Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-21
EVENING STAR.
WRITTEN FOR THE STAR.
THE ORIGIN OF NAMES.

1
has engaged the attention of many disti,-
guished men. To those who are fond of tram.
porting the imagination to the frst rude peri.
DDS of society, and delight in tracing the grad
ual rise and progress of this wonderful art th Q
writings of Manboddo, Harris, Adam Smith,
Horne Tooke, and others, must be familiar
Nothing can be more interesting than the co.,
jectural speculstions, or theoretical histories
as they have been called, of the two last men.
toned of these celebrated writer's. 1t is not
in our recollection to have cad any history OF
the origin and history Of surnames; and it is
with view of exciting some attention to this
subject that L am induced TO submit the fol-
lowing remarks TO your notice.
kxcept Dean Swift's ironicsI discourse con-
corning the antiquity of the English tongue,
to ridicule old DIR. Bentley and the other quib-
bling commentators of that period, know of
no essay on the origin of the names of persons.
1t any such exist, we should be glad TO have
it pointed out. Many of the observations in
Smith ingenious Essay on the Origin of Ian d.
gusge may be applied to the origin of sur
names The assignation of particular words
to denote particular trades probably was the
first step in giving names to the different M eIn
bors of civilized community. Accordingly,
va find nouns, substantiveS and the names Of
trades and occupations to be the most common
and universal. The next obvious source Of
surnames is from the most familiar surround
ing objects-as animals, birds, fish and yege.
tables. Another class and assortment of names
seems to have been formed from the peculiar
quality of any object, and the relation In which
it stands 10 other things; hence the common
names OF the different cOlOrS, metals, points Of
the compass, &c Those things which are
visible objects appear to furnish another class
of surnSmeS; and the various compounds OF
these have afforded no inconsiderabio addition
to the list. The invention OF numerous class
of surnames for the Christian name, and the
term SON being joined together was probably
of recent date when compared with the other
distinctions. Six grand divisions may thus lie
made, and the names Of persons may be de
rived hence. |. From the ordinary employ
ments of men. 2 From the animal and Vege-
table kingdoms From the peculiar guslity
Of some objects From the titles OF some
things in common use. 5 From tho obvious
or whimsical combinations Of familiar words
employed in ordinary discourse and, lastly,
from the addition of the word son to the ter
mination of the Christian Names thus
l Trades H1Ld Observation-Disclosures Butch
er, Baker, Brewer, Cook, Cooper, Chandler,
Carpenter, Carter, Fowler Fisher, Fuller, Far
mer, Glover, Glider, Hunter, Harper, Mason,
Miller, Merchant, Porter Potter, Planter.
Ploughman, Sawyer, Shepherd.
2 Aninais-Bull, Bullock, Buck, Beaver.
Cat, Doe, Fox, Hart. Hog, Hobby, Lion, Lamb,
ObtcI, NdlDl ledpblh1 "OAls NJ
Ffsh-S Salmon, Cod, Msckerel, Sturgeon,
Roach, Pike, Whale, &c.
Trees, 6c-Asb, Apple, Beech, Birch Elder,
Oak, Plum, Wood, Wheat, DC
3. Birds-Cook, Capon, Crow, Duck, Drake,
Goose, GOslin, Eagle Lark, Partridge, Dove,
Finch, Goldfnch, Jay, Swallow, Peacock,
Martin, Rook, Raven, Robin, Hawk, Falcon,
Parrot, Nightingale, Swan, Sparrow, Quail,
Woodcock. Wren, &c.
CoiorS, Ac-Brown, Black, Grey. Green,
Scarlet, White, Copper, Gold, Silver, East,
West, North, South
Things-BuckIe. Boot, Beehive, Bell,
Beer, Berry, Box, Barn, Coal, Head, Hill,
Dale, Fountain, Chalk. Ginger, Rice, Horn,
Stone, River, Kettle, Hedge, Leg, Kitchen,
Psrlour, Hall, Grove, Mountain, Hand, &c.
; C0mpound Names-Birdwhistle Drink
water, Drinkmilk Fairweather, Merryweath-
er, HaiIstone, Featherstone, PhiIpOt, Strange
ways, Lovej)y, Lightfoot, Heavyside, Little
wood, SmallwoOd, Underwood, Archdeacon,
Armstrong, GOodenOugh, Toogood, Elsegood,
Gathercoa, GOforth, Ironside, Manypenny,
Overall, 0tterway, Hitchcock, AlIcock Crow
foot, RamsbOttom, NettletOp, Pennefeather,
Greensides CruikSidec, LOngshanks, Long
sides, Lon gears, Smallbores, Basebones, Grey
mill, Waterfall, Wellbeloved, Weatherill, &C.
6. Christian Names Componnte6-John
SOD, Tomson, jackson, Robinson, Robertson,
Robson, Wilson, Williamson, Harrison, Hodg
son, Richardson, Dickson, Peterson, Pierson,
NicOlsOr, NicksVn, Jameson, jacobson, Hugh
son, Benson. L B.