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ArchivesRe: My family names
in reply to a message by Sean Foglai
A favourite name of mine, it IS from Blackadder, which is on record spelt this way in 1707. The Blackadders of that ilk (i.e,, of Blackadder) took their surname from their estate in Berwickshire, Scotland, near the English border. The lands of Blackadder were called after a nearby river The river Adder, a tributary of the Tweed which divides into the Black Adder and the White Adder. The adjectives are not descriptive, just a way of distinguishing two branches of the same river. I have read that the river name Adder means something like "swift flowing", probably Celtic in origin.
The Blackadder family had a violent history, often being murdered or hanged for murder.
The Blackadder family had a violent history, often being murdered or hanged for murder.
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Interesting ...in an Irish dictionary site I found ...
at
swell, Irish at, Old Irish att, *(p)at-to-, root pat, extend, as in aitheamh, q.v. Stokes gives Celtic as azdo- (Gothic asts, twig, etc.); but this would be Gaelic ad.
It's a bit rough, but I'd guess something associated with the swell of a river ...
Good stuff and from an unsuspected post ... thanks!
at
swell, Irish at, Old Irish att, *(p)at-to-, root pat, extend, as in aitheamh, q.v. Stokes gives Celtic as azdo- (Gothic asts, twig, etc.); but this would be Gaelic ad.
It's a bit rough, but I'd guess something associated with the swell of a river ...
Good stuff and from an unsuspected post ... thanks!
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Sorry, that was me. I meant to type Blackeder as subject not name.
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