Face

Face
Recorded as Face and Facer, this unusual and interesting surname is English. It is usually of medieval origins, and it is claimed, was formerly job descriptive for a specialist stone mason, one who literally put the finished "face" on stone work. Medieval fortresses and city walls had deliberately smooth faces to prevent missiles from sticking, and generally making it more difficult to storm the walls, the Faces or Facers were responsible for this finish. In the region known as Kent-Sussex a special language existed for many centuries, and a particular habit was that of adding "-er" to existing names. This also to be found in surnames such as Brooker (a worker by the brook), or Hiller, one who lived on a hill. It is also a possibility that some modern name holders the derivation is from a personal nickname based upon the word "face". Early examples of the surname recording include Ernest Face recorded in the city of London on June 23rd 1577, whilst Mary Facer married Salathyell Lovewell at St. Bride's, Fleet Street, also in the city of London, on May 5th 1659. This was interestingly during the 'reign' of Richard Cromwell, known as "The Lord Protector", 1658 - 1659. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was also 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.

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  • face — face …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • face — [ fas ] n. f. • XIIe; lat. pop. °facia, class. facies 1 ♦ Partie antérieure de la tête humaine. ⇒ figure, tête, visage. « La face est le moyen d expression du sentiment » (Malraux). Une face large, pleine, colorée. « dans sa face rasée, ronde,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • face — FÁCE, fac, vb. III. a. tranz. I. 1. A întocmi, a alcătui, a făuri, a realiza, a fabrica un obiect. Face un gard. ♢ A procura un obiect, dispunând confecţionarea lui de către altcineva. Îşi face pantofi. 2. A construi, a clădi; a ridica, a aşeza.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Face — (f[=a]s), n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see {Fact}); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. {Facetious}.] 1. The exterior form or appearance of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Face of a — Face Face (f[=a]s), n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see {Fact}); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. {Facetious}.] 1. The exterior form or appearance… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • face — FACE. s. f. Visage. Se couvrir la face. destourner sa face. regarder quelqu un en face. voir la face de Dieu. le voir face à face. Face, se dit aussi De la superficie des choses corporelles. La face de la terre. En ce sens on dit. en termes de l… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • face — [fās] n. [ME < OFr < VL facia < L facies, the face, appearance < base of facere, DO1] 1. the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin, and from ear to ear; visage; countenance 2. the expression of the… …   English World dictionary

  • face — ► NOUN 1) the front part of a person s head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal. 2) an expression on someone s face. 3) the surface of a thing, especially one presented to the view or with a particular function.… …   English terms dictionary

  • face — n Face, countenance, visage, physiognomy, mug, puss denote the front part of a human or, sometimes, animal head including the mouth, nose, eyes, forehead, and cheeks. Face is the simple and direct word {your face is dirty} {she struck him in the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • face — n 1 a: outward appearance b: the surface or superficial reading or meaning of something (as a document or statute) that does not take into account outside information the face of [the] deed reveals that she had two purposes in mind State v. Rand …   Law dictionary

  • Face — (f[=a]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Faced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Facing}.] 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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