Surname Standish - Meaning and Origin
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Standish: What does the surname Standish mean?
The surname Standish has several origins. It can be either a locational, occupational, or topographical name. Standish was most commonly locational, deriving from a place near Wigan in Lancashire called Standish. It is believed that the original bearer of the name had descended from that area and family line.
The name can also be derived from the old English word "stan," which could mean either "stone" or "field of stones." Someone with this surname could have taken the name from either an area where many stones were scattered or a man-made stone structure located nearby.
In addition, the name could also come from the Old English word "stanes," which translates to "dwelling." This would suggest that Standish could have originated from a person who lived in a stone house or a stone cottage.
The surname Standish is also thought to deriving from the old English word "stann," which means "dweller beside a well." This name would likely have been given to someone who used to get their water from a well.
The surname Standish is also believed to have originated from the Old English word "stanece," which means "stony ground." This would imply that the original bearer of the name was a person who lived in an area that was full of stones or rocky terrain.
The name Standish can be interpreted in a variety of ways, likely taking its origin from various locations, dwellings, or terrain. Wherever it began, the surname Standish remains a popular last name in the U.K. today.
Order DNA origin analysisStandish: Where does the name Standish come from?
The last name Standish is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and in the United States. In the UK, Standish is the most frequently found surname in Cumbria, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Northumberland and Merseyside. It is particularly prominent in the historic county of Lancashire, which includes the modern metropolitan borough of Wigan, where it ranks as the 5th most common surname. In the US, Standish is most commonly found in the northeastern states, particularly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. In Massachusetts, it is ranked as the 219th most common surname. In Connecticut, it is the 236th most common surname.
The origin of the surname is unclear. It may refer to the historic Standish family, prominent in the area of Lancashire since the Middle Ages. Alternatively, it may have been taken from the place name Standish, which is derived from the Old English word stan (stone) and ēg (island or hill). There are several places in the UK and US that bear this name, suggesting that the surname may have been taken from one of them.
The Standish family is also of interest to historians and genealogists. Many members of the Standish family have played an important role in the history of the United Kingdom and United States. Most notably, the 17th century English Puritan Myles Standish was the military leader of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and the 12th century Norman lord Gilbert de Standish held extensive estates in County Durham.
Variations of the surname Standish
The surname Standish is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. This surname is derived from the Old English name Stanedisc, meaning "stony district," with the suffix "ish," meaning belonging to or associated with. The variants and spellings of Standish include Stanforth, Standysh, Stanfysh, Stanfysshe, Standishe, and Standysshe.
The surname Standish is also associated with the Standish family from Lancashire, England. The earliest known ancestor of this family is Richard de Standish, who was recorded as alive in the year 1243. The variants of the name from the Standish family are spelled Stondysshe, Stanndighe, Standish, Stondishe, and Stodeoche.
The name Standish has spread throughout many countries and is found in the United States, Ireland, England, Scotland, and many other countries; thus, many more surnames are associated with the Standish name. These variant surnames include Standen, Standring, Stanfield, and Stanforth. It should also be noted that, in many cases, the original “d” in the surname has been changed to a “t” over the years, resulting in such variations as Stansfield and Stanton.
The Standish surname has had a long and rich history, with numerous variants and spellings spanning many countries and a long lineage from the Standish family in Lancashire. This name continues to live on, with many bearing the name in modern times, many of whom belong to the Standish family's distinguished lineage.
Famous people with the name Standish
- Miles Standish: a military leader and colonel in Plymouth in the 1600s.
- Brad Standish: an American singer-songwriter.
- George Standish: a professional football player for the Chicago Bears.
- Carl Standish: a British boxing champion from the 1910s.
- Pamela Standish: an American businesswoman and television producer.
- Thomas Standish: a 16th century English navigator and explorer.
- John Standish: an English politician during the 1600s.
- Arthur Standish: a British military officer in the Boer War.
- Jim Standish: an American professional basketball player.
- Douglas Standish: a British World War II pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.