|
|
The Society records all surnames which come its way in its files: for Alcester parish alone, they total many, many hundreds. We record every name, even though they come from many centuries ago and appear most unlikely ever to be wanted again. It is a good thing that we do.' Here is a small selection of mediaeval-sounding names which one might think had died out: they are for Alcester parish only and some have occurred only once.
Atherseech (Adersick) (16th cent) Abant (1604)
Alured (1309) Asselyne (13th c.) Atwich (1580)
Bassill (1602) Bycky (14th c.) Boosbury (15th c.)
Braybou (1321) Byvone (1609) Calany (1562)
Estopp (1635) Fancons (13th c.) Gaseolde (1527)
Gosyer (1527) Harlotera (15th c.) Hasuiholt (15th c.)
Quintole (1422) Saccavin (1599) Skytter (1439)
Stursaker (1638) Tycull (15th c.) Whasten (1600)
Recently, a correspondent wrote enquiring about her fore-fathers named 'Atherseech' -- did we have any? Yes, we did - or at least, one. we have half a dozen sources for him -- he lived in Malt Mill Lane, was a tailor, leasing his house from Lord Brooke and left a will. He died in 1617. Who would have thought that anyone would want 'Atherseech'? In Coventry telephone directory there are four people called 'Athersich'. All of which shows that some strange mediaeval names have struggled on through the centuries and that one must not be selective in the names that one records
Apart from 'Estopp' in the list above, 'Atherseech' is the only name appearing today in the Coventry directory. No doubt, some of them still exist in other parts of the country.
© Alcester & District Local History Society 1991