Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-02-24
Communicated.

the ancient name OF MS family prompts
me TO mention some others in this
neighborhood. The study of the origin
and history of surnames is TO me fas-
cinating pursuit. Mr.. Knott did not
mention the Danish King who tried TO
commander tie rising tide as a nssoD
in humility.
"Merrily sang the monks of Ely,
When Canute the king came rowing
by"
Canute, Cnut, Knudt and Knott are
probably OF the same origin, and the
fame Knode is very likely also 4 va
RANT of the same group.
But the oldest name in Shepherds
town is undoubtedly Folk or Fulk IAN
GENTLY also ffoulke, Foulk, Fowk),
with its various spellings. Long be-
fore the Danish invasion of England,
the Angles, Saxons and Iutes, in that
northern part of Germany, used form
of that word which, Of course. became
surname, perhaps among the fierce
| followers of Hengist and Horsa. We
/ find it soon in Northern France, prob
ably coming in by way Of Denmark or
from Rollo. Rolf the Gauger.
The Fulks were Counts of Aniou for
generations the most romantic one of
the name was Fulk, King of Jerusalem
from whom the famous Plantagenets
were descended. Then there is still an
earlier Fulk who, more than thousand
years ago, was Archbishop Of Rheims
the cathedral now in ruins from the
late hideous war.
If the Fulks and Knots have the
Oldest names here the most romantic
name is that borne by the beloved pas
tor of our Presbyterian Church In
thirteen hundred and something lived
Bertrand du Guesclin, the Lord High
Constable of France, who was the most
famous warrior Of his time and who
successfully fought against the Eng
lish, the nearby kingdom Of Navarro
and the Fulks of Anjou.
Another old name here is Ambrose,
which instantly calls to mind some
ancient monastery, with monks, toll
ing over musty manuscripts, perhaps
records Of Canute and Fulk
Other names of good renown in
literature and history are Boswell! and
Burwell.
"By Pol, Tire and Pen
Ye shall know the Cornish men,"
thus indicating names of local origin
OF which naturally there are hundreds.
Pen means high point or promon :
tory, so Pendleton in Lancashire is
the town at the foot of the hill.
One of the difficulties in study
ing the origin of names is the change
OF spelling which ignorance or in.
tention sometimes brings about. Thous-
ands of foreign names are changed be-
yond recognition of their original sig
nlhcance. 1t would be interesting to
know exactly the spellings of the
original settlers Of the little village of
Mecklenburg
We know that the first Entler spelled
his name Endler, and that Riehtstinc
and Licklider must have had different
speillngs, but many of the old sand
stone tombs which recorded the namea
OF Shepherdtown's forefathers are
worn smooth by time and no one has
copied or recorded them. 1t IS this
neglect that makes it impossible TO
prove anything accurately about the
early history of the valley.
1t is well known that the work OF the
geneangists in former time has pecn
tainted with inaccuracy or even
forgery, so anxious were people to
prove a long line of descent from some
old robber baron.
But while the making of such nedi-
grees is largely a waste of time, there
IS point where family history enters
INTO the realm of proved fact and il
should be taken up and continued.
Many States have now passed laws
relating to the keeping of vital sta
tistics. The only way that most OF ia
can prove that we are native West Vir.
sinians is to produce a baptismaI GER
tihcate, for our State is not yet in line
meanwhile the newspapers are do
ing good work in recording family his
tories, and hope to see manv OF them
in the Register.
Helen B. Pendleton