FOOTNOTES:
[122] This is probably the record for a proper name, but does not by any means equal that of the word cushion, of the plural of which about four hundred variants are found in old wills and inventories.
[123] Another origin of this name is Fr. le bon.
[124] "The last two centuries have seen the practice made popular of using surnames for baptismal names. Thus the late Bishop of Carlisle was Harvey Goodwin, although for several centuries Harvey has been obsolete as a personal name" (Bardsley). Camden already complains that "surnames of honourable and worshipful families are given now to mean men's children for christian names." Forty years ago there was hardly a more popular name than Percy, while at the present day the admonition, "Be'ave yerself, 'Oward," is familiar to the attentive ear.
[125] It is even possible that Hood, Hudson, sometimes belong here, as Hud appears to have been used as a North Country alternative for Richard, though it is hard to see why. For proofs see Bardsley, Dict. of English Surnames, s.v. Hudd.
[126] Such a corruption, though difficult to explain phonetically, is not without example in uneducated or childish speech. Cf. tiddlebat or tittlebat, for stickleback. In stickler (p. [76]) we have the opposite change.
[127] Of course also of English origin.
[128] Hence also the name Britton.
[129] Whence the perversion Portwine, examples of which occur in the London Directory.
[130] Old Fr. vernai, whence our Verney, Varney, has the same meaning; cf. Duverney, the name of a famous dancer. Old Fr. verne, alder, is of Celtic origin.