A few years back I did some genealogical research for a friend whose ancestors owned a farm north of Lafayette during the nineteenth century. Among them were two brothers named Telesphore and Telesmar--their siblings had more conventional French names. I was intrigued by these names because I thought they were elegant and because I had never heard of anything like them. Has anyone else encountered these names? The only thing I was able to learn about them was that for a time after the French Revolution, many abandoned the standard Catholic names in favor of more ancient, pagan, Greek and Roman names, and that these two names came into use during that period. While that's plausible I'm not convinced because I could not find a second source to confirm this.
I have never encountered these names in France. They seem a little more common in Quebec.
I'm not convinced either by this explanation. Télesphore is a saint and was on the Gregorian calendar, which is in contradiction with the Revolutionary explanation. Besides, these Revolutionary first names were in fashion for just a few years. Telesphore has a much longer life and existed before the Revolution (links below).
(Just a few ideas that come to mind, but nothing certain).
Christian, I really appreciate this helpful information. Thank you for setting me straight.
Those names were buried way back in my mind until this discussion jogged my memory. But now that I've done some more googling it's clear that there were/are others in Louisiana named Telesphore or Telesmar (there is even a Telesmar Ave. in Baton Rouge). Cool.
Claude, I find this subject so interesting, I felt like discovering a little more about it. As everywhere, there are fashions and retro fashions for first names. This passage of a book lists some of these fashionable first names in Louisiana according to the generations. (Just a personal note: reading that "around 1898 there was an epidemic of Luna" made me laugh as that's my nine-year old granddaugter's first name and there is currently an epidemic of Luna in France).
ACADIAN GIVEN NAMES AND NICKNAMES. The following is drawn primarily from Reed (1976:30-32)).
Before the coming of the cinema, the prairie Acadians often baptized their children with old classical names which had also been popular in France in the eighteenth century. Examples of such names included: Theodule Euclide Euchariste Duclide Hyppolyte Ulysse Delphie Telesphore. From these, nicknames were derived for everyday use: Titi Toto Lou-Lou Theo Cariste Lilisse. One also commonly heard such names as : Ferdinand Durelde Euzebe Armogene Azeline Armide Arsemise Arcade Kermance Alcedius Elfege Jules Octave Namard. Around 1898 there was an epidemic of: Luna Duma Numa Dena Adena Damard Lamard Jeanmard Namard. Around 1940 a new series of names became popular: Milton Silton Wilton Tilton Gilton Nilton and so forth. After the First World War, and with the arrival of the cinemas and radio (and later T.V.), one finds increasing popularity of modern Cajun names patterned upon English first names and shortened to a single syllable. These "Hollywoodish" names included: Ted Tod Rod Ned Dee Lee Ray Kay Mae Jay Bert Bob Joy Wayne Sue. Parents of this generation selected names which would not cause shame when they were used in the English speaking schools. Even in modern times, however, certain Acadian parents give their unfortunate children unusual and humorous names. One hears occasionally: Shelvadine Jasooline Armadella Virgine Nicknames: The telephone directories of Acadiana provide one with a wealth of nickname of these, presumably from the Mamou area: Luckette Aloy Dassa Kai Hackdeux Nelkon Gudley Exand Ulfoy Oklie Oftay Quilea Voicy Prosse Seig Brace Weekly Easy Gassie Amaze Polite Acey Palestine Soilnor Mercy Zaquet Waddie Berbis Vergin Reversal. "In the good old days of ignorance, poverty and the great depression" It was not uncommon to discover a father who baptized all of his sons with the same first name. The most popular name was "Jean." Thus, one found families with: Jean-Joseph Jean-Marie Jean-Charles Jean-Robert Other fathers named all of their offspring, or all of their daughters with names which began with the same first letter: Odile Obele Ophelia Oliva Orelia Omerice Olena Olive Overine Ovelia Ovenia Ozone. http://archive.org/stream/cajunstheirhisto02hami/cajunstheirhisto02hami_djvu.txt
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
