English Surname?

Question

I need a surname that is obviously English, but not so ridiculous sounding that it can't be used as someone's name. I'm writing a story set in the late 1800's in England, and the character in question is a jewler.

Answer 1

am not sure I've ever met anyone with a 'bottom' surname! some of those others are pretty suspect too.

all english surnames follow a pattern...

1)occupation (smith, corbett, cook, bagnall,Archer, Baker, Fisher)
2)geological description (Hill, Wood, Fields,marsh)
3)the name of the person's father (Thompson, Richardson, Williams, Johnson)

Ones I like that are old...
Bracegirdle, Blennerhasset, Kenedy, Hodgeson, Parker, Walker, Jones.

the name of an old jewler in the uk is H.Samuel.

Answer 2

Sliney, Eastmond, Swinton, Jackson, Gray, Deardon, Taylor, Strickland, Greening, Clements, I could go on for pages. Try and find a copy of Debretts or Burkes and this will be filled with the empitome of English surnames. Be careful not to give the character an Irish (Folliard, Burne), Scottish (Gordon, Gibson) or Welsh (Jones, Evans, Brown) name however.

Answer 3

If you want an English surname...from that period of time, the area might help, as some were peculiar to certain areas until people had the money and leisure to move around. For example...you have had names suggested that end in bottom..very memorable, but I think if you look into them you will find that they are Northern names in the main, and you probably wouldn't have one living in the South of the country. Ones with Pol, and Pen at the start..and another but forgotten it are Cornish names, also ones ending in ick.
I suggest that you either take yourself to the library and look in an Origin of surnames dictionary, or search who did that sort of work, and combine the names of popular jewellers of the time.

Answer 4

The forgotten falcon: although he was one of the most respected and popular designers of his time, the work of English jeweler and silversmith H.G. Murphy has long been forgotten.

Henry--known as Harry--George Murphy was born in Kent, England, in 1884, and from a young age he showed an interest in and a talent for the creative arts. In their book Arts & Crafts to Art Deco: The Jewellery and Silver of H.G. Murphy (Antique Collector's Club, 2005), authors Paul Atterbury and John Benjamin relate a crucial moment in young Harry's life: One day, at the age of 10, Murphy wandered past an exhibition being installed by the Arts & Crafts Society of London. He peeked in and was invited inside by Henry Wilson, the great British jeweler and goldsmith.

Answer 5

I don't think that there are many American surnames, except perhaps for the Native American ones. The custom of using surnames was well in place before America was colonized.

Answer 6

try this site, it does give you first names but if you hit control and F and type in surname, it'll find it for you it's great, i've used it all the time here are a few
Ace
Aiwyn
Albin
Albrecht
Algar
Alva
Alvin
those are from the first three pages of English names
http://mybirthcare.com/favorites/babynames.asp

Answer 7

Charles Edward WILSON
George Arthur HORSFORTH
Reginald WHITINGTON
Richard William THWAITE
you could always go for ROBINSON, JOHNSON, and EDMONDSON
All very good british names, there are many kings names which have always been popular throughout our history!! Good Luck with the book.

Answer 8

Robinson

Answer 9

Higgenbottom

Answer 10

Coggins