The last three lists have looked at patronymic surnames from the British Isles; this week we focus on metronymics.
As with patronymics, metronymic surnames still retain the masculine "son of" element, but the route personal name is derived from a feminine name. It is often thought that metronymics were given when a boy was born illegitimately, or raised by a widowed mother. In some cases this is undoubtedly true, but it would be a mistake to assume this was always the case. Back when family, titles and land were everything, women took their family status and wealth to their marriage. Men would often associate themselves with the most powerful branch of their family — and sometimes that was their mother's. We find Henry II, for example, more often associating himself with his mother, Matilda — daughter of a king and empress by marriage — than his father, Geoffrey — a lower ranking count. One of his bynames was, in fact, FitzEmpress "son of the Empress".
These men were the sons of their mothers, not the sons of their fathers.
Alletson Annison Avison Babson Bellson Bethson Betson Bettenson Bettison Bridson |
Casson Clarson Cusson Dyerson Dyson Ebbatson Eddison Edson Elletson Elinson |
Emmons Emson Evason Everson Goodison Gunson Hibberson Hillson Ibbeson Ibotson |
Iddison Ideson Ineson Ison Kitson Letson Mabson Madison Magson Malkinson |
Malleson Mallinson Margetson Margison Maryson Maudson Mawson Meggison Megson Milson |
Mollison Molson Moxon Nanson Nelson McBride Sibson Tilson Tillison Tillotson |
All the surnames above literally translate as "son of (feminine name)".