Tuesday SOL 6/26/18 - Names
This morning I received a text from Michelle giving me an idea for my slice. She is reading a book about identities and the origin of our names. So I took her up on it.
Of course when our parents birthed children, they named them after family members or movies stars or just because they like the sound of the name.
My Dad's name was Hartwell Paul Bernard Milling. The Paul and Bernard were family names, but where did the name of Hartwell come from? From the story that I remember, Dad was the 4th child born. They had a farm hand and he/she decided that "Hartwell" sounded like the right name. I have no idea the origin of it (I don't believe it's German, but who knows). A coincidence, our neighbor had a brother named "Hartwell" - not a common name.
My Mother's name was Darlene Wilhemena Schimpler Milling. Again, the Wilhemena is a family name, but I'm not sure where Darlene came from, but I like to think she was named because she reminds me of a "Darling" woman.
Hubby's name - Leonard Carl Curtiss are both family names. He was named after his Uncle Leonard who was killed during WWII. Carl was has father's name.
My name - Judith Ann Milling Curtiss was chosen because my parents (like many others in that era) were in love with Judy Garland. So no family names here, just a movie star!
When we got married in 1970, Len was finishing his final year in the USAF. Again, even in this era, the names were chosen because of family names or just because we liked them. Our son, Scott Leonard, was named Scott (not Scotty), not after anyone in particular, just because we liked the name. And his middle name was after his father.
Now to what Michelle really wanted to know about - how did we choose her name - Michelle Lynn.
No, you were not named after a family member or a movie star. When we were stationed in Dover, Delaware, we had some friends who had a little girl and her name was Michelle Lynn and they called her "Missy". We decided then and there that if we had a girl, her name would be Michelle Lynn and we'd call her Missy. And six years later, we were blessed with a little girl and we didn't waver from naming her, Michelle Lynn. But for some reason, the "Missy" never took. It was always Michelle (or as one teacher nicknamed her - Mush). She became our "Pumpkin" and still is today.
Of course when our parents birthed children, they named them after family members or movies stars or just because they like the sound of the name.
My Dad's name was Hartwell Paul Bernard Milling. The Paul and Bernard were family names, but where did the name of Hartwell come from? From the story that I remember, Dad was the 4th child born. They had a farm hand and he/she decided that "Hartwell" sounded like the right name. I have no idea the origin of it (I don't believe it's German, but who knows). A coincidence, our neighbor had a brother named "Hartwell" - not a common name.
My Mother's name was Darlene Wilhemena Schimpler Milling. Again, the Wilhemena is a family name, but I'm not sure where Darlene came from, but I like to think she was named because she reminds me of a "Darling" woman.
Hubby's name - Leonard Carl Curtiss are both family names. He was named after his Uncle Leonard who was killed during WWII. Carl was has father's name.
My name - Judith Ann Milling Curtiss was chosen because my parents (like many others in that era) were in love with Judy Garland. So no family names here, just a movie star!
When we got married in 1970, Len was finishing his final year in the USAF. Again, even in this era, the names were chosen because of family names or just because we liked them. Our son, Scott Leonard, was named Scott (not Scotty), not after anyone in particular, just because we liked the name. And his middle name was after his father.
Now to what Michelle really wanted to know about - how did we choose her name - Michelle Lynn.
No, you were not named after a family member or a movie star. When we were stationed in Dover, Delaware, we had some friends who had a little girl and her name was Michelle Lynn and they called her "Missy". We decided then and there that if we had a girl, her name would be Michelle Lynn and we'd call her Missy. And six years later, we were blessed with a little girl and we didn't waver from naming her, Michelle Lynn. But for some reason, the "Missy" never took. It was always Michelle (or as one teacher nicknamed her - Mush). She became our "Pumpkin" and still is today.
This is a good idea for a slice. It's funny to think about where names come from. We take them for granted, but there are often good stories around them.
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of talking about where names come from. It does not have to be this grand ancestory.com kind of a story. It is simply how the tapestry of your life lead you to pick the names and where they came from. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why my post came up as unknown! This is julieh914@gmail.com
DeleteThis is something I wish I would have asked my parents while they were still alive. As far as I know there is no one named Robert on either side of the family. This reminds me of our nephew's father-in-law's name, Gift. He was born to older parents who thought their family was finished. When he came along his mother proclaimed him a gift from god hence the name Gift.
ReplyDeleteNaming a child is so tricky. Teachers always have names that they will never name a child. I just bought a picture book, Alma and How She Got Her Name. Sweet story and one most can relate to.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mom! This is just what I was looking for .... and more! Thanks for the history of our names. It’s fun to hear the stories about our names!
ReplyDeleteI love this! My mom pretends to have named me after family, but really she just always loved the name Caitlin. Too bad most people cannot spell it (or do not ask first!) Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteI love giving the name writing assignment!!! I used to do it with my writing retreat!!! Thanks for the reminder
ReplyDeleteI am interested in names and name origins. We had a Katherine with the plan of calling her Kate. Like your Missy, Kate never took. My daughter is expecting her first child and she will not share with us her name choices. She doesn't want the commentary.
ReplyDelete