We live in the 21st
century. We were named by our parents, with the name usually carefully chosen before we were born. For today's babies, the SS# follows rapidly, I hear that some hospitals arrange for it to be issued while the baby is still in hospital. Our name and that number become our handle, our label, at school, at work, and on into the grave. It seems that in this computer driven century there is much less use of nicknames, either w/in the family, and little
in school or other formal settings. William may be called Bill, but only if William permits. And calling William "4-eyes" or "short stuff" wouldn't even be considered. (Hydra head of slurs?)
My mother was the youngest of three children: junior (boy named after his father), brother (as in "that's my brother"), and sister (as in "that's my sister"). While they were called by their "real" names in school, when playing on their street, or called by their mother or neighbors, they were junior, brother, and sister. Their parents ran a store, where customers and friends were also graced with nicknames. One was "Junkie"; she went weekly to Maxwell St. and dealt in antiques. Her real name was Gertrude, and I never heard her last name. Another customer was "2 lb. of coffee with the ticket
ground," her standard order. The ticket? Ala Green Stamps. But back to nicknames... Would it be possible to
broadcast a sitcom using the names used in "Lil' Rascals"? And even the early Bill Cosby monologues sound dated with "Fat Albert."
On the other hand, for us genealogists, we need to be very aware that for most of history,
even into the early 20th century, you were who you said you were. Want to REALLY lose a past? Move far away, and take a menial job, or talk
your way into entry level in shop or office, and build from there. Sort of witness protection without the
federal support.
I am continually
"charmed" by genealogists with less than 100 weeks under their belts
saying, "That couldn’t possibly be my ancestor; their name is spelled with
an 'a' not an 'e'" or "His mother
is Tabitha, not Polly. I have to keep
looking."
For this week, consider your favorite ancestor, and think of all the things you know about him or her outside of their name, and how, when the going gets tough and brick walls threaten, that the chink in the wall is undoubtedly found in all the information that is not their name.
Till next time,
Liz
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
2018
begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding
into short comments on matters genealogical. Published on Tuesday and
some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving
on.
©
2018, SE Ross