The Hungate Name: Origins and Ambiguities
The true origin of the name Hungate is shrouded in historical ambiguity, and a definitive, singular source may forever remain elusive. Nevertheless, several compelling derivations and historical contexts offer insight into the possible evolution of this distinctive surname.
Early Linguistic Derivations
The earliest documented forms of the name, found in various historical documents, include Hundgate, Hundagate, and Hundegate. These forms suggest two primary linguistic roots, both common in the north of England:
- Danish-Norse Influence: One possibility draws on the Danish word Hund, meaning dog, combined with the term gate, which in this context means a pathway or street (not a barrier). This yields the derivation "dog path" or "Hundgate," which eventually simplified to Hungate. This suggests a location associated with a kennel or passage used by dogs/hounds.
- Latin/Water Connection: A second major theory links the name to water. The derivation could be from Unda, the Latin word for water, leading to Undagate, meaning a "street leading to the water." This possibility is strongly supported by the geographical context of the earliest known location bearing the name.
The Historical Context of York's Hungate Street
Much of the documented history and conjecture surrounding the name is rooted in the history of Hungate Street in the city of York, England.
The Merske and The King's Pool
Hungate in York is an irregular street running from St. Savior's Church, traversing low-lying land that was anciently called The Merske, or the Marsh of York, before terminating at the river Foss.
- During the 11th century, this district was predominantly submerged beneath the King's Pool of Foss.
- As the lake gradually silted up, the resulting swampland-termed void plots-was reclaimed. These plots were subsequently granted by the King to citizens at nominal rents, leading to the construction of houses and the laying out of gardens.
The name Merske itself originates from the Anglo-Saxon word mersc, meaning a marsh or a tract of land frequently inundated or flooded with water.
Street Name Evolution
The roadway through this marshy area was first mentioned in 1250 as Mersk Street. In the ensuing decades, it appeared in records under a variety of names:
- Hundgate alias Merske Street
- Hundagate
- Hundegate
- Hungate
The emergence of the Hundagate and Hungate variations is often interpreted as having a connection with unda, strongly suggesting a link to the original waterlogged, marshy state of the land. It is also noted that other towns and villages in northern England have streets named Hungate situated near streams that are prone to flooding.
Early Residents and Family Derivation
It is a common practice in history for individuals to take their names from the district in which they reside.
- In 1279, a resident named Thomas de Hondegate was documented.
- In 1343, John de Merske was recorded.
Both individuals were, without a doubt, named after the district now known as Hungate. The historian Drake observed that the street in York gave its name to the Hungate family in the country of York. However, this is countered by the existence of a village called Hungate five miles from Ripon, from which a family is arguably more likely to have derived its name than from a single street in a major city.
Architectural and Ecclesiastical Significance of Hungate, York
The area around Hungate Street in York once held considerable religious and commercial importance.
- St. John Baptist Church: The parish church of St. John Baptist once stood east of the street. Following its demolition, the land was long referred to as St. John's Green. It was a valuable property, accounted as one of the great farms of the dean and chapter of York, and was eventually united with St. Saviour's.
- Chantry: A chantry was founded in this church by Richard Russell, a citizen and merchant, and later augmented by John Thirsk, a merchant and Mayor of the Staple of Calais. Both men were significant figures who lived in the street and were buried in the church.
- Commercial Hub: The street was later the location of the hall belonging to the company of shoemakers (or Cordwainers), where they held their meetings. After the dissolution of the body, the hall was sold and converted into small tenements.
- Antiquity: The antiquity of the street is evidenced by the remains of several old walls, including one near the Foss that incorporates a significant amount of gritstone used by the Romans.
A Note on the American Hungate Family
The name traveled to the United States, where the surnames Hunget and Hungett are found. Both variations are documented as having sprung from Charles Hungate, who first appeared in Virginia history in 1747.
The preceding information is compiled and adapted from:
Volume I
The Hungate Family
by
Carroll Paul Hungate, M.D.
Dated January 1975
