English Surnames - Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...themselves by ruining the said mystery.' I think, however, we shall find that all these were engaged less in the manufacture of fabrics than of threads for the embroiderers to use. Thus, as connected with the throwing or winding of these silken tissues, we come across such names as 'Thrower' and 'Throwster," the former having been further corrupted into 'Trower.'1 Next to wool, perhaps leather formed the most important item of early manufacture. We can hardly now conceive the infinite use to which it was put at this period. In military dress it had an especial place, and in the ordinary costume it was far from being confined to the extremities, as we have it now. Jerkins, chausses, girdles, pouches, gipsire--all came under the leather-dresser's hands. In 1378 we find a jury, called together to decide upon a case of alleged bad tanning, to have been composed of 'saddlers, pouchmakes, girdlers, botel-makers, tanners, curriers, and cordwainers.' Of the more general manufacture of hides we have numerous relics; indeed, we are at once introduced into the midst of a throng of tradesmen, the very list of which proves the then important character of the article on which they spent their energies. Such names as 'Jordan le Tannur, ' or 'Loretta le Tannur, ' ' Richard le Skynnere, ' or ' Hamo le Skynnere, ' are still numerous both in the tanyard and the directory, and need little explanation. Our 1 In A Complaint of Artificers to Parliament, in 1463, there is included amongst other productions, Laces, corses, ribans, frenges of silke and of threde, threden laces, throwen silke, silke in eny wise embrauded.' (Rot. Pari., Ed. IV.) 'Curriers' are also self-evident; but I have not met with any instance as yet in mediaeval times. Our more rare...