22
FAMILY CHRISTIAN NAMES.
I give below a catalogue comprising the forms of spelling found in books and
records, sixty in all.
-
RADLEY.
RADLY.
REDLONE.
REDLY.
RIDDLE.
RIDDLEA.
RIDLE.
RIDLEA.
RIDLING.
RIDLION.
READLAN.
REEDLEIGH.
RIDDLEON.
RIDLEGH.
RIDLON.
RUDDELL.
RUDDLE.
RUDDELUS.
READLAND.
REIDELL.
RIDDLER.
RIDLEIGH.
RIDLY.
RUDEL.
REDDEL.
REIDEL.
RIDDLEY.
RIDLEN.
RIEDEL.
RYDALE.
REDDLE.
RIDALE.
REDEL.
RIDDAL.
RIDEL.
RIDELL.
RIDLEON.
RIEDELL.
RYDALL.
RIDLER.
RODLEIGH.
RYDELL.
REDLA.
RIDDALL.
RIDELUS.
RIDLEY.
RUDDALL.
RYEDALE.
REDLAN.
REDLON.
RIDDEL.
RIDDILE.
RIDLA.
RIDLAND.
RIDLIEGH.
RUDDEL.
RIDLIN.
RUDDELI.
RYEDEL.
RYEDELL.
FAMILY CHRISTIAN NAMES.
NAMES distinguishing one individual from another have been in use from the
earliest ages of human society. Among the Jews, the name given to a child
originated in some circumstance of birth, or was an expression of religious
sentiment. Old Testament names are almost all original, given in the first in-
stance to the person bearing them.
The Greeks bore only one name, given the tenth day after birth, which was
the right of the father to choose and alter if he pleased. The early Greek
names are expressive of some quality held in great estimation, as valor, skill,
wisdom, or gracefulness. (Callimachus, excellent fighter; Pherecrates, strength
bringer; Sophron, wise; Melanthus, black flower).
The Romans at a very early period bore two names, and subsequently every
Roman citizen had three. The names Caius, Marcus, Cneius, like our Christian
names, were personal to the individual. These names were given to Roman
children at the attainment of puberty in early times, and afterwards on the
ninth day after birth. The Roman names were originally less dignified than
the Greeks; some were derived from ordinary employments, as Porcius (swine-
herd), Cicero (vetch grower); some from personal peculiarities, as Crassus (fat),
Naso (long-nosed), and a few from numerals, Sextus, Septimus.
Celtic and Teutonic names, like the Jewish and Greek, were originally very
significant, and to check their exuberance the people contented themselves by
passing them down from father to son. Many names in Europe, in consequence
of the changed speech of the people, belong to an obsolete tongue, and their
signification has become unintelligible. Some were derived from God, as Gott-
fried, Godfrey, Godwin; some from inferior gods, as Anselm, Oscar, Esmond;
others from elves or genii, as Alfred, Alboin, Elfric (Elfking). Bertha is the
name of a favorite female goddess and source of light; the same name com-
pounded is Albrecht, Bertram. Many names indicating personal prowess, wis-
dom, and nobility of birth, belong to the following class: Hildebrand (war
brand), Konrad (bold in counsel), Hlodwig (glorious warrior), now called
Clovis, and the original of Ludwig and Louis. The wolf, bear, eagle, boar,
and lion entered into the composition of the names of men, as Adolf (noble
wolf), Arnold (valiant eagle), Osborn (God bear).
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