Where did the name "Twosign" come from?


 

An interesting feature of the Richardson family history is the recurrence of the name "Twosign" (or "Tousine" as it was written in the 1841 census) as a given name through at least three generations. I have searched for the occurrence of the name in any other family, and found none. This inevitably leads to speculation as to the origin of the name.


According to descendants of the Richardsons, there is a family legend that the name Twosign came from a shipwrecked cabin boy (or black cabin boy in one version of the story), who became in some way linked with the Richardson family, possibly by adoption or marriage. Even assuming that the story has been embellished over the generations, it is likely that it contains some fragments of the truth, and provides the basis for a plausible explanation for the name.


Noting that the Sussex coast is close to France, this is the first place to look for an origin for the name Twosign. A quick search of French Christian names immediately gives a possible candidate - Toussaint (pronounced too-sang or too-sign). The name originates from the common practice, particularly in catholic countries, of naming children after religious artefacts, usually saints but also including festivals such as Christmas (Noel) and All Saints Day (Toussaint). Toussaint and the similar-sounding Toussin are also found as a surnames. On arrival in England, the French pronunciation would naturally have been retained. Most ordinary people were unable to read or write prior to the mid-19th century, so the name would not be erroneously pronounced in English as "Two-Saint" as would happen today, as the French spelling would be unknown to anyone including the name's owner. When his name was first written down in England, probably by a church clerk, an English phonetic spelling would have been used, and "Two-Sign" is a close approximation, built from two common English words, to the French pronunciation of Toussaint.


The theory given above is the one I would put my money on for the origin of the name "Twosign". But it is still only a theory, and if anyone can come up with a better explanation, or more evidence to support this explanation, I'll be pleased to hear it!