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Title: History of Christian names

Author: Charlotte M. Yonge

Release date: March 30, 2023 [eBook #70419]

Language: English

Original publication: United Kingdom: Macmillan and Co

Credits: MWS, KD Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN NAMES ***
Transcriber’s Note:

Footnotes have been collected at the end of each section, and are linked for ease of reference.

The alphabetic portion of the Glossary (pp. xviii–cxliii), which serves as an Index, was printed in two columns, which cannot be duplicated in a ‘pageless’ medium. Nearly all entries reference the physical page in the main section of the volume where it is discussed, and are linked for navigation.

Tables that fell within a paragraph are moved to the nearest paragraph break.

Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

The empty cover image has been modified to contain basic title page information, and, so modified, is placed in the public domain.

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Any corrections are indicated as hyperlinks, which will navigate the reader to the corresponding entry in the corrections table in the note at the end of the text.

HISTORY

OF

CHRISTIAN NAMES

HISTORY
OF
CHRISTIAN NAMES
BY
CHARLOTTE M. YONGE,
AUTHOR OF “THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE,” “UNKNOWN TO HISTORY,” ETC. ETC.
NEW EDITION, REVISED.
London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1884
[All rights reserved.]
LONDON
R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS,
BREAD STREET HILL.
v

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

I cannot put forth this attempt without a few words of apology for having undertaken it at all. The excuse is, chiefly, the attraction that the subject has had for me for at least twenty years, from the time when it was first taken up as matter of amusement. The difficulty of gaining information, and the inconsistencies of such as I did acquire, convinced me that the ground was almost untrodden; but the further I advanced on it, the more I perceived that it required a perfect acquaintance with language, philology, ethnology, hagiology, universal history, and provincial antiquities; and to me these were so many dark alleys, up which I only made brief excursions to knock my head against the wall of my own ignorance.

But the interest of the subject carried me on—often far beyond my depth, when the connection between names and words has lured me into the realms of philology, or where I have ventured upon deductions of my own. And I have ventured to lay the result of my collections before the public, in the hope that they may at least show the capabilities of the study of comparative nomenclature, and by classifying the subject, may lead to its being more fully studied, as an illustration of language, national character, religion, and taste.

Surnames and local names have been often discussed, but the Christian name has been usually considered too fortuitous to be worthy of notice. Camden did indeed review the current ones of his own day, and gave many correct explanations, chiefly from the German author Luther Dasipodius. Verstegen followed him up, but was more speculative and less correct; and since that date (as far as I am aware) no English author has given any real trustworthy information to the subject, as a subject. A vifew lists of names and meanings now and then have appeared in magazines and popular works, but they have generally been copies of Verstegen, with childishly shallow and incorrect additions. One paper which long ago appeared in Chambers’ Journal, was the only really correct information on English names en masse that I have met with.

The Anglo-Saxon names had been, however, treated of by Sharon Turner in his history, and Mr. Kemble put forth a very interesting lecture on Names, Surnames, and Nicknames among the Anglo-Saxons. Thierry, moreover, gives several explanations, both of Saxon and Frank ones, in the notes to his Conquête d’Angleterre and Récits des Rois Mérovingiens. These were groundwork. Neither Turner nor Thierry is always right, for want of having studied the matter comparatively; but they threw light on one another, and opened the way to the dissection of other names, neglected by them, with the aid of an Anglo-Saxon dictionary.

The Scriptural class of names was studied with less difficulty. Every Hebrew one has been fully discussed and examined by the best scholars; and the Greek, both biblical and classical, have received the same attention, and are in fact the most easy of all, as a class. With regard to Latin, much must be doubtful and inexplicable, but the best information at present attained to was easily accessible.

The numerous race of German appellations has received full attention from many ripe German philologists, and I have made much use of their works. The Scandinavian class has been most ably treated by Professor Munch of Christiania, in a series of contributions to the Norsk Maanedskrifts, of which I have been kindly permitted to make free use, and which has aided me more than any other treatise on Teutonic nomenclature.

Our Keltic class of names has presented far greater difficulties.difficulties. for the Cymric department, I have gathered from many quarters, the safest being Lady Charlotte Guest’s notes to the Mabinogion and M. de Villemarqué’s elucidations of King Arthur’s romances, Rees’s Welsh Saints, Williams’s Ecclesiastical Antiquities, and Chalmers’s Caledonia; the least safe, Davies’s various speculations on British antiquities and the Cambro-Briton. These verified by Dr. Owen Pugh’s Welsh Dictionary, and an occasional light from Diefenbach and Zeuss, together with a list kindly extracted for me from the Brut, have been my authorities in the Welsh and Breton departments. In the Erse and Gaelic names I was assisted by a very kind letter from viithe lamented Dr. O'Donovan, whose death deprived me of his promised revision of this extremely difficult class, and left me to make it out to the best of my ability from his contributions to the publications of the Archæological Society, from the notes to those of the Ossianic Society, Chalmers’s Caledonia, and the Highland Society’s Gaelic Dictionary.

From the first, however, I had perceived that the curiosity of the study does not lie merely in the meanings of the sounds by which men in one country are distinguished from one another. The changes through which the word passes is one great interest, and for this I had been collecting for years, from dictionaries, books of travels, histories, and popular tales, whenever people were so good as to give the genuine word, instead of translating it into English. Dr. G. Michaelis' Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Gebrauchlichsten Taufnamen left in me little to desire in this respect, especially with regard to German dialects, and I have used it copiously.

The history of names, however, seemed to have been but little examined, nor why one should be popular and another forgotten—why one should flourish throughout Europe, another in one country alone, another around some petty district. Some of these questions were answered by history, some by genealogy, many more by the tracing of patron saints and their relics and legends. Here my great aid has been a French edition of Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints, where, in the notes, are many accounts of the locality and translations of relics; also, Mrs. Jamieson’s Sacred and Legendary Art, together with many a chance notice in histories or books of travels. In each case I have tried to find out whence the name came, whether it had a patron, and whether the patron took it from the myths or heroes of his own country, or from the meaning of the words. I have then tried to classify the names, having found that to treat them merely alphabetically utterly destroyed all their interest and connection. It has been a loose classification, first by language, then by meaning or spirit, but always with the endeavour to make them appear in their connection, and to bring out their interest.

In general I have only had recourse to original authorities where their modern interpreters have failed me, secure that their conclusions are more trustworthy than my own could be with my limited knowledge of the subjects, which could never all be sufficiently studied by any one person.

Where I have given a reference it has been at times to viiithe book whence I have verified rather than originally obtained my information, and in matters of universally known history or mythology, I have not always given an authority, thinking it superfluous. Indeed, the scriptural and classical portion is briefer and less detailed than the Teutonic and Keltic, as being already better known.

I have many warm thanks to render for questions answered and books consulted for me by able and distinguished scholars, and other thanks equally warm and sincere to kind friends and strangers who have collected materials that have been of essential service to me.

Lastly, let me again present my apologies for my presumption, when the necessity of tracing out the source and connections of a word has led me to wander beyond my proper ken; let me hope that apparent affectations may be excused by the requirements of the subject, and express my wish for such corrections as may in time render the work far more accurate and complete. Let it be remembered, that it is the popular belief, not the fact, that spreads the use of a name, and that if there is besides matter that seems irrelevant, it has been rather in the spirit of Marmion’s palmers,—

‘To charm a weary hill
With song, romance, or lay.
Some ancient tale, or glee, or jest,
Some lying legend at the least,
They bring to cheer the way.’

March 9th, 1863.

After one-and-twenty years, I have been able to bring out the revised edition for which I have long wished, having noted corrections as they were kindly sent to me, and as I was able to make them. I am sensible that the work is entirely incomplete, and as I have not studied philology much in the interval, I fear the book has not gained by the delay as much as it ought to have done. But at any rate, many errors have been taken out, as well as much that was entirely useless and irrelevant; and as no subsequent publication has taken quite the same ground, I hope that the present form of the History of Christian Names may occupy the niche all the better for the cutting off its excrescences. With thanks to the many who have aided in the correction,

C. M. Yonge.

July 25th, 1884.

ix

CONTENTS.

        PAGE
Glossary of Christian Names xvii
 
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
 
The Spirit of Nomenclature 1
PART I.
         
CHAPTER I.
         
Hebrew Nomenclature 7
         
CHAPTER II.
         
Patriarchal Names 10
  § 1. Adam 10
    2. Abi 11
    3. Jacob 16
    4. Simeon 19
    5. Judah 20
    6. Joseph 22
    7. Benjamin 24
    8. Job 26
         
CHAPTER III.
         
Israelite Names 27
  § 1. Moses and Aaron 27
    2. Elisheba, &c. 32
    3. Joshua, &c. 36
    4. Names from Chaanach 39
    5. David 46
    6. Salem 47
    7. Later Israelite Names 48
    8. Angelic Names 52
x
PART II.
         
Names from the Persian 56
         
  § 1. The Persian Language 56
    2. Esther 57
PART III.
         
CHAPTER I.
         
Names from the Greek 59
         
CHAPTER II.
         
Names from Greek Mythology 61
  § 1.   61
    2. Names from Zeus 61
    3. Hera 63
    4. Athene 64
    5. Apollo and Artemis 64
    6. Hele 66
    7. Demeter 69
    8. Dionysos 70
    9. Hermes 71
    10. Heroic Names 73
         
CHAPTER III.
         
Names from Animals, &c. 76
  § 1. The Lion 76
    2. The Horse 77
    3. The Goat 79
    4. The Bee 80
    5. Names from Flowers 80
         
CHAPTER IV.
         
Historical Greek Names consisting of Epithets 82
  § 1. Agathos 82
    2. Alexander, &c. 83
    3. Aner, Andros 85
xi    4. Eu 86
    5. Hieros 89
    6. Pan 90
    7. Polys 92
    8. Phile, &c. 93
    9. Names connected with the Constitution.—Laos, &c. 95
         
CHAPTER V.
Christian Greek Names 99
  § 1.   99
    2. Names from Theos 99
    3. Names from Christos 104
    4. Sophia 106
    5. Petros 107
    6. Names of Immortality 109
    7. Royal Names 111
    8. Irene 112
    9. Gregorios 113
    10. Georgos 114
    11. Barbara 116
    12. Agnes 118
    13. Margaret 119
    14. Katharine 121
    15. Harvest Names 123
    16. Names from Jewels 124
    17. Kosmos and Damianos 125
    18. Alethea, &c. 126
PART IV.
         
CHAPTER I.
         
Latin Nomenclature 127
         
CHAPTER II.
         
Latin Prænomina 131
  § 1. Aulus, Caius, Cnæus, Cæso 131
    2. Lucius 132
    3. Marcus 134
    4. Posthumus, &c. 136
    5. Numeral Names 137
xii         
CHAPTER III.
         
Nomina 140
  § 1. Attius 140
    2. Æmilius 140
    3. Antonius 141
    4. Cæcilius 143
    5. Cœlius 145
    6. Claudius 145
    7. Cornelius, &c. 146
    8. Julius 148
    9. Lælius, &c. 151
    10. Valerius 152
         
CHAPTER IV.
Cognomina 155
  § 1.   155
    2. Augustus 157
    3. Blasius 158
    4. Cæsar, &c. 159
    5. Constantius 161
    6. Crispus, &c. 162
    7. Galerius, &c. 163
    8. Paullus and Magnus 165
    9. Rufus, &c. 167
         
CHAPTER V.
         
Names from Roman Deities 169
  § 1.   169
    2. Florentius 171
    3. Laurentius 172
    4. Sancus 175
    5. Old Italian Deities 176
    6. Quirinus 177
    7. Sibylla 178
    8. Saturn, &c. 179
         
CHAPTER VI.
         
Modern Names from the Latin 181
  § 1. From Amo 181
    2. ”   Beo 182
    3. ”   Clarus 185
    4. ”   Columba 186
    5. ”   Durans 187
    6. Names of Thankfulness 188
    7. Crescens, &c. 189
    8. Military Names 189
xiii    9. Names of Gladness 191
    10. Jus 192
    11. Names of Holiness 193
    12. Ignatius 194
    13. Pater 195
    14. Grace, &c. 195
    15. Vinco 197
    16. Vita 197
    17. Wolves and Bears 198
    18. Names from Places and Nations 199
    19. Town and Country 202
    20. Flower Names 203
    21. Roman Catholic Names 207
         
CHAPTER VII.
         
Names from Holy Days 209
  § 1.   209
    2. Christmas 209
    3. The Epiphany 210
    4. Easter Names 215
    5. Sunday Names 216
PART V.
         
CHAPTER I.
         
  § 1. The Keltic Race 220
    2. The Keltic Languages 221
    3. Keltic Nomenclature 222
         
CHAPTER II
         
Ancient Keltic Names 226
  § 1. Welsh Mythic Names 226
    2. Lear and his Daughters 228
    3. Bri 232
    4. Fear, Gwr, Vir 237
         
CHAPTER III.
         
Gaelic Names 240
  § 1. Scottish Colonists 240
    2. The Feen 242
    3. Finn 243
    4. Cu, Cun, Gal 245
xiv    5. Diarmaid and Graine 249
    6. Cormac 250
    7. Cath 251
    8. Fiachra 252
    9. Names of Complexion 253
    10. Feidlim, &c. 256
    11. Names of Majesty 257
    12. Devotional Names 259
         
CHAPTER IV.
         
Names of Cymric Romance 264
  § 1. The Round Table 264
    2. Arthur 266
    3. Gwenever 268
    4. Gwalchmai, Sir Gawain, and Sir Owen 272
    5. Trystan and Ysolt 274
    6. Hoel and Ryence 276
    7. Percival 278
    8. Llew 281
PART VI.
         
Teutonic Names 283
         
CHAPTER I.
         
The Teuton Race 283
  § 1. Ground occupied by the Teutons 283
         
CHAPTER II.
         
Names from Teuton Mythology 285
  § 1. Guth 285
    2. The Aasir 289
    3. Odin, or Grîmr 292
    4. Frey 294
    5. Thor 300
    6. Baldur and Hodur 303
    7. Tyr 305
    8. Heimdall 308
    9. Will 311
    10. Hilda 317
    11. Ve 320
    12. Gerda 321
    13. Œgir 322
xv    14. Ing—Seaxnot 324
    15. Eormen 326
    16. Erce 328
    17. Amal 329
    18. Forefathers 331
         
CHAPTER III.
         
Names from Objects connected with Mythology 334
  § 1. Day 334
    2. The Wolf 335
    3. Eber, the Boar 337
    4. The Bear 338
    5. The Horse 340
    6. The Eagle 342
    7. The Raven 344
    8. The Swan 345
    9. The Serpent 346
    10. Kettle 347
    11. Weapon Names 348
    12. Thought 352
         
CHAPTER IV.
         
Heroic Names of the Nibelung 355
  § 1. The Nibelung 355
    2. Sigurd 356
    3. Brynhild 359
    4. Gunther 362
    5. Hagen 364
    6. Ghiseler 365
    7. Ghernot 367
    8. Folker 370
    9. Dankwart 371
    10. Theodoric 372
    11. Uta, Ortwin 375
    12. Sintram 379
    13. Elberich 380
         
CHAPTER V.
         
The Karling Romances 383
  § 1. The Paladins 383
    2. Charles 384
    3. Roland, &c. 387
    4. Renaud 394
    5. Richard 399
    6. Astolfo 400
xvi    7. Ogier le Danois 402
    8. Louis 403
         
CHAPTER VI.
         
Descriptive Names 408
  § 1. Nobility 408
    2. Command 413
    3. Brightness 414
    4. War 416
    5. Protection 419
    6. Power 421
    7. Affection 426
    8. Appearance 427
    9. Locality 429
    10. Life 433
PART VII.
         
Names from the Slavonic 435
  § 1. Slavonic Races 435
    2. Slavonian Mythology 438
    3. Warlike Names 440
    4. Names of Might 441
    5. Names of Virtue 443
    6. Names of Affection 444
    7. Names from the Appearance 445
         
CONCLUSION.
         
Modern Nomenclature 446
  § 1. Greece 446
    2. Russia 447
    3. Italy 450
    4. Spain 453
    5. France 455
    6. Great Britain 459
    7. Germany 466
    8. Scandinavia 469
    9. Comparative Nomenclature 470
xvii

GLOSSARY OF CHRISTIAN NAMES.

The names here given are referred, as far as possible, first to the language in which the form occurs, then to their root.

The original names, in their primary form, are in capitals, the shapes they have since assumed are in Roman type, the contractions in italics. A table is here given of the main stems and branches, with the abbreviations used for them in the glossary.

Hebrew
  (Heb.)		 { Modern Jew (Jew.)
Aramæan (Aram.)
Ancient Persian
  (Zend)		 { Persian (Pers.)
Greek
  (Gr.)		 { Modern Greek (Mod. Gr.)
Russian (Russ.)
         
Latin
  (Lat.)		 { Italian (It.)
Venetian (Ven.)
Spanish (Span.)
Portuguese (Port.)
Provençal (Prov.)
Wallachian (Wall.)
French (Fr.)
Keltic
  (Kelt.)		 { Cymric
  (Cym.)		 { Ancient British
  (Brit.)
Welsh
Breton
  (Bret.)
Cornish
  (Corn.)
Gadhaelic
  (Gad.)		 { Ancient Irish
  (Erse)
Modern Irish Dialect
  (Ir.)
Gaelic
  (Gael.)
Scottish
  (Scot.)
Manx
Teutonic
  (Teu.)		 { Northern
  (Nor.)		 { Icelandic
  (Ice.)
Norwegian
   (Nor.)
Swedish
  (Swed.)
Danish
  (Dan.)
Norman
  (Norm.)
Anglo-Saxon
  (A.S.)		 { English
  (Eng.)
Scottish
  (Scot.)
Frisian
  (Fris.)
Dutch
Irish
American
  (Am.)
Old German
  (O.G.)		 { German
  (Ger.)
Bavarian
  (Bav.)
Hamburgh
  (Ham.)
Dantzig
  (Dan.)
Swiss
Frank   French
Gothic
  (Goth.)		 { Spanish  (Span.)
Portuguese
  (Port.)
Lombardic
  (Lomb.)
 { Italian
  (It.)
Slavonic { Russian (Russ.)
Slovak (Slov.)
Bohemian (Bohm.)
Polish
Hungarian (Hung.)
Lithuanian (Lith.)
Lettish (Lett.)
Illyrian (Ill.)

xviiiA

B

C

D

E

F

G

1. Sts. Gervasius and Protasius were martyrs disinterred by St. Ambrose, at Milan. The name is therefore probably from a classical source, unless it was originally that of a Teutonic slave.

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S