Blabber

Blabber
This unusual and intriguing name is of early medieval English origin, and is one of a large group of early surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of a nickname. In this instance the nickname was given to someone thought to be a chatterer, a "babbler", derived from the Middle English "blaber, blabber", from the verb "blaberen". Medieval nicknames were bestowed with a wide variety of reference; physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, fancied resemblance to an animals or bird's appearance or disposition, habits of dress, or occupation. Many nicknames surviving as modern surnames may seem unnecessarily forthright, but habitual usage presumable dulled the edge. The development of the surname, found mainly in the South Eastern Counties, includes Blabar (1557), Balbur (1619), Blabor (1628) and Blabber (1630) all of these in Sussex. The marriage of Roger Blaber and Frances Sergent was recorded at Willingdon, Sussex, on April 16th 1592. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Blaber, which was dated 1273, in the Norfolk Hundred Rolls, 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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Blabber — Blab ber, n. one who blabr; a tattler; a telltale. Syn: blabbermouth. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • blabber — [blab′ər] vt., vi. 〚ME blabberen, freq. of blabben, like ON blabbra, echoic〛 [Informal or Dial.] to blab or babble n. 〚/span> BLAB + ER〛 a person who blabs * * * blab·ber ( …   Universalium

  • blabber — index jargon (unintelligible language) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • blabber — (v.) mid 14c., to speak as an infant speaks, frequentative of blabben, of echoic origin (Cf. O.N. blabbra, Dan. blabbre babble, Ger. plappern to babble ). Meaning to talk excessively is from late 14c. Related: Blabbered; blabbering …   Etymology dictionary

  • blabber — informal ► VERB ▪ talk indiscreetly or excessively. ► NOUN 1) a person who blabbers. 2) indiscreet or excessive talk …   English terms dictionary

  • blabber — [blab′ər] vt., vi. [ME blabberen, freq. of blabben, like ON blabbra, echoic] [Informal or Dial.] to blab or babble n. [< BLAB + ER] a person who blabs …   English World dictionary

  • blabber — UK [ˈblæbə(r)] / US [ˈblæbər] verb [intransitive] Word forms blabber : present tense I/you/we/they blabber he/she/it blabbers present participle blabbering past tense blabbered past participle blabbered informal to talk too much, especially about …   English dictionary

  • blabber — I blab, blabber (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. i. babble, chatter; tattle, gossip. See loquacity, disclosure. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. prattle, jabber, drivel; see nonsense 1 . v. Syn. chatter, prattle, gabble; see babble . III (Roget …   English dictionary for students

  • blabber — blab|ber [ˈblæbə US ər] v [i]informal to talk in a silly or annoying way for a long time blabber on ▪ I wish she d stop blabbering on about her boyfriends …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • blabber — I. verb (blabbered; blabbering) Etymology: Middle English blaberen Date: 14th century intransitive verb to talk foolishly or excessively transitive verb to say indiscreetly II. noun Date: circa 1913 idle talk …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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