Hard to believe, but the name of the first American president foretold the outcome of the revolution nearly a thousand years ago.
In medieval times, a popular name for a mother to name her baby was Wassa. It sounds crazy, but Wassa was sort of the Mike, Joe, or John of his day. There are plenty of names that fell out of favor over time, like Archibald, Poindexter, and Lemuel. There were several Breton settlements known for the man named Wassa who was the head honcho. In Old English, the term tun meant settlement. We know the word as “town.” Wassing was the word that described “people associated with Wassa.” Wassingatun meant “settlement of the people associated with Wassa,” mostly his family.
Towns back then were different than they are today. They were so small that a man named John might be one of the only ones in the area. Later, as settlements grew, other words were added to describe people. John the elder, John the baker, or John the son of John – John’s son. It was the beginning of last names, words that described a man based on his job, his father’s name, a nickname, or the place where he lived. Washington is an example of a place name – a last name that originally was a settlement name for somebody’s first name.
In that time when last names were just beginning, among the John the bakers, and John the Younger, was also John of Wassingatun. If you ever tried to read Beowulf, you know that few Old English words made it to current times without change. Over the centuries, Wassingatun, became Washington, and the ancestor of the first American president was deeded the manor of Washington in England in the year 1185.
When towns were laid out in early America, many were named for the first president of the United States. In addition to Washington DC, there are namesakes in Louisiana, Connecticut, and of course, Washington state, named for the man whose name predicted the outcome of the American revolution – nearly a thousand years ago. How? It goes back to Wassa, that outdated first name that came from Old English words that meant “hunt” and – “Victory.”
Last names – we all have one, and mine’s McHuston. I may have your story next time on - One Famous Name.
Check out the bookstore at:
http://www.mchustonbooks.com/
Authors - Visit Inlandia Press at: http://inlandiapress.com/
Friday, August 22, 2008
Houston - All the way from Scotland
Hard to believe, but one of the biggest cities in Texas can trace its start to a Scottish king who lived nearly a thousand years ago.
King Malcolm IV was traveling across the Scottish lowlands when he came under attack – a man named Hugh witnessed the fight and came to the king’s aid, scattering the outlaws. As a reward, the man was given ownership of a nearby tract of land – an immense gift in medieval times. Back then the language was a little different too, and in Old English, the word tun, meant settlement or camp. We know the word as town. The settlement was to become known by its owner Hugh, the original owner of Hugh’s tun.
Towns today aren’t like they were back then. They were so small that a man named John might be one of the only ones in the area. Later, as settlements grew, other words were added to describe people. John the elder, John the baker, or John the son of John – John’s son. It was the beginning of last names, words that described a man based on his job, his father’s name, a nickname, or the place where he lived. Houston is an example of a place name – a medieval settlement in Scotland.
In that time when last names were just beginning, the family from there became known as Houston, and of the many sons and grandsons who lived in Hugh’s tun, a good number later moved into Ireland and across the Atlantic to America. One of them was Sam Houston, the Texas patriot for whom Houston, Texas was named.
Spelling wasn’t the art that it is today – and many members of the family wound up with different versions, but no matter how its spelled, those with the name Huston can trace their name to a man who originated in Hugh’s settlement – Hugh’s tun.
So the original town gave the family its name, and later, a member of the family gave its name to the town – and not just in the Lone Star State. There are Hustonvilles in Kentucky and North Carolina, much smaller versions of the Texas city named for a descendant of the original bearer of the name.
Last names – we all have one, and mine’s McHuston. I may have your story next time on - One Famous Name.
Check out the bookstore at: http://mchustonbooks.com/
Authors: Visit Inlandia Press at http://inlandiapress.com/
King Malcolm IV was traveling across the Scottish lowlands when he came under attack – a man named Hugh witnessed the fight and came to the king’s aid, scattering the outlaws. As a reward, the man was given ownership of a nearby tract of land – an immense gift in medieval times. Back then the language was a little different too, and in Old English, the word tun, meant settlement or camp. We know the word as town. The settlement was to become known by its owner Hugh, the original owner of Hugh’s tun.
Towns today aren’t like they were back then. They were so small that a man named John might be one of the only ones in the area. Later, as settlements grew, other words were added to describe people. John the elder, John the baker, or John the son of John – John’s son. It was the beginning of last names, words that described a man based on his job, his father’s name, a nickname, or the place where he lived. Houston is an example of a place name – a medieval settlement in Scotland.
In that time when last names were just beginning, the family from there became known as Houston, and of the many sons and grandsons who lived in Hugh’s tun, a good number later moved into Ireland and across the Atlantic to America. One of them was Sam Houston, the Texas patriot for whom Houston, Texas was named.
Spelling wasn’t the art that it is today – and many members of the family wound up with different versions, but no matter how its spelled, those with the name Huston can trace their name to a man who originated in Hugh’s settlement – Hugh’s tun.
So the original town gave the family its name, and later, a member of the family gave its name to the town – and not just in the Lone Star State. There are Hustonvilles in Kentucky and North Carolina, much smaller versions of the Texas city named for a descendant of the original bearer of the name.
Last names – we all have one, and mine’s McHuston. I may have your story next time on - One Famous Name.
Check out the bookstore at: http://mchustonbooks.com/
Authors: Visit Inlandia Press at http://inlandiapress.com/
Allen - the little rock.
Hard to believe, but Allentown PA and McAllen TX have connections to Little Rock dating back to nearly a thousand years ago.
In medieval times, a popular name for a mother to name her baby was Allen. The name was made even more numerous when one of the early day bishops was so popular that he was like a medieval movie star. After his death, he was elevated to St. Alan, which made more mothers want to name their sons after him. There is still a St. Alan’s Church in Cornwall, England, with the name dating back to the sixth century.
Towns back then were different than they are today. They were so small that a man named John might be one of the only ones in the area. Later, as settlements grew, other words were added to describe people. John the elder, John the baker, or John the son of John – John’s son. It was the beginning of last names, words that described a man based on his job, his father’s name, a nickname, or the place where he lived. Allen is an example of a personal name – a last name that originally was somebody’s first name.
In that time when last names were just beginning, among the John the bakers, and John the Younger, was also John of Allen…you know, John - Allen’s son. Allen as a last name shows up in lots of varieties: Allen, Allenson, Hallenson. Mac is the gaelic word for “son of” – so McAllen means, son of Allen. The Norman term for son was “fitz,” and so came Fitzallen. The Irish use O for the same purpose, and in Ireland the name came down as O’Hallen and sometimes just Hallen. The Germanic languages have their own versions that originated in much the same fashion.
Spelling wasn’t the art that it is today – and the various Allen families wound up with different versions, but no matter how its spelled, those with the name Allen can trace their name to a man in medieval times named Allen.
When towns were laid out in early America, some were named for pioneering Allens, like Allentown PA and McAllen Texas. Oh – and that connection to Little Rock? Allen, the original first name comes from the Gaelic word ail which means rock, and ailin – or “little rock.”
Last names – we all have one, and mine’s McHuston. Check back for the story of your's – it’s bound to be One Famous Name !
Check out the bookstore at http://mchustonbooks.com/
Authors: visit Inlandia Press at http://inlandiapress.com/
In medieval times, a popular name for a mother to name her baby was Allen. The name was made even more numerous when one of the early day bishops was so popular that he was like a medieval movie star. After his death, he was elevated to St. Alan, which made more mothers want to name their sons after him. There is still a St. Alan’s Church in Cornwall, England, with the name dating back to the sixth century.
Towns back then were different than they are today. They were so small that a man named John might be one of the only ones in the area. Later, as settlements grew, other words were added to describe people. John the elder, John the baker, or John the son of John – John’s son. It was the beginning of last names, words that described a man based on his job, his father’s name, a nickname, or the place where he lived. Allen is an example of a personal name – a last name that originally was somebody’s first name.
In that time when last names were just beginning, among the John the bakers, and John the Younger, was also John of Allen…you know, John - Allen’s son. Allen as a last name shows up in lots of varieties: Allen, Allenson, Hallenson. Mac is the gaelic word for “son of” – so McAllen means, son of Allen. The Norman term for son was “fitz,” and so came Fitzallen. The Irish use O for the same purpose, and in Ireland the name came down as O’Hallen and sometimes just Hallen. The Germanic languages have their own versions that originated in much the same fashion.
Spelling wasn’t the art that it is today – and the various Allen families wound up with different versions, but no matter how its spelled, those with the name Allen can trace their name to a man in medieval times named Allen.
When towns were laid out in early America, some were named for pioneering Allens, like Allentown PA and McAllen Texas. Oh – and that connection to Little Rock? Allen, the original first name comes from the Gaelic word ail which means rock, and ailin – or “little rock.”
Last names – we all have one, and mine’s McHuston. Check back for the story of your's – it’s bound to be One Famous Name !
Check out the bookstore at http://mchustonbooks.com/
Authors: visit Inlandia Press at http://inlandiapress.com/
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