Suffolk Surnames - M to Z
MMakejoy First recorded in the Suffolk Assize Rolls 1221 Richard Makeioie
A-S nickname for someone who makes joy could be a court jester
Maliphant First recorded in the Suffolk Pipe Rolls 1205 Geoffrey Malenfant
Norman French for naughty child – mal enfant
Malvenue First recorded in Suffolk Curia Regis Rolls in 1200 as Henry Malvenu
Norman French for someone who committed a bad crime or act
Manwin First recorded in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls in 1188 in Bury St Edmunds Manewine Leuiet - this is a personal name – not a surname yet
1327 in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls – Marjeria Manwyne – now a surname
A-S Mannwine – servant friend / man friend
Marjoram 1881 Distribution of Surnames shows the name as predominantly
Marjoran Suffolk and the North Suffolk / South Norfolk border.
Norman French for the herb marjerane or marjeram – a grower or seller of herbs
BUT - most likely a herbalist.
Marking First recorded in 1357 in the Court Rolls – Nicholas Merkyn
Old English - Mary kin – family of Mary
Markwell 1881 Distribution of Surnames shows the name as predominantly Suffolk with just a few elsewhere
Anglo-Saxon – someone who lives by the source of the river on a boundary line
Markle Suffolk pronunciation of Markwell and common in Great Barton
Rare name but peculiarly Suffolk
Maxim First recorded in Suffolk Subsidy Rolls 1327 as William Maggessonne
Son of Maggs – pet form of Margaret. The “gs” often get writ down as an “x”
Other variations – Moxon, Moxom and Maxam – these are not Suffolk
Mayhew First recorded in the Court Rolls in 1351 – William Mayhew -
Old French – Norman form of Matthew
Meekins First recorded in the 1674 Suffolk Hearth Tax as Widow Maykinge
Meekin literally means the family of Mayhew – May being short for Mayhew plus kin (family) May Kin Meekin. And Meekins means son of Meekin
Making which is another Suffolk variation of the surname
Family (kin) of May (Mayhew)
Mayse which is another Suffolk variation of the surname
Son of May (Mayhew)
Moye – This is another Suffolk variation and the Suffolk pronunciation of May
Son of May (Mayhew) Moye
Melding First recorded in 1327 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls Remigius de Meldingge
Someone from Milden Suffolk
Melford First recorded in Bury St Edmunds in 1095 as Hubert de Meleforda
Someone from Long Melford
Mendham First recorded in 1195 Suffolk Pipe Rolls William de Mendeham
Someone from Mendham
Morling 1881 census shows the name in Suffolk and a few in Cambs.
"Moor" is Anglo-Saxon, not just for moor, but also for fen or marsh.
"Ling" is Anglo-Saxon for son of, young of or followers of
Therefore, we have the son of (ling) a dweller by the moor (fen or marsh)
Morphew This is a Suffolk variation of Morfey
Originally in the Northamtonshire Pipe Rolls as Wido Malfeth in 1130
But – in 1564 in the Suffolk Pipe Rolls we see it writ down for the first time as
Morfewe and later in 1629 as Jedion Morphewe – first time with the “ph”.
It's a Norman name – Mal Fe meaning Bad Faith and originally was a term of abuse given to the Saracens or the devil – later - someone who's Ill-omened – lots of bad luck - bedevilled
Mothersole First recorded as a surname in 1674 Suffolk Hearth Tax as John Mothersole - Before that as an Anglo-Saxon personal or first name
Anglo-Saxon - modig sawol – meaning brave proud soul
OR it could be an oath name Modhers Sawol – by my mother's soul
Motte First recorded in Beccles and is Norman referring to a fortified hill
Motte and Bailey castles and fortifications – the motte was the fortified hill
and the bailey was the protected courtyard down below
Motte is someone who lives on or at a fotified hill
Mouser First recorded in ICC, Cambridge Inquisition, part of Domesday Book
AEluric Mus – Anglo-Saxon for mouse – and led to surname Mouse
Mus (mouse) - A-S nickname for someone behaving like a mouse – timid and shy
OR the complete opposite – brash and gregarious.
Howsumever the Mouser variation appears peculiarly Suffolk and could also refer to a pest controller
Mower First recorded in Suffolk as Mower in 1305 in the Pinchbeck Register
Anglo-Saxon - mawan – to mow – a mower
Mullenger Variation of Mulliner - First recorded in Suffolk as Mullenger in the 1674 Hearth Tax – Norman French Molinier for miller
Munnings First recorded in Suffolk Domesday Book 1086 as Mundingus
Anglo-Saxon - Munding meaning son of Munda – Munda meaning protector
Musk First recorded in the Suffolk Subsidy Rules in 1327 as Geoffrey Morch which is the Anglo-Saxon pronunciation and the Viking pronunciation is Musk
It literally means the younger son
Mutimer Suffolk variation of Mortimer – from Mortemer (Seine-Inferiure)
Muttit – First recorded in Suffolk in the late 1600s – French Huguenot name
derives from Mottet or similar meaning small fortified hill
Muttock Suffolk variation of Maddock and Mattock -A pre 7th century personal name from Celtic origins, either Breton, Cornish, or Welsh – derives from Matoc or Madawc meaning the goodly one.
N
Nesling 1524 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls as Nicholas Nestlyng
Anglo-Saxon for nestling – a young bird too young to leave the nest – a young child
or Anglo-Saxon nestlian – to make a nest or home
Nickles – Suffolk variation of Nicholas - appears in the 1086 Domesday Book.
Comes from the Greek – meaning “Victory People” - a common Medieval name
First recording of Nickles is in the 1783 Suffolk Pipe Rolls
Noller Originally – atten Alder – dweller by the alders – later pronounced atte Nolder – later as Noller
Noy first recorded in Suffolk in 1327 as Noysse in the Subsidy Rolls –
It's Hebrew – Noah - meaning long life
O
Orford - Richard de Oreford 1191 in the Suffolk Pipe Rolls and literally means – someone from Orford.
Orris / Oris / Orriss– 1668 in Suffolk Subsidy Rolls William Orice
Comes from the Latin “Horatius” – a Roman family
Name came over to England during the Renaissance from Italy 14th to 17th century
Ortis - 1327 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls - Artoys - Norman French someone from Artois France
Orvis Suffolk variation of office or officer – Norman French orfreis meaning a dealer in orphrey or gold embroidery
Ours Suffolk variation of Owers – first recorded in Suffolk 1524 Subsidy Rolls Anglo-Saxon for dweller near a bank or steep slope
Outlaw First recorded in Suffolk Feet of Fines 1230 as Alan le Vtlage
Viking name utlagi - pronounced outlaw
Oxfoot First recorded in Suffolk in 1199 in the Charter Rolls – Godwin Oxefot
Anglo-Saxon for ox foot – nickname for someone with large feet
P
Pakenham 1196 in Bury St Eds as William de Pekenham from Pakenham Suffolk
Papillon First recorded in 1095 in Bury St Edmunds as Turoldus Papilio
Norman French - “papillon” meaning butterfly - meaning inconsistant
Pamplin 1496 the Suffolk variation, Plampeyn, was recorded. Later in 1564 as Plampen and the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls of 1568 as Plampin. The name is of Norman French origin ('Blanc Pain') denoting a white bread baker
Pannifer Suffolk variation of Pennyfather and first recorded in Suffolk 1749 Pipe Rolls - Anglo-Saxon for penig foeder – penny father – a miser
Pattle - First appears in the records – mid 16th century – A Suffolk variation of Middle English beadle, originally a minor parish official in the English church
Perebourne First recorded in 1229 in Suffolk Feet of Fines as Walter Perbrun
Anglo-Saxon for pear brown – nickname for a swarthy complexion
Perkinson Suffolk variation of Parkinson - son of Perkin or Parkyn
which in itself means son of or family of Pierre
Pettingale 1201 in the Suffolk Curia Regis Rolls as Walterus filius Portingalliae –
Walter, the son of the Portuguese - From the Middle English word Portingale meaning “from Portugal”
Pickers 1881 distribution map shows the name as Suffolk only
Anglo-Saxon for maker or seller of pikes or pick axes
Pickess 1881 distribution map shows the name as East Anglian but very predominantly Suffolk - same as Pickers above - maker or seller of pikes or pick axes
Pilborough 1881 distribution map shows the name as predominantly Suffolk
Pilbow The meaning and derivation not found –
Pilbrow Would suggest - from a lost village, Pilborough, in Suffolk
Pinner – Does not mean from Pinner in Mddx.
1881 Distribution map shows the name as very Suffolk and common in Ramsholt
Someone who makes pins – big wooden pins for joining especially boat building
Pintel - First recorded in 1177 in Suffolk Pipe Rolls as Robert Pintel
Anglo-Saxon for the male part – very rare name – and has gone under the radar
Pipe – First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 – meaning a piper
Playford – 1130 in the Suffolk Pipe Rolls as Fulcher de Pleiforda - from Playford
Pleasants Suffolk variation of Pleasance Norman French plaisance – meaning pleasant and usually referred to a female
Posford 1568 in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls - Very specific from Potsford Barn in Letheringham, Suffolk – near Wickham Market
Powling Suffolk variation of Paulin - Means son of Paul
Pritty 1327 in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls as Robert Prytty
Anglo-Saxon “preatigg” for crafty and cunning
Pulfer 1881 distribution map shows it as a Suffolk surname and common in Little Welnetham - Anglo-Saxon “pulver” for one who grinds powders – at first for medicinal purposes, but later it also meant gunpowder.
Pung 1881 distribution map shows it as a Suffolk surname common in Bricett
From Anglo-Saxon pung meaning purse or pouch - a maker of purses and pouches.
R
Raker This is a Suffolk variation of the surname Rake or Raikes
Anglo-Saxon name meaning someone who lives in a narrow valley
Anglo-Saxon word hraca meaning throat – narrow valley shaped like a throat.
Rampley / Rampling from a lost Suffolk village.
Rattell Suffolk diminutive of the name Ratt – means son of Ratt – Anglo-Saxon raet – would refer to a rat catcher – therefore son of a ratcatcher
Redditt Suffolk variation of Readett, Anglo-Saxon hreodet dweller by the reed bed
Regent Is a Suffolk name - Believed to have come from the Irish name Regane – first recorded in Dublin in 1264 - from the Irish Gaelic name Riagain – little king
Redgrave - First recorded in 1179 in Suffolk Pipe Rolls as Ebrard de Redegraue
Literally means from Redgrave, Suffolk.
Redgrave comes from Anglo-Saxon read graef meaning reed pit
Rell derives from Rolf or Raoul – nickname from the Old Viking for wolf -
First recorded in the Domesday Book – 1086 It means son of Raoul
Revans First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 as Leduuinus filius Reuene
Nickname for raven – black shiny hair - Several variations, Raven, Ravens, Revens.
Revans is the Suffolk variation
Riddleston(e) Ridel is Norman French for a small hill and ton is Anglo-Saxon for farmland settlement – from a farmland settlement on a small hill or from a lost hamlet near Polstaed
Ridgeon Suffolk pron. of Riching or Richin - Norman French name – son of Rich
Rieman Suffolk variation of Rayman, Ryman - Anglo-Saxon for dweller by the low lying land or stream - First recorded in 1327 as Robert Ryman
Ringshall / Ringshaw Domesday Book in Suffolk - 1086 Godric de Ringeshale
from Ringshall, Suffolk - Ringshall is derived from a nook of land, secluded spot or shelter, healh belonging to a Danish chieftain called Hrings
Risby First recorded in 1112 in Bury St Edmunds as Wilfric de Rysebi
Literally from Risby Suffolk and the surname distribution map would confirm that
Risby is pure Viking - By is the Viking equivalent of bergh, borough and bury – a fortified hill or farm area belonging to Danish chieftain Hrisa
Risher is the Suffolk variation of Rusher – from Anglo-Saxon rysc meaning rush – dweller among the rushes
Riveron Norman French - Came over with William the Conquerer in 1066
Means from Reveillon, Orne
Rookard Rookard is Anglo-Saxon for rook yard – someone who lives near a yard with loads a rooks. A yard in medieval times was roughly 30 acres, and long and narrow in strips and was part of the feudal system
Rozier Number of variations – but Rozier is the Suffolk variation
It's a Huguenots Protestant refugee surname - – a grower of roses – rose petals were used in medieval period for medicines as well as for perfume and textile dyes.
Ruffels – Viking name via the Normans - Old Viking name hrodwulf later hrolfr – a nickname associated with the wolf
Normans introduced the name as Rolf and as such - Recorded in the Domesday Book
Ruffels would have been recorded later as a diminutive of Rolf
Ruman Rue is Anglo-Saxon for dweller in a row of houses. Only in Suffolk, the name was extended to - the man who lives in a row of house – Rueman
Rumbellow First recorded in 1524 in Suffolk Subsidy Rolls as Robert Rombilow, and later, in Suffolk, as William Rumbilow – The surname comes from a local nickname for a sailor - from the meaningless combination of syllables sung as a refrain whilst rowing - Hal an tow, jolly rumbelow, We were up long before the day 0.
Rushbrooke(e) 1148 in Bury St Eds as Wudardus de Rosshebroke
from Rushbrook Suffolk
S
Sarff These three names all have the same derivation, and are Suffolk
Scarce variations of the Viking word for cormorant - skarfrs
Scarff
Saver This is the Suffolk variation of the surname Saffer from the Norman French saffre meaning a glutton
Sawer First recorded as William Sawer in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls 1524
From the Anglo-Saxon sawere – to sow – somone who sows seed.
Scates From the Middle English word scate or scaite – the fish
Therefore a nickname – seller of fish – and Scates would be the son of the fish seller
Scribner – many variations of this name - From the Norman French – escrivain, meaning writer – someone who writes and copies books and manuscripts
We also get the v sound being hardened up to sound more like a b. So from escrivain we get escribain and from that we get the surname Scribner- and words like scribe and scribble
Scoggins Suffolk variation of Viking nickname Skoggi - meaning the bearded one
First recorded in Suffolk 1554 – William Scoggin
Scoggins means the son of the bearded one
Scotchmer Refers to another lost village in Suffolk, Scotchmere – so called because there would have been an Irish settlement by a lake
Scottas was Anglo-Saxon / Old Viking for Irish
Scotchmer name was first recorded in Walsham le Willows in 1542 on the 23rd July
Scowen – This surname derives from both the Anglo-Saxon and Ancient Celt
It's a word that the Anglo-Saxons adopted from the Ancient Britons
Someone who lives near an elderberry plantation or makes elderberry wine
Seely - There are very many variations of this name – Sealy, Sealey, Selly, Ceely, Ceeley, Zealy, Zelly, Sealig, etc etc – but Seely is the Suffolk variation.
Comes from the Anglo-Saxon sealig meaning holy and according to the Surname dictionary - “Often misused in the phrase “Silly Suffolk”
Segers – Many variations, and quite a wide distribution – Segers is the Suffolk variation. First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 -Anglo-Saxon sagar for sea spear – a sea warrior
Selvage – Many variations, but Selvage is Suffolk
Comes from the Norman French Salvage or Sauvage, meaning savage and wild
Seman – Seamans - Many variations, but Seamans and Seman are Suffolk
First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 and is Anglo-Saxon a sea man – sailor
Shafe - Many variations, but Shafe is the Suffolk variation.
Comes from the Anglo-Saxon sceagh – dweller by the wood
Shinn – First recorded in 1165, Herveus Schin, in the Suffolk Pipe Rolls
From the Anglo-Saxon scinn – pronounced shin by the Anglo-Saxons and skin by the Vikings – it's a trade name for a skinner
Sibton – First recorded in 1212 Pipe Rolls – Roger de Sibbeton – from Sibton.
Sillett First recorded in 1219 Suffolk Assize Rolls as Richard Silat
Norman French for son of Sill – and Sill being short for Sylvester
Simper - First recorded in Suffolk as John Simper in the 1674 Suffolk Hearth Tax.
Refers to Geoffrey de Clinton, chamberlain to Henry I, who came from
Saint Pierre de Semilly – Normandy - Simper literally means from Saint Pierre
Sissell – It's the Suffolk dialect way of saying Cecil
Cecil was first recorded in the Domesday Book, but it was later when Sissell was recorded in Suffolk - Saint Cecil was the patron saint of musicianers
Skeet There are other variations of the name which are East Anglian, but Skeet is Suffolk, and first recorded as Skeet in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls in 1327
It's Viking skjotr for being fast and quick, fleet of foot.
Songer Distribution maps show it as very Suffolk and common in Raydon, Rendham and Somersham. Anglo-Saxon songere for a church singer – a chorister
Spall Many variations of the name, but Spall is the Suffolk variation and was recorded afore the Domesday Book and is an Old English byname
A dialect way of saying St Paul - someone associated with a church called St Paul
Spindler Anglo-Saxon for a maker of spindles
Spoore / Spore First recorded in Suffolk in 1303 in the Feudal Aids records
Anglo-Saxon spura meaning spur – Someone who is a spurrier
Spraggins – Son of Spragg – and Spragg was first recorded in Suffolk in the Subsidy Rolls in 1327 - Someone who is lively
Squirrell – first recorded in Suffolk in the 1274 Hundred Rolls
Geoffrey le Esquirel - Norman French – le esquirel – later le squirrel
A nickname for someone lively and agile
Staff First recorded in Suffolk Pipe Rolls 1177 as William Staf
Anglo-Saxon and used by Chaucer as a type of leanness or thinness
Stallworth All three names derive from the lost 13th Century,
Stallworthy Suffolk village of Stallworth or Stallworthy
Stollery and Stollery is the local dialect pronunciation.
Stammer first recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 in Suffolk as Stanmer
number of Suffolk recordings and in the 1674 Hearth Tax – first time as Stammers
Anglo-Saxon – stanmer – meaning “stone fame” - someone who stands firm
Stanard First recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 in Bury St Edmunds
Many variations – eg Stanhard, Stanhart, Stannard and Stanart – but Stanard is the Suffolk variation - Anglo-Saxon nickname Stanheard – stone hard – could be a good warrior – or someone who stands by his faith – etc etc – immoveable
Starn / Starns / Stearne / Stearns - Many other variations but these four are the Suffolk ones - Anglo-Saxon styrne meaning severe, strict, uncompromising austere
Steff / Stiff First recorded in 1524 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls - unyielding and strong
Steggals, Many variations but there two are Suffolk – dweller by the style
Stegal These are Saxon names from the Anglo-Saxon word stigol
Angle pronunciation is Styel – style – hence the surname “Styles”
Stofer 1568 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls as Gyelles Stofer
Stoffer It is a nickname for Christopher
Suggate Many variations – But, Suggate is Suffolk, dweller by the south gate
Suttle The distribution maps show two locations – Suffolk and Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Suttle literally means from Soothill, Yorkshire
The Suffolk Suttle means crafty and cunning from the Norman-French word sotil
Syrett First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 and many variations – Sired, Sirett, Sirette, Syrad, Syratt, and our Suffolk variation – Syrett
Anglo-Saxon sigeraed – with the Angle pronunciation of syred or syrett meaning victory councel – a successful warrior and leader
T
Thurkell – First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 in Suffolk.
Many variations - but Thurkell is Suffolk and a less common variation of Thurkettle
Viking name meaning – Thor's Kettle – and kettle in Norse mythology is a special cauldron from whence warriors are made – a special warrior from Thor's Kettle
Tigar First recorded in the Domesday Book 1086 in Suffolk.
Teager Norman-French -Tigier – Anglo-Saxon Thiodger – people's spear – a warrior
Tongate Ton is Anglo-Saxon for a settlement from which we get the word town
Someone who lives by the ton gate or the town gate
Tydeman This is a Suffolk variation of Tiddeeman
Anglo-Saxon Teodingmann – the chief man of a tithing, originally ten householders
U
Ungless – This is the Suffolk variation of Uncles – first recorded 1200 as Uncle but in the Domesday Book as Ulfketel and Ulketel
Christopher Ungle appears in the 1568 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls
Quote from Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames
“The Suffolk example, (Ungle), makes it clear we are concerned with only one name,
the Viking, Ulfkettle – meaning wolf cauldron – which is common in that county”.
In Viking mythology many warriors from the cauldron (kettle) - from the wolf's kettle comes the protective warrior – and Ungless means the son of Ungle
Upson / Upston – First recorded in Suffolk in 1279 in the Hundred Rolls
as Robert de Ubbeston and later the “B” softens up to John Upston 1524 in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls - Literally, someone from Ubbeston
V
Vandeville first recorded in 1550 in the Calendar of Patent Rolls
Vanderville derives from a Dutch name meaning “van der veld”. Someone who lives or makes a living “from the field”
Vineyard A Suffolk variation of Winyard, Wingard – first recorded in 1212. A worker in the vineyard and comes from the Anglo-Saxon win geard
W
Wansey – Domesday Book in 1086 in Suffolk – Hugo de Wanceio
Norman-French - from Wanchy in Seine-Inferieure
Washbrook – First recorded in Pleas before the King or Justices in 1202 in Suffolk
John de Wassebroc – from Washbrook, Suffolk
Watsham - First recorded in the Bury St Edmunds Subsidy Rolls in 1190
as Osbert de Wachesham and it means – from Wattisham in Suffolk
Went - First recorded in the Suffolk Hundred Rolls in 1275 as Henry de la Wente and also Henry atte Wente - From the Middle English “wente” - meaning – cross-roads – therefore dweller by the cross-roads
Westbroom – From the name of a lost Suffolk village which is now incorporated in Woolpit. Between Broom Hill Lane and Lower Broom Road
Wetheringsett – from Wetheringsett in Suffolk
Whatling Other variations are more widespread but Whatling is very Suffolk.
First recorded in Suffolk in 1524 in the Subsidy Rolls - From the Anglo-Saxon Hwaetling - Hwaet ling – son of hwaet – hwaet means active bold and brave
Whayman – Suffolk variation of Wyman which was first recorded in the Domesday Book and first recorded in Suffolk as Whayemonde in 1568 Subsidy Rolls
From Anglo-Saxon – Wigmund – pronounced Whaymand - “War Protector”
Whistlecraft – First recorded - Suffolk Subsidy Rolls,1524 as Thomas Wyslylcroft
Anglo-Saxon for dweller at the croft by the “twisla” - a fork in the river
Whymark – Domesday Book 1086 as Robertus filius Wimarc in Essex without the “h” and the Suffolk variation with the “h” came later
They came over in 1066 and were Breton mercenaries – and the Breton name was Wuihomarch – and it meant someone worthy to have a horse
Winney / Winny – First recorded in Suffolk in 1205 in the Feet of Fines as Wengeue pronounced winyey - Anglo-Saxon - Wyngoefu – meaning “Joy Battle”
Woolnough – Other variations – but Woolnough is the Suffolk variation
First recorded in Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds as Godwine Hulnoth – many other recordings in Suffolk including John Woolnough in the Suffolk 1674 Hearth Tax.
Anglo-Saxon nickname relating to the legendry wolf. Means “wolf boldness”
Worledge plus many variations, such as Worlidge, Wolledge, Woollage -
They are all truly Suffolk – The first recording of the name is in 1468 as John Woorliche and all recordings thereafter including the 1827 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls.
Anglo-Saxon name deriving from the wolf meaning worthy, noble and distinguished.
Wortham – First recorded in 1188 in Bury St Edmunds as Adam de Wortham
And literally means from Wortham, Suffolk.
Whybread This is a Suffolk surname and literally means from Weybred
Wiskins Viking pronunciation of Anglo-Saxon wisc – dweller near a damp meadow or marsh - recorded before the Domesday Book.
Wiskin means - family of Wisk and Wiskins means son of Wiskin
Woolby – From a lost Suffolk hamlet - Viking for wolf plus fortified hill
Wrycraft Anglo-Saxon Ryge – pronounced – Rye by the Angles and Anglo-Saxon “croft” - Means dweller by the rye croft
Y
Yonwin – First recorded in Bury St Edmunds in 1095 -Anglo-Saxon “young friend”