WAKEMAN

A title given to the chief magistrate of Rippon, in Yorkshire, England; a watchman.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

WAKEMAN. A- Sax. ivaec-man, a watchman. According to Bailey's Diet, the chief officer of Ripon was anciently called the ?ra7ie?«<zrt; but this is incorrect. The Wakeman was an inferior functionary, whose duty was to blow a cow's horn every night at nine o'clock ; and if between such blowing and sun-rise, any burglary took place, it was made good at the public charge.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.