generally
shortened to -ett, e.g. Birkett (cf. Birkenhead), [Footnote: No doubt
sometimes, like Burchett, Burkett, for the personal name Burchard,
Anglo-Sax. Burgheard] Brockett (brook), Bromet, Bromhead (broom),
Hazlitt (hazel). The same suffix appears to be present in Fossett,
from fosse, and Forcett from force, a waterfall (Scand.). Broadhead
is a nickname, like Fr. Grossetete and Ger. Breitkopf. The face-value
of Evershed is boar's head. Morshead may be the nickname of mine host
of the Saracen's Head or may mean the end of the moor. So the names
Aked (oak), Blackett, Woodhead may be explained anatomically or
geographically according to the choice of the bearer. Perrett,
usually a dim. of Peter, may sometimes represent the rather effective
old nickname "pear-head."

Side is local in the uncomfortable sounding Akenside (oak), Fearenside
(fern), but Heaviside appears to be a nickname. Handyside may mean
"gracious manner," from Mid. Eng. side, cognate with Ger. Sitte,
custom. See Hendy (Chapter XXII). The simple end survives as Ind or
Nind (Chapter III) and in Overend (Chapter XII), Townsend. Edge
appears also in the older form Egg, but the frequency of place-names
beginning with Edge, e.g. Edgeley, Edgington, Edgworth, etc., suggests
that it was also a personal name.

Lynch, a boundary, is cognate with golf-links. The following sounds
modern, but refers to people sitting in a hollow among the
sand-ridges--

"And are ye in the wont of drawing up wi' a' the gangrel bodies that
ye find cowering in a sand-bunker upon the links?"

(Redgauntlet, ch. xi.)

Pitt is found in the compound Bulpitt, no doubt the place where the
town bull was kept. It is also the origin of the Kentish names Pett
and Pettman (Chapter XVII). Arch refers generally to a bridge.
Lastly, there are three words for a corner, viz. Hearne, Herne, Hurne,
Horn; Wyke, the same word as Wick, a creek (Chapter XII); and Wray
(Scand.). The franklin tell us that "yonge clerkes" desirous of
knowledge--

"Seken in every halke and every herne
Particular sciences for to lerne"

(F, 1119).

Wray has become confused with Ray (Chapter III). Its compound
thack-wray, the corner where the thatch was stored, has given
Thackeray.

HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

The word road was not used in its current sense during the surname
period, but meant the art of riding, and specifically a raid or
inroad. Therefore the name Roades is unconnected with it and