The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-03-20
Names.

y
syrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks
all used one name for each individual
Nor did the rich recesses of the name
mine Weld it's treasures till broken int
| by the numerous hosts of increasing
population, all clamoring for name.
The Romans made some advancement
in names, and gave to their common
wealth q division into clans or gentes
The gems were then divided into fami
lies, and the families into individuals,
each of whom had three names the
prenomen, or first name, which marked
| the individual; the nomeD, or middle
name, which marked the gems, and the
cognomen, the family. Military sue.
cesses added an agnomen, in honor OF
conquest. The ninth day after child's
| birth was celebrated by name and q
feast which the Romans called Nomln-
ALA. The Greeks used the tenth day,
and offered sacrifices to their gods.
Pythagoras noted the success of men
according to fate, genius, and name.
Plato and Tacitus also believed In
prosperous name.
Our surnames are modern. The Pa
gan converts to Christianity dropped
their Pagan for Bible names. and whole
companies of Marys. Marthas, Johns
and Peters were baptized at once. From
this we can readily see the confusion of
generality when one particular John felt
very particular preference for his par
ticular lady airy 10 We, and called to
see her at tile house of many other
Marys. The distinction necessary was
found in nickname suggested by the
occupation of the individual.
For several centuries little is known
about surnames. Some date their origin
from the Norman conquest, PLAUSIBLE.
ity to American aristocra's, who seem
satisfied if their stock and "family"
goes as far back as William the con-
queror, or even q faint and discolor of
"blood" be traced in that English
channel which William crossed. Cam
den dates surnames in France A. d.
1000; in England, 1906, little before
Edward the confessor. In Wales sur
names were used some time after that.
Surname is from the French sur nom,
and Latin super, because at first the
surname was written over the given
name.
The Saxons made their surnames by
adding sing" to their fathers name,
as Whiting. Browning !; also from place
OF residence, occupation-hence, Lee,
Moore, Hill, Weaver, Cooper, etc. In
to transmit the surname to descendants,
and use the prefix Fitz, which is a cor
ruption of French fills, for son !; hence,
Fitz James, con of James. Russian
ditch means son; Paul Petrovitch-
Paul, son of Peter. In the middle
ages the Jews used the word ben,
which means son. The Welsh, ap;'
thus, John an Richard was possibly
corrupted to John Prichard. Polish,
sky; as Petrosky-son of Peter. In the
seventeenth century Scotland and
Ireland used Mac for son-McDonald
and O., meaning of-O'Donald, son of
Donald. Anglo Saxon lyt and Gle, or
cock, meaning little where used as
rmination-Hamlet, Babcock, Wilcox,
son of little Will, or little Bob, etc. Then
some English surnames were taken
from place of residence, things in nature,
personal appearance, with the prefix
!" at, as Atmoor, John at the Oaks,
corrupted to John Noaks Peter at the
Seven Oaks, to Peter Shocks. Also
from dIgnities, as Prince, King.
Smith seems to have been the grand,
John Smith the multiplicity of
events he daily serves in Dies, is
born, buried, married, hung, day after
day. Oh, why did he escape that cele-
brated Indian Ratchet? Who does not
know John Smith? No one better
than that man in a crowded house who,
wanting seat, cried out" John
Smith house is on fire." and was the
recipient OF two-thirds of the emptied
seats Smith is from Anglo-Saxon-
Snaito,s, to smite. Among the High
land clans the Smith ranked third from
the chief, because his employ included
wood, metals, and all mechanical work,
hence the importance and frequency of
the Smiths. Some derive it from
iShena ;-Shem it, Shemidt, Smith
quite an easy declension of the very
proper and most common noun Smith.
On the Egyptian temple Osiris is that
name Smith. Pharioh Smithosis, of
Thebon Kings, built the celebrated
temple Smithopolis Magma.