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.

Royal Surnames

3 pages in this part of Names and Their Meaning.

Royal Surnames

LFRED THE GREAT (reigned 871 to 901) fully merited his surname because he expelled the Danes, established a navy, founded schools, and…

Royal Surnames: William

William I. (reigned 1066 to 1087), was styled The Conqueror because he defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, and founded the…

Royal Surnames: France

Charles I., Emperor of Germany (born 742, died 814), was surnamed Charlemagne, otherwise Charles the Great. The She-Wolf of France was…

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