The Portland daily press., 1896-08-22

Horne, Hornblower, Drawswords, Shakes
peare, Hurlstone. These are bur few of
the many names that are found, and
some are still in use.
Coming now to nicknames derived from
mental and moral peouliarities, we learn
Everywhere we find, Good, Best, Wise,
Sage, Learn, Merry, Gay, Blythe, Joyce,
Curtis courteous, Friend, Truet. The
element of good Is partly hidden In many
| names. Bunker is b0D-coeur Bonner Is
| bon heur, Bunyan is bon John. Other
qualities are shown in Moody, Todd,
Severe, Walrus, Weir, Weeper. Some
words used as names have changed their
meaning. Seely is from silly, word
which originally meant innocency.
LEVIED was once a name and meant SIM
plioity. Green never had any reference
TO mans capacity; II is simply place
name and not improved by an added
"e," making it Greeny. Eudearment Is
found In the use Of the word Glove, I"
Love, Lovekin, Truelove, Deevlove, Hon.
eylove, Sweet Love, Full of Love, Wade
in Love. These and many more of like
kind are found In the records which have
| come down to us from long ago. 1t
would not do to leave this class without
speaking of the minority which do not
possess the element OF the good. We find
the Prouds, Slys, Scamps, Badneighbors,
Sots, Sourale, Sparewater, Lovegold,
Pennifather, Pinohpenny.
Many of the early nioknames have
long ago ceased to exist. Such names as
John Sourale, John Milksop, Tom Myl-
dew, Mary Monldybrsad OF Jane Measles
would hardly be acceptable in our day.
1t Is strange that the characteristic
quality Of an animal should suggest the
name of person who possessed strongly
the same characteristic. Parents often
gave to their children the name of some
animal with desirable qualities. In
other cases name was given in derision.
AS examples of the lstter whs have the
names Vietn, she-wolf, Rascal, Urohin
Ga hedgehog), Wolf, Tiger, Toad or Fox,
Fitch polecat), Pigge, Pork OF Purcell.
Whatever the origin, we find use in these
names of all kinds of animals from the
lion, elephant and deer to the cat, dog
rat and mouse. All birds, as for in
stance, Kyle, Falcon, Peacock, Swan,
Jay, Popinjay and Buzzard all fish, as
Fish or Fisk, Whale, Dolphin or Grayling,
to the Trout and the Crabbe and Barna-
Gle, all insects and reptiles are represent
ed, from Snake and Ely to the Gnatte,
Bug, Wasp and Louise. Some of these
names are bad enough, but frequent de-
scriptive compounds were used which are
far more Objectionable. A few mild ex-
amles ars Clfox (deoeitful fox), Bullhead
Wildboar (Wilbor) Two-year-olde Dry
head Tortoiseshell, Uoolittle, Savagebear,
Pineoofin. Younghus band.
A few names have been derived from
the street cries, as Foureni, Fivepeni,
Hundrapound, Twenti-mark. Fresh fish,
and Goodfoule. Among those who bear
our best names are to be found some who
have disgraoed them; while others who
bear names Of unpleasant purport have
N ade them honorable. Let me close in
the words of Camoen: Z" No name what
soever is to be disliked, in respect either
of origin or of signifioation for neither
the good names do disgrace the bad,
neither does evil names disgrace tho good
If names are to be accounted good or bad,
in all countries both good and bad have
been of the same surnames which, as
they participate one with the other in
glory, SO sometimes IN shame.