tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post8216312635248635713..comments2024-03-19T18:17:56.821-04:00Comments on Colonial Quills: Tools of the Trade: Digging up Character NamesCarrie Fancett Pagelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09096954464239963966noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-80430510716605125882011-09-13T04:00:42.527-04:002011-09-13T04:00:42.527-04:00Hi Suzanne, I have that same issue in my Scottish ...Hi Suzanne, I have that same issue in my Scottish heritage...many Johns there. But Jeriel. Never heard of that. You should think about using that unique name in one of your historical novels.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-75077714197030123442011-09-13T03:59:18.628-04:002011-09-13T03:59:18.628-04:00Teresa, I love the name, Anella.
And Cathy, Loren...Teresa, I love the name, Anella.<br /><br />And Cathy, Loren always makes me think of Bonanza's Loren Green. I think if you establish the hero's masculine qualities almost any name will do, as long as it is appropriate to the setting.<br /><br />Thanks, Carrie. Shadrach, how cool! And that always confounds me that they were inconsistent with spelling back in the day. Makes for interestingCarla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-48153080543295955882011-09-11T14:33:46.419-04:002011-09-11T14:33:46.419-04:00What are your thoughts on using a name that has ch...What are your thoughts on using a name that has changed genders? Would you have a problem with a hero named "Loren"?Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00262189910282111065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-38418767757062160452011-09-10T21:41:53.318-04:002011-09-10T21:41:53.318-04:00Great article Carla. Shadrach is one of my ancest...Great article Carla. Shadrach is one of my ancestor's names and I love that. It is spelled a bunch of different ways, too, as they did at that time (1600's) Sydrack, etc. Thanks for all the links, too!Carrie Fancett Pagelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096954464239963966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-34554422862440006732011-09-10T21:21:09.009-04:002011-09-10T21:21:09.009-04:00Thanks so much for the post, Carla--what a treasur...Thanks so much for the post, Carla--what a treasure trove of resources! I'm a historical writer and I am addicted to genealogy, so I appreciate the help.<br /><br />My Revolutionary-war-era ancestors included a string of Obadiahs, Ezekiels, and Jeriels.<br /><br />For character name inspiration, I looked at baptismal records from the era and locale of my Scottish hero, and just about every Susanne Dietzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710634601407161821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-79438761892095557202011-09-10T00:10:15.244-04:002011-09-10T00:10:15.244-04:00Faye, that is certainly an unusual name. I think n...Faye, that is certainly an unusual name. I think names have been important throughout the centuries. And although sometimes we find an antiquated unique name that we fall in love with, some are so unpleasant to our contemporary ears, though they must have had the opposite affect in years gone by.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-58608769713697539402011-09-09T17:59:07.249-04:002011-09-09T17:59:07.249-04:00So interesting how different and how the smae time...So interesting how different and how the smae times were! Then they had interesting names that weren't very common and today we have ones that sound strange to ours as well! I have a Gotlieb in the family <3Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150290024386704712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-48132370498564930182011-09-09T17:03:51.197-04:002011-09-09T17:03:51.197-04:00Lori, those family trees are a treasure and end up...Lori, those family trees are a treasure and end up being very helpful to historical writers. It's great that you have that resource available going back so far, as do I. I can't help but think that everyone of those ancestors have a story to be told. Oh, dear. I find the naming patterns interesting, neat that you picked up on that.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-69819531274927911672011-09-09T16:08:20.204-04:002011-09-09T16:08:20.204-04:00Yes, naming characters is a one of the great joys ...Yes, naming characters is a one of the great joys and challenges of writing historical fiction. I often draw on my maternal family tree, which dates back to the late 1600s and covers family living in most of the areas I write about. <br /><br />I didn't know that about the naming patterns in families, but just from having poured over so many family trees, I've seen and absorbed knowledge Lori Bentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04714197239425827339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-46267006862667685032011-09-09T14:57:59.191-04:002011-09-09T14:57:59.191-04:00Laura, you do have interesting names for your char...Laura, you do have interesting names for your characters for certain. I just read that tidbit about Roxanna being your grandmother's name over at your RT interview (great interview, by the way). Like you, I love taking a look at my family history to find some names authentic to the period, with a nod of honor to our ancestors. I know you'll have wonderful names in your next series, thoughCarla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-87470116211630143072011-09-09T14:55:04.026-04:002011-09-09T14:55:04.026-04:00Kristen, I'm glad you find this info helpful. ...Kristen, I'm glad you find this info helpful. Glad to hear you are keeping it for future use! I do hope it comes in handy.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-31342267899107145822011-09-09T14:53:47.704-04:002011-09-09T14:53:47.704-04:00Heather, I so agree. Old names are strange, and fo...Heather, I so agree. Old names are strange, and for that reason more appealing. Glad to hear info will come in handy for your paintings, and I know you'll find a lot of your fans here! Family trees are a great place to find interesting, uncommon names for sure.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-54127611288616605622011-09-09T14:02:43.931-04:002011-09-09T14:02:43.931-04:00What great information. I'm copying and keepin...What great information. I'm copying and keeping this for future reference! Love these posts. Thanks:)<br />Have a wonderful day!Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-637825581268108712011-09-09T12:52:38.846-04:002011-09-09T12:52:38.846-04:00Carla, Oh, love all this name talk! I'm trying...Carla, Oh, love all this name talk! I'm trying to confirm name for book 2 in my series and it's harder than I imagined. Roxanna was the name of my great-grandmother so I used that. Lael's last name was the maiden name of another great. I think the archaic names are so wonderful and memorable, maybe because they've fallen out of use. Great post:)Laura Frantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07067252948999879024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-31638120602713795632011-09-09T09:04:23.537-04:002011-09-09T09:04:23.537-04:00This is SO fun! I love old strange names. This wil...This is SO fun! I love old strange names. This will be good for me to use too for naming paintings. I like to use names that are old fashioned and a bit mysterious. I've done a bit of ancestor research and have loved the names I've found-- in my blood there is a Mahala and a Mary Melinda. They just sound like interesting women!!~ Going to check out these lists...Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01162985502341523594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-42312433634532564562011-09-09T08:48:01.235-04:002011-09-09T08:48:01.235-04:00Love those name, Mike. I'll try to restrain my...Love those name, Mike. I'll try to restrain myself, I always did like that name Mehitabel.Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139112422565969072.post-68833311086080659752011-09-09T07:14:12.900-04:002011-09-09T07:14:12.900-04:00The two to either side are Mehitabel and Elias Cok...The two to either side are Mehitabel and Elias Coke. (And don't pinch those names!! :> )Mike Keytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116528233058221536noreply@blogger.com