New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
NAMES.
WHAT THEY CAME FROM.


quality that was supposed 10 belong 10 the original
forbcars" 10 whom they first given. Indeed,
IL we come to that. Shakespeares own name had
good deal in it; for, not TO speak OF the various
theories TO its origin and meaning the proper
way In which It should be spelled has long puzzled
the world.
Ard speaking Of spelling SUCCESS one reason why tN
or gin Of often involved IN mystery II IS
because they are ap. to be spelled differently almost
in every g. ncratfon. certainly in every century Then
too names are modified by the caprice Of individual
members Of family, or perhaps for some reason
better than caprice. Most New Workers VIII recall
the fact that the late Mr.. Hurbut brother
of Mr.. ". II. Iiurlbert now Of London, and that
Archdcacon Alexander Mackay -Smth is a brother Of
the Rev. Dr. Cornelius b. smith. Bishop Coke. Of
Buffalo added an e. 10 his ancestral name, his flher
having been the Rev. DR.. Cox. common cause OF
confusion in names is their tranSl!teraton by SO
many foreigners Two brothers named Berger, for
instance will cmiGrate to this country. ono VIII
reliGously retain his foreign name as well as ms
foreign ways while the other. anxious 10 become
Amcricanized as possible will change his
to shepherd almost before he learns 10 speak
English Then again. foreigners who bear names that
unprOnounceablc to Americans often drop them ana
arbitrarily assume some very common American
name. case Of that kind occurred recently
in this city, when man named PobiedonosIew
Lioubochtchinsl had his name changed 10 John Henry
change will puzzle the future ethuoogst to whom may
be assigned the task of tracing the Anglo saxon an
cestOrs of the family Of John Henry smith
Names then, are not fixed as is generally sup
posed. Not only does the autobiography vary from
generation generation, but they often disappear alto
gcther. The one fact of crime with its accompanying
dis grace has had influence in causing change
OF names. The released convict who begins a new
life in a new country with new name is far from
being the invention Of the novelist. lie is an
actual fact far oftencr than is supposed; and when
all things are considered. the most consorious
moralist will find it hard TO condemn the deception
involved. hiding away as it does so much tragedy,
and sin
1t is of course beyond the scope Of this article
to 20 into anything like an exhaustive history Of
even the most common AngloSaxon Celtic
family The derivation Of many
Of them is obvious 10 require little comment.
Among these may be mentioned the names suggested
by animals as Lion, Lyon, Fox, Wolf HOgg. Hart,
etc. those suggested by fish. as Fish, Roach Crabb,
etc. and those suggested by birds. as Eagle. Hawk,
Robbins, Jay, Crane, Martin. Drake. etc. Doubtless
Of these names originally fastened on men
nicknames. and We can imagine the rare fun that
our savage ancestors Of say the stone age, got ont
Of this name giving business IN other cases, of
course, named after other animals because Of
something their character suggesting the animals in
question And il is fair that The original
Lyon courageous and the original Fox was cum
ming. Another numerous class OF names were de-
rived from occupations as for instance smith. Farmer,
Brewer, Baker, Barber Butler, Cook. Carpenter,
Carver Draper Fuller Glover Hunter Mason Potter.
etc. Many names are derived from members Of tho
BODY as Hand FOoe, Legg. and Leggett. its dminu-
tive. Tigh (Thigh Faust Hist). etc. few are de-
rived from articles Of wearing apparel as Collars. But
ton Stocking, Patch. Cuf, Dickey, Gildersecve, etc
The old titles Of royalty and nobility furnished such
names as King. Duke. Earl. Marquis, Baron. Prince,
,l,, -.abio o.c pu,f he haare
of these honorable names must not plume themselves
too highly their patronymics for II often happened
that the vcn serf adopted "a surname the utle
Of his master and in time had the luck TO found
family Of his Some has defined An aristocracy
as the gang that got there first; and this defnt-
ton certainly expresses the fact in the case OF the Nor
mans and Saxons after the Conquest. The former
became the founders Of an ari>tocracy NOT because
their blood was buer than that of the saxons. but
because in the fortune Of they got there" Snch
names as Appleton Appletown). Plum. Cherry, Berry,
Bean. Tree, Flower Forrest and host OF others point
70 an origin in the sweet simplicity of nature, and
their bearers generally have exhibited sturdy de-
nocracy that would do credit to the most pronounced
American. There is little doubt that many yeomen
bearing these names Joined in singing that o1
medieval song,
When Adam deved and Eve span,
Who then the gentleman
and that many Others bearing the same rural nance
listened with Indignation the recital Of Piers Plough
mans stirring lays.
1t is noticeable that few names suggested by
the heavenly bodies. There indeed some stars
and a few Moons, but so far as known no suns. Is
this fact due to the humility Of our ancestors or to
their habit of looking about them on the earth1
Probably 10 both causes. Certainly names suggested
By tangible terrestrial objects in the vast majority;
stone Rock. Gold silver. Iron Clay, etc. are names
that naturally suggested themselves 10 a primitive
people with small vocabulary. Names ending in
mon, Lyman U.eighmanD IIlllman numerous
and tell their own story. But the names ending ia
son. johnson, Watson WAITS som, more num-
erou, still. 1t natural that the son Of tho
primitive John should be referred To Johns son. and
In time became surname. The etym0logy OF sur.
name. by the way. is probably "supernomen.7 ad-
dtonal name. though some it IL corruption Of
sircname. the of the sire.
AS might he expected countries and races suggested
many names; and have EngandS Irclands.
SCOTS, EngShes. lrishes Gern.anic etc. In
We have Inches, Foote's, Miles. etc. The and
the weather have given summers, Winters. SHOWS,
os 'Ur we and Das have e Pre ~ S s
op, Deans, Elders, Monks, Popes, Temples, etc.
scripture names we're not neglected. even the first
murirrcr cam BENG perpetual 1t IN common surname.
Blunt fright Gross. Crisp. Wise. Good Learned.
The Anglo saxon wor stan Or stone suggested tie
names stanton. stanton. (>tonc town. The aiix
berg, borough or bury signifies hilltown:
hence the name Checseborough points to .
cheese maker who lived in such town.
The original Chapman ,mal merchant who
engaged IN traffic III cheap" chap a. II IS now
spelled. shop Wadlegh was originally woodleigh,
and means combination OF wood and meadow. XII
Celtic for church, which suggests the origin OF such
names IS fitzpatrick. caldwell or Caldwell is
probably of scotch origin. and means cold well.
,tede is Anglo saxon for siead. station, or town:
hence the name Stedmap. stock is Anglo saxon for
dwelling place hence such names a. Woodstock Thorp
and dor means village from which are derived such
names Apthorpe and Dusseldorf
Our ancestors cminently practical people. and
in inventng names were actnated by some practical
reason. though IL may not always be apparent now.
Anglo SAXON SurnameS were generally suggested by
the names of animals. fishes. birds. occupations,
titles, vegetables. fruits, trees. shrubbcry colors,
money charac tcrstics minerals, industrial Implements
weapons Of warfare. nationality. measures, seasons,
weather religious occupations and Bible characters.
Though this system II nomenclature Simplfed matters
very much for fOrcfathcrs II must he confessed
that there are objections u IT, The incongruty be-
tween the character and social position Of many
pcopc TODAY and the names they inherit is startling,
not 10 ay ildlcrous But We haf the right 10 MANS
ourselves IL j. doubtful If matters would be much