Wreath

Wreath
Recorded in many forms including: Wreath, Wraith, Wrate, Wrates, Wroth and Wroath, this is a surname of English origins. Derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "wrath", meaning angry or fierce, it was a nickname either for somebody with a fierce temper, or more probably given the robust humour of the medieval period, the reverse, in fact a quiet person. It is is an example of a sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, and sometimes supposed resemblance to an animal or birds in appearance or disposition. It has been claimed that originally the surname as Wraith was usually found in Northern England, although the spellings as Wroth and Wroath are generally from the south of the country. Recordings of the surname from early church registers include; Ales Wrate who married John Harte at Tottenham, on November 27th 1559, Thomas Wrath, appears in the Friary Rolls of Yorkshire in 1587, and Isabel Wraith, married John Youlle on August 23rd 1584 at Kippax, in West Yorkshire. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wreath — (?; 277), n.; pl. {Wreaths}. [OE. wrethe, AS. wr[=ae][eth] a twisted band, fr. wr[=i][eth]an to twist. See {Writhe}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled; as, a wreath of smoke; a wreath of flowers. A wrethe of gold.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wreath — [ riθ ] noun count 1. ) a circle of flowers or leaves that you put on a GRAVE to show you are remembering the dead person: lay a wreath: The president laid a wreath at the war memorial. a ) a circle of flowers or leaves that you hang up for… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • wreath — [ri:θ] n [: Old English; Origin: writha] 1.) a circle made from leaves or flowers that you put on the place where a person is buried ▪ The prime minister laid a wreath at the war memorial. 2.) a circle of leaves or flowers that people use to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • wreath — has the plural form wreaths, pronounced reedhz or reeths. The verb, meaning ‘to encircle with a wreath’, is spelt wreathe and is pronounced reedh …   Modern English usage

  • wreath|y — «REE thee», adjective. of the form of a wreath: »wreathy clouds, a wreathy vine …   Useful english dictionary

  • wreath — (n.) O.E. wriða fillet, bandage, band (lit. that which is wound around ), from P.Gmc. *writhon (Cf. O.N. riða, Dan. vride, O.H.G. ridan to turn, twist, O.S., O.Fris. wreth angry, Du. wreed rough, harsh, cruel, O.H.G. reid twisted …   Etymology dictionary

  • wreath — [n] circular decoration band, bay, bouquet, chaplet, circlet, coronal, coronet, crown, festoon, garland, laurel, lei, loop, ring, ringlet; concepts 259,260,429 …   New thesaurus

  • wreath — ► NOUN (pl. wreaths) 1) an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring and used for decoration or for laying on a grave. 2) a curl or ring of smoke or cloud. ORIGIN Old English, related to WRITHE(Cf. ↑writhe) …   English terms dictionary

  • wreath — [rēth] n. pl. wreaths [rēthz, rēths] [ME wrethe < OE writha, a ring, a twisted band < writhan, to twist: see WRITHE] 1. a twisted band or ring of leaves, flowers, etc.; esp., a) a chaplet worn as a mark of honor or victory b) a garland laid …   English World dictionary

  • Wreath — A wreath is a ring made of flowers, leaves and sometimes fruits that can be used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table. A small wreath can be also worn on the head as a form of headdress.ymbolismWreaths are commonly… …   Wikipedia

  • wreath — n. 1) to make, weave a wreath 2) to lay, place a wreath (they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) 3) a bridal; Christmas; floral wreath * * * [riːθ] Christmas Christmas floral wreath weave a wreath place a wreath (they laid a wreath …   Combinatory dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”