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ArchivesRe: Another article ... and a query
in reply to a message by Anneza
The extra "l" got into Hillary back in medieval times. This is shown by the fact that the spelling with two l's seems to be the most common form for the surname. Reaney & Wilson's A Dictionary of English Surnames has an example of a spelling with two l's back in 1275.
Since Americans are very familiar with surnames becoming given names, it was natural for many parents to think that Hillary was a more appropriate spelling than Hilary for the given name.
You have a parallel situation with Alison. The most common spelling for this girl's name in the USA has been Allison since 1963. And again, Allison is also the more common spelling of the surname.
Since Americans are very familiar with surnames becoming given names, it was natural for many parents to think that Hillary was a more appropriate spelling than Hilary for the given name.
You have a parallel situation with Alison. The most common spelling for this girl's name in the USA has been Allison since 1963. And again, Allison is also the more common spelling of the surname.
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I was wondering, would you know anything about the extra "l" in Lillian? I've been doing some family tree research and come across lots of Lilians with one "l" (in England). It's not currently popular over here but in the past Lilian seems to have been more popular than Lillian wheras in the US Lillian is currently popular (and has been in the past). Off the top of my head I can't think of a surname Lillian though.
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Good thinking! I'm sure you're right; though to me and I suppose still a majority of non-Americans the extra L just looks redundant. (I'd been wondering if it was an attempt to make Hilary - and, as you point out, Alison - look extra-feminine. Hilary Benn, a minister in the British government, is a man, after all.)
A week ago I'd have agreed with you about Americans specialising in surnames becoming given names, but I've been digging round a bit on genealogy boards and found my great-uncle's mother-in-law! This lady, formidable if her daughter, my great-aunt, was anything to go by, is entered as: "wife Sandford Pick Watson b 1844 Leeds". I've double-checked! And these were ordinary working people; definitely not out of the pages of Debrett or the Peerage. It's such fun having one's mind stretched.
A week ago I'd have agreed with you about Americans specialising in surnames becoming given names, but I've been digging round a bit on genealogy boards and found my great-uncle's mother-in-law! This lady, formidable if her daughter, my great-aunt, was anything to go by, is entered as: "wife Sandford Pick Watson b 1844 Leeds". I've double-checked! And these were ordinary working people; definitely not out of the pages of Debrett or the Peerage. It's such fun having one's mind stretched.
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