Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-16
Christian Names.

The simple christian name of Kings and
Queens stands above all their titles, and fol
many years in Italy the christian name was the
usual address to ell persons of all rapke, as |,
still continues TO be in Russia, where the sim
pie baptismal name With the patronymic 10 The
most respectful address from the servant to the
noble. The concealment of the christian name
under titles and surnames gradually began TO
prevail In France pnder the Bourbon dynasty,
aud by the reign OF Louis XIV. had go prevailed
that territorial delegations we're exclusively
used by all who could lay claim to gentle birth
were called Monsieur de, or Msdemoiselle de-
their fathers previous titles or estates-the
juniors coming down 10 the surname when all
were exhausted by elders, and the christian
name seldom allowed to appear even in the
tenderest moments.
1t is only from their pedigree, not from the
letters of the most affectionate of mothers, that
We can learn that the son and daughter Of Mad
anne dc Sevigne ever had christian names AZ
all, and 1t was only to the fact that she was the
youngest OF go large family that even Made
moiselle d'Adhemar was no disctinction that
Pauline" owed It that che was thus known.
England never became quito 80 artificial, but il
Was probably othis French influence that it was
owing that peers dropped the use of their chrls
tian names even In their signature, and that Il,
became uaual to speak of the married ladies of
family as "my daughter Baxter" or, " nv
sister Smith," while the graceful title of a
knights wife, Dame, with her ohrietian name,
was discarded for My Lady, and she unmarried
woman's Mistress Anne or Mistress Lucy, be-
came she unnieaning Miss; and, after being
foolishy called brevotlrank, and only ueed by
old maids, has fallen into entire disuse, ,... : !,
-aa
The turn for simplicity that iuaugurated the
French Revolution gradually revived regard
for the true personal name, rather than the
former title, and it assumed Its natural place az
sign Of Familiarity and endearment. The
feminine seems to have been invented In the
sixteenth century. probably In France, for Hen.
riet Stuart appears In the house Of Stuart
d'Ambinge In 1888, and there we're aome Hen.
risttes to match the Henris at the court Of
Catherine de Medicis. England received the
name from the daughter of Henry w.. Henrietta
Marie, whom the Prayer Book called Queen
Mary, though her godcblldren were always
Henrietta, 90 Lahnized. by their pedigrees,
though in real life they went by the Queen g
French appellation, as well as English lips
could frame 1t, 90 that Hawyot was formerly
the universal pronunoistion of HsrEs,, and Il
is still used by a few old-fashioned people.
Rare 90 patronymic surnames are in Franco,
this universal name has there produced Johan-
mot, while the contraction is Jeanno., snswering
10 The Spanish Juanito, and the patronymic
Jvauez. Jan is very frequent in -Britsuny,
where il cuts inte Jsnnik; In Wsles, where
| An Jon has turned unto the numerous Joneses,
Jenkins, and, more remotely, Jenknsons; and,
| In the Highland, where Isn's sons are the Mao
| Ians. The churoh of St Johnat Perth seems
% have led to that city being known as bonny
| 81. Johns town, or Johnstones; and thence the
lborder family Of Johnstones would deduce
their name, similar 10, but not the same as, the
| English Johnson. a ayFyVT1 r
In like manner, the villag around the church
Of st. John sent forth the St, John family,
whose name is distinguished in pronunciation,
and De 81 Jean Is Q territorial title in France
Jack 10 the recognized Scottish abbreyiation,
and II would eeem to have been the old English
one BY the example Of the warning to Jockey
Of Norfolk at BosWorth; at any rate, 1t has
nsmedythe whole class IF jockeys, and has been
adopted into the French for their benefit.
Jack sounds much As If the French JACQUES
had been his true parent; but "sweet Jack Fal
staff, old Jack Falstaff,' has made It inalien-
able from John; and not only has Ii given birth
to many p jackson, but Il absolutely, seems Il
stand for man, and has been given TO half tht
Imachines that do the work Of human hands &c
that there arc few trades withoutfheir jack
besides which, Jacks or butt ccats were namet
after the rough RIDERS who wore them, and cu
down into jackets and jsckboots, and boojsck
were named In the same way.--HistoYy 0
'Chr'stiaa Namss, ~ tho author Of Redciits, efc