ORIGIN OF THE NAME STRONG/STRONGE
In the following publications the name of Strong is taken through it's evolutions:
A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, by John Clarke Hall (pub. Cambridge Univ. Press, London 1975), the name STRONG is stated as having originated from STRANG. The name STRANG was previously STRANGE and meant Stranger. In Old French this was ESTRANGE.
A Middle English Dictionary (12th-15th Century), by Frances H. Stratman, (pub. Oxford Univ. Press, 1978) lists STRONG as previously STRANG, which, in turn was STRAUNGE, STRONGE and ESTRANGE - in each case meaning foreigner.
The Oxford English Dictionary (History of the English Language, by The Philosophical Society, Vol. 1978, lists STRONG as having previously been STRANG, STRANGE, STRENGER and in old French, ESTRANGE, meaning "from another country."
A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, by Sir Benard Burke, CB, LL.D., Vol. I, 1871, the name STRONGE is stated as being "a corruption from Straunge or Storange".
Our proven ancestor George Stronge's name in the records of Chard and Chardstock followed this pattern. He is listed in various records as George Strang, George Straunge and George Stronge.
In The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset, by Rev. John Collinson, p. 474, a record has been found of a ROBERT STRANGE - "The chantry of the Holy Trinity. Robert Strange gave rent and burrage in Chard to this chantry, 19 Henry VI (1441). (Note: a Chantry was normally a side chapel or altar in a parish church where a priest said masses to help to release a soul of a deceased person from Purgatory.)
ROBERT STRONGE- Will 1543 - Chard, listed but not found. (Strong Men and Strong Women, by Jean Waters Strong)
Marie Strange, Bpt. 21 Jan. 1580/81, Chardstock, daughter of ROBERT STRANGE. (Ref: Robin Bush, pub. by Mary & John Clearinghouse)
May 3, 1604 - GEORGE STRANG - Assessor to view commons.
GEORGE STROUNGE, witness to the will of Joanne Domett, dated May 10, 1620, ( Abstracts of Wills in Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Somerset House, London, 1904, Register Soame, 1620, edited by J. Henry Lea, pub. by NEHGR,) Strong Men and Strong Women, by Jeanne Waters Strong.
The reasons for the variations of spellings are that there were no uniform spellings at the time. What a clerk heard he wrote down. Accents played a large part in what the clerk heard. Even today it can be illustrated. Coming from eastern Massachusetts I say my name Marther and spell it Martha. When a word ends in "a" such as idea, you would hear me say ideer.
The following is a real note sent from a census taker in the 1800s to the government.
"Centsus rekurds "I am a cencus taker for the city of Bufflow. Our city has groan very fast in resent years and now, in 1865, it has becum a hard and time consooming job to count all the peephill. Thare is not meny that can do this werk, as it is necesarie to have a ejucashun, which a lot of pursons still do not have. Another atribeart needed for this job is good speling, for meny of the peephill to be caounted can hardle speek inglish, let alone spel there name."
The descendants of George Stronge in England retained the spelling of the name as STRONGE until 1706 when it then became STRONG.
Elder John Strong came to New England on the Hopewell in May 8, 1635. He was listed on the passenger list as "JON STRONGE for himself and family, and goods", (Index of Ships and Passengers to the American Colonies", Exchequer K.R. 1618-1668 copied from Port Book E 190/876/1, SFAA Newsletter, Jeanne Waters Strong). Once he arrived he is found in the records as STRONG.
The probable evolution of the name STRONG is ESTRANGE, STRANGE, STRAUNGE, STRONGE, STRONG.