VINCENT (SURNAME)

The Surname of Vincent is first documented in the "doomsday book." The book was a collection of the names and land owned in britain from 1066 to 1086 when the book was finally finished. The book was an order of King William a "Norman", who conquered britain from the newly deemed land of Normandy in what is northern france today. The Normans brought the name with them from the netherlands and surround areas as the normans were vikings who by peace agreement with france took control northern france deemed Normandy.

The Norman or Viking Language was old frankish, which even farther back was what is called Proto-Germanic. This proto-germanic which is believed to have existed sometime after 1500bc was spoken by the earlist germanic tribes of northern europe and the netherlands. The Mixing of The Proto-Germanic and Latin when the Southern Europeans invaded in as early as the 3rd century is believe to be where VINCENT could have first been seen. The Latin "Vincere", meaning To Conquer could have been the conceptiong point for the surname when mixed with the Proto-Germanic. This places the original conception of the Vincent surname sometime between 200AD and 900AD. Which it would to have happened from when the early germans fought the southern europeans all the way to when the vikings expanded to northern france.

MORRIS (SURNAME)

The earliest branch of the family came to England with the army of William the Conqueror. It is certain that several leaders in the army of William the Conqueror bore the name of Morris or Maurice. William erected the Battle Abbey on the field of Hastings to commemorate his victory, and several by the name of Morris are inscribed on this historic monument and were rewarded with grants of land in England. One of these was a Maurice who was one of William's chaplains, and who was made Bishop of London. He is said to have crowned Henry I in 1100 A.D.

One prominent branch of the continental family is found in Ireland. The name Morris in Ireland is of Norman origin from the names de Maries and de Marisco. The name is also used interchangeably with Morrissey and Fitzmaurice. The main Sept bearing this name was originally based in County Galway in the West of Ireland. They have a separate crest

MAYOR (SURNAME)

Mayor is a French surname of Viking-Norman origin.

The Normans were Viking warriors who settled in Normandy, France, the region gaining its name from the Latin Normannium meaning "Men of the North".

The Mayor surname can be found mostly in France and Switzerland but also in England, where the Normans settled in large numbers following the invasion and conquest by Duke William of Normandy, who became King Willam I of England in 1066.

The first Mayor families to arrive in England were awarded land by William the Conqueror for their distinguished service at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The Mayor surname originates from, and is a variant of, the name Mauger, and carries the meanings of "council spear" and "authority", which itself is derived from the Latin magnus meaning "great one" or "leader".

The original Mayor/Mauger coat-of-arms is composed of a knight's helmet, a red greyhound to indicate courage, vigilance and loyalty, three red roses, and a ships anchor to indicate religious steadfastness. This theme is also reflected in the Mayor/Mauger family motto, Mea anchora Christus, meaning "Christ is my anchor". These symbols are set against a red and yellow backdrop to indicate the colours that make up the Flag of Normandy.

The colour red in a coat of arms also indicates the status of warrior.

As a title, the term Mayor is still used to indicate the head of a town and this is a good indication of its original meaning.

NOTES:

The specialist Armorial-History website 'The House of Names' states that the first Mayor families to arrive in England were awarded land by William the Conqueror for their distinguished service at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The author Henry S. King in his 1874 book 'The Norman People' lists the surname 'Mayor' as being of French-Norman origin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_%28Surname%29

Source: Wikipedia, House of Names, 'book' 'The Norman People' by H.S. King.

JORDAN (SURNAME)

First found in Exeter, where they were granted lands by King William for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. The Jordans were descended from Jordan de Cantington, one of the nobles who was a companion of King William, Duke of Normandy . Jordan de Cantington was also known later as Jordan of Exeter from the area in which he settled and was granted lands in England .

This noble family accompanied Strongbow , Earl of Pembroke, in his invasion of Ireland in 1172, and acquired lands from King John the English King. The name first became popular in Europe as a personal name during the Crusades when it was a common practice for Crusaders to bring back vials containing the waters of this river to use in the baptism of their children.

CARPENTER (SURNAME)

The line of Carpenters did not descend from those working at the profession of carpentry. It is said to be descended from the De Melun Family. There was a knight by the name of William at the battle of Hastings, 1066 AD. In the midst of the battle he was crippled and he lost his sword. He was forced to fight on foot. He began swinging at his enemies with his battle axe. William survived the battle. His friends rewarded him with the title "Le Carpentier" His strength and ability with the English battle axe was associated with the strength and precision of the carpenter trade. William, the Knight of Melun became known as "William the Carpenter". His descendents became known as "of the carpenter" and later shortened to the surname, Carpenter.

Source:
"Guillaume I., of name, Viscount of Melun, was surnamed, Carpenter, because no weapon (opponents weapons that is) could be found that could resist the power of strikes. The heaviness of his (weapons) resulted in him being feared in combats.

Grand Dictionaire Universel DU XIX Siecle Paris 1873 Tome 10 (p. 1488)

AMOND (SURNAME)

This is a famous Anglo-French surname, but one which can be of early Norse-Viking or later French and German origins of which it has three. The first origin is from the Norse-Viking personal name Hamundr, meaning "High protection" and possibly introduced into Britain in about the 7th century. The second is also Norse-Viking and of the same period, but from Amundr, meaning "Ancester protection".

It appears among the very earliest surnames found in England, where it was introduced as a family cognomen at the time of the conquest by some officers of the invading Norman army.