JERSEY.

NAME.

THE name by which JERSEY was known, in ancient times, is not decisively ascertained. Like other states, it has had several appellations; some so remote, both in sound and orthography, from others, as to elude every attempt to trace their etymology to

one common source.

As navigators of different countries frequently distinguish the same spot by various names, as local or temporary circumstances dictate, so this island may have been known to the Phoenicians, the Cartha

*

*

ginians, the Celta, the Gauls, the Romans, the Francs, and the Normans, under different denominations.

The names of Jersey, Gearsey, Gersey, and Jereseye,+ are allowed to have been derived from

* Probably both these nations had commercial relations with all the islands in the channel.

+ Called by this last name in the records of the tower aud exshequer.

B