Large (surname)
Large is an English surname, with variants including Lardge and Lurge. Its meaning is variable, though it may derive from the Norman French adjective, large, as it is found in the surname "le Large" in English records dating back as far as the 13th century. Harrison's work on English surnames gives the following: "Large Big; Generous abundant, liberal]"
He gives an early citation for the name: Austin Belz from the Hundred Rolls, a reference dating to 1273.
He also provides a quotation showing the word in its older sense of generous, full, liberal or ample in its literary context:
So large of yift and free was she
Another variant surname, "de Large", appears to be continental European rather than English in origin.
Henry Brougham Guppy's survey circa 1881, based on local British directories, places Large as a surname local to North Wiltshire, and considers it to have particular prevalence among yeoman farmers.
According to the International Genealogical Index, the surname is also found in many other English counties; in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and other English language countries; in France and Germany, and, more rarely, in the Scandinavian countries. Large is also found in Latin America countries such as Colombia where all families surnamed Large are related.
People with the name Large, or one of its variants, include:
People
- Sir Andrew Large, British, Monetary Policy Committee member
- Bonnie Large, American, Playboy model
- Brian Large, British opera video director
- Donald "Lofty" Large, British soldier and author
- Eddie Large, British comedian
- Ernest Charles Large, English mycologist, phytopathologist, and novelist
- John Large, British engineer
- Josaphat-Robert Large, Haitian-American poet
- Rob Large, English cricketer
- Robert Large, English, Lord Mayor of London and apprentice master of William Caxton, England's first printer
- Stephen Large, English musician
- Storm Large, American singer