Henry VII's Messenger, Wages of Bosworth Soldiers; 24 August 1485
... unto the sign of the boore ...

Medieval Scotland | Medieval Names Archive | Names in Chesham, 1538-1600/1

Kathleen M. O'Brien's articles are hosted by Medieval Scotland, which is published by Sharon L. Krossa (contact).   Shopping online? How you can support this site. (Jan 2006)
© 1996-2007. All rights reserved. Copyright of individual articles belongs to their authors. Please do not copy or redistribute without proper permission!
http://MedievalScotland.org

Web MedievalScotland.org

Shop Amazon.com

Shop Amazon.co.uk