Re: Questions about some old "word" names
in reply to a message by Caitlin
Icy, Icey, and Icie have turned up as given names in the Southern USA for years. They are probably originally pet forms of names such as Bernice and the like, which were sometimes pronounced with the final syllable like the word "ice" in the 19th century.
Tiny and Fate are probably uses of the words. Since it's a girl's name, Lemon could be considered a plant name like Rose or Magnolia, but it might also be a surname transfer.
Mace is a medieval pet form of Matthew, IIRC. I am presently visiting my relatives in Tennessee and so don't have my reference books to check. :)
Tiny and Fate are probably uses of the words. Since it's a girl's name, Lemon could be considered a plant name like Rose or Magnolia, but it might also be a surname transfer.
Mace is a medieval pet form of Matthew, IIRC. I am presently visiting my relatives in Tennessee and so don't have my reference books to check. :)
Replies
Lemon was a boy's name, and I just looked it up in Oxford's American Family Name Origins. It seems most probable as a surname transfer.
I looked up Mace too. Probably related to the surname, which can come from Matthew or the weapon.
I looked up Mace too. Probably related to the surname, which can come from Matthew or the weapon.