Large

Large

Family name
name =Large


imagesize=
caption=
pronunciation =
meaning ="abundant" "ample" "big" "generous" "liberal"
region =England, see France for parallel surnames
origin =Latin, Old French , Middle English
related names=Lardge, Lurge, Larg, le Large, de Large
footnotes =

Large is an English surname, with variants including Lardge, Lurge, and Larg. Its meaning is variable, though it may derive from the Norman French adjective, "large" (meaning "generous" or "big" [as in, "that's big of you", meaning generous, as well as large in size] ), as it is found in the surname "le Large" in English records dating back as far as the 13th century. Harrison's work on English surnames gives the following:

"LARGE (adjectival: French, Latin) BIG; GENEROUS [Middle English Old French "large"; Latin "larg-us, -a", [meaning] abundant, liberal] "

He gives an early citation for the name: "William le Large from the Hundred Rolls," a reference dating to 1273.

He also provides a quotation showing the word in its older sense of "generous", "full", "liberal" or "ample" in its literary context:

"So large of yift [gift] and free was she" (from Chaucer's "Romance of the Rose" I168)

Another variant surname, "de Large", appears to be continental European rather than English in origin.

Henry Brougham Guppy's survey circa 1881, based on local British directories, places Large as a surname local to North Wiltshire, and considers it to have particular prevalence among yeoman farmers.(Guppy, 1890)

According to the International Genealogical Index, the surname is also found in many other English counties; in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and other English language countries; in France and Germany, and, more rarely, in the Scandinavian countries. People with the name Large or its variants include:

People

* Sir Andrew Large (born 1942), British, Monetary Policy Committee member
* Bonnie Large (born 1952), American, "Playboy" model
* Brian Large (born 1939), British opera video director
* Eddie Large (born 1941), British comedian
* John Large (b. ?), British engineer
* Josaphat-Robert Large (born 1942), Haitian-American poet
* Robert Large (died 1441), English, Lord Mayor of London (1439-1440) and apprentice master of William Caxton, England's first printer
* Storm Large (born 1969), American singer

Variants

* Robert C. De Large (1842 - 1874), American politician

References

* Carroll, Linda Largin, "The Largin Legacy", 1995, p. 15 (date of reference to William le Large from the Hundred Rolls)
* Guppy, Henry Brougham. "Homes of Family Names in Great Britain". London: Harrison, 1890.
* International Genealogical Index, www.familysearch.org
* Harrison, Henry "Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary", 1912/1918, reprinted 1969 and 1996, p. 264
* Reidy, John; Kurath, Hans; Lewis, Robert E.; Kuhn, Sherman M., "Middle English Dictionary", Language Arts & Disciplines, 1971, p. 663 (for instances of the surname) pp. 657-663 (for the adjectival and adverbial uses of the word)


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • large — large …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • large — [ larʒ ] adj., n. m. et adv. • XIe ; lat. largus « abondant; généreux », a remplacé latus, à cause de longus « long » I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ Qui a une étendue supérieure à la moyenne dans le sens de la largeur. Une large avenue. Chapeau à larges bords.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Large — (l[aum]rj), a. [Compar. {Larger} (l[aum]r j[ e]r); superl. {Largest}.] [F., fr. L. largus. Cf. {Largo}.] 1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • large — [ lardʒ ] adjective *** bigger than usual in size: The house had an exceptionally large yard. Large crowds gather each year in St. Peter s Square to see the Pope. A large man with a long ginger beard stood in the doorway. a. used in clothing… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • large — [lärj] adj. larger, largest [OFr < L largus: see LARD] 1. Archaic liberal; generous 2. big; great; specif., a) taking up much space; bulky b) enclosing much space; spacious [a large office] …   English World dictionary

  • large — large, big, great mean above the average of its kind in magnitude, especially physical magnitude. Large may be preferred when the dimensions, or extent, or capacity, or quantity, or amount is being considered {a large lot} {a large hall} {a large …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • large — Large, Latus, Largus, Laxus. Large par le bas et allant en aguisant, Pyramidatus. Fort large, Perlatus. Fort large et spatieux, Spatiosus. Large outre mesure, Vastus. Un homme large, soit prodigue ou liberal, Largus. Trop large, Nimius. Devenir… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • large — 〈[la:(r)dʒ] Abk.: L〉 groß (als Kleidergröße) [engl.] * * * 1large [larʒ(ə) ] <Adj.> [frz. large < lat. largus = freigebig; reichlich] (bes. schweiz.): großzügig: der l. Schiedsrichter. 2large [la:ɐ̯d̮ʒ ] <indekl. Adj.> [engl. large …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Large — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Brian Large (* 1939), Fernsehregisseur von Opernübertragungen Josaphat Robert Large (* 1942), Dichter und Romancier Robert C. De Large (1842−1874), US amerikanischer Politiker Diese …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • large — large, largely Large is used as an adverb with the verbs bulk and loom and in the phrase by and large. Otherwise largely is the normal adverb and means ‘to a large extent’ (His failure was largely due to laziness) …   Modern English usage

  • large — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of considerable or relatively great size, extent, or capacity. 2) pursuing an occupation or activity on a significant scale. 3) of wide range or scope. ► VERB (large it) Brit. informal ▪ go out and have a good time. ● …   English terms dictionary

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