English Sign Names: Raw Data

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

Sources:

• Bardsley: Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., reprinted 1996; originally published London, 1901).
  
• Ewen: Ewen, C. L'Estrange, A History of Surnames of the British Isles (Originally pubished: London, 1931. Reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, 1993, 1995).
  
• Hanawalt (London): Hanawalt, Barbara A., Growing Up in Medieval London (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1993).
  
• Hanawalt (Of Good and Ill Repute): Hanawalt, Barbara A., 'Of Good and Ill Repute': Gender and Social Control in Medieval England (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998).
  
• Reaney & Wilson: Reaney, P. H. and R. M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 3rd edition (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1995).
  
• Rutland: Jerdan, William, ed., "The Visit of the Emperor Charles V to England, A.D. 1522", Rutland Papers (Camden Society, 1842) (Reprint: New York: AMFS Press, 1968), pp. 59-100.
  
• Stonor: Carpenter, Christine, ed., Kingsford's Stonor Letters and Papers 1290-1483 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).
  
• York: Attreed, Lorraine C., ed., York House Books 1461-1490 (Wolfeboro Falls, NH: Alan Sutton for RIchard III & Yorkist History Trust, 1991).
  

p. 230:

Note: These may be modernized spellings.

"An observer in the time of James I noted the names of forty-eight inns and taverns between Charing Cross and the Old Tower of Lond, some of which, like the Bell, Angel, Swan, Bear and Harrow, Bull Head, Bull, Lyon, Horns, Talbot, Cranes, etc., correspond to modern surnames"

p. 230, paragraph 3 dates:

Atte Cok

to 1327 in Hunts.

p. 230-231:

Note: These may be modernized spellings.

"The following family names are all known to have been inn signs and they also correspond to heraldic emblems.

Animals: Ape, Badger, Bear, Boar, Brock, Buck, Bull, Catt, Camel, Coney, Deer, Doe (Hind, Hart, Roebuck), Dragon, Fox, Griffin, Hedghogg, Lamb, Leopard, Lion, Oliphant (Eliphant), Ram, Squirrel, Stagg, Wolfe

Birds: Cock, Crane, Crow, Dove, Eagle, Falcon, Heron, Peacock, Pigeon, Pye, Raven, Rook"

p. 231:

"Tavern signs were not confined to representations of animals and birds; common devices were Anchor (now Anker), Ball, Bell, Board, Bush, Cleaver, Crab-tree, Cross, Devil, Prince, Rose, Tankard, and so on, now are represented as surnames in the modern directory. The surname Garland, in some cases, may have been derived from an inn sign. Garland formerly meant a King's crown, and there was a messuage in Huntingdon or neighbourhood called Le Garland (2 Eliz.)".

p. 231:

"Tavern names such as King's Head, Druid's Head, Turk's Head, Alfred's Head, Boar's Head, are common..."

p. 231:

"... there are other possible derivations for surnames, corresponding to names of hostelries; e.g. Griffin, Raven, Peacock, and Tankard were baptismal names; Badger is an occupation; Hare was the heir and so on..."

p. 71, paragraph 3 "... and becoming an apprentice in 'Davys Inn'." 15th C [references Note 9]

Note 9 gives the source as: P.R.O. Cl/94/14.

NOTE: it is not clear if the author standardized any of the spellings of these taverns and inns. Given the variety of spellings, it would seem likely that at least some of the original spellings have been preserved.

p. 108, paragraph 2 discusses a number of court cases but gives no specific dates. The locations this paragraph discusses includes:
The Bushce tavern
The Lodyn Proche
The Crown [references Note 15]
Le Schippe [references Note 16]
the Red Lyon
"Le Cok" in Woodstreet
The Vine in the parish of St. Helen
The Choker in the high street [references Note 17]

Note 15 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Guildhall, Consistory Court 9064/1 ms. 5, 5v, 6, 26v, 30, 31, 64v, 65, 66, 81v, 114, 116, 166v, 119, 119v, 122v, 155v. P.R. O. C1/136/79.
Note 16 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Guildhall, Consistory Court 9064/1, ms. 68, 83, 84, 91v.
Note 17 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Ibid., ms. 110v, 114v.

p. 120, Note 15, also mentions:
an inn called "the Mermaid"

p. 108, paragraph 3, discusses a court case that took place in 1516. The inns/taverns discussed in this paragraph include:
The Bell Inn
The George in Lombard street

p. 109 mentions:
The Pye in Queenhithe [references Note 20]

Note 20 on p. 120 gives the source of this information as: Arthur H. Thomas, Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls of the City of London 1323-1482 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1929, p. 184 (1374).

p. 115, paragraph 3, discussing events that occurred in 1380, mentions:
Le Swerd

p. 193, paragraph 1, discussing events that occurred in 1405, mentions:
"Poules Heed" tavern

p. 52-53: Lease of Inn Called 'The Bull'; 6 August 1476 [This document was written in Latin.]

Capitio de le Bull [header for this document, p. 52] vocatum le Bulle situatum in Conyngstrete [p. 53]

p. 310-311: Theft During Dice Game; 24 October 1484
in the tapster house of the dragon in Lop Lane ... of the same inn ...

p. 542: Report of Earl of Lincoln's Treason; 31 March 1487
... John Hoton, hostler at the signe of the boore within the said citie ...

p. 547: Mayor's Letter Testimonial for City Hostler; Undated, c. April 1487
William Maunsell, late osteler at the signe of the swan ...

p. 643: Attack in City Streets; 28 March 1489
... went to Mitford taverne ... to the same tavern

p. 707: Reported Slander of the Duke of Gloucester; 14 and 15 February 1483
... at the ale at Eden Berys in Gothyrngate...

p. 734: Meetings with Sir Henry Percy and Henry VII's Messenger, Wages of Bosworth Soldiers; 24 August 1485
... unto the sign of the boore ...

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