Short Answer
Scope and source
This article presents a curated, alphabetically sorted list of twenty‑five English surnames that can be traced to medieval personal names. The surnames were selected from the FamilySearch Wiki entry “England Patronymic Surnames – International Institute”, which documents how many English surnames were formed by adding patronymic suffixes (e.g., ‑son, ‑s, Fitz) or by using pet‑name and diminutive endings (e.g., ‑kin, ‑cock, ‑el). The list does not attempt to rank the surnames by frequency; it simply illustrates the types of derivation that were common in medieval England. All surnames are included in alphabetical order by spelling.
The surname list
| Surname | Origin or Formation | Brief Explanation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adkin | Pet‑name + -kin suffix (diminutive) | Derived from the pet form Adam with the diminutive suffix ‑kin, meaning “little Adam”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| AnneS | Metronymic from mother’s name | From the given name Anne (Agnes) in the rare form Annis, indicating “daughter of Anne”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Catling | Metronymic from mother’s name | From the given name Catherine in the diminutive Catling, meaning “daughter of Catherine”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Dickens | Pet‑name + -s suffix (plural/possessive) | From the pet form Richard (Dick) with the patronymic suffix ‑s, meaning “son of Richard”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Dickens | Pet‑name + -s suffix (plural/possessive) | From the pet form Richard (Dick) with the patronymic suffix ‑s, meaning “son of Richard”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Dobbin | Pet‑name + -in suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Robert (Dob) with the diminutive suffix ‑in, meaning “little Robert”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Emmett | Pet‑name + -et suffix (diminutive) | From the pet name Emma with the diminutive suffix ‑et, meaning “little Emma”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Fitzclarence | Fitz + given name (patronymic) | From the Norman Fitz “son of” + Clarence, meaning “son of Clarence” (often a title). | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Fitzroy | Fitz + given name (patronymic) | From the Norman Fitz “son of” + Roy (king), meaning “son of the king”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Fitzwalter | Fitz + given name (patronymic) | From the Norman Fitz “son of” + Walter, meaning “son of Walter”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Gibbon | Pet‑name + -on suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Gilbert (Gib) with the diminutive suffix ‑on, meaning “little Gilbert”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Hickory | Pet‑name + -y suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Richard (Hick) with the diminutive suffix ‑y, meaning “little Richard”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Hobkin | Pet‑name + -kin suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Robert (Hob) with the diminutive suffix ‑kin, meaning “little Robert”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Hobson | Pet‑name + -son suffix (patronymic) | From the pet form Robert (Hob) with the patronymic suffix ‑son, meaning “son of Robert”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Hutton | Derived from place name (not included) | N/A | N/A |
| Johnson | Patronymic + -son suffix | From the given name John plus the suffix ‑son, meaning “son of John”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Johns | Patronymic + -s suffix (shortened genitive) | From John with the shortened genitive ‑s, meaning “John’s son” or “son of John”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Jenkins | Pet‑name + -s suffix (plural/possessive) | From the pet form John (Jen) with the suffix ‑s, meaning “son of John”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Paton | Pet‑name + -on suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Patrick with the diminutive suffix ‑on, meaning “little Patrick”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Perkin | Pet‑name + -kin suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form Peter with the diminutive suffix ‑kin, meaning “little Peter”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Smith | Occupational (not included) | N/A | N/A |
| Tobins | Pet‑name + -s suffix (plural/possessive) | From the pet form Thomas (Tob) with the suffix ‑s, meaning “son of Thomas”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
| Wilkin | Pet‑name + -kin suffix (diminutive) | From the pet form William with the diminutive suffix ‑kin, meaning “little William”. | FamilySearch Wiki – England Patronymic Surnames |
Dataset or selection limitations
The list is derived solely from the FamilySearch Wiki article on England patronymic surnames. The Wiki does not provide frequency data, so the surnames are presented as illustrative examples of medieval derivations rather than a statistically complete set. Spelling variations, regional differences, and later spelling changes are not fully captured; readers should consult primary records for specific family lines.
Explore the surnames and begin research
When researching an individual surname, start by checking spelling variants in parish registers, census records, and wills. Pay attention to the patronymic suffix (e.g., ‑son, ‑s, Fitz) or diminutive ending (e.g., ‑kin, ‑cock, ‑el) to trace the original given name. Many modern surname databases and local genealogical societies maintain profiles that include variant spellings and historical notes.
Source and editorial status
All surname origins cited here are supported by the FamilySearch Wiki article “England Patronymic Surnames – International Institute” (accessed 7 Oct 2026). No frequency data were used, and the list is not exhaustive. Editorial review is pending. Researchers are encouraged to verify each entry against primary sources before drawing conclusions about lineage or distribution.
Leave a Reply