English Sign Names

© 2000 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 1.0, updated 22 February 2000

Introduction

This article is a compilation of notes that I have made over the last year or so. As I have run across references to any type of "sign" names (inn, tavern, etc.), I recorded the location and the form of the sign name.

I have organized the sign names below by type.

Forms Seen in Sign Names:

• Animals
  
• Birds
  
• Mythological Creatures
  
• Other Items
  
• Color + Animal
  
• Number + (Other Item)
  
• References to Humans (incl. "head")
  
• Personal Names
  
• (Owner's byname) + Inn
  
• Unidentified
  
• Inns/Taverns which I have only found dated to temp. James I
  
• Inns/Taverns for which I have found a listing, but no dates
  

Bibliography & raw data

Animals

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Bear
Ursi	1425-6	Stonor, section i, p. 45; letter: 51	This letter was written in Latin.
Bear (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Boar
Boar (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
boore	24 August 1485	York, p. 734
boore	31 March 1487	York, p. 542
Bull
Bole	1377	Reaney & Wilson, p. 71 s.n. Bull
Bole	1478 ?	Stonor, section ii, p. 51; letter: 214
Bull (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bull (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Bull	6 August 1476	York, p. 52	This document was written in Latin.
Bulle	6 August 1476	York, p. 53	This document was written in Latin.
Lamb
Lamb (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Lamme	1320	Reaney & Wilson, p. 269 s.n. Lamb
Lion
Lion (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Lyon	1522	Rutland, p. 83
Lyon (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Ram
Ram (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Ramme	14 Edw. II	Bardsley, p. 9
Ramme	1307, 1339	Reaney & Wilson, p. 371 s.n. Ram
Ramme	1320	Ewen, p. 230
Roebuck
Robuck	1313	Bardsley, p. 551
Roebuck (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals

Birds

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Cock
Cock (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Cok	1327	Ewen, p. 230
[Le] Cok (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Cokke	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Kok	9 Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 189
Crane
Crane	bef. 1468	Stonor, supplementary, p. 8; letter: 345
Crane (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Eagle
Eagle (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Egle	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Hegle	1273	Bardsley, p. 8
Hegle	1275	Ewen, p. 230
Pie (for "magpie")
Pye	1339	Ewen, p. 230
Pye	1340	Reaney & Wilson, p. 350 s.n. Pie
Pye	1347	Reaney & Wilson, p. 350 s.n. Pie
Pye (may be standardized spelling)	1374	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 109
Pye (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Raven
Raven	1344	Reaney & Wilson, p. 372 s.n. Raven
Raven (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Swan
Swan	2 Hen. IV	Bardsley, p. 730
Swan	1337	Ewen, p. 230
Swan	1344	Reaney & Wilson, p. 435 s.n. Swan
Swan	1364	Reaney & Wilson, p. 435 s.n. Swan
swan	c. April 1487	York, p. 547
Swan (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230

Mythological Creatures

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Dragon
Dragon	1374	Reaney & Wilson, p. 141 s.n. Dragon
dragon	24 October 1484	York, p. 311
Dragon (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Mermaid
marmayd	12 May 1476	Stonor, section ii, p. 6; letter: 165
Mermaid (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 120, note 15.

Other Items

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Bell
Bell	1307	Bardsley, p. 92
Bell	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 92
Bell	1522	Rutland, p. 83
Bell (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 3
Bell (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Belle	1332	Reaney & Wilson, p. 37 s.n. Bell
Belle	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Castle
Castell	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Crown
[Atte]croune	1420	Bardsley, p. 119
Crown (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Garland
[Le] Garland	2 Eliz.	Ewen, p. 230
Hamer
Hamere	1426	Reaney & Wilson, p. 214 s.n. Hamer
Harp
Harp	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 361
Harpe	1361	Reaney & Wilson, p. 218 s.n. Harp
Harpe	1388	Bardsley, p. 361
Harpe	7 Hen. V	Bardsley, p. 361
Harpe	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 361
Hat
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365
Hat	1273	Bardsley, p. 365
Hatte	n.d.	Bardsley, p. 8
Horn
Horn	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 398
Horne	I Edw. III	Bardsley, p. 398
Rose
Ros	1273	Bardsley, p. 654
Rose	1242	Reaney & Wilson, p. 383 s.n. Rose
Rose	1273	Bardsley, p. 654
Rose	1273	Bardsley, p. 654
Rose	1305	Reaney & Wilson, p. 383 s.n. Rose
Rose (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Ewen, p. 231
Runcy
Ralph de la Runce	Hen. III-Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 660 s.n. Runcy	(Runcy = porter/carrier 'beast of burden')
Ship
[Le] Schippe (may be standardized spelling)	n.d.	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Shippe	1423	Reaney & Wilson, p. 406 s.n. Shipp
Star
Sterre	1322	Reaney & Wilson, p. 425 s.n. Starr
Sword
[Le] Swerd (may be standardized spelling)	1380	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 115, paragraph 3
Swerde	c1470	Stonor, section i, p. 110; letter: 106
Sworde	09 Oct 1476	Stonor, section ii, p. 12; letter: 170
Sworde	16 Jan [1480]	Stonor, section ii, p. 98; letter: 260
Tabard
Tabard	1371	Reaney & Wilson, p. 438 s.n. Tabard
Wain
[Atte]wayne	1327	Reaney & Wilson, p. 471 s.n. Wain
Windmill
Wyndemylne	1522	Rutland, p. 93

Color + Animal

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Grayhorse
Grayhorse	2 Hen. VII	Bardsley, p. 334 s.n. Grayhorse
Grayhound
Grayhound	1522	Rutland, p. 83
Whitehorse
Whithors	1358	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitehorse
Whithors	2 Edw. I	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitehorse
Whytehors	1285	Ewen, p. 230
Whytehorse	1312	Ewen, p. 230
Whitelamb
Whitlambe	1379	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitelamb
Whitelomb	1428	Bardsley, p. 807 s.n. Whitelamb

Number + (Other Item)

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Sevenstar
Sevensterre	1355	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar
Seuesterrys	1379	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar
Sevesterre	1384	Reaney & Wilson, p. 401 s.n. Sevenstar

References to Humans (incl. "head")

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Black Boy
Black Boye	1522	Rutland, p. 92
Maiden's Head
Maydenhede	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Saracen's Head
Sersyns hed	1522	Rutland, p. 93
[Paul or Pole]'s Head
Poules Heed (may be standardized spelling)	1405	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 193, paragraph 1

Personal Names

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
George
George	1522	Rutland, p. 83
George (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 3
Saint Lawrance
Saint Lawrance	1522	Rutland, p. 93	This location may have been named for the street ("Saint Lawrance lane") it was on, rather than the saint himself.
Wolsig?
Wolsak	? 1463	Stonor, section i, p. 66; letter: 71	This letter was written in Latin. This name may be a corruption of an older personal name which survives in the modern surnameWolseley.

(Possibly the owner's byname) + Inn (Tavern)

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:	Notes:
Bosom's Inn
Bosoms yn	1522	Rutland, p. 93
Davis's Inn
Davys Inn (may be standardized spelling)	15th C	Hanawalt (London), p. 71, paragraph 3
Gray's Inn
Greysyn	? 02 Nov 1476	Stonor, section ii, p. 17; letter: 174
Greyysyn	1466	Stonor, section i, p. 73; letter: 79
Lincoln Inn
Lyncoll yn	c1480	Stonor, supplementary, p. 14; letter: 351	Note: it is possible Lyncoll refers to a location instead of a byname.
Mitford Tavern
Mitford taverne	28 March 1489	York, p. 643	Note: it is possible Mitford refers to a location instead of a byname.

Unidentified

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Unidentified:
Eden Berys	14 and 15 February 1483	York, p. 707
Lodyn Proche (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Choker (may be standardized spelling)	1516	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2

Inns/Taverns which I have only found dated to temp. James I

Inn or Tavern Name:	Dated To:	Source:
Angel (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bear and Harrow (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Bull Head (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Cranes (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Croskeyes	1610	Bardsley, p. 220 s.n. Crosskeys
Horns (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230
Talbot (may be standardized spelling)	temp. James I	Ewen, p. 230

Inns/Taverns for which I have found a listing, but no dates

Some of these names likely date from the 17th-19th centuries. But without dated examples, it is impossible to determine when each name came into use for an Inn or Tavern.

Inn or Tavern Name:	Source:
Alfred's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Anchor (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Ape (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Badger (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Ball (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Boar's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Board (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Brock (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Buck (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Bush (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Bushce (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Catt (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Camel (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Cleaver (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Coney (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Crab-tree (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Cross (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Crow (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Deer (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Devil (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Doe (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Dove (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Druid's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Eliphant (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Falcon (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Fox (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Griffin (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Hare (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Hart (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Hedghogg (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Heron (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Hind (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
King's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Leopard (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Oliphant (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Peacock (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Pigeon (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Prince (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Red Lyon (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Rook (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230-231, s.n. Birds
Squirrel (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Stagg (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals
Tankard (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Turk's Head (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 231
Vine (may be standardized spelling)	Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute), p. 108, paragraph 2
Wolfe (may be standardized spelling)	Ewen, p. 230, s.n. Animals

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