The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-19
Names.

The ancient Hebrews, Egyptians, As
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 into
| by the numerous hosts of increasing
| population, all clamoring for a name.
The Romans made some advancement
in names, and gave to their common
| wealth a 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 nomen, CT 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 cblld'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.
Pytbagoras noted the success of men
according to fate, genius, and name.
Plato and Taeitus also believed IN a
prosperous name.
Oar 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
a very particular preference for his par
ticular lady ary 10 We, and called TO
see her at the house of many other
Marys. The distinction necessary was
found in a nickname suggested by the
occupation of the individual.
For several centuries little is known
about surnames. Some date their origin
from the Norman conquest, plausibil-
ity to American aristocrats, who seem
satisfied if their stock and "famjly"
goes as far back as William the con-
queror, or even taint and discOlor of
"blood" be traced in that English
channel which William crossed. Cam
den dates surnames in France A. d.
1000; in England, 1865, 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 cling" to their fathers name,
as Whiting, Browning; also from place
of residence, occupation-hence, Lee,
Moore, Hill, Weaver, Cooper, etc. In
the eleventh century the Normans began
to transmit the surname to descendants,
and use the prefix Fitz, which is a cor
ruption of French fills. for son hence,
Fitz James, son of James. Russian
Uitch means son; Paul Petrovitch-
Po11i of pafnH Tn tho T1oIH1ln
ages the Jews used the word ben,
which means son. The Welsh, Gp =;
thus, John ap Richard was possibly
corrupted to John Prichard. Polish,
sky: as Petrosky-son of Peter. In the
Ireland used Mac for sOn-McDonald
and O, meaning of-ODonald, son OF
Donald. Anglo Saxon lyt and Gle, or
rmination-Ramlet, Babcock, Wilcox,
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 Snooks. Also
from dIgnities, as Prince, King.
iomltu seems TO nave Doeu GnS SFduU,
chorus of names. Poor
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 hatchet? Who does not |
know John Smith No one better
than that man in crowded house who,
wanting a seat, cried out-"John
Smiths house is on fire." and was the
recipient of two-t thirds of the emptied |
seats Smith is from Anglo-Saxon-
Sn1itan, 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 |
Mene ;-Shem it, Sher1idt, 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