Surname Anguish - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Anguish: What does the surname Anguish mean?
The last name Anguish is of English origin, and often thought to mean 'trouble and misery'. It is derived from the old French angoisse, meaning 'inescapable distress'. It may also be derived from the Latin angere, meaning to choke or constrict.
The name has been present in England since at least the sixteenth century. During this time it was a common personal name, and was one of the most popular surnames in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Throughout the centuries, this surname has been used commonly as both a given name and a surname.
Historically, the name has been used to refer to both physical and mental anguish. It was often used to describe those experiencing emotional distress. People with the surname Anguish were thought to be particularly sensitive and prone to bouts of sadness. They were seen as seek to both isolate and console themselves.
In today's world, the surname Anguish is still used and serves as reminder of the fragility of human emotions. The name remains associated with physical, mental, and emotional afflictions, though in a more positive way. It is now often used to refer to people who truly understand and sympathise with pain and suffering, and strive to be a comfort to those who experience it. There is a certain amount of strength that comes with bearing the name Anguish, a sense of resilience that is admirable.
Order DNA origin analysisAnguish: Where does the name Anguish come from?
The last name Anguish is most common in the United-Kingdom and the near nordic countries. It originated as a name from Old English, and meant “grief”.
In the UK, it is most commonly found in the historic counties of Devon and Somerset. It is still a relatively common surname in the UK, with at least 894 people registered with the name in England in 2018.
In the past few decades, the name has spread and can be found in pockets of people all over the world. Anguish is most frequently found in the United-States, New-Zealand and Australia. In general, it tends to be more commonly found in regions of high European immigration.
Anguish can also be found in Western France, Scandinavia, and Iceland, however the numbers of Anguish families drop drastically, and tend to have shorter family lineages.
Though the origin of the name is fairly old, its popularity has seen a spike in the past couple of decades. Urban dictionary shows 120 references to the phrase “Anguish” in 2006-2007, andshows strong increases of references in 2010-2011 and 2014-2015.
The name itself, though felt to be possibly outdated to some, is also considered to be quite unique and has retained its popularity in the past few decades.
Variations of the surname Anguish
Anguish is an old English surname derived from a nickname meaning sorrow, grief, or pain. The various spellings, variants and surnames of Anguish include Angew, Anges, Angham, Anghouse, Angish, Anguish, Angwysh, Angwysshe, Anush, Anguishce, Awngeis, and Awntish.
The Anguish surname is first found in Worcestershire, where they held a family seat from early times and granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. The name was first recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205 in Worcestershire.
The Anguish surname belongs to the broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and is derived from the Old French noun, angoise, meaning "anguish" or "trouble". In some cases the name may be derived from the male name Aneis, or from the French "anquet" meaning an angle.
Early records of the name include Robert Anehouse from Oxford in the year 1221. The Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379 lists members of the Anguish family as Willelmus Angush, Richerdus Angesh, Willelmus Awngeis, and Isabella Angham.
The earliest record of the name in America is of Sarah, wife of William Anguish arriving in Boston in 1718. The largest number of early settlers found in the New World were in Pennsylvania. Later immigrants to North America also included John Anguish of Philadelphia in 1725, William Anguish of New York in 1790, and Elizabeth Ansow of Massachusetts in 1820.
Famous people with the name Anguish
- Michael Anguish: Contemporary Canadian actor, known for films such as Miracle of the Magic Boy and Searchers of the Lost Art.
- Andrew Anguish: Bassist, founding member of the British heavy metal band Whitechapel.
- Max Anguish: A former Major League Baseball Player.
- Francis Anguish: Renowned British pianist, teacher, and composer.
- Yulianna Anguish: Belarussian figure skater who competed in many world and Olympic Championships.
- Coby Anguish: Canadian professional hockey player, who plays in the American hockey league.
- Jacob Anguish: Scholar and geneticist, known for the study of human population genetics and evolutionary biology.
- LeVar Anguish: Filmmaker, founder and president of production company FOD Productions.
- Isobel Anguish: Author of several best-selling novels from the United Kingdom.
- Daniel Anguish: Emmy-award winning special effects artist, most notably known for his work on Game of Thrones.