There is in my view no more curious or puzzling set of names than those which, as above, are derived from nagel or nail, clavis. It appears to me, though the line is difficult to draw, that they may be divided into two groups, one of which is the representative of ancient baptismal names, and the other of surnames of a later, perhaps a mediæval, date.
Connected with the former we have Nagle and Nail, corresponding with an O.G. Nagal, ninth century, and an A.S. Negle and Næle, found in place-names, p. [101]. Then there are two Old German compounds, Hartnagal (hard nail) and Swarnagal (heavy nail), respectively of the eighth and ninth centuries. The former of these two names we have as Hartnoll, and the Germans have it as Härtnagel. Then I find two more examples among the Anglo-Saxons, Spernægle in a charter of manumission at Exeter, and Dearnagle in a place-name, p. [98]. Spernægle is "spear-nail," and Dearnagle is probably the same, from O.N. dörr, spear. The latter of these two names we seem to have as Darnell, and the Germans as Thürnagel. Then we have Tuffnell, which, as Mr. Lower mentions, was in the seventeenth century spelt Tufnaile, and might be taken to mean "tough-nail," but for this we find no corresponding ancient name. There is a Celtic Dufnal, to which, as being a name adopted from them by the Northmen, and so having an increased chance of being represented, it might perhaps be placed. But if this be the case (which I rather doubt), it would have nothing to do with the present group. The sense in these ancient names may be taken to be a warlike one, as in the case of other names having the meaning of point or edge, acies. We find Nægling as the name given by an Anglo-Saxon to his sword, in accordance with the ancient custom, prevalent both among the Celts and the Saxons, of giving names to weapons, and this assists to point the meaning as that of edge, acies. And it seems to me hardly necessary to assume, with Mone (Heldensage), any connection with the mythological smith, Weland.
Then there is another set of names of which we have a considerable number, and the Germans still more, which appear to have been given at a later period, and to be perhaps, at least in some cases, derived from trade. Such are Horsnail, and the corresponding German Rosnagel; Hoofnail, and the German Hufnagel; while there are others, such as Isnell (iron nail), Coppernoll (and Germ. Kupfernagel), about which I hardly know what to think.
HONE, HEAN, HEANEY, ONKEN, ENNOR, HONNER, HENFREY, ENRIGHT, ONWHYN, ENOUGH.
A very common stem in A.S. names is ean, the meaning of which remains yet unexplained. We seem to have received it both in the Low German form ean and the High German form aun or on. The Honingas (Oningas) among the early settlers must, I think, be placed to it. It is very apt to intermix with another stem an, to which I formerly placed a few names which I think should come in here.
Stem ean, en, aun, on.
A.S. Eana, Enna (found in Ennanbeorh), Hean (found in Heanspôl, &c). Also Onna (found in Onnandun). Hona, found in Honingas. Ona, Lib. Vit. O.G. Ono, Oni. Eng. Hean, Heaney, Hone. Fries. Onno.
Diminutive.
A.S. Honekyn (found in Honekyntûn, now Hankerton). Eng. Onken.
Compounds.