Warren

See also warren

English

Etymology

Two different Norman surnames, one from a Germanic given name war(in) "guard", another from a place La Varenne "the game park" in Normandy.

Proper noun

Warren

1. A surname.
2. A male given name.

Usage notes

The given name used in medieval England and returned to use in the nineteenth century, often transferred from the the surname. It has been more popular in the U.S.A. than in the U.K.

Quotations

• 1894 George Bruce Malleson, Life of Warren Hastings, First Governor-General of India, Chapman&Hall 1894, page 4:

  Meanwhile, in 1730, the son, the younger Penyston Hastings, had married Hester Warren, daughter of the proprietor of Stubhill, a small estate near Twining, Gloucestershire. She died in the house at Churchill after having given birth to her second child who, in memory of her, was named Warren.

• 1940, Paul Corey, The Road Returns, Bobbs-Merrill 1940, page 359:

  "I tell her she should name him Warren after the President,"Andrew was saying.

  "Never," said his wife. "Maybe I'll call him - " she looked around frantically - "Edward or Eric."

Anagrams

• warner, Warner