Origin of the names Kerfoot and Eagland

[annavc]

Can anyone tell me the origin of the surnames Kerfoot and Eagland or tell me of a good site to find out?  I believe Eagland is a Yorkshire or possibly Lancashire name and Kerfoot is also possibly from Lancashire or Cheshire but I would like to go further back if possible.  Many thanks.

[Quizmonster]

Many surnames are based on the dwelling-place of the person who was originally dubbed with the name. For example, Woods almost certainly came from someone whose cottage was built on the edge of or in some forest...Lea from someone who lived by a meadow...and so on.

Ker(r) in Scottish Gaelic meant a marsh and in Welsh it meant a castle. It is possible, therefore, that 'Kerfoot' was originally a reference to someone who lived by the end of a marsh or close under the walls of a castle.

These are just 'educated' guesses, by the way, but they may help. I'm not at all sure about Eagland.

[Quizmonster]

After posting the above response, I decided to do a bit of Google searching. The following is an extract from a site dealing with the name Kerfoot.

"English (Lancashire): habitational name from an unidentified place, perhaps named from Middle English kerr �wet ground� + fote �foot�, �bottom� (of a hill)."

So, I may not have been too far out. Now, I'll have a go at Eagland, too! 

[Quizmonster]

Apparently, there is an Eagland Hill somewhere near Preston in Lancashire. As that is the relevant area, it is very likely that the name was attached to someone who actually lived there in olden times.