Tuesday 28 April 2015

A-Z Challenge 2015: X is for Xtopher

This is something I came across while researching.  So many of my male ancestors had names beginning with the letter 'X'...it was untrue!  And yes, it was untrue, to a certain Xtent.

You see, the further back you go - when they start writing in Latin that sometimes even a university professor would struggle with - they use abbreviations.  A lot.  Ever notice that little line above a name? That means the name was abbreviated. A small letter after the first syllable? Abbreviation. So you may not have had an ancestor called Eliz.  She may not even have been called Eliza.  It's just that she was abbreviated.  And as for Xtopher...it seems that, wherever the syllable 'Chris' or 'Christ' occurred - there was the 'X'.

A-Z Challenge 2015: X


© 2015 Ros Haywood. All Rights Reserved

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for this piece of knowledge, Ros, as it was new to me.

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  2. Oh wow-I never knew this. Is this just in your area or global for that era?

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    Replies
    1. It was certainly in England - so, I suspect, wherever English was written.

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  3. I have some Christophers but have never seen this abbreviation - makes sense though. I've seen abbreviations for Thomas, William, and Jonathan much more frequently.
    ~Visiting from AtoZ

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  4. Hi Roz - dropping by again after completing my last post. I suppose it makes sense that abbreviations were used as probably the few that were tasked with writing probably had a lot of writing to do!

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  5. I've never seen this abbreviation either, but I will be using it in the next challenge for my "X"! Now I just have to find a Xristopher or Xris or even a Xristin...

    Finding Eliza

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  6. It was so hard to get around to all the blogs during the challenge. I am on the A to Z Road Trip now and hope to visit more blogs this way.

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    Replies
    1. I'm on the Road Trip as well - really must get a move on...thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Interesting post - I now know why Christmas is often shortened to Xmas!
    Popping by on the A to Z Road Trip
    Debbie
    www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed the post. I have visited your blog and will try Google Analytics myself (because yes, I have also been at the point of deleting the entire blog).

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  8. Hello there.
    I'm sure I must've known this since I studied Latin in school...guess I can't remember...it was a long time ago! (lol) Just popping over today from the Road Trip.

    Entrepreneurial Goddess

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