Welcome to the Family Tree Web Site of Pete & Jane
The Surname, Burke's General Armory
The adoption of second names or surnames in Europe took place from the 11th century onwards. Surnames generally fall into four main categories. Occupational names describe the person's profession. Locational names describe the person's dwelling or place of origin. Descriptive names distinguish the person by some physical characteristic or mannerism. Patronyms are the adoption of the person's father's first name as a surname.
TALBOT is a descriptive name found in Ireland but of disputed origin, thought to be derived from the Old French "talebot" = lampblack, used by robbers who blacked their faces for disguise.
Early Historical Example : Geoffrey Talebot, 1086, Domesday Book, Essex
The Blazon of Arms: Arms; Argent a lion rampant gules armed and langued azure
Crest; A talbot dog argent langued and collared gules
Motto; Fotre et Fidele; Strong and Faithful
CLAPP is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin, it's origins are sometimes attributed to an Osgoode Clapa (d. 1054) a nobleman of Danish origin who served King Harthacanute (1018-1042) and Edward the Confessor. Another possible origin may be that it derived from the Old English word "clop" which meant lump or hill.
Early Historical Example: George Hunt Clapp, English Esquire, who held a family seat at Park in the Parish of Bovey Tracey, Devonshire in 1822.