The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-08
Contributions.
Written for tho Watchman.l
NAMES.


.- NAMES. II.
How rioh the variety of proper names
And their study is not barren of enter
tainment and profit. 1t is useful as
we'll as interesting to unravel the
tangled history of the past, aud fiud out
the original Specification of proper
names. The chief use, however, which
accrues from this knowledge, is, that
by this means, wo are enabled to obtain a
more correct apprehension of the truths
of ancient history. Many parts of this
subject are very obscure, as proper
names are so often the scattered and
decayed ruins of a distant age. If we
will take, however, the relics which have
been preserved, and compare them eau.
tiously with the customs of the nations,
we are able to discern, with tolerable
certainty at least, their more important
features. There are several classes Of
proper names those of men, beasts,
places, and festivals. All are more du
rablc than those of men, who alone are
always changing, and yet the names of
men, in much higher degree, reflect
the vicissitudes Of history, aud are moro
numerous than any other class. We
will therefore confno our attention to
this class.
The ancient Hebrews always retained
the greatest simplicity iu the use Of
their names. Iu reality, there is but
single name which distinguishes q per-
son. Sometimes the name Of the
father is added, at other times tho name
OF the mother, if she happened to be-
more celebrated at other times, mere
epi'lets are used as adjuncts, like
david the King" "Isaiah the pro
phct" These are casual and rare in.
stances in which a person receives two
names alternately, for spccia! reason.
as Jacob aud Israel, Gideon aud Jerub
baal.
The Arabs differ materially from the
Hebrews in the use of proper names
Vita them, every man Of any imp,r
tance, always receives, besides his proper
name, and perhaps nickname, 1,,4eno
men, which may be firtingly called the
name Of compliment, or domestic name,
as it denotes the name underline special
relation Of father; and in addition to
these, name of honor, and which
usually cxalts in pompous terms the
person in relation to religion or to the
State. IL this custom the Arabs agree
with the moderns in taste, and ovcrvalue
of these cxternals, as is seen among
the Europeans and Americans of the
present age How much moro simple
were the Hebrews during the most
Aourishiug periods of their history. In
this respect, the usage of names, is Ger
,ainly only an evidence Of the predomi-
naut customs and views of whole periods
of time.
The distinction of names, on the part
Of nation, indicates the grand distiuc-
tions OF historiul periods. as we are al.
ways able to discover changes Of the ma
ton, which tally with tho changes in
their proper names. The history Of the
Hebrews is a striking example Of this,
and may be divided into three periods,
which arc most simply defined by the
three different names ofthe nation which
prevailed in each. They we're first call
ed Hebrews, which having been retained
for years, gradually changed to that of Is
raelitcs, which they retained for long
period, and which may bo termed the
middle period Of their history, and was
finally changed in the third period for
that Of Jews. 1t is remarkable, but
nevertheless true coincidence, that Just
as the name Of the nation varied in
these three periods, the names of indi-
changed in like manner, O cord
ing to the different tendencies and char
actcristics of tho times.
We may then properly consider the
names of the first period, when the ma
tion was called Hebrews. We are able
during this period to see tho whole
process by which names were formed
Names are either simple or compound
words, or words which arise from either
Of these kinds by derivation.
The simple names exist in great
abundance, and their signi6cation as to
the mere word itself, is generally ovi.
dent. For example: Adam. earth, red
earth. Abel, breath, vanity Aaron
lofty. Laban, white: Amos, strong
Ruben, son. Rucl, friend of God
Noah, rest. Dorcas, a gazelle. Judah
praise. Mary, bitter. Jesse, wealth
Eve, life. Rachel, eve. Ruth, beauty