Sunday, September 13, 2009

Epluribus

Taneya Koonce has a wonderful post on her Taneya's Genealogy Blog titled Cemetery Clearing that is a terrific example of genealogical service to a family and community, and a wonderful "family history" lesson for her children. I plead with you to click on the link and enjoy her post.

At the end of her post, she shows a gravestone for Epluribus U. Lee, a US Army soldier from World War II. What a fascinating name! The middle name has to be Unum, doesn't it? Think about it - we are ALL "From many, One" aren't we?

So was Mr. Lee the only person named Epluribus? Oh no! There were plenty. Just doing a simple search in the census records on Ancestry uncovers:

1) 1850 US Census

** Epluribus Berry, age 6, in Winston, MS (male)

2) 1860 US Census

** Epluribus U. Murray, age 9 in Haywood, NC (male)
** E. Pluribus Baker, age 8 in Tippah, MS (female)

3) 1870 US Census

** Epluribus Shepherd, age 2 in Stump Sound, Onslow, NC (male)
** E. Pluribus V. Perry, age 16, in Shelby, TN (male)
** E. Pluribus Unum Wallace, age 18 in Polk, TX (male)

4) 1880 US Census

** Epluribus I. Martin, age 35 in Bainbridge, Decatur, GA

5) 1900 US Census

** Epluribus U. Medesker, age 10 in Jefferson, Morgan, IN (female)
** Eplurbirst Pinder, age 15 in Drawbridge, dorchester, MD (female)
** Epluribus Powell, age 2 in Orange, Black Hawk, IA (female)
** Epluribus Rigs, age 3 in Oak Grove, Wake, NC (male)
** Epluribus Sanders, age 1 in Flemington, Marion, FL (male)
** E. Pluribus Street, age 10 in Newnan, Coweta, GA (female)

6) 1910 US Census

** Epluribus Elliott, age 4 in Sessums, Oktibbeha, MS (male)
** Epluribus Green, age 2 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL (male)
** Epluribus W. Husted, age 46 in Guymon, Texas, OK (male)
** Epluribus Riggs, age 13 in Oak Grove, Wake, NC (male)
** Epluribus Swart, age 3 in Spiro, LeFlore, OK (male)
** E. Pluribus Suddreth, age 46 in JP5, Erath, TX (male)

7) 1920 US Census

** Epluribus Thomas, age 13 in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO (male)
** Epluribus Thomas, age 9 in Chickasha, Grady, OK (male)
** Epluribus P. Wallace, age 65 in JP6, Tyler, TX (male)
** Epluribus Whiteside, age 6 in Stonewall, Pontotoc, OK (male)
** Eplurvius Wright, age 8 in Cape Gireardeau, Cape Girardeau, MO (male)
** E. Pluribus Eubanks, age 0 in Braden, LeFlore, OK (male)

8) 1930 US Census

** Epluribus Adams, age 12 in Gary, Lake, IN (female)
** Epluribus Brown, age 32 in St. Louis, MO (male)
** Epluribus U. Ford, age 44 in Carthage, Panola, TX (female)
** Eplura Landrum, age 72 in Smith, MS (male)
** Epluribus U. Powell, age 31 in Polo, Ogle, IL (male)
** Eplurbis Williams, age 7 in Tally Ho, Granville, NC

There are, of course, entries in several other databases with the given name Epluribus or E. Pluribus. And there are many contractions or nicknames of these names too.

For instance, the Epluribus U. Lee buried in Talladega, Alabama is listed in the 1930 census as Pluribus Lee, age 20, in Talladega, Talladega, AL and is not easily found in the 1910 or 1920 census.

Now I'm trying to think of other Latin phrases, or patriotic phrases, that might be used as given names. Any suggestions? I already looked for "In God" (I found none) and "Semper Fidelis" (found some probables).

I had fun doing this! Thanks, Taneya for the inspiration!

3 comments:

Eileen said...

How about carpe diem (seize the day)?

Taneya said...

who knew there were so many :-)

Heather Wilkinson Rojo said...

Here is a name very common in Puerto Rico (check the census records).... As you drive around Puerto Rico, looking at the names on the mail boxes, this is the most common one. When this Spanish speaking island became Amercian, and the US mailboxes became common along the roadsides, you can understand how the residents came to find it such an attractive name! The name is Usmail. Believe it or not! It's still in use today....