; and the simple Mann is also an
Anglo-Saxon personal name. It is sometimes to be taken literally,
e.g. in Goodman, i.e. master of the house (Matt. xx. ii), Longman,
Youngman, etc. In Hickman, Homan (How, Hugh), etc., it may mean
servant of, as in Ladyman, Priestman, or may be merely an augmentative
suffix. In Coltman, Runciman, it is occupative, the man in charge of
the colts, rouncies or nags. Chaucer's Shipman--

"Rood upon a rouncy as he kouthe" (A. 390).

In Bridgeman, Pullman, it means the man who lived near, or had some
office in connection with, the bridge or pool. But it is often due to
the imitative instinct. Dedman is for the local Debenham, and Lakeman
for Lakenham, while Wyman represents the old name Wymond, and Bowman
and Beeman are sometimes for the local Beaumont (cf. the pronunciation
of Belvoir). But the existence in German of the name Bienemann shows
that Beeman may have meant bee-keeper. Sloman may be a nickname, but
also means the man in the slough (Chapter XII), and Godliman is an old
familiar spelling of Godalming. We of course get doubtful cases, e.g.
Sandeman may be, as explained by Bardsley, the servant of Alexander
(Chapter VI), but it may equally well represent Mid. Eng. sandeman, a
messenger, and Lawman, Layman, are rather to be regarded as
derivatives of Lawrence (Chapter VI) than what they appear to be.

THE SUFFIX -COCK

Many explanations have been given of the suffix -cock, but I cannot
say that any of them have convinced me. Both Cock and the patronymic
Cocking are found as early personal names. The suffix was added to
the shortened form of font-names, e.g. Alcock (Allen), Hitchcock
(Richard), was apparently felt as a mere diminutive, and took an -s
like the diminutives in -kin, e.g. Willcocks, Simcox. In Hedgecock,
'Woodcock, etc., it is of course a nickname. The modern Cox is one of
our very common names, and the spelling Cock, Cocks, Cox, can be found
representing three generations in the churchyard of Invergowrie, near
Dundee.

The two names Bawcock and Meacock had once a special significance.
Pistol, urged to the breach by Fluellen, replies

"Good bawcock, bate thy rage! use lenity, sweet chuck"

(Henry V., iii, 2);

and Petruchio, pretending that his first interview with Katherine has
been most satisfactory, says--

"'Tis a world to see
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew."

(Taming of the Shrew, ii.