Unusual First Names

[lydiaann]

Marrying into my family was an Agathos, who named his son Augustus.  The latter is not so unusual but whence came papa's name?

Definitely looks Greek, and may be their version of Augustus.  Ag- meaning Saint or saintly.

It would be quite unusual.  These were a family of lowly origins and were mainly domestic servants, agricultural labourers, gamekeepers, etc.  Not to say that they weren't intelligent but looking at the censuses, none of the family went to school past the age of about 12 (until they had to stay until they were 14 in the 1800s).  Interesting, though...

[lydiaann]

Found this, in regard to Agathos...

" ...inherently (intrinsically) good; as to the believer, 18 (agathós) describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith..."

The Greek word for saint is 'agios' (male) or 'agia' (female), so it's obviously the same root;  however, the question still remains...I wonder where they got the idea for the name, as it's not actually a name but an adjective

[Andrew Tarr]

...I wonder where they got the idea for the name, as it's not actually a name but an adjective

So (I believe) is Augustus, or Benedict or Amanda.  Most names will have been descriptive originally, those meanings have just faded away, or come from an unfamiliar language.

[CarolA3]

Isn't it just the masculine form of 'Agatha'?

Carol

[Andrew Tarr]

Isn't it just the masculine form of 'Agatha'?

Yes, it will be; and as Agatha (according to my name book) means Good Woman (Greek) it will simply mean Good Man.  Rather uninteresting really ... 

[Rosinish]

Just found this while helping a RC'r;

Heiress Mcgillivray (1807) Aberdeen

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB7K-5JD

Annie

[Annie65115]

Bungate Bunney was not a Beatrix Potter character, but a child christened in Rothley, Leic, in May 1737   

[bitzar]

I've just come across 'Onely'...

I thought it must of been transcribed incorrectly until I found her getting married!

bitzar.

[Renatha]

I've put this on another thread in the past, but came across this recently: Thomas and Mary Day had a son born 25 December 1762 and named him Christmas.  I even have proof in 1801 with his signature on a marriage document when he was one of the witnesses!