The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-05
Origin Of Names.

Individual or personal nomenclature
originated at a period of the world but
little subsequent to the Creation. 1t orig
mated in a necessity of personal identifi
cation. At first single names were used,
each adopted from a consideration of its
significance, as, for instance Adam, the
earth born; Benjamin, born of the right
hand; Chrysostom, golden-mouthed; Com
stantine, firm; Gabriel, man of God; Is
rael, prevailing in favor of the Lord, etc.
Thus of the names of women Alice, no.
BILE; Catharine, chaste; Eve, life-giving;
Mary, exalted; Sophia, wisdom, etc.
Thus it will be perceived that these pat
ronymicS were originally bestowed as ex-
pressions of some quality of mind or cir
cumstance of life. Family or sur names
were not known until after the deluge.-
They came into use among all the Asiat-
les while the refined state of society pre-
vailed, that is, during a century or two
preceding the birth of the Savior. The
patronymic was invented to designate the
family to which person belonged.
When the Romans and Sabines formed
the league which united them as one ma
ton, it was stipulated that the Romans
should add Sabine names to theirs, and
that the Sabines should add Roman
Single names, as Romulus, Remus, etc.,
were called prenomian-the added name
of the Sabine and Roman, nomina Gentiz-
tia, ct cognomina.
Many of the Romans have three names
the first, distinguishing them as indi-
viduals; the second, the name of their
clan the third, their family narneAas,
for instance, Publius Cornelius Scipio.-
Sometimes a surname was added in COLI
sequence of distinguished exploits or some
remarkable event, as, for instance, Scipio
was called Scipio Africanus.
The Hebrews did not use surname,
but instead, the name of the father coupled
with the word Ben, which signifies son
as, for instance, Addi Ben COsam, which
is, Add, son of Cosam. The ancient Bri.
tons had the same practice. They wrote
their names as follows Ceolwald Cuth-
ing; that is, Ceolwald, son of Cuth-the
ing signifying son. In the same manner
the Welch used the word Ap, (son,) as
Harry Ap Owen. The Scotch also used
the word Mac, (son, in this manner; the
Irish used 0y, (son,) which is now gen.
orally contracted, as Daniel OConner.-
The Normans used the word FItz, (son,)
in like manner, as, Herbert Fitz Water
Herbert son of Water.
Surnames seldom appear in English
history until about the time of William
the Conqueror. They were introduced
into France about the same time; also,
into Scotland. Surnames were used first
by the nobility and gentlemen, who gen.
orally adopted the name of their estates.
1t was about two centurirs after their first
introduction, before they came into use
generally among the commonality. Sur
names were not in general use among all
nations of Europe until about the time of
the Reformation.
Surnames are derived latterly from
names of places-from towns, cities and
villages-from trades and professions
from titles of honor and office-from men,
tai and physical qualities-from periods
of life-from color-from beasts-and
from the appropriation of old christian
names. A class of names has been formed
by adding the word son to christian names.
Nick-names have also been adopted as
surnsmes.