Collins Dictionary Of Surnames: From Abbey to Mutton, Nabbs to Zouch

Budgettsee BUCKET.

Bugg, Buggey, Bugson (Eng) Descendant of Buggi, an Old Norse personal name meaning ‘fat.’ It can also derive from Welsh bwg, a word which can variously mean ‘bogy, bug-bear, ghost, scarecrow.’ Professor Weekley added the suggestion that Bugg might be a shortened form of Burghart, a Germanic name meaning ‘castle strong.’

The modern form of the name is slightly unfortunate, and Thomas Hood long ago commented:

A name – if the party had a voice –

What mortal would be a Bugg by choice.

As a Hogg, a Grubb, or a Chubb rejoice.

Or any such nauseous blazon?

Not to mention many a vulgar name.

That would make a door plate blush for shame.

If doorplates were not so brazen.

For a further disparaging comment by Matthew Arnold, see HIGGINBOTTOM.

In the 19th century an announcement in The Times that a Mr Bugg was changing his name to Howard led to a great deal of comment, including a debate in the House of Commons. As a direct result, James Finlayson published, in 1863, his booklet Surnames and Sirenames, the Origin and History of Certain Family and Historical Names with Remarks on the Ancient Right of the Crown to Sanction and Veto the Assumption of Names, and a Historical Account of the Names Buggey and Bugg.

Like Bugg itself, Bugson also comes in for its share of disapproval. In Sorrell and Son Warwick Deeping writes: ‘Personally I don’t like young Bugson; I don’t like his name or his face or his nature, but we have to put up with the Bugsons. They are here – there – everywhere.’

Bulled, Bulleid (Eng) Nickname for a man with a ‘bull head,’ presumably a comment on his impetuous ways.

Bullingersee BAKER.

Bullock (Eng) Professor Reaney, in The Origin of English Surnames, says that Bullock might have been a nickname for a young man who behaved like a bullock, but he adds: “There can be no doubt that many a Bullock was once a BALLOCK (Old English bealluc ‘testicle’). Occasionally we have a compound, Robert Blakeballoc.’ He mentions also a Roger Gildynballokes ‘golden testicles.’ See GRAY.

A conversation in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mr Harrison’s Confessions runs: ‘Mr and Mrs Bullock’s compliments, sir, and they hope you are pretty well after your journey.’ ‘Who would have expected such kindness from such an unpromising name?’

Bultefloursee BOUTFLOUR.

Bumphrey, Bumphriessee HUMPHREY.

Bunclarksee CLARK.

Bunnsee BONE.

Burchard, Burchatt, Burchett, Burkard, Burkart, Burkett, Burkittsee BUCKET.

Burdsee BIRD.

Burfootsee PUDDY.

Burgess, Burgiss (Eng) A social title, indicating an inhabitant of a town or borough who enjoyed full municipal rights.

Burke, Bourke, Burgh, De Burgh (Eng) Descendant of someone who lived near a prehistoric hill fort, or in a place named for such a fort.

Burley, Burleigh (Eng) Descendant of someone who lived in any of the places of this name, which at one time would have had a ‘fort in a wood.’

In The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, Oliver Wendell Holmes says that Elizabeth I loved to make puns on people’s names. He quotes her as saying: ‘Ye be burly, my Lord of Burleigh, but ye shall make less stir in our realm than my Lord of Leicester.’

Burnaby (Eng) Someone who came from a place so-named because it was a ‘settlement near a stream.’

Burnham (Eng) Descendant of someone who originally came from one of the places so-named because it was a ‘homestead near a stream.’

Burns, Burness, Burnhouse (Scot) Descendant of someone who lived (in a house) near a stream.

George Black says in The Surnames of Scotland that ‘Robert Burns’s right name was Burness, but because the name was pronounced in Ayrshire as if written Burns, he and his brother Gilbert agreed to drop Burness and assume Burns in April 1786.’

Burton (Eng) Someone who came from one of the several places so-named because it was a ‘settlement near a fortified manor.’

The actor Richard Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins.

In South Riding, Winifred Holtby writes: ‘Mr Chairman, I see we have another candidate, Sarah Burton. A good plain name. Let us hope a good plain woman.’

Bury, Atberry, Atbury, Atterbury, Berry, Berriman, Berryman (Eng) These names all have a connection with a ‘fort’ or ‘manor house,’ probably indicating someone who worked in such a place (Berriman, Berryman) or lived near one. Since Bury is also a place name in its own right, it could mean ‘someone who came from a place so-named.’ The ancestor of a Cornish Berriman or Berryman, by contrast, might well have come from St Buryan.

Busby (Eng) Someone who came from a place so-named because it was a ‘settlement amongst shrubs.’

Bush, Bushe, Busk (Eng) Descendant of someone who lived near thick bushes.

Butchard, Butchartsee BUCKET.

Butcher, Boucher, Boutcher, Bucher (Eng) Occupational name of a butcher or worker in a slaughterhouse.

Butevilainsee BUTLIN.

Butler, Botler, Bottel, Bottle, Buttle (Eng) A head servant, specifically one who was in charge of the wine-cellar. Occasionally he was responsible for the importation of wine.

Butlin, Bucklin, Butevilain (Fre) Dr Reaney explained this name in his Origin of English Surnames as Old French boute vilain, ‘hustle the churl.’ It appears to have been the nickname of an overseer.

Butt, Butson, Butting, Butts (Eng) A nickname for a short, thickset person, or one who lived near, or spent a lot of time at, archery butts. Perhaps also a seller of the flatfish called butt, halibut.

Buttlesee BUTLER.

Button, Boudet, Boudin, Boudon, Boudot, Boudeau, Bouton Descendant of a man who bore the Germanic personal name Bodo or one of its diminutive forms.

There was a Button family on the Mayflower when it sailed to America.

Lower reports that there is a sexton’s bill in an English parish church which refers to digging a grave for a Mr Button. It reads: ‘To making a Button-hole, 4s.6d.’

Buttssee BUTT.

In The Newcomes, Thackeray has the exchange: ‘Mr Butts of the Life Guards.’ ‘Mr Butts – quel nom!’ (what a name!).