Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature

The work examines the development and variety of English personal names from medieval pet-forms through the Reformation and Puritan eras, tracing shifts driven by Norman, biblical, and clerical influences. It surveys pet-name formations, the rising popularity of Old Testament names, and the decline of saintly and nickname forms, then catalogs Puritan innovations such as Latinized, grace, exhortatory, and birth-accident names, using parish registers and antiquarian documents as evidence. The author considers regional concentrations and popular responses, notes influence on naming in America, and concludes with an epilogue on the rise and patterns of double Christian names.