Source language

English

Longfellow

Welsh

Gough, Gwynn, Lloyd

Gaelic

Campbell (Crooked mouth) Cameron (Crooked nose)

Norman French

Were nickname bynames of French derivation of local origin or a result of code-switching by clerks?

Normally sexual content is absent from French compounded nicknames (though Peverel and Levelaunce may be exceptions). Stricture without the use of ‘low’ language.

• Possibly ironic: Parlebien, Jevousdy, Saunfayl, Bonefey, Purquei, Certeyn, Bonjour
• Directly demonstrative:
  • Baret (aggressive, boisterous speech),
  • Unsocial behaviour = Cachepayn, Cachevacche Cachemort, Sanscor
  • Unneighbourlinness= Mauuesyn, Prentut
    (Postles, 2006, Naming the People of England p118)

Code switching

Firebrace (fier bras), Pettifer (pied de fer)