The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-15


 Names hy reauest--onssis, Massey, Mace, Covtnmton, von Meyer, Mey- CT, Mayer anA scrcggs. Allied Namee--C0ngtanee, Cussou, Cun-
 terson, Isemnire, Macey, Macy Mnixs
 / RTaire, Mayer, Massie, Matthew,
 Meier and scraggs-
 Custis.
 The surname Custis is one of a group of metronymics formed from Con- stance, which was one of the most pop ular giri names of the surname period.
 Cuss and Gust were the popular hy- pocorisfie forms as amply attosted oy the early records. Times have changed since then. and people. too, including the girl, for few of them would relish Cuss or even Gust as a pet name to- day.
 Custis is "the son of Cuss" Gus tance is ar early English variant of Constance, which began it's life as Con- stantia, the feminine of the imperial Constantius
 The first of note to bear the name was Flavia Valeria Constantia, dangh- ter of the Emperor Constantiua chlo- rus; and haif-sister of Constantine the Great. She was probably born in Bri- tain. A second was a daughter Of Constantine the Great. and thtrd was his granddaughter the daughter of the Emperor Constantius II.
 The Imperious Constance of Aqujtaine. who became the wife of the meek Rob- ert the Pious. and dominated both hus- band and his realm made the name popular in France.
 The wife of Godfrey. Duke of Brit tany. unfortunate mother of an unfor- tunate son, the beloved Prince Arthur. made the name a great favcFlte ln England as amply attested by the Hun dred Rolls two generations later. The additional impetus given to the name In the fourteenth century by inc le- gendary story of the beautiful and matchless Princess Constance. daugh- tine and wife of AEila, King of Detra in the sixth century, as told by Chaueer ("The Man of Lave his Tale''l and Gower (Confessio Amantis," blk. III. at about the same time. made the name tremendously popular.
 | The Reformation brought the reac- ton and Constance underwent a long decline. from which there has been but slow and partial recovery. The surname appears first as al Gust and fl Custance. A little later Custerson, Cusson, Custanson, Custer son, etc With the substitution of the geritiai suffix ''s" for the patronymic sunk 'son," Custeson became Custee and custis was only q matter or the fluid spelling of the time. constantia Is formed from constans present participle of the Latin verh constare. It has become our word 'constancy" which. true to It's original gender. Is a feminine quality, and co. radicate with consistency which fl not It literally indicates the quality of standing together" hence It's como tation of "firmness. steadiness. immuta' lbility. perseverance, flrmness of char acter, steadfastness, imnlovability, ten acity of purpose. intrepidity." etc.
 Con is the Latin com. cum, with, to- gether." cognate with the Oscan and | Ijmbrian com, con. co, Volscian co. Fa- lliscan cum. Irish com. cum, con. Gym ric and Gallic com, all of the same meaning
 The cognates of stare are many and | various. including the Greek histemi Lithuanian stoti. Old Bulgarian stotati Avestan hIshtaiti, Sanskrit tishthati Cothic standan, German steben, Eng fish stand. which last defines the oth- ! ers.
 Massey, Macy, Mace.
 The surname appearing in the vari ant forms Massey, Massie. Mace. Mace!
 and Macy Is sometimes patronym