Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/316

 304

��Origin and Meaning of Prober Names.

��a single name and a single baptism sufficed for each company. But such parsimony in hoi}' water and Christian names did not long answer the de- mands of the times. Whoever was distinguished in body, mind, or estate had a name. — a surname, — given him to apprise the world of his superiority. Surnames existed among the Anglo- Saxons : they came into general use under the Normans. Before the con- quest patronymics were often formed by appending to the father's name the word son, as Richardson, Johnson, Jackson, Willson, &c. The oldest surnames in Domesday-Book are tak- en from places or estates, as Godfre- dius de Mannevilla, Walterus de Ver- non, and Robertus de Oily. Others were derived from their fathers, as Guhelmus, filius Osberni ; others were taken from offices, as Eudo, Dapifer, Guhelmus Camerarius or Gislebertus, Cocus. Many common people have no surnames. These were regarded as a luxury, and could be enjoyed only by the rich and nobles. Once a single name was deemed sufficient for the mightiest conqueror. To assign any additional name to Alexander, Cyrus, Caesar, or Alfred would de- tract from their fame. Now it requires a fair degree of culture and a good memory for a young princess to recite and spell her own names. Kings are generally known by one name, though they enjoy in private half a dozen. It deserves notice, that men who affect greatness bolster themselves up with names and titles just in proportion as they are deficient in native endow- ments and moral qualifications. In speaking of the truly great men of our own country we say Washington, Webster, or Clay, without even prefix-

��ing a mister or an honorable. Some- times we use the Christian name to indicate a familiar household rever- ence for our patriots, and say Patrick Henry, James Otis, John Adams, or John Hancock. If we wish to be peculiarly respectful, we prefix an ad- jective, as old Sam Adams, old John Adams, or old Tom Jefferson ; but when we come to our village worthies, whose greatness is nominal and offi- cial, we use freely tbe titles of presi- dent, judge, colonel, general, honora- ble, and esquire.

The Anglo-Saxons are a conquering people, and yet they are the greatest promoters of the arts of peace. They have inherited their personal inde- pendence, their hatred of oppression, their aggressive spirit, their love of adventure, and their fondness for mil- itary titles from their earliest ances- tors.

The Germans derived their national appellation from their warlike habits. The word German is from "ger," a spear, and '-mann," a man, signify- ing " si)earman." Others derive it from an old root meaning war : hence tlie whole word would indicate a hero. This name, as Tacitus informs us, was chosen by themselves to inspire terror in their enemies. They called them- selves '•'•wQirmen" or fighters by pro- fession, to alarm their foes. They are also called the Teutonic race. This epithet is derived from their founder, who doubtless was a hero — a slayer of men and a destroyer of cities. Tac- itus says the Germans worshipped Tuisco, or Tuisto, and his son Man- nus, as the origin and founders of their race. The god and his offspring '■'■mem" are here associated. Their tradition ascends not above the name

�� �