Naming patterns in families can provide great clues…and also drive you crazy when the same names are used generation after generation! My favorite set of family names so far are the children of James Curtis and Alzina Hills. There’s no family story that’s been handed down to explain why some of their children had such unusual names. With a few exceptions, these names are not found in other family members. Three of the boys had names that were popular in the 1800’s, but the girls all had names that were uncommon. Maybe they were names from novels or maybe they come from history, but somebody (I’m guessing Alzina) was very creative. Alzina, by the way, means “woman” and is of Greek/Arabic origin.
Here’s an overview of the names, the meaning of the names, and any family naming connections I’ve figured out so far!
Arlina M. Curtis (B: 13 Jan 1836 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: 1863 – Ripon, Fond du Lac, WI) Arlina is a Celtic or Scottish/Gaelic name and means “the oath.” Sadly I don’t know what the “M” stood for but it could have been Marilda (the name of James’ oldest sister).
Delilah A. Curtis (B: 27 Mar 1838 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: 11 Nov 1929 – Los Angeles, CA) Delilah is a Hebrew name which means “night or amorous.” Delilah, often spelled Dalila, and called “Lila” was named after her paternal grandmother (Delilah Sears Curtis). The “A” could have stood for Amy, the name of her paternal great-grandmother (Amy Seymour Curtis) or Alzina, the name of her mother.
Oresta Sally Curtis (B: 22 Feb 1840 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: Stanislaus, CA) Oresta is an Ancient Greek name. It means “of the mountains.” Oresta’s middle name was Sally, after her maternal grandmother (Sarah “Sally” Walton).
David Turner Curtis (B: 28 Apr 1844 – Columbus, Warren, PA D: 04 Nov 1912 – Fresno, CA) David is a Hebrew name which means “beloved.” David was named after his paternal grandfather, David Curtis. Turner was the middle name of Alzina’s father, and the surname of Alzina’s great-grandmother (Hannah Turner).
Julius Eldor Curtis (B: 1846 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: 26 Aug 19 – Vancouver, Clark, WA) Julius is a Latin or Roman name that means “down-bearded youth.” There’s no family connection that I’ve figured out yet for Julius or Eldor!
Charles Seymour Curtis (B: 13 Jan 1849 – Columbus, Warren, PA D: 31 Dec 1900 – Tustin, Orange, CA) Charles is a French name that means “free man, manly.” Seymour was the surname of Charles’ paternal great-grandmother, Amy Seymour Curtis.
Letitia A. Curtis (B: 03 Nov 1851 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: Unknown) Letitia is a Latin name that means “joy, happiness.” But all we know about Letitia is her birthdate. By 1860, she is gone from the family and must have died sometime before then. But Curtis ancestors were also named Letitia, so it was a popular name at the time.
James Lee Curtis (B: 06 Feb 1853 – Columbus, Warren, PA; D: 01 Aug 1941 – Salida, Stanislaus, CA) James is a Hebrew name that means “supplanted.” James was named after his father, James Curtis, and his paternal great-grandfather, James Curtiss. Lee is a name passed down in several generations of the family up to the present. But where it came from, I don’t know yet.
Allette Curtis (B: 1855 – Burr Oak, Mitchell, IA; D: 1855 – Burr Oak, Mitchell, IA) Allette is a Greek name that means “footloose.” Allette did not live very long, but she was born right around the time the family moved from Pennsylvania to homestead in Iowa, so her name seems appropriate.
Roseletta Curtis (B: 15 Oct 1858 – Burr Oak, Warren, IA; D: 1875 – Modesto, Stanislaus, CA) The baby of the family was Roseletta. Rosetta is a Latin name that means the flower rose, so Roseletta is little flower rose.
James and Alzina Hills Curtis – Lois Curtis Family Tree – #4 and #5
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