Plaw Family History

For someone who lived by a place where sports and games were played, the term originates from Middle English plaghe, plawe, pleie, ploghe, and plowe, which come from Old English plega, plæga, and plaga, meaning ‘play, sport, game, merriment,’ and by transference, ‘play-place.’

The Sussex and Surrey surname specifically traces back to Plawhatch Hall, formerly in East Grinstead, Sussex, recorded as La Plawe in 1281 and Plagh(e) in 1285. This indicates a historical connection to a specific location associated with games and sports.

Additionally, the medieval examples without a preposition may alternatively derive from the word in (i) as an epithet for someone who played games or had a merry disposition. This illustrates how names and terms evolve based on cultural activities and places.