They may be termed: -
Topographic
Lundy, as testified by the archaeological remains, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The name Lundy dates from the 12th century when it was first mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga and comes from two Old Norse words - lundi - a puffin, and ey - island. To the purist this makes the phrase "Lundy Island" both an anathema and a duplication.
Charles Thomas in Island Studies convincingly argues for earlier names such as Ynys Wair "Gwair's Isle" and Ynys Brychan "Brychan's Isle", both name from Welsh notables. Or, in Cornish Enis or Porth with the addition of a further description of either place or person.
A search for Lundy on the web will return many urls. The reason is that there are many people with a personal or surname Lundy. Generally, these are people of Scandinavian origin and are not named for any direct connection with Lundy. They may still, quite understandably though, feel an attachment.
Reaney's Dictionary of Surnames details the British origins of the name Lundy.
There is one exception known to me which is not of Scandinavian origin but does stem directly from the island. That is Muriel Nelly Lundy Clout daughter of George and Kate Clout. Her father was a coastguard on Lundy where she was baptised on 10th April 1910 by the Reverend Hudson Grossett Heaven in the Church of St Helena on the island.
Orkneyinga Saga Harmondsworth
Penguin 1978
Island Studies - Fifty years of
the Lundy Field Society
Irving, Scholfield. Webster et al - LFS 1997
Go to Useful Addresses
A Dictionary of British Surnames
P H Reaney Routledge - 1991 edition
alan_rowland@morwenstow.freeserve.co.uk
Copyright © 1998, Alan Rowland, Last Updated - 14/03/98 16:47:19