More Matronymics

Some time ago (5 years, apparently!), I did a post on matronymic surnames. Since then, I've found more! Although there are nowhere near as many matronymics as patronymics, there are still quite a few more than I'd realized. :)

Prime surname-formation time was the Middle Ages, and many of the listed women's names only survived in surname form.

*unless otherwise stated, the name etymologies are Old English or Germanic
**in source names with two forms stated, the first was a common medieval form, the second the more familiar modern form

• Aldis, Edis--from Aldus ("old")
• Ames--from Amice (Latin, "friend") [can also be from the masculine form, Amis]
• Annett, Anning--from Anne (Hebrew, "grace") or Annis/Agnes (Greek, "chaste")
• Ansteys, Anstice, Anstis--from Anstice/Anastasia (Greek, "resurrection")
• Aylett--from Ailith ("noble war")
• Ayliff--from Aileva ("noble gift")
• Baseley, Bazeley, Bazell--from Basilia (Greek, "king")
• Bedloe, Bedlow--from Bedelove (poss. "battle-love")
• Belson--from Isabel (Hebrew, "my God is an oath") or Belsant (poss. "sword strength")
• Drewett--from Drueta (feminine of Drogo, poss. "ghost")
• Edney--from Idony (Old Norse, poss. "love again")
• Ellett, Ellet--from Ellen (Greek, "torch")
• Elvey--from Alviva ("elf gift")
• Elvis, Elwes--from Helewys/Eloise ("famous war")
• Ennever, Enever, Jenever--from Guinevere/Jennifer (from Celtic, "white phantom")
• Evatt, Evett, Evetts--from Eva/Eve (Hebrew, "life")
• Gillet, Gillette--from Gilia (feminine of Giles, Latin, "goat") or Gillian (Latin, "fuzzy-bearded" or "of Jove")
• Goldburg--from Goldburga ("gold fortress")
• Goodison--from Godith ("god-war")
• Hawes--from Hawisia/Hawys ("battle-wide" or "battle-wood")
• Hildyard, Hilliard--from Hildegard ("battle-protection")
• Ingrey--from Ingrid (Old Norse, "beautiful Ing")
• Issard, Izatt, Izett, Izzard--from Isolda/Isolde (poss. "ice-battle" or "iron-battle")
• Jeeves--from Geva/Genevieve ("kinswoman")
• Jennett--from Jane (Hebrew, "God is gracious")
• Jewett, Jowett--from Julian/Gillian (Latin, "fuzzy-bearded" or "of Jove") [Julian was unisex, and more common for girls in medieval England]
• Kimbro, Kimbrough--from Kinborough ("royal fortress")
• Letson, Lett, Letts--from Lettice/Letitia (Latin, "joy")
• Linney--from Linniva (poss. "linden-gift" or "shield-gift")
• Loveday--from Loveday (you guessed it--"love-day")
• Malkin, Marriott--from Mary (Hebrew, origin uncertain)
• Mott, Tillett--from Matilda ("battle-might")
• Parnall--from Petronilla (Latin, prob, "rock" or "rustic")
• Quennell, Quinell--from Quenilda ("queen-battle")
• Rain--from Regina (Latin, "queen") [may also be from masculine Germanic Ragin-names, like Reginald or Reinhard]
• Ravenell, Ravenhall, Ravenhill--from Ravenild ("raven-battle")
• Sealy, Seeley, Seely--from Sely ("blessed") [unisex, but more often feminine]
• Seavers--from Sefare ("sea-journey") [may also be from Severus]
• Sibley--from Sibyl/Sybil (Greek, "prophetess, oracle")
• Sisley, Sisterson--from Cecily/Cecilia (Latin, "blind")
• Stanbery, Stanberry--from Stanburg ("stone fortress")
• Summerhill, Summerill--from Somerhild ("summer battle")
• Swannell--from Swanhilda ("swan-battle")
• Tiffany--from Teffan/Theophania (Greek, "appearance of God")
• Wantling--from Wentliana/Gwenllian (Welsh, "pure-flaxen")
• Winney--from Wenyeva ("joy-gift" or "friend-gift")
• Whybray, Wyber, Wybrew--from Wigburg ("war fortress")
• Wymark--from Wimarc (poss. "war-famous" or Breton " ??? -horse") [unisex]

As you can probably guess, this is still nowhere near comprehensive! It was a great excuse to find more fun medieval girls' names, and unexpected forms of some modern girls' names, though. ;)