Humphrey

Humphrey
An example of the frequent use of personal names to create surnames, this name is from the Old French personal name "Humfrey", introduced to Britain by the Normans after the Invasion of 1066. It is derived from the Germanic elements "hun" meaning "bear cub" and "frid" or "fred" meaning "peace". St. Humfrey, the 9th Century Bishop of Therouanne, had a certain following in England among the Norman settlers, and no doubt this contributed to the popularity of the name. Interestingly, until the early 14th Century, the name appears to have been confined to the nobility and the learned sections of the populace, such as scribes and scholars in great houses and monasteries. As a personal name, it appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Humfridus". Recordings from London Church Registers include the marriage of Christopher Humphrey and Susan Gore on December 8th 1586, at St. Benets. A Coat of Arms granted to families called Humphrey in Barton, Northampton, and Shipson, Leicester is a red shield, a cross botonee silver quarter pierced of the field, charged on each end with three black escallops, the Crest being a silver harpy crined gold, wings displayed gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Humphrey, which was dated 1240, in the "Fines Court Rolls of Bedford", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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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  • Humphrey — Humphrey, a variant of the name Onuphrius, may refer to several animals, people and places.Albums* Humphrey (album), a 2006 self titled album from French R B singer HumphreyAnimals (real and fictional)* Humphrey the Bear, a Disney character *… …   Wikipedia

  • Humphrey — Humphrey, mitunter auch Humphry geschrieben, ist ein männlicher englischer Vorname. Er geht auf den altenglischen Namen Hunfrið zurück, der sich wiederum aus hun ( Stärke ) und frið ( Frieden ) zusammensetzt. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Bekannte… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Humphrey — Humphrey, AR U.S. city in Arkansas Population (2000): 806 Housing Units (2000): 365 Land area (2000): 1.360792 sq. miles (3.524436 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.360792 sq. miles (3.524436 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Humphrey, AR — U.S. city in Arkansas Population (2000): 806 Housing Units (2000): 365 Land area (2000): 1.360792 sq. miles (3.524436 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.360792 sq. miles (3.524436 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Humphrey, NE — U.S. city in Nebraska Population (2000): 786 Housing Units (2000): 328 Land area (2000): 0.434649 sq. miles (1.125736 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.434649 sq. miles (1.125736 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Humphrey — m English: of Germanic origin, introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is composed of the elements hun bear cub, warrior + fred, frid peace. A form of this name (Hunfrith) existed in England before the Conquest, but it was replaced by the Norman …   First names dictionary

  • Humphrey —   [ hʌmfrɪ],    1) Doris, amerikanische Tänzerin, Choreographin und Pädagogin, * Oak Park (Illinois) 17. 10. 1895, ✝ New York 29. 12. 1958; war Lehrerin und Choreographin bei verschiedenen Ensembles (u. a. der José Limón Kompanie) und Schulen,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Humphrey — masc. proper name, from O.E. Hunfrið, probably from P.Gmc. *hun strength + O.E. frið peace. To dine with Duke Humphrey (17c.) meant to go without a meal, though the reason for the expression now is obscure …   Etymology dictionary

  • Humphrey — (Humphry, spr. Homfri), 1) so v.w. Humfred; 2) Insel im Paumotu Archipel od. Niedrige Inseln (südöstliches Polynesien) …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Humphrey — (spr. hömmsrì), eine der brit. Manihikiinseln (s. d.) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Humphrey — [hum′frē] n. [OE Hunfrith < Gmc * hun, strength + OE frith, peace] a masculine name: equiv. Ger. Humfried, It. Onfredo …   English World dictionary

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