Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-20
SURNAMES.
Changes That Certain Patronymics
Have Undergone.

Letter IN new 1orh sun
As a student OF American genealogy
for some years would like TO invite at
tention to the way in which Americans
have changed the spelling of their names
from that used In the early history of
their families on the other side of the
Atlantic.
Tylden is a name of great antiquity in
the county OF Kent on the east coast of
England, and the American statesman
Samuel j. Tilden was very proud OF his
ancestry. which was distinctly recognized
by the Tyldens of Kent. but when Ma
thaniel Tildon OF Tenterden came to New
England i'm 1857 he appears to have spell
ed his name ,Cilden and not Tylden. In
the London Court Directory l find the
name is given as Tylden. name which
is also fornd in Burke's Landed Gentry.
Hughes is good Celtic name. and the
Hugh Town of the Sicily Isles still marks
Its anci emit origin. The governor of this
state Is justly proud of the name. and
so wa'S Archbishop Hughes. but the signer
of tho Declaration of Independence signed
hims elf Joseph Hewes. | do not find
any zone of the name OF Hewes in the
Lor don Court Directory, although there
is IN the Commercial Directory a Hews
WHO keeps a saloon, and another who
m AXES boots. 1t is sad that some or the
Atural children Of Prince Rupert left
England in the time of Oliver Cromwell
And changed their names from Hughes to
lIewes.
I Thatcher or Thatcher is a good old Puri-
tan name. The Thachers are descended
from the Rev. Thomas Thacher. the first
pastor of the Old South Church. Boston.
and the Thatchers from his uncle, An
tbady Thatcher Both uncle and nephew
came from the cathedral city of Sails
bury, and they both sailed in the good
ship James, which landed at Boston June
4, 1885. but why the reverend pastor did
erable uncle no one has been able to dis
cover. In the London Court Directory
/ find as many as eight Thatchers and
/not a single Thacher.
Egerton is one of the most distinguish
ed aristocratic names in Great Britain. III
is the family name OF the Earl of Files
! mere. the Earl of Wilton. the Earl OF
Fowls and Lord Egerton of Tatton.
When Millions .'Comus'' was first pre-
scented at Ludlow Castle the Egertons.
the Viscount Bradley, the Hon. Thomas
| Egerton and Lady Alice Egerton with
Lawes. the Arthur Sullivan OF his day.
the Earl of Bridgewater. but this family
! in the United States. almost without ex-
| ception. have changed the spelling of
| this historic name to "Edgerton." In Lon
| don Court Directory there are great
many Egertons, but not a single Edger-
ton.
Simon Hoyt came TO New England in
the wear 1923 and settled in Charlestown,
Mass. But his numerous descendants
spell their names in nineteen different
| WAYS. much to the perplexity Of the
| genealogist
American ancestry much trouble is thu
| af Townsend or Townshend. They 4
cie;no to he descended from the family q
The Towushends of Raynham. and az -,
present marques is sadly in need OF ~
lives an American Townshend may ..has
| something to his advantage" IS,
Iawyers say. In the time of Ol.vf ~
weii the Townshends were devot a sa..n,
lets and some OF them undoubtJ dI,, 10y a.
20 Naw England. but at the as. an
E;nr charles ii created on os alio
| paron Townshend. Ii is qV r. ts,
tna, IN puritan times To prooaDi
hrencb changed the spelling fror, masI
$3.50 20 townsend. In udion Ivwn
a. Shronshire there Is We to,,sh .nur :.
pohert Townshend. chv.f ius,;na % .. 81
marches Of Wales. on which q 3. o go. "a
that. he and his witt Alice IA .na,s
chi,dren lawfully ~ got. six sons ~. rMe ~
! damchters." and IT. Is related 10 u -,
Of his descendanys came to tb.s co,,n on,'
md dropped TIE III" In ,bs G Inaa
Court DirectoY, I find the names To.,.na,
hend. Townkend Townsend and Tou-rand
! T.iyingsu,n is an aristocratic cno,nI
name ara the American fami,, hss -.
| tanned the original spelling. hut in ths
! ana only one Livingston