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Surname List S-Y
showing derivation or meanings according to the 2009 edition of the Penguin Dictionary of British Surnames;
or alternative sources where shown.

S

Sanderson (in the Leaford family) Patronymic from the personal name Sander.   ancestry.co.uk supplies the information shown on an extra page
Savage A wild person.
Savill See an extra page
Sayers An occupational term for an assayer of metals, or a food-taster, or a maker of fine cloth; or a professional story-teller.
Searle From a Germanic first-name, connected with armour.
Seeley A happy, or possibly a silly person.
Selfe No Penguin dictionary entry: but Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames (1997) gives derivation as sea-wolf.
Shittleton No derivation has been found.
Silversides No Penguin dictionary entry: but Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames (1997) gives derivation as place-name in Cumbria.
Simkins From Simon first-name, especially in Staffs.
Simmonds From Simon first-name.
Simpson Surname Database provides the information shown on an extra page
Sinkins Version of Simkins from the first-name Simon: commonest in Staffordshire.
Skilton No dictionary entry found; but Skelton is from a place-name in Cumberland & Yorkshire.
Skinner Occupational term.
Slater Occupational term.
Sloan Surname Database provides the information shown on an extra page
Smale A slim person, principally a Cornish surname.
Smith
      main family;
      Prudence Dorling ;
      Florence Tourell and
      William and Ellen (Whiskin family)
Occupational term for a metal-worker.
Solomon From first-name; sometimes as wise as   or played a part in a play.
South Possibly from the south of England, but just as likely from the south of the village.
(Read more at: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/South#ixzz3XeoPcjR6).
Spencer See an extra page .
Spicer Occupational name for a seller of spices, found more widely in the south-east.
Stabler No specific entry in dictionary, but Stable/s is defined as a worker at a stable (a shelter for cattle as well as horses).
Stanaway No dictionary entry found; but Stanway = dweller at stone road; or from place-name.
Stanes Surname Database provides the information shown on an extra page
Stanford Place-name in several counties, from Old English stony ford.
Stanley Place-name in several counties, from Old English stony wood/clearing.
Staples Dweller by a boundary pillar, or from a place-name with the same meaning.
Stark OE nickname for toughor stiff person; commonest in Scotland.
Steele Occupational term for a steel-worker; or a man known for firmness and reliability.
Stevens
      Richard (Harbott family); or
      Martha Tourell; or
      Sarah West ; and
      Rhoda Whiskin
From the Middle English first-name.
Steward
      Gladys Harbott ; and
      Alice Harwood
Occupational term for a keeper of a household.
Street Dweller on the main street of a village.
Strongman See an extra page
Stuttle No dictionary entry found.
Sullens ancestry.co.uk supplies the information shown on an extra page
Surry Only Surrey referred to in the dictionary - the countyplace-name
Sutton From a place-name in almost every English county, but commonest in Lancashire: Old English for a south-facing or southerly-lying farm or settlement.
Swales No Penguin dictionary entry: but Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames (1997) gives derivation for Swale as a place-name from the River Swale.

T

Tancred From an Old French first-name, connected with a great Crusader, and strongest in Lancashire.
Taylor
      Clara Patten; ; or
      Frederick (Leaford family); and
      Susan Osborn
Occupational term for a tailor - originally a cutter.
Theobald From a Germanic first-name meaning `people-bold`: commonest in East Anglia.
Thompson
      Matilda Dorling; or
      Robert ;(Leaford family) or
      James (Whiskin family)
From the medieval first-name Thomas, swept to popularity following the murder of Archbishop Becket. A mainly north of England variation.
Thorne Dweller by a thorn bush, or from a place-name with the same derivation.
Thorp OE dweller at a farm - especially an outlying dairy farm - or village.
Tillett Diminutive of the first-name Matilda: very strong in Norfolk.
Tilsed No entry in dictionary.
Tingey From a Breton first-name meaning `fire-dog`: most in evidence in East Anglia.
Tolley ancestry.co.uk supplies the information shown on an extra page
Toolet No entry in dictionary.
Toomey Irish in origin from the ancient Gaelic name O'Tuama, translating as 'the descendant of Tuama' and meaning coming from a hill or a small mountain.
Tourell No entry in dictionary.
Tucker Occupational term for a fuller of cloth; or a brave or generous person. Especially to be found in Devon and south-west England.
Tyman No entry in dictionary.

U

Usher See an extra page

V

Virgo     Perhaps a man who had played the Blessed Virgin in a mystery play; or ironically for a lecherous person: mainly found in Sussex and Gloucestershire.

W

Waddelow No direct entry in dictionary. WaddilowFrom an Old English first name meaning either power-thief or slaughter-thief; or Wadlow from a place-name in Cambridgeshire.
Walker
      Ann Dorling; and
      Amy Whiskin
Occupational term for a fuller of cloth (trampling it in a trough).
Walling No entry in dictionary.
Ward
      George (Dorling family); or
      Alethea Whiskin and
      William (Whiskin family)
Occupational term for a watchman or guard.
Warren Dweller or worker at a game-park.
Warwick Place-name in Warwickshire and Cumberland for a dairy farm on a river bank or dam.
Washington Pre 7th century origins; locational, usually from the town in County Durham.
Watkins From Walter, Normanized Germanic first-name; especially in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Wales.
Watts
      Evelyn Harbott or
      a wife in the Leaford family
From the Normanized version of the Germanic first-name Walter meaning rule-army/people
Waugh Unknown origin, perhaps from Old English walh, applied to a foreigner.
Webb
      Emily Patten; and
      Sarah Harwood and
      John in the Hiscock family
Occupational term for a weaver.
Webber A later formation of Webb - see above.
Webster Originally applied to female weavers.
Weightman No dictionary entry found; but weight (=wait) was occupational term for a watchman. Waits eventually could be a body of musicians.
Wells
      Sylvia Leaford; or
      Harry (Leaford family) and
      Sarah West; and
      Kevin in the Whiskin family
Dweller at a well or spring or from a place-name with the same meaning.
West A newcomer from the west; or a dweller at the west end of a village.
Wheeler OE occupational term for a wheel-maker.
Wherley No dictionary entry found. (Wherlock was a nickname from OE fiend or wizard.)
Whiskin No Penguin dictionary entry: but Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames (1997) gives derivation as the same as Wisken, a diminutive of Wise.
However, John Wiskin in Canada has provided the following information (January 2012):-
the name Wiskin was originally Wisgar, an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "skilled-spear". Through the centuries it changed to Wisger, Wisker, Wisken, Wiskin, and Whiskin.
Whitelock A person with fair hair; or from Old English first-name meaning elf-play
Wickham Place-name in 8 south-eastern counties of England from Old English for a river-meadow with an outlying settlement; or simply a manor: commonest in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
(A wick was an outlying dairy-farm, or possibly a salt-works.)
Wilkins A common version of Williams - see below.>
Williams From William, an Old French first-name, Germanic `will helmet`brought into England by the Normans.
Wilson Son of William - derivation above: bearers of the surname have been traditionally known as `Tug` from a sarcastic comment by Admiral Sir Arthur Kynvet Wilson (1842-1941).
Wiseman Nickname for a wise man: could have been applied ironically, or to a man deemed to be a wizard or sorcerer.
Wood Occupational term for one who worked as a forester; or a dweller near a wood.
Wray ancestry.co.uk supplies the information shown on an extra page
Wright
      Harriet Harbott; and
      George in the Tourell family; and
      Sidney in the Dorling family.
Occupational term for a craftsman who made almost any kind of useful object, sometimes used specifically for a carpenter or joiner.
Wroe ancestry.co.uk supplies the information shown on an extra page
   

Y

Yohurst     No entry in dictionary.
Youngs From Young - A young person; or the younger/youngest of two or more with the same (fore)name.