Brewster...?

[burgatroyd]

I read on a recent thread that Brewster is a feminist surname? Probably havent worded it right... I mean, any surname can be feminist as it depends on who's wearing it, but was just interested in the entomology of Brewster.

Any help would be great.

Brewster is the old vocabulary word for a female brewer

IIRC, Baxter was a female baker (on same pattern) and the vocabulary word 'spinster' once meant female spinner/cloth maker.

The only other type of surname I can think of that were explicitly female is the rare -son one (where first part derived from parental name, usually male line), Ibbotson (Ibbot being a mediaeval versin of Isobel).

In Ireland there's the name Nee, which means 'daughter of'. It's not nearly as common as 'son of' names, which start of 'Mac' but it's known.

Thanks guys!

7 I guess that's why New is still used when saying someone's maiden name.

I thought we used nee because it was French for 'born as' Im' sure someone more knowledgeable will set us right though.

Née in French means 'born'. That's the word used in English to indicated someone's maiden name.

*Nee

Hollister is another.

Female brothel keeper apparently!

Webster is a weaving one.

Any others?

Nee is the English spelling of the Irish word Ni. I can't do the fada over the 'i' but it indicates a long sound, as in eee.

So the Irish version of my name is 7 Ni Days, 7 Daughter of Days. If I was a man it would be 7 Mac Days.

Missed a part - but over time it has evolved as a name in it's own right, like Mack - see Lee Mack. But not nearly so common, especially in the UK I'm guessing.