SwANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 671 



Names 



Spelman furnishes us with the following note regarding the nam- 

 ing customs of the Powhatan Indians : 



After the mother is deliuered of hir child with in sum feaw dayes after the 

 kinsfolke and neyburs beinge intreated ther unto, cums unto y« house: wher 

 beinge assembled the father, takes the child in his armes: and declares that 

 his name shall be, as he then calls him, so his name is, which dunn y® rest 

 of yo day is spent in feastinge and dauncinge. (Smith, John, Arber ed., 1884, 

 p. cix.) 



Strachey has more to say on this subject : 



Both men, women, and childrene have their several! names; at first accord- 

 ing to the severall humour of their parents ; and for the men children, at 

 first, when they are young, their mothers give them a name, calling them by 

 some affectionate title, or, perhapps observing their promising inclination give 

 yt accordingly; and so the great King Powhatan called a young daughter of 

 his, whome he loved well, Pochahuntas, which may signifle little wanton ; howbeyt 

 she was rightly called Amonate at more ripe yeares. When they become able 

 to travel into the woods, and to goe forth a hunting, fowling, and fishing with 

 their fathers, the fathers give him another name as he finds him apt and of 

 spiritt to prove toward and valiant, or otherwise changing the mother's which 

 yet in the family is not so soone forgotten ; and if soe be yt be by agility, 

 strength, or any extraordinary straine of witt he performes any remarkeable or 

 valerous exploite in open act of armes, or by stratagem, especyally in the time 

 of extreamity in the warrs for the publique and common state, upon the enemie, 

 the king, taking notice of the same, doth then not only in open view and 

 solemnely reward him with some present of copper, or chaine of perle, and 

 bedes, but doth then likewise (and which they take for the most emynent and 

 supreme favour) give him a name answearable to the attempt, not much 

 different herein from the auncyent warlike encouragement and order of the 

 Romans to a well deserving and gallant young spirit. ( Strachey, 1849, p. 111. ) 



Lawson speaks as follows of the Piedmont tribes of Carolina : 



AU the Indians give a name to their children, which is not the same as the 

 father or mother, but what they fancy. This name they keep, (if boys) till 

 they arrive at the age of a warrior, which is sixteen or seventeen years ; then 

 they take a name to themselves, sometimes, eagle, panther, allegator, or some 

 such wild creature, esteeming nothing on earth worthy to give them a name, 

 but these wild fowl, and beasts. Some again take the name of a fish, which 

 they keep as long as they live. (Lawson, 1860, p. 317.) 



The general implications of this paragraph, that women generally 

 kept one name through life while men had at least two, a boyhood 

 name and at least one adult name or title bestowed in consequence of 

 some warlike exploit, seems to have been true of the entire section. 

 Further on Lawson says : 



They have no different titles for man, only king, war captain, old man, or young 

 man, which respect the stations and circumstances men are employed in, and 

 arrive to, and not ceremony. (Lawson, 1860, p. 327.) 



