Collins Dictionary Of Surnames: From Abbey to Mutton, Nabbs to Zouch. Leslie Dunkling

Cambell, Camble (Scot) A nickname from Gaelic cam beul ‘crooked mouth.’ Popular legend derives the name instead from de campo bello ‘of the fair field’ and equates it with French Beauchamp, but this etymology has no justification.

      Cannon, Cannons, Canon, Channon (Eng) Descendant of a canon, a clergyman who lived in a communal house with others of his profession. Perhaps also a nickname for someone who acted like a canon.

      As with most surnames, a more individual explanation of its origin is possible. Arnold Bennet writes, in Hilda Lassways, that ‘Mrs Gailey had married a French modeller named Canonges, and in course of time the modeller had informally changed the name to Cannon, because no one in the five towns could pronounce the name rightly.’

      Cape, Cope (Eng) Occupational name for someone who made capes, or a nickname for someone who wore a particularly noticeable one. From the Old English cape, retained in northern dialects, or from cope, its Middle English development.

      Capelen, Capelin, Capeling, Caplen, Caplin see CHAPLIN.

      Capern, Caperon see CAPRON.

      Capp, Cape, Capes, Capmaker, Capman, Capper, Capps (Eng) Occupational name of a maker and seller of caps.

      Capron, Capern, Caperon, Chape, Chaperon, Chapron (Eng, Fre) Occupational name of a maker of hooded cloaks, of the type worn by monks.

      Capstack, Capstick see COPESTAKE.

      Card, Carde, Carder (Eng) Occupational name of someone who carded (untangled) wool.

      Mr Valentine Frank Henry Card, of Chelmsford, Essex, was born on February 14. He once told a Daily Mail reporter that he was obliged to take his birth certificate to work on Valentine’s Day every year to prove that he really was a living Valentine Card.

      Cardrick see CARTWRIGHT.

      Care see KERR.

      Careless, Carless, Carloss (Eng) A disapproving nickname for someone who acted in a carefree or careless manner.

      Chambers, in his Book of Days, quotes an amorous poet who addressed the following to a Miss Careless:

      Careless by name, and Careless by nature;

      Careless of shape, and Careless of feature.

      Careless of dress, and Careless in air;

      Careless of riding, in coach or in chair.

      Careless of love, and Careless of hate;

      Careless if crooked, and Careless if straight,

      Careless at table, and Careless in bed;

      Careless if maiden, not Careless if wed.

      Careless at church, and Careless at play;

      Careless if company go, or they stay;

      Oh! how I could love thee, thou dear Careless thing

      (Oh, happy, thrice happy, I’d envy no king.)

      Were you Careful for once to return me my love,

      I’d care not how Careless to others you’d prove.

      I then should be Careless how Careless you were;

      And the more Careless you, still the less I should care.

      Carleton, Carlton (Eng) Someone who came from one of the several places so-named because they were ‘settlements of free peasants.’

      Carloss see CARELESS.

      Carlyon (Eng) Someone who came from one of the Cornish places bearing this name, probably because of nearby ‘earthworks of slate or shake.’

      Marie Corelli says of one of her characters in Delicia: ‘He was absolutely devoid of all ambition, save a desire to have his surname pronounced correctly. “Car-lee-on,” he would say, with polite emphasis, “not Car-ly-on. Our name is an old, historical one, and like many of its class is spelt one way and pronounced another”.’

      Carne (Eng) Descendant of someone who originally lived near a carn, a pile of rocks. This word is a common element in Cornish place names.

      Carpenter (Eng) Occupational name of a carpenter.

      Carr see KERR.

      Carré see QUARRY.

      Carrington (Eng, Scot) Someone who came from one of the several places so-named because it was ‘Cora’s settlement.’

      Carroll, Carrol, Carvil, MacCarroll, MacKarrill, O’Carroll, O’Carrowill, O’Carvill, O’Carwell (Irish) Descendant of Cearbhall, a Gaelic personal name of uncertain meaning, though suggestions include ‘hart, stag’ and ‘hacking.’

      Carswell see Creswell.

      Carter, Charter (Eng) Occupational name of a carter, who transported goods.

      Nick Carter is the fictional American detective who appears in over 500 stories, written by many different authors. He is able to disguise himself even more effectively than Sherlock Holmes. He was created as long ago as 1886.

      Carton see MACCARTNEY.

      Cartwright, Cardrick, Cartrick, Cartridge, Kortwright (Eng) Occupational name for a maker of carts.

      Carvil see CARROLL.

      Casewell, Casswell, Caswall, Caswell, Caswill see CRESWELL.

      Catcher see CATCHPOLE.

      Catchlove, Cutliffe, Cutloff, Cutlove (Eng) Occupational name of a hunter. The ‘love’ in this name is from Old French loup or love ‘wolf’. Hunters or trappers of wolves could also be known as PRETLOVE, PRITLOVE, PRYKKELOVE ‘prick, kill wolf;’ TRUSLOVE, TRUSLOW, TRUSSLER ‘carry off wolf; BINDLESS, BINDLOES, BINDLOSS, BYNDLOES ‘bind wolf’; SPENDLOVE, SPENDLOW, SPENLOW, SPINDLOWE ‘disembowel wolf’; HACHEWOLF ‘hack wolf’.

      Catchpole, Catchpoll, Catchpool, Catchpoole, Catchpoule, Chacepol (Eng) Literally, a man who was allowed to ‘catch fowl’ to offset someone’s taxes or other debts. A nickname for a bailiff. He might also be known more simply as a CATCHER or KETCHER.

      Cater, Cator, Chaytor (Eng) Occupational name for someone who purchased provisions for a large household. Such an official was known in French as an acheteur or by the Norman French variant acatour ‘buyer.’ The word caterer is from the same source.

      Catesby (Eng) Someone who came from a place so-named because it was the ‘settlement of Kati’s people.’

      Caudell, Caudle, Caudwell, Cauldwell see CALDWELL.

      Caul, Caule, Caules see CALLER.

      Cavalier see CHEVALIER.

      Cawdell see CALDWELL.

      Cawker see CHALK.

      Caxton (Eng) Someone who came from a place so-named because it was ‘Kakkr’s settlement.’

      Chacepol see CATCHPOLE.

      Chalk, Cawker, Chalke, Chalker, Chalkman, Chaulk (Eng) These names clearly refer to chalk in one way or another. The name-bearers may have been suppliers of chalk, since it was used for various purposes, eg as a whitewash and as a hardening agent by potters. The names could also indicate someone who originally came from one of the