How do we structure the last name correctly?

Question

There are family branches that are clearly the same, one uses the last name of Atte Wode and the other uses just Wode,   I suspect that the Atte is much like the other "van, de, and so on", but have not seen this before.   Looking for some direction for the profile owners.   Once we have direction, the arborist group can propose the merges correctly and make sure the profiles reflect the correct last name.

 

Also need help with son's last name De Wyckhurst vs. Wyckhurst

 

Thanks

Answer 1

My understanding of Van and Von is that these designate nobility and linked to the ancestral seat or place linked to the title. De is slightly different, in that it can mean the same as Van and Von but may also be used simply to designate the place of origin of the family but there being no actual rank involved.

Atte is simpler being Middle English based on Old English (Anglo-Saxon). It is a word that may be applied to things as well as people, literally meaning 'by the'  or 'of that place by the...' In South Stoneham parish near Southampton here is a place known as the Langhorn stone (which was a stone!) and nearby there were frequent references in charters and the like to places or people being' Atte Stone', being near to or from nearby the Langhorn stone.

Answer 2

Hello Robin

I found this discussion on the Wyckhurst/Atte Wood family http://boards.ancestry.com.au/thread.aspx?o=0&m=593.2.1.2.1.1&p=surnames.atwood

As they seem to think that the surname Atwood came from Atte Wode, I would go with using Atte Wode as the LNAB, and Wyckhurst rather than De Wyckhurst for the son.

However from the discussion it also looks like some of the genealogy as entered on Wikitree may be a bit suspect, but perhaps that's a question for a different day, :)

John

Comments

To a great extent I agree with this thought, but you have to be careful because there are also instances of names having other prefixes incorporrated included Van and De - viz-a-viz Vansittart and Death (sometimes De'Ath)