ical names as font-names does not date from the
Puritans, nor are surnames derived from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
necessarily Jewish. The Old Testament names which were most popular
among the medieval peasants from whom we nearly all spring were
naturally those connected with the most picturesque episodes of sacred
history. Taking as an example the father of all men, we find derived
from the name Adam the following: Adams, Adamson, Adcock, Addis,
Addison, Adds, Addy, Ade, Ades, Adey, Adis, Ady, Addey, Aday, Adee,
Addyman, Adkin, Adkins, Adkinson, Adnett, [Footnote: Adenet (little
Adam) le Roi was an Old French epic hero.] Adnitt, Adnet, Adnot,
Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, and the northern Aitken, etc. This list,
compiled from Bardsley's Dictionary of Surnames, is certainly not
exhaustive. Probably Taddy is rimed on Addy as Taggy is on Aggy
(Agnes). To put together all the derivatives of John or Thomas would
be a task almost beyond the wit of man. Names in Abb-, App-, may come
from either Abraham or Abel, and from Abbs we also have Nabbs. Cain
was of course unpopular. Cain, Cane, Kain, when not Manx, is from the
town of Caen or from Norman quene, an oak.

Moses appears in the French form Moyes (Moise) as early as 1273, and
still earlier as Moss. Of the patriarchs the favourites were perhaps
Jacob and Joseph, the name Jessop from the latter having been
influenced by Ital. Giuseppe. Benjamin has sometimes given Benson and
Bennett, but these are generally for Benedict (Chapter IV). The
Judges are poorly represented, except Samson, a name which has
obviously coalesced with the derivatives of Samuel. David had, of
course, an immense vogue, especially in Wales (for some of its
derivatives see Chapter VI), and Solomon was also popular, the modern
Salmon not always being a Jewish name.

But almost the favourite Old Testament name was Elijah, Elias, which,
usually through its Old French form Elie, whence Ely, is the parent of
Ellis, Elliot, and many other names in El-, some of which, however,
have to be shared with Ellen and Alice (Chapter X). Job was also
popular, and is easily recognized in Jobson, Jobling, etc., but less
easily in Chubb (Chapter III) and Jupp. The intermediate form was the
obsolete Joppe. Among the prophetic writers Daniel was an easy
winner, Dann, Dance (Chapter I), Dannatt, Dancock, etc. Balaam is an
imitative spelling of the local Baylham.

In considering these Old Testament names it must be r