Mennear

Mennear
This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical name for a "dweller by the long stone or menhir". The derivation of the name is from the Breton "men", stone, and "hir", long. A menhir is a single standing stone, often carved, dating from the middle Bronze Ages in the British Isles and from the late Neolithic Age in Western Europe. Topographical 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. The surname was reintroduced into England by the French Huguenots. During the mid to late 17th Century thousands of French Huguenots fled to England and other countries, to escape religious persecution on the Continent, especially after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis X1V in 1685. In the modern idiom the surname has many variant spellings ranging from Mennear, Menier, Menure and Menere, to Meneyer, Meneer, Manhare and Menear. Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: the christening of Arnold, son of John Mener, on October 24th 1585, at St. Katherine by the Tower; the christening of Madelaine, daughter of Jonas and Elisabette Menier, on November 4th 1610, at Threadneedle Street French Huguenot Church; and the christening of Mara, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Menear, at St. Mary's, Marylebone Road, on March 27th 1825. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Manhare, which was dated October 22nd 1560, christened at St. Mary Somerset, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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 ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Karl Andrew Mennear — is a Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Camden in the United Kingdom. He represents the Frognal and Fitzjohns ward. He was the Conservative candidate for Hampstead and Highgate in the 2001 General Election and then stood for… …   Wikipedia

  • Hampstead and Highgate (UK Parliament constituency) — UK constituency infobox alt Name = Hampstead and Highgate Type = Borough Entity = Greater London DivisionType = County Division = Greater London Year = 1983 MP = Glenda Jackson Party = Labour EP = London: Hampstead and Highgate redirects here.… …   Wikipedia

  • Finchley and Golders Green (UK Parliament constituency) — UK constituency infobox alt Name = Finchley and Golders Green Type = Borough Entity = Greater London DivisionType = County Division = Greater London Year = 1997 MP = Rudi Vis Party = Labour EP = LondonFinchley and Golders Green is a constituency… …   Wikipedia

  • Whitley Bay High School — Infobox UK school name = Whitley Bay High School size = latitude = 55.04809 longitude = 1.46593 dms = dms motto = motto pl = established = 1935 approx = closed = c approx = type = Comprehensive School religion = president = head label =… …   Wikipedia

  • Camden Council election, 1998 — Elections to Camden Council were held on 7 May, 1998. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party kept overall control of the council. Overall turnout was 33.4%.Election ResultElection Summary Party party = Labour Party (UK) seats …   Wikipedia

  • Camden Council election, 2002 — Elections to Camden Council were held on 2 May, 2002. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 1998 reducing the number of seats by 5. The Labour party kept overall control of the council.Election… …   Wikipedia

  • Camden Council election, 2006 — Elections to Camden Council were held on 4 May, 2006. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.Election ResultElection Summary Party party = Liberal Democrats (UK) seats …   Wikipedia

  • Constituency results of the United Kingdom general election, 2005 — Results of the United Kingdom general election, 2005. Contents 1 Scotland 1.1 Highlands and Islands 1.2 North East Scotland 1.3 Mid Scotland and Fife …   Wikipedia

  • Manhare — This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical name for a dweller by the long stone or menhir . The derivation of the name is from the Breton men , stone, and hir , long. A menhir is a single …   Surnames reference

  • Menear — This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical name for a dweller by the long stone or menhir . The derivation of the name is from the Breton men , stone, and hir , long. A menhir is a single …   Surnames reference

Share the article and excerpts

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