I would imagine that everyone has a few names on their family tree that are . . . unusual, maybe even peculiar or bizarre. But one of those old family names might just be the perfect fit for a twenty-first century baby who wants to distinguish himself or herself from the pack. So, here, presented for the consideration of my own family, and yours, if you’re looking for that special name for a special child, are a few names (first and middle) from my family tree:
- Joseph Author. Not Arthur. This was my grandfather’s name.
- Monger Stacy. This was my great-grandfather, whom I never met. He was born on New Year’s Day in 1885, so if you have a New Year’s baby . . .
- Jimmie Quency. My grandfather, whom I also never met. If you use this name be sure to spell Quency with an “e”. I think it’s much more distinguished.
- William Lafayette. They called him “Fate” for short. My great-great grandfather.
- Newton Lafayette. My great grandfather. As far as I know he had no nickname. (Different family line) Why were these Southerners so fond of Lafayette?
- Wilburn Scott. Another great-grandfather.
- James Kemble. Yet another great-grandfather.
- Larkin George. My third great-grandfather. I like the name Larkin. You could call him Lark as a nickname. There’s also a Joseph Larkin on the family tree.
- Hampton Butler. Sounds southern. like something from Gone With the Wind.
- Edom Robbinson. My husband’s great-great grandfather.
- Robert Wallace Thomas. I have two Baptist preachers, father and son, on my family tree with this solid name.
- Philemon Thomas. It would take a special boy to carry off the first name Philemon, but maybe you could switch the two and make it Thomas Philemon.
- Carlisle Haines. My seventh great-grandfather.
- Tristram Thomas. May be my original emigrant ancestor from Wales and also maybe my seventh great-grandfather.
- Vespasian Kemble. My sixth great-grandfather. I’m not sure anyone could carry this name off, ever. I’m not even sure how to pronounce it.
- Zuritha Chaney. Sometimes spelled Zooritha. My third great-grandmother.
- Bonnie Leota. My grandmother, and a fine name she had, if I do say so myself.
- Lorena Adair. My great-great grandmother.
- Oleta Eudora. Engineer Husband’s mother. One of my children has the middle name Oleta.
- Emily Alvira. Engineer Husband’s great-grandmother.
- Icey Ann. My husband’s great-great grandmother.
- Lula Perle. My husband’s grandmother.
- Lula Mae. My great-grandmother.
- Palmyra Jane. My husband’s great-great aunt.
- Delana Faith. Called “Laney”. Husband’s great-great grandmother.
- Narcissa Caroline. Another great-great grandmother.
- Hattie Mae. My great-aunt.
- Ida Mae. My great grandmother.
- Ola Myrtle. Another great-aunt.
Feel free to borrow any of these. What are some beautiful or unusual names on your family tree?
On my mother’s side: Ila, Ola, Ula–sisters–my grandmother and two of her sisters–also Claire and Frank in that family–Frank married Zolamae, and one of the sisters named a daughter Clairola
On my father’s side: Oma, Inez, Ovie, Ocie–his sisters-Parolee Palestine–his mother–also Horace, James, Hugh, and Nelo, his brothers; his name was Chester
There were a lot of George’s on all sides; sometimes paired with Washington. And back a few generations was Little Berry, half Cherokee.
Fun. My mother’s name is Melda Ann, named after her grandmother. She doesn’t know if they made it up or whether someone adapted it from Imelda. One of my great grandmothers was named Trula. I like that one.