Rowland
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Medieval variation of “Roland“, meaning “famous land”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Laurand, Laurant, Laurend, Laurent, Lorend, Lorent, Lorand, Lorant, Roel, Roeland, Rolan, Roland, Rolando, Rolland, Rollie, Rolly, Roly, Rowle, Rowley, Rowlie, Orland, Orlando, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Rowland Doone, a member of the murderous Doone clan, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Sir Rowland Nasmyth, who falls in love with Mistress Marian, in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
– Sir Rowland, his son, who marries Lady Anne Lennox, older sister to Lady Dorothy and Lord Humphrey, in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales.
– Rowland Rochester, Edward Rochester’s older brother, whose death gives him the ownership of Thornfield, in Jane Eyre, 1847, by Charlotte Bronte.
Ernie
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Ernest”, meaning “serious”, “vigor”, or “intent”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Earnest, Ern, Ernest, Ernesto, Erno, Ernst, Erny, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lord Ernie Radnor, Lady Elizabeth’s nephew, who is brought up with her daughter Patience, and adopted daughter Marian, in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Jock
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Scottish version of “Jack“, a diminutive of “John“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jack, Jackie, Jackin, Jacks, Jacky, Jak, Jake, Jakey, Jakie, Jakin, Jaks, Jankin, Jax, Jenkin, Jockie, Jocko, Jocky, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jock Crumpet, Nurse Crumpet’s husband in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Humphrey
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Germanic, meaning “peace-giant” or “peaceful warrior”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Humfrey, Humphry.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lord Humphrey Lennox, one of the children in the care of Nurse Crumpet who beg her to tell the sad story of their Aunt Patience, in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Dagonet
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Possibly from the Old English “daeg”, meaning “day”, or related to “dagon”, meaning “big fish”, or to “dague”, meaning “dagger”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Daegan, Dagan, Dagen, Dagget, Dagnet, Dagney, Dagon, Daguenet.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Sir Dagonet Balfour, of Balfour Hall, who wishes to make Keren Lemon a lady, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Joel
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah is God”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jo, Joe, Joey, Ioel, Yoel.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Joel, the bartender at the Red Deer, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
WRITERS:
– Joel Chandler Harris (1845-1908), American author, folklorist, and journalist.
– Joel Rosenberg (1954-2011), Canadian-American activist and author.
Reuben
August 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “behold, a son”. Is it just me, or does it seem very amusing to name your son, “behold, a son”?
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ben, Bennie, Benny, Rouben, Rube, Ruben, Rubens, Rubin, Reuven, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Reuben Huckabuck (sometimes called “Ben“), the Ridd’s wealthy, persnickety uncle in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Reuben Puff, a local tinker, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
WRITERS:
– Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853-1913), American historian and journalist.
– Reuben Archer (R.A.) Torrey (1856-1928), American educator, evangelist, and writer.
Jezreel
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From a Hebrew place name, meaning “God will sow”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Jesreel, Jessi, Jessie, Jessy, Jezzi, Jezzie, Jezzy.
For boys: Jesse, Jesreel.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jezreel Spittlewig, a local joiner, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Nanfan
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
One of those “last names as first names” that were once a quite popular way for a mother’s maiden name to be passed on to her sons, “Nanfan” was the name of a Cornish village.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Honestly, no idea.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nanfan Speckle, a local tanner, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Beryamen
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Medieval variation of “Benjamin“, from Hebrew, meaning “son of the south” or “son of the right hand”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bairre, Barrie, Barry, Ben, Beniamin, Beniamino, Benj, Benja, Benjamin, Benji, Benjie, Benjy, Bennie, Benny, Benyamen, Berrie, Berry, Bery, Binyamin, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Beryamen Piggin, a local brewer, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 