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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1998-10 > 0907298312


From: <>
Subject: Re: The Norman People
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 03:18:32 GMT


On 1 Oct 1998 07:33:28 -0700, (GURI ADEMI) wrote:

>I recently found an 1874 book by this title. I cannot
>determine the author because the book is worn out and a
>few pages are missing. The book's thesis is that the
>"Normans", as a race, did not die out in England, etc, but
>rather comprise about 1/3rd of all people in England, with
>Danes and Saxon comprising the other third.
>
>The book's argument is based on a study of surnames.
>More than half the book is devoted to looking at lots of
>surnames, giving their histories and genealogies. I know
>Loyd's study of the origin of Norman families in
>post-conquest England is well regarded. Anyone have any
>thoughts on the 1874 book I describe? Thanks.

I dont know the book you are tallking about, but an interesting
consequence of the integration of the normans with the Saxon/Danish/
Anglo/Celtic peoples of England are the current names of various
foods in English.

It appears that names such as Sheep, Cattle, Deer, Oxen have a
Saxon origin whereas the names of the various meats on the table
such as Venison, Veal, Beef etc have a Norman French or Langue D'Or
origin.

I suppose this comes from the fact that tha Normans were the Lords &
the Saxons worked the fields.

Bill Joseph.

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