Many names came from a parent’s given name, an occupation, or a location. This article takes a look at the possible origins and history of some of our family names. It is possible that this information will give clues to help with further research.
Introduction
This document looks at the surnames (maiden names for the women) of all of my great-grandparents and my husband’s great-grandparents. The information available varied slightly for different names depending on how the name was developed and any specifics I could use to refine details surrounding the name given that some names arose in multiple locations.
Dad’s Family
McCracken
Origin: Scottish & Northern Irish
Location: Ulster, North Ireland, Galloway, Scotland
Form of: Mac Reachtain, Mac Neachtain, McNaughton
Translation: Son of Reachtain, Neachtain
Meaning: Pure, clear
History: “Likely descends from migrations of Gaelic speakers from Argyll and other western Scottish areas into Galloway around the 8th century or later.”
Immigration: Our family appears to have immigrated to Pennsylvania around the time of or soon after the Revolutionary War although more research is needed to confirm.
Variations: MacCracken, McCrackan, McCrachen, McCraken
Ellis
Origin: English and Welsh. Other similar names originated elsewhere.
Location: England, Ireland (Ulster), Wales
Form of: Elis, Elys, Elias, Eliyahu
Meaning: Jehovah is God (English), kind, benevolent (Welsh)
History: The name dates to the 13th century in England. Biblical influences and the Crusades played a part in its popularity. It spread throughout England, Ireland, and Wales.
Immigration: Many immigrated to American in colonial times. Our Ellis immigrant ancestors have not been identified. However, they were in the colonies before the Revolutionary War concluded and possibly much earlier.
Variations: ap Ellis, Elles, Elless, Allis, Elis, Elys, Elias, Elliss, Elice, Ellys, Elic, Alles, etc. Some of these may be simple misspellings. However, this is a subset of how this name has been found in records.
Peelle
Origin: English
Location: Northern England along border with Scotland
Form of: pel in Old French
Translation: stake or post
Meaning: Lived by or worked at a “peel”, a small tower, wood fort, palisade, or boundary marker. Also, a person built like a post.
History: Name came about after the Norman Conquest. May also have connections to the Dutch word for a region or Italian pelle, which would be for a tanner. In our case, it is most likely related to the English meaning. Of note, Peel Castle exists on the Isle of Man in or near the town of Peel. We have no known connection to the castle or town. Read about Peel Castle. More about Peel Castle.
Immigration: Our earliest ancestor in America was Lawrence Peele who arrived in 1621 on the ship the Margaret & John.
Variations: Peelle, Peele, Peel, Peale, Peile
Jury
Origin: English with Norman French influence
Location: Jewish communities
Derives from: Juerie, juierie, jurie, Jewry. Alternate juree.
Meaning: Jewry, Jewish quarter. Alternate: sworn or oath, such as a juror.
Meaning: Often referred to someone who was not Jewish, but who lived in or near the Jewish part of town. Alternate, a juror.
History: Came about after the Norman Conquest. Influenced by Old French.
Immigration: William Jury was born in England and immigrated to Canada prior to 1835 when he married. Three of his four children plus his widow immigrated to the United States in 1869.
Variations: Jewry, Juerie, Jury, Jurey
Mom’s Family
Pellett
Origin: French given our family history, can be considered English in other situations
Location: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Savoie (Key regions)
Form of: Old French Pelle/Pel, or less common the name Pell
Translation: fur or skin
Meaning: furrier, dealer in furs, skins
History: Many Huguenots (French Protestants) moved to Ireland from France after the 1685 Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The move was made for religious reasons, which matches family lore. Read more about the family’s movement for religious reasons.
Immigration: Our earliest ancestor in the United States was Francis A. Pellett, a Quaker, who immigrated in the late 1700s.
Variations: Pellet, Pellette, Pellatt, Pelete, Pellot
Conner
Origin: Ireland, England, Scotland
Location: Connacht, Munster (and other providences)
Form of: Anglicized form of Connor from Ó Conchobhair (or Conchúir). In English, it comes from connere or cuner, which is an inspector/tester, typically of weights/measures or ale. In Scotland, it is considered a variant of Connor.
Derived from: con meaning hound/wolf and cobhair meaning desire/aid
Meaning: lover of hounds or wolf lover. The full Ó Conchobhair is a descendant of Conchobhar, which was the name of several kings and clans.
History: In Ireland, it has strong royal associations. The O’Connors were one of the most prominent Gaelic clans. Americans often descend from Irish immigrants during the famine of the 1800s with a lesser number coming from England.
Variations: Connor, Conor, O’Connor, Connors, Conners, O’Conor
Thomas
Origin: England and Wales
Location: Breconshire (most common), Cornwall
Form of: Te’oma
Translation: Son of Thomas
Meaning: Twin
History: It became popular after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and grew with the Crusades. It did not develop in one specific area due to biblical ties as Thomas was one of the Twelve Apostles. Also found in other European countries. Very common name today.
Immigration: Our Thomas immigrant family has not been identified. However, they were in America by the time of the Revolutionary War.
Variations: ap Thomas, Thomason, Thomson, Tomson, Tomas, Thom, Thoma, etc.
Ashby
Origin: England with strong Norse/Viking influences
Location: Locations with the name Ashby are common in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and other northern/eastern counties.
Derived from: askr and by in Old Norse
Translation: ash tree and farm/dwelling
Meaning: farm or home near the ash trees
History: Concentrated in areas with a lot of Norse influence.
Variations: Ashbee, Ashbey, Ashbe
My Husband’s Dad’s Family
Thomson
Origin: Scotland
Location: Strongly associated with Ayrshire and the Scottish Lowlands/Borders (Strathclyde region).
Form of: Te’oma
Meaning: Son of Thom, son of Thomas, twin
History: It is sometimes referenced in Scottish Gaelic as Angelicized form of MacThomais or MacThomaidh. Also, sometimes connected to MacTavish. Often people with the name have a Scots-Irish connection due to migration to Northern Ireland. It is not linked to a specific clan, but is related to Clan MacThomas in some areas.
Immigration: Arthur Reid Thomson immigrated to Canada. From there he moved southward to the United States. He was in the states by the middle of the 1800s.
Variations: Thompson, Thomason, Thomasson, MacTavish, McThomas, Tomson. Thompson with a “p” is more common in England while Thomson without a “p” is more common in Scotland.
Klinefelter
Origin: German
Location:
Form of: Americanized version of Kleinfelder
Derived from: Klein and Felder
Meaning: small field
Usage: A person who works on a small farm, can also be a person from a place called Kleinfeld, which is a name that occurs multiple times in Germany.
History: Reflects common German surname patterns, which referenced land size, occupation, or place of origin.
Immigration: Johann “Hans” Peter Klinefelter arrived in the United States in the mid-1700s.
Variations: Kleinfelder, Kleinfelter, Klinefelter, Kleinfeld
Van Allen
Origin: Netherlands
Translation: “Van” means “of” or “from” and often used to indicate a person’s place of origin.
Meaning: from Oudenallen in South Holland, Netherlands. Possibly Van Alen meaning from Hallen. Alternately, son of Allen.
History: This spelling is rare in the Netherlands today. Allen is also used in English and Celtic with different meanings. Many Van Allen families descend from Dutch settlers in New York/New Netherland in the 1600s.
Immigration: Our Van Allen immigrant has not been identified. However, the family does tie back to the state of New York. The earliest identified person in the Van Allen line is John Van Allen who was born in 1828 in New York, possibly near Rochester. His father was also John, but nothing is known about him.
Variations: Van Alen, Vanallen, Van Allen
Hanson
Origin: Scandinavia, England, Germany
Form of: Hans is a short form of Johannes (John). Anglicized form of Hansson/Hansen.
Translation: son of Hans
Meaning: God is gracious
History: Found in Scandinavia and Germany. Showed up in England in the 13th century. Sometimes found in the Jewish community as it is linked to the Hebrew name Hanna/Chana.
Immigration: Our ancestors followed the path of many others from Scandinavia, moving to the upper Midwest. Nelson “Nels” Hanson immigrated to Wisconsin sometime prior to 1850.
Variations: Hansson, Hansen, Hanssen, Henson, Hampson.
My Husband’s Mom’s Family
Helm
Origin: German, English
Translation: German – helmet, protection; English – shelter for cattle, barn
Meaning: German – helmet maker, short for Helmhart, Helmold, Helmut, or Wilhelm; English – someone living near a barn, herdsman
History: In England, it appeared in the 12th century. Meanwhile, in Germany it was derived from given names.
Immigration: Johann (Phillip) Helm immigrated to the United States in 1857.
Variations: Helms, Helme, Helmbrecht
Herzberger
Origin: German
Form of: Herz & berg
Translation: Heart & mountain/hill, mountain of the heart
Meaning: from Herzberg with multiple locations in Germany named Herzberg. May also use the heart of the mountain to describe a location.
History: Strong association with German communities, including Ashkenazic Jewish. Associated with the various places in Germany named Herzberg. Uncommon in the U.S.A.
Immigration: Maria Katherina Elizabeth Herzberger immigrated to the United States in 1861 (just days before she married).
Variations: Herzberg, Hertzberger, Hertzberg
Kutzner
Origin: German
Location: Silesia (now partly in Poland)
Derived from: Kotze
Meaning: Blanket Maker, make or sell wool garments or blankets, coarse woolen cloth.
History: Movement from the original area to other parts of Germany. Today, most common in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Brandenburg. Interestingly, Brazil is one of the countries with a Kutzner population.
Immigration: Herman Kutzner immigrated circa 1864.
Variations: Kutz, Kutzer, Kautzner
Schmidt
Origin: Germany
Derived from: smit or Schmied
Meaning: blacksmith or metal worker. Equivalent of the English name Smith.
History: Originated during medieval times. It was prominent in the area that became Prussia, but extended throughout German-speaking areas. Is also a Jewish surname with a similar meaning. Very common in Germany and relatively common in the United States.
Immigration: Wilhelmina “Minnie” Schmidt immigrated to the United States in 1884.
Variations: Schmid, Schmitt, Schmitz, Schmied, Smith, Szmidt
Learnings
The above name descriptions provide a lot of information. Probably the most surprising meaning behind a name was that Jury often related to living in or near a Jewish community. I had always assumed that it related to a jury.
Besides being interesting, some parts can potentially be useful. For the Pellett family, it provides information that is consistent with the family story. Thus, adding credibility to the story.
Meanwhile for the Kutzner and Van Allen names, it provides details regarding locations that can be useful when researching earlier generations.
Grok and Gemini AIs contributed to this research.
Prompt: A Name With Meaning
#52ancestors52weeks