Page:Patronymica Cornu-Britannica.djvu/127

ton or Spryeton, Spray or Sprey, and Sprye Comb. Gilbert (quoting Hals) says: "spry, sprey, spray is Cornish, and signifies a sprout, branch, sprig, twig, split, or slip of any matter or thing." "In the dialect of Somerset, and in the United States, spry means nimble, active, smart," says Lower. If of Cornish origin, the name would corrupt form that of Prye, q.v.

SPUR. This name may be an abbreviation of Butspur in Launcells; from bos-ber, the short dwelling. Spour and Spoure are perhaps the same name. "The arms of Spour are, Gules, on a chevron Or, a rose of the first between two mullets or spur rowells Sable pierced." But see Vosper.

TALBOT. Lower says this family traces, sine hiatu, to the great Domesday tenant, Richard Talebot; and that the Marches of Wales appear to have been the original seat, but that the name is not territorial, being never prefaced with De. A talbot, in heraldry, is a hunting-dog. Dr. Johnson defines it a hound; and says, though incorrectly, that it is borne by the house of Talbot in their arms. Several of the Talbot family have been sheriffs of Cornwall, and the name may possibly be derived from locality. "Talbot (in Probus), which is an abbreviation of Haleboat, is a rock called Ha-le-boate Rock; wherein, to this day, are seen many great iron rings, whereunto boats have been tied, although there is now no show of a haven, but only a little brook running through the valley into a branch