The National tribune., 1890-10-16
"WHAT'S IN A NAME 2"

WHAT'S IN A NAME 2"
Etymology OF Some PatrOnymics Prominent In Our
HistOry-Humble Origin OF the Presidential
Names.
"Whaps In a name2" II Il happens TO be
the name of ones sweetheart, there is consid-
cradle in it; and if on looking over the morn
ing paper you find that man with the same
name yourself figured in the Police Court
last night it is likely TO attract your attention.
Next to his sweetheart's and his own, there
is probably no name of greater interest to any
citizen than the name of the Chief Magistrate.
Whence did the names Of our Presidents origi-
nate?
1t is fact that the most aristocratic cogno-
mems, if traced to their origins, are usually
found to be derived from humble sources.
The family names of II of the Presidents are
OF local origin, source which includes tho
largest class of our suTnames. Five Of these
are derived from stems in some way signifying
water.
LOCAL DERIvATIoEs.
WASHINGTON is probably derived from the
Saxon stem, meaning Cdsh creek. We5-
syngton was tho original name, after tho place
in England where the family originated; lUeis
meaning creek or wash setting in from the
sea, also the shallow part of river; ing, low
piece of ground; and ton, for dun town; hence,
the town on the wash, and residents De Wes-
syngton, modified to Washington.
According to another authority the name
Washington has quite different derivation.
| The Anglo-SaxoE name Of Washington in
Sussex was Wassngatuu, the town of the Was
| sings i. O., sons or descendants of Wass. Two
persons of that name occur in Anglo Saxon
! times in n charter OF manumissiOn to which one
was witness and the other the father of
| witness to the freeing Of slave. And this
| word Wass SHARP, keen, bOld,) is traced to
| possible relationship with the surname of Gus
tavus VGsd.
! MONROE is of Irish local origin, from Mont
| Roe a mountain on the river Roe in Ireland,
| whence the family came. The surname might
be formed also from MOine Roe, moss-bed on
the Roe, or MunrOe, OF, from, or about the
| Roe. This river is sometimes called the Mum
| rec.
VAN buren,. This name fully sustains the
claim, as well as the pride, which Martin Van
! Buren, had for his pure Dutch lineage; it comes
from the town of Buren,, Holland, and means
just that-from Buren,. Buren, is probably de-
rived either from the Saxon root bur, a cottage,
or buTh, hill.
Polk is an abbreviation of Pollock, derived
FROM the parish of Pollock, Renfrewshire, Scot
land. In Gaelic the word POlidk regularly pro-
nounced Pock or Polk, is a diminutive from
pol pool, and signifies little pit pond or
pool.
FILLMORE Is probably derived from the Sax
| on word mere, lake and file, fulIness. An
other derivation traces it to the Anglo-SaxOn
word marca, renowned; also flea, Celtic for
bard, and NOR, famous, have been suggested as
| its early cOmponents.
PIERCE is the same in origin as Percy, q
Northumberland family, which derived their
name from Percy forest, Normandy. Pierre
signifying stony place or hunting place, from
pirsen the Teutonic word to hunt; also percer,
French, TO penetrate, has been suggested as the
original word.
BUCHANAN is parish in Sterling, Scotland
and Buchan a district Of Aberdeenshire. The
word may come from the Gaelic word Doc, bOcaH,
deer; a deer range
LINCOLN is derived from a stem, Lin signi-
flying pool or lake, and coin, the neck of a
hill or ridge, from the place in England which
occupies the top and side of steep hill on the
Witham River.
GRANT has more possible derivatiOns than
any other Presidents name. 1t may come
from the Saxon, Irish or French.
In Saxon the word grant meant crooked the
bridge at Cambridge was called Grant Bridge
because of its shape; also being built over q
crooked river, the Cam.
In Old Irish, GraHds signifies dark or
swarthy; whence the Clan Grant.
The English historians, however, as far back
as 1923, when Richard Grant was made Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, very evidently regarded
the word as derived from the French Grand,
sin!fying great, brave, yalOrous; since in writ
ing his name in Latin they styled him Rich
ardus Magnus
GARFIELD is from the Saxon Gar,riaH, to pre-
pare Gar in both German and Dutch signifies
dressed ready or done, and field, depot or
place where stores are furnished for an army.
CLEVELAND is q corruption Of Cliff lane,
whence the place Cleveland, in Yorkshire.
England, derives its name; it abounds in steep
and rocky cliffs.
NAMES OF OCCUPATION.
Three presidautz nuIxy nnssassad pap,az of