A 19th Century schoolteacher left an inscription that he signed "Bilsvallensis" which was translated as "man of Bilsdale" - a dale in North Yorkshire.
I can follow that Bils valles is "Bilsvalley" ie Bilsdale, but would someone kindly explain the way in which the suffix functions, to create "man of"?
I can follow that Bils valles is "Bilsvalley" ie Bilsdale, but would someone kindly explain the way in which the suffix functions, to create "man of"?