442 A DISSERTATION ON THE 
names and family terms as among ourselves, made 
up as we are of persons from almest every nation, 
kindred, tribe, and tongue in the world. It is 
only, therefore, in the literary remains of the 
earliest race amongst us, that true meanings can 
be found for the names of their descendants; and 
for such terms now in use as were imposed origi- 
nally by them, for ends and purposes now no 
more, and such as by their lack, have left the 
significations of the terms obsolete. 
We have scarcely any termination of words in 
the English language more common than “ ing.” 
In present and active participles, it requires 
neither note nor comment, being merely an inflec- 
tional modification of the verb. It is only when it 
occurs as a suffix in compound names and terms 
that it requires any explanation—especially in 
nouns appellative. As for instance, ‘ Wild” is a 
common family name in some districts of this 
country. Like the proper names, ‘ White,” 
«¢ Black,” ‘“ Brown,” “ Blake,” it may be easily 
understood as having been applied at that very 
early period of our ancestor’s history, when per- 
sons were frequently distinguished by epithets, 
expressive of some quality or circumstance for 
which they were remarkable. Besides, ‘‘ Wild,” 
