Calf

Calf
This interesting surname derives from the Old Norse personal name "Kalfr", originally a byname meaning "Calf", or possibly from the Old English pre 7th Century "calf", Anglian form of "cealf" meaning "calf", used either as a nickname or as a metonymic occupational name for someone who was responsible for tending calves. The surname dates back to the mid 12th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Alwin Calf (1176) "The Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire", Nicholas Calf "The Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire", and Cicilia Calff (1379) "The Poll Tax Records of Howdenshire". Church recordings include one Alice Calfe who married Anthony Eaton on February 10th 1576 at St. Olaves, Mary Street, London, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Calfe, was christened on March 17th 1622, at Allhallows, London Wall, and Joyce, daughter of Peter and Alice Calf, was christened on May 4th 1643, also at Allhallows, London Wall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Calf, which was dated 1163, Documents illustrative of the Social and Ecomomic History of the Danelaw, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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:

  • Calf — Calf, n.; pl. {Calves}. [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D. kalf, G. kalb, Icel. k[=a]lfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalb[=o]; cf. Skr. garbha fetus, young, Gr. ?????, Skr grabh to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa, colpach, a calf. [root]222.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • calf — [ kalf ] n. m. • 1964; abrév. de box calf ♦ Box. ⇒ 1. box. calf [kalf] n. m. ÉTYM. 1964. ❖ ♦ Abréviation de box calf. ⇒ Box calf. || « La montre à la mode, bracelet calf noir » ( …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Calf — steht für Anthony Calf (* 1959), britischer Schauspieler Baby Calf, Ledersorte Siehe auch Calf Island Calf Lake Kalf Calw …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • calf — calf; calf·hood; calf·kill; calf·less; calf·skin; …   English syllables

  • calf — [ka:f US kæf] n plural calves [ka:vz US kævz] [Sense: 1; Date: 1300 1400; : Old Norse; Origin: kalfi] [Sense: 2 3; Origin: Old English cealf] 1.) the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ↑ankle …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • calf — calf1 [kaf, käf] n. pl. calves or, esp. for 4, calfs [ME < OE cealf & ON kalfr < IE * geleb(h) < base * gel , to swell, form a ball (hence swelling, fetus, offspring) > CLUB, L globus] 1. a young cow or bull 2. the young of some other …   English World dictionary

  • Calf — [kalf, engl. kɑ:f] das; s <aus engl. calf »Kalb«> Kalbsleder, das bes. zum Einbinden von Büchern verwendet wird …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • calf — [n1] leg between knee and ankle foreleg, shin; concept 392 calf [n2] baby cow dogie, freemartin, heifer, maverick, veal, yearling, young bull, young cow; concept 394 …   New thesaurus

  • calf — Ⅰ. calf [1] ► NOUN (pl. calves) 1) a young bovine animal, especially a domestic cow or bull in its first year. 2) the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants. 3) a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ …   English terms dictionary

  • Calf —    CALF, an island, in the parish of Kilninian and Kilmore, district of Mull, county of Argyll. This island, which is of extremely small extent, lies off Tobermory, in the north eastern part of the parish, and is in that portion of the Sound of… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • calf — [ kæf ] (plural calves [ kævz ] ) noun count * 1. ) a young cow. Its meat is called veal. a ) a young animal such as a young elephant, WHALE, or GIRAFFE 2. ) the thick back part of your leg between your knee and your ANKLE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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