Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-03
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVEG, MARCH 3, 1852


The Origin of a Few Names.
\ paragraph going the rounds OF
the press accounts for the fanciful
names borne by noted Indian chiefs,
by the explanation that upon the
birth of an infant, it is customary to
embody the first object seen from the
wigwam door, after the event, in
some way, in the cognomen the
young brave is to beal. Thus is
said to have originated such names as
Thunder Cloud" Wild Horse, "
"Spotted Tail, ""Hole-in-the Wall, "
and the many other peculiar appella-
tons, which pre- badly lose nothing
OF their grotesque form from transla
ton into our own vernacular. 1t is
almost impossible tor one unacus-
toned to the peculiar ideas associated
with these barbsrous names, when
they are first heard to repress smile
at their oddly, but if we investigate
the origin of many of our own famil-
lar patronymics, we will find that
they are based upon a no less mu-
table foundation.
An eminent authority afirms the
belief that all names were originally
significant. but in the lapse of time
and the decay of languages. the
meanings of many of them were lost.
Ancient names were noted for their
simplicity, single word generally
being sufficient to designate individ-
uality, but as numbers increased
necessity led to sur-names, and then
to entirely new appsllations to
designate end distinguish person
atty. Complexion sometimes, by
gradual usage, led to the selection OF
a family name, such as Light, White.
Black, Brown, Gray, and these to
their variations of Whiteman or Whit
man. Blackler, Browning, Greyson
and the like. Nativity, locality and
personal peculiarities gave rise to
many names, some of which can be
traced back to the precise circum-
stance which gave them vitality.
The old English names of Cornish,
Cornell. and Corvallis, are all
derived from Cornwall. Fleming
comes from Flanders; Pollock from
Poland; Wales, WEIGH, Walsh and
Wallis, from Wales; Rochester, Car.
Isle, Lincoln. Hastings, Hull, Wells
and Poole, from those towns, and
Compton, Coombs, Clayton, Pres
ton, Waldron and Washington, from
villages in the county of Sussex,
England. The origin of North,
South, East, West, Hill, Dale, For.
est, Wood, and the like, it is evident
came from the nature or situation Of
the original bearers residence.
Appleton gives the following old
English words which signify objects
from which many names have origin,
ated: Applegarth, an orchard
whence, Apologize and Appleton
armitage, hermitage; back, a ferry
and sometimes o wharf; baine, /,
bath. whence Bayne. Baynes ant
probably Barnes; barrow. a hill
barton, courtyard; beck, a brook
bent, a plain; borough, whence Dor
oughs, Brough, Burg, Burk ant
Borrow; bottom, low ground or val
Icy, whence Shufiebottom. originall
Shaw-6sld Bottom, and Higginbot
tom, from hichin, the mountain ash
bridge, whence Bridges and Briggs
chase, hunting ground; Give,
cliff. whence Cleve or Cleave; clougt
q raviue; cobb. q harbor; garth,
yard; garrett, q granary; gore,
narrow strip of ground; grange,
farm, whence Granger, holmes,
meadow surrounded by water; boil
agrove; knapp, the top Of hill; LEI
lea. leigh, leigh, a pasture; lynch,
thicket; march. q boundary; penn
. the top of hill; peel, moated for
rowe, q street; rosr, q morass; shaw
a small wood or copse; stead, o
stowe, q place; thorpe, a village
wade, a meadow; weller, q hollow Q
guN; void, an undulating country
and lastly yate, gate, whence Yates
The range of names was materiall
increased by the addition Of ing b,
the Saxons; Jas. q corruption of fills
(son) by the French; ben by tn
Hebrews; ap by the Welsh; ritch b!
the Russians; MACK by the Scotch
mac, o. and oy, by the Irish, ant
other terminals signifying progen.
or descsndsnt. Hence We have tn,
Deerings, the Fitzhughes, the Mac.
cleays, tho Ostrandsrs, and Other
aristocratic titles. Probably The
English word son has enriched the
patronymic vocabulary more than
all others, and We have therefore
the Jadsons (sons of Jude); the
Johnsons. the Munsons, the Raw
sons, the Smithsons and the abrevia-
ted Westons.
The French introduced the pre-.
fixes des, du, de, de Ia, and st.; the
sufixes mont, ard, aur, bois, eau,
font, ers, beau, age, fort and rifle,