Names: and Their Meaning

Why is it called Lloyd's? Why the Green Man? Leopold Wagner traced the origins of everything the Victorians had a name for — countries, tavern signs, flowers, wines, London streets, nicknames and battles — and found a story behind nearly all of them.

Table of Contents

The Countries of the World

10 pages

The Months, and Days of The

1 page

Creeds, Sects, and Denomina-

10 pages

Tavern Signs

5 pages

Royal Surnames

3 pages

National Nicknames

1 page

Birds

1 page

Religious Orders

3 pages

Paper and Printing

2 pages

Political Nicknames

3 pages

Flowers

2 pages

The Bible

3 pages

Wines

1 page

Literary Sobriquets,

1 page

The Counties of England and Wales

3 pages

Carriages

1 page

Dances

1 page

Pigments and Dyes

1 page

Suburbs

8 pages

Battles

1 page

Notable Days and Festivals

7 pages

Textiles, Embroideries, And

3 pages

Literary Pseudonyms

1 page

Counterfeit Presentments

1 page

London Inns and Gardens

6 pages

Sobriquets and Nicknames

4 pages

The Inns of Court

1 page

Races

1 page

Buildings

6 pages

Peckham Rye

4 pages

Class Names and Nicknames

4 pages

Malt Liquors

1 page

Stones

1 page

Sobriquets

3 pages

Money

3 pages

Spirits

1 page

London Streets and Squares

45 pages

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of Names: and Their Meaning (1891) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.