ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1531 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1531 ************************************ 26 Jan 1999 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for information about the surname . This letter is a brief answer to your question. It is entirely possible that the modern American surname has more than one origin. We found one. There is an English surname which derives from the Old English word "dung-heap". An early example of the name is 1332; his surname meant "at the dung-heap" and indicated where he lived or worked [1]. We hope this brief letter has been useful. Please write us again if you have any questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Brian M. Scott. For the Academy, Josh Mittleman 26 Jan 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Mixon.