LL-L "Names" 2005.07.21 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 21.JUL.2005 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West) Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
Subject: "Names" [E]

> From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
> Subject: "Names" [E]
>
> Remember that there's also a city called Wells in Somerset, England. So 
> the
> surname could mean "Welsh", or "from Wells" or sometimes one and sometimes
> the other!
>
> From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
> Subject: Names
>
> Thanks for the info about Wells, Sandy.

After further thought - if "Wells" meant "Welsh" then it would seem to be a 
Scots form - like "Scottis" versus "Scottish" or "Wallace" versus "Welsh".

Since "Wells" seems to be an English rather than a Scottish surname, I'd 
suggest that it is indeed from the city of Wells rather than from Welsh.

I don't know whether the city name is from the presence of sources of water 
there - or holy wells? or whether it has itself some sort of Welsh 
connection.

I have seen a sign pointing to a village called "Wales" in Somerset! Is this 
another ex-pat driven mad by the hiraeth? But there's also a sign nearby 
pointing to a place called "Eyewell" which suggests to me "water well". So 
maybe "Wales" in the village name also refers to a source of water?

Mere ramblings!

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

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