http://listlva.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0105&L=va-roots&P=4995
--quote--
For centuries it was against English Common Law for commoners to have
middle names. This included the English colonies. Most of the people with
English origins did not ignore the law before the Revolution.
The German speakers in Colonial America largely ignored this Common Law and
continued to use their customary double & triple given names, with the one
closest to the surname being the call name (or the one on which the
nickname was built).
After the Revolution, 2 or more given names became common. The earliest of
these are often "unit names," such as the name of the maternal grandfather
or the name of a military, political, or religious leader. Examples:
Thomas JEFFERSON, Lorenzo DOW.
--endquote--
Received on Mon Apr 01 2013 - 02:22:00 MDT