De-Anglicisation of Names

[ForresterModern]

I have a large contribution of the family Knight into my heritage, but am not sure if it is of scottish origin (MacKnight of the MacNaughtons). Is or was Knight a derivation of the Scottish MacKnight or more commonly of English or other origin? Thanks.

[Santa Kona]

As a newbe here are my two names Gant and Hawn I would be very intersted in what you come up with.

[slohairt]

As a newbe here are my two names Gant and Hawn I would be very intersted in what you come up with.

GANT Not much I can tell you really. (Sorry ) Gant seems to be found in England and the Border region and could be derived from Flemish town of Ghent. Many Flemish weavers moved to the east coast of Great Britain during the mediaeval period. It could also be a descriptive name implying gaunt (?)

HAWN Dutch? German? Stumped, I'm afraid.

[BroosterB1]

My family name is Byers; best I have been able to do is Birse from Aberdenshire; We think it is Norman from Byern (Herdsman) what say you?ith:

[slohairt]

My family name is Byers; best I have been able to do is Birse from Aberdenshire; We think it is Norman from Byern (Herdsman) what say you?ith:

There is an area called Birse in Aberdeenshire and many probably have their name derived from it as a topographical surname. Strangely enough, it seems to be most common in Galloway! It is referred to in early documents as Bras (?). Other sources claim that Byers is derived from Byre, which was Anglo-Saxon fro cattle-shed, so it could be occupational as well.

[slohairt]

I have a large contribution of the family Knight into my heritage, but am not sure if it is of scottish origin (MacKnight of the MacNaughtons). Is or was Knight a derivation of the Scottish MacKnight or more commonly of English or other origin? Thanks.

It can be from three unrelated origins: 1) English occupational or nickname from Anglo-Saxon Cniht, 2) Anglicised from Mac Neachdainn (SCOTTISH GAELIC) or Mac Neachtain (IRISH). Both mean 'son of Neachdann', a personal apparently common among the Picts and the name of a Celtic water divinity. I'm not sure of the meaning, but some have suggested it means 'snow-white'. 3) Anglicised from Irish Mac an Ridire meaning 'son of the Knight'. This was a name adopted by some first generation Hiberno-Normans.

[ForresterModern]

Is this guy awesome or what? Thanks. You are a tremendous asset to this forum.

Jeff

:ootd:

It can be from three unrelated origins: 1) English occupational or nickname from Anglo-Saxon Cniht, 2) Anglicised from Mac Neachdainn (SCOTTISH GAELIC) or Mac Neachtain (IRISH). Both mean 'son of Neachdann', a personal apparently common among the Picts and the name of a Celtic water divinity. I'm not sure of the meaning, but some have suggested it means 'snow-white'. 3) Anglicised from Irish Mac an Ridire meaning 'son of the Knight'. This was a name adopted by some first generation Hiberno-Normans.

[slohairt]

Is this guy awesome or what? Thanks. You are a tremendous asset to this forum.

Jeff

:ootd:

Go raibh maith agat! (Thanks!)

[Santa Kona]

Thanks a lot that is what I have come up with also. I just wanted someone else to look at it.

[xdkeys]

Newbie here, how about Autry. I read that it would have been Mac Uchtre.

Thanks.