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What’s in a name?
On January 13th, 2012 Stephen Marsh wrote on the subject of Family name etymology.
We have recently been researching the etymology of family surnames in order to be able to provide more information to our visitors to www.myfamilysilver.com. There appear to have been many books written on the subject and most are largely subjective. Surnames generally derive either from a place or a nickname indicating size or looks. For example the origin of Bogle was given as: “A Scottish nickname for someone with a frightening appearance”.
A prominent mercantile family of this name flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries in Glasgow, a scion of which, George Bogle of Daldowie distinguished himself as Warren Hastings envoy to Bhutan and Tibet in 1774. He was the first European to penetrate these remote Kingdoms and his adventures were used by Rudyard Kipling as the basis for his novel “Kim”. His exploits are well documented in a recent book by Kate Teltscher “The High Road to China: George Bogle, the Panchen Lama and the First British Expedition to Tibet”. The Royal Collection contains a picture by Tilly Kettle, commissioned by Hastings, to commemorate the expedition:
George Bogle being received by the Third Panchen Lama by Tilly Kettle, c. 1775. Courtesy of and Copyright the Royal Collection.
In this picture Bogle is portrayed in Bhutnese clothing (he is the one on the left with a jelly mould on his head) but with his face half hidden. Teltscher has included an engraving of Bogle that Francis Younghusband, a subsequent adventurer in the region, had used in his book in the early 20th century.
At this point I must declare an interest. My family are descended from George Bogle’s sister and we possess the “lost” portrait from which Younghusband’s engraving was taken. It was painted when he was in his late teens prior to his departure for India as a reminder for his family. He never returned; although his daughters (allegedly) by a Tibetan Princess were sent to live with his family at Daldowie after his death in 1781.
Portrait of George Bogle as a young man. Courtesy of and copyright a private collection.
Perhaps I am biased, but he doesn’t look very frightening to me.
John Culme, who for many years has been connected with Sotheby's Silver Department, is author of several books and articles, including The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, 1838-1914, published in 1987, and co-author with Nicholas Rayner of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor. He is also a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths' Company, London.
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