'Twas Ever Thus: Upper-crust Edwardian choices

Here is an article, entitled What's In A Name?, from the Dundee Courier which was published on Saturday 28 December 1901. 

It concerns the most common, and unusual, choices used by Edwardian aristocracy. Sarah was a favourite of the Spencers -- a name still borne today by Diana, Princess of Wales' sister -- and Geraldine was a favourite for the Dukes of Leinster. 

To prove how sacred were these names to these families, some girls, we are told were named Arthur, and a boy named Anne. 

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?                                         It is a Precious Heirloom    That there is "magic in a name" is proved by the persistence with which many distinguished families adhere to one special Christian name throughout the course of centuries. The Dukedom of Somerset shows marked favour for the name Jane. Long ago the family name was spelt Seymour, not St Maur, and in the distant past -- as everyone knows -- a beautiful Jane Seymour became one of the ill-fated wives of Henru VIII., and the name has been faithfully retained down to modern times, Lady Jane Graham of Netherby, one Lady Jane Seymour, being its present day representative.    The Dukes of Norfolk prefer the name Phillippa, and there have been many Lady Phillippa Howards. Indeed, one who formerly bore that name now walks the earth in the person of Lady Phillippa Stewart, sister to the present Duke of Norfolk.     The Dukes of Beaufort are faithful to the name of Blanche. In 1607 a Lady Blanche Somerset married the Lord Arundell of Wardour of that period, and has gone down to history as a first-class heroine, in that she defended Wardour Castle, during the absence of her husband, for nine days against the Parliamentary army, and in the end surrendered on honourable terms. Since that date she has had a long string worthy successors, and at the present time there is a baby, Lady Blanche Somerset, daughter of the reigning Duke of Beaufort.                                 Names in Ducal Families    The Dukes of Marlborough hold sacred the name of Sarah, in honour of the intrepid founder of their fortunes, Sarah Jennings, first Duchess of Marlborough. Lady Sarah Wilson acts as the modern representative of her might ancestress. Lord Spencer's family owns the same descent, and his sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, now continues the hereditary name.  The Dukes of Hamilton care much for the name of Anne. Indeed, so deep is their devotion that a man of the family had the name Anne inflicted on him in compliment to his Royal godmother, Queen Anne.  The Dukedom of Leinster has long been identified with the name of Geraldine, the connection dating from the days of Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald, immortalised in the Earl of Surrey's poems as "The Fair Geraldine." Among Christian names belonging to the Saxon period are Elfrida, Elaine, Mildred, Edna, Ela and Ermyntrude. Lady Edeline Strickland is a sister of Lord De La Warr, and Lady Ella Russell and Lady Ermyntrude Malet are sisters to the Duke of Bedford.  Of Norman names are Blanche, Maud, Isabel, Sibyl, Eleanor and Adeline. Celtic names are found in Irish and Scottish families, with a certain variance in the two countries. Sheelah, Kathleen and Bridget, in Ireland, correspond with Sheila, Kate and Bride in Scotland. Olga and Vera hail from Russia, while Thyra and Dagmar are pf Scandinavian origin; and Theresa, Carmen and Dolores show signs of Spanish descent.  The Puritan spirit dies hard among the agricultural poor, and such names as Charity, Mercy, Hope, Faith, Patience and Prudence, austere legacy of Cronwellian days, are still found in our remote country villages.                                  In Smart Society   Smart society favours flower names. There are Lady Rosemary Cairns, Lady Lily Milles, and Lady Violet Beauchamp. Lady Essex's little girl is Lady Iris Capell; Lady Angela Forbes' child is called Marigold; and Lady Algernon Lennox's daughter has the name of Ivy. One of the Miss Finches owns the uncommon name of Jasmine.  Precious stones have numerous representatives. Lady Edward Churchill's two daughters are Miss Ruby and Miss Beryl Churchill. Another Miss Finch has the pretty name of Pearl; one of Miss Frances Wolseley's names is Garnet; and Lady Lamington's little girl owns the uncommon name of Gem.     There must be something in the science of names. Helens hadve had their rightful dower of beauty, from the days of Helen of Troy onwards, and Lady Helen Vincent affords an excellent mordern example.  Pamela is another name to conjure with. The first radiant Pamela was the wife of Lord Edward FitzGerald (the FitzGerald family seem to monopolise attractive names); and 1901 has two beautiful Pamelas in Mrs Edward Tennant and Miss Pamela Plowden.  Alliteration appeals to some of us -- Miss Cynthia Charteris, daughter of Lord and Lady Elcho; Miss Crystal and Miss Cerise de Crespigny; and Miss Vera Vincent, only child of Sir Howard and Lady Vincent. Among the many old Roman Catholic families in the three kingdoms, the names of Mary, Agnes and Elizabeth are frequent -- the name of Mary being well-nigh invariable -- for reasons that need no explanation.                                 Classic and Homely Names   Arthur is the name held in high esteem by the Annesleys. All their men, and -- strange to say -- nearly all their women, bear the name of Arthur. There are a few classical names going about. Mrs Algernon Bourke's little daughter Daphne, the Duke of Abercorn's eldest daughter is Phyllis, and Mrs Farquharson of Invercauld is Zoe.  Ancient Egypt finds itself revived in the name of Lady Maxwell's little girl, who is called Phylae, after a temple not far from Cairo.  Shakespeare has provided not a few pretty names for well-known society women. Of these are Lady Audrey Buller. Lady Juliet Lowther, and Lady Beatrice Pole Carew.  Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" have been productive in a like interesting manner. There is a little Lady Enid Fane, Lady Westmoreland's small daughter, and Mrs Ernest Villiers was once Miss Elaine Guest.     There are certainly many Nancys, Bettys, Joans and Peggys. Mr and Mrs Harry Lindsay have a little girl called Nancy and Sir John and Lady Dickson Poynder's daughter is one of our many Joans/  The name of Diana -- at once classical and sporting -- seems to belong by right to a hunting country. Lady Diana Somerset (says M.A.P.) is the two-year-old baby-girl of the Duke of Beaufort, a famous master of hounds, and Lady Diana Manners is the daughter of Lord and Lady Granby, born and bred in the country of the Belvoir hunt.                                               The Dundee Courier                                                28 December 1901

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