Sidney (name origin)

::"For use of Sidney or Sydney see Sidney (disambiguation) or Sydney (disambiguation)"Sidney or Sydney was originally an English surname. Its main origin is from Old English words meaning "wide well-watered land". Reaney, P.H. & Wilson, R.M. (1997) "A dictionary of English surnames, revised edition" Oxford University Press, New York, ISBN 0-19-860092-5] It is generally conceded (without enthusiasm) that Sidney may also be a contraction of the French place name Saint-Denis, the Patron Saint of France, which was brought to England by the Normans. Hanks & Hodges point out that there is little evidence to support this derivation and it may be the result of folk etymology [Hanks, P. & Hodges, F. (1988). "A dictionary of surnames." Oxford University Press, New York, ISBN 0-19-211592-8.] . Reaney & Wilson state that "The name is usually derived from St. Denis (Normandy) but proof is lacking".

In (Norman) French, Saint Denis (itself a contraction of Dionysius) would be pronounced something like "S' Deni'", which in England became "Sidney" through the folk etymology process when the Plantagenets became English. The folk etymology process takes something new and relates it to something known. Thus the two origins could both exist with the current result. The Statue of St. Denis on Notre Dame Cathedral shows him holding his head in his hands, supported by angels, with a demon and axe below: St. Denis carried his severed head to the peak of Monte Martre.

Sidney became widely used as a given name in English speaking countries during the 19th century, with much of its use in the United States after the American Revolution being due to admiration for Algernon Sidney, a 17th century martyr to royal tyranny. [Karsten, Peter (1978) "Patriot heroes in England and America: Political symbolism and changing values over three centuries" University of Wisconsin Press, Madison ISBN 0299075001 ]

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