For a number of years, when I wasn’t writing about names, I was writing about antiques and collectibles for a syndicated newspaper column.  But of course when I was thinking about antiques, I was still also thinking about names.

　　Looking at the field of antique furniture, for example, I found that when it came to early British cabinetmakers, the names were relatively unexciting.  George Hepplewhite. Robert Adams. Thomas Chippendale. Thomas Sheraton.  Nothing too juicy there.

　　But with the Early American cabinetmakers and clockmakers it was quite a different story.  Lots of antiquated Biblical names, more than one Chauncey, Ebenezer and Lemuel, a few virtue names rarely heard in modern times (Prudent, Noble), a couple of Latinate names and a Greek god—in other words a variegated picture of American Colonial and Federal era nomenclature:

　　Some prime examples:

　　Abel Cottey

　　Abiel Chandler

　　Abner Toppan

　　Ansel Goodwin

　　Asa Holden

　　Chauncey Boardman, Jerome

　　Duncan Phyfe

　　Ebenezer Knowlton, Tracy, Parmalee

　　Elbert Anderson

　　Eli Terry

　　Elias Ingraham

　　Elijah Booth, Sanderson

　　Eliphaler Chapin

　　Elisha DeWolfe, Jr

　　Elnathan Taber

　　Enos Doolittle

　　Ephraim Haines, Downes

　　Everadus Bogardus

　　Garvan Carver

　　Gawen Brown

　　Gerrard Hopkins

　　Gideon Roberts

　　Heman Clark

　　Hercules Courtenay

　　Holmes Weaver

　　Job Townsend

　　Kenelm Winslow

　　Lemuel Adams, Curtis

　　Macock Ward

　　Marinus Willett

　　Maskell Ware

　　Matthias Baldwin

　　Miles Beach

　　Nehemiah Adams

　　Noble Jerome

　　Phineas Pratt

　　Prudent Mallard

　　Reverdy Ghiselin

　　Seth Thomas

　　Silas Hoadley, Terry, Cheney

　　Simon Willard

　　Solomon Hayes

　　Any of these appeal?