Hitchens

Hitchens
This unusual and interesting surname is of early medieval English and Welsh origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, it may derive from the Middle English personal name "Hicke", a pet form of Richard, common in the 12th Century (particularly in Cheshire), itself derived from the Germanic elements "ric", power, and "hard", hardy, brave, strong, with the diminutive suffix "-en". The personal name from this source was ecorded as "Hichoun" in the 1286 Assize Court Rolls of Cheshire. The name may also be a variant of Hitchin, itself of English locational origin from a place of that name in Hertfordshire, which appeared as "Hiccam" in the "Cartularium Saxonicum", circa 944. This placename was composed of the tribal name "Hicce", which probably derived from an old name for the river "Hiz", related to the Welsh "sych", dry, a word common in stream-names. Locational surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. Geoffrey de Hicchen appeared in the 1321 Calendar of Letter Books of London, and John Hychen was recorded in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the christening of Elline Hichinge on October 14th 1599, at St. Andrew's, Holborn, and the christening of Elizabeth Hitchen on February 18th 1617, at St. Katherine by the Tower. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Hichun, which was dated 1279, in the "Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.

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  • Hitchens — or Hichens is the surname of several people:* Christopher Hitchens, author, journalist and broadcaster, brother of Peter Hitchens * Gerry Hitchens, English footballer * Ivon Hitchens, English painter * Peter Hitchens, author, journalist and… …   Wikipedia

  • Hitchens — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Christopher Hitchens (* 1949), US amerikanischer Publizist britischer Herkunft Gerry Hitchens (1934–1983), englischer Fußballspieler Peter Hitchens (* 1951), britischer Journalist und Autor Diese Seit …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hitchens — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Christopher Hitchens (né en 1949), écrivain et journaliste américain d origine anglaise. Gerald Hitchens (1934 1983), footballeur anglais. Catégories :… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Christopher Hitchens — Born Christopher Eric Hitchens April 13, 1949 (1949 04 13) (age 62) Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK Occupation …   Wikipedia

  • Peter Hitchens — Infobox writer name = Peter Hitchens caption = Peter Hitchens pseudonym = birthname = Peter Jonathan Hitchens birthdate = birth date and age|1951|10|28 birthplace = Sliema, Malta occupation = Author, Journalist, Pundit nationality =… …   Wikipedia

  • Christopher Hitchens's political views — Contents 1 First principles 2 Marxism 3 The American Revolution 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Christopher Hitchens — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Hitchens. Christopher Hitchens …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Peter Hitchens — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Peter Jonathan Hitchens (nacido el 28 de octubre de 1951 en Sliema, Malta) es un escritor y periodista de prensa y radio conservador británico. La mayor parte de su carrera periodística transcurrió en el Daily… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Christopher Hitchens's critiques of public figures — Christopher Hitchens speaking at an engagement in 2007. English American author, journalist, and literary critic Christopher Hitchens (born 1949) is noted for his scathing critiques of public figures. Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and Mother… …   Wikipedia

  • Christopher Hitchens — am 20. Januar 2007 Christopher Eric Hitchens (* 13. April 1949 in Portsmouth, England) ist ein US amerikanischer[1] Autor, Publizist und Literaturkritiker …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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