Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-11
Derivation of Names

offensive nicknames occur such names
were entered for Identification by the
scribe, and were probably not ac-
cepted by the bearer. If one looks
into the Episcopal registers of the
Middle Ages for the names of or
dinands and of clergy indicted into
the livings, one encounters none OF
these nicknames, for the very good
reason that the persons there enrolled
named themselves and were not
named by the others. In these regis
tiers the clergy were usually desis-
mated by the place of their birth OF
as the son of so-and-so.
When the beasts were brought be
fore Adam he gave them names, from
the characteristics observable in each.
And there is something of the Adam
in every man. He is not disposed to
call one of his fellows by that name
which he gives himself, but to invent
and apply one of his own devising.
Caius Caesar was known to his dying
day as Caligula (Little Boots), the
name given to him by the soldiers at
Cologne.
Daniel Finch Earl of Nottingham,
had such a dark complexion and so
solemn a face that he went by the
name of Don Dismallo. John Shelf
monty spoken of as Lord Allpride.
When and how nicknames as well
as other names became fixed and
hereditary should be considered. In
1888 King Henry VIII. ordered that in
every parish should be kept register
of the births, deaths and marriages
that took place therein, with the
Christian name and the surname Of
the persons. The. result must have
been a precipitation of names thai
must have occurred in every parish
throughout the length and breadth OF
the land.
John, a humble rural village labor
er, required the parish priest to bap-
tie his child and call it Philip. AS
the godparents and nurse are about
to leave the church the parson re-
calls them.
There is new law published; We
have to enter every baptism and give
the fathers Christian name and sur
name"
The peasant scratches his head.
"I don't reckon I have any other
than John, sir
"But by the law you must have one
You are an honest man. What say
you to being called Goodman"
LAS your reverence wishes I don't
understand about these matters"
So Philip, the son of John Good
man. is registered, and thence come
all those of that name in England.
Peter and Margery appear before
the altar to be married. All goca
smoothly enough in the service: 81,
Peter, take thee, Margery, to be my
welded wife, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better, for
worse. for richer for poorer, in sick
ness and in health, till death do us
part But when they retire to the
Vestry and the new book, with pareh-
n1ent leaves, bound in calfskin, is
produced along with the inkhorn, then
the difficulties begin. Neither bride
groom nor bride has q surname
"They do call me sometimes Shout,
says the former, coloring, because
have big nose, but l shouldn't like
that to be written down in the book.
"Then what am | to call your" Both
are nonplused The priest endeaVors
to help them out of their difficulty
Peter, your father is the village
blacksmith. and Margery, you are the
daughter of the tinman of White
smith. Suppose that 1 enter YOU.
Peter, as son of James Blacksmith,
and Margery as daughter of Simon
Whitesmith
Aren't the names bit long," pro
tests the bridegroom.
perhaps SO. Well, we will cut
them down to Black and White"