From: jsanders@phys.ksu.edu (Justin M. Sanders)
Newsgroups: soc.roots
Subject: Initials List (ver 3)
Date: 5 Jan 1993 07:16:42 GMT
Organization: Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: bohr.phys.ksu.edu

Several months ago, I posted a list initials and the namesakes 
associated them.  The original list came mainly from my research
in mid-1800 census records.  After posting here, I received
many replies, and have incorporated almost all into this revised list.  

My main goal is to provide a list of common patterns of initials, so that
when one runs across a set of initials, one can reasonably
hypothesize the corresponding full name.  Therefore I have tried to
limit the main list to names which have been used at least twice in
different families (a very weak requirement for "common").  However, 
for completeness sake, I am also attaching a second list of one-example
names, if others can provide additional examples of these, I would be
grateful.

There is one name that is conspicuous by its absence:
A.L. Abraham Lincoln

If anyone has examples of these or of any other suitable additions to 
the list, please e-mail them to me.

Justin M. Sanders (M. is for Marshall-- from *John Marshall* McSpadden)
**********************************************************************

In the 1800's, parents frequently named their sons after famous men.
That practice gave rise to common patterns of initials.  The namesakes 
can often point to the political or religous affliation of the parents.
And, of course, the patterns are useful in guessing possible full names.

NOTE: Where three initials are given, pairs can be assumed as well.

Presidents:
A.J.  Andrew Jackson (Democrat, War of 1812 hero)
G.W.  George Washington
J.K.P. James Knox Polk (Democrat)
J.M.   James Madison or James Monroe
J.Q.  John Quincy Adams  
T.J.  Thomas Jefferson
U.S.  Ullyses Simpson Grant (Republican, Civil War hero)
W.H.H.  William Henry Harrison (Whig)
Z.T.  Zachary Taylor (Whig, Mexican War hero)

Other Statesmen and Heroes:
A.H.  Alexander Hamilton (Federalist)
B.F.  Benjamin Franklin
C.C.  Christopher Columbus
D.C.  DeWitt Clinton (Gov. of NY)
F.M.  Francis Marion (Rev. War hero)
H.C.  Henry Clay (Whig, candidate for Pres.)
J.C.F. John Charles Fremont (Mexican War hero, Repub. cand for Pres)
J.D.  Jefferson Davis (Pres. of Confederacy)
J.J.  Jesse James ("Robin Hood"-type outlaw) 
J.M.  John Marshall (Supreme Court Chief Justice)
L.Q.C. Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus (Roman statesman) or L.Q.C. Lamar
         (Democrat, Mississippi Senator)
N.B.  Napoleon Bonaparte 
O.H.P. Oliver Hazard Perry (War of 1812 hero)
R.B.   Robert Bruce (Scottish King)
R.E.L. Robert Edward Lee (Confederate General)
R.K.  Rufus King (signer of Constitution, Federalist candidate for V.P.)
S.D.  Stephen Decatur (Barbary War, War of 1812 hero)
S.H.  Samuel Houston (Gov. of Tenn., Pres. and Gov. of Tex.)
W.R.  William Rufus King (Democrat, V.P. under Franklin Pierce)
W.S.  Winfield Scott (War of 1812, Mexican War hero, Whig cand for Pres)

Religious Leaders:
F.A.  Francis Asbury (Methodist)
F.E.  Finis Ewing (Methodist)
J.K.  John Knox (Presbyterian)
J.W.  John Wesley (Methodist)
L.D.  Lorenzo Dow (travelling evangelist with Methodist leanings)
T.C.  Thomas Coke (Methodist)

***** Single (so far) cases *****
C.A.   Chester Arthur (President)
E.D.   Erasmus Darwin (biologist, Charles Darwin's grandfather)
F.P.   Franklin Pierce (President)
G.C.   Grover Cleveland (Pres.)
H.W.D. Henry Winter Davis (Whig, Republican, Maryland politician)
J.E.J. Joseph Eggleston Johnston (Confederate General)
M.F.   Millard Filmore (Pres)
W.P.   William Penn (Quaker, founder of Pennsylvania)


--
Justin M. Sanders    "...a beautiful theory, killed by a nasty,
Dept. of Physics                  ugly little fact."
Kansas State Univ.                         -- T.H. Huxley
Newsgroups: soc.roots