Children are often named after their parents, grandparents, close family, or friends. I've even seen children given a name based on the location of their birth. One trend that I noticed in my family tree was naming children after United States presidents. Have you noticed this in your family tree?
The choice of a "Presidential Name" could have been made to honor a current or former president. Other research suggests a name may have been chosen in the hope that the child would display the same honorable characteristics of that President or even to represent a family's tie to a specific political party.
With the upcoming inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris this week, I figured it would be a good time to write about this trend.
With the historical significance of Kamala Harris being the United States' first female vice president, the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president, I do wonder if the name Kamala will move up the ranks in popular baby name lists this year.
Searching my family tree I found several familiar "Presidential Names" representing the following United States Presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William Howard Taft.
George Washington Burt, my second great grandfather, was born on May 23, 1852, in Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan
George Washington Hawley, my second great uncle, was born on September 11, 1881, in Rust Township, Montmorency, Michigan
George Washington
PresidentPresidential term: April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797
Thomas Jefferson
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1801 to March 4, 1809
Thomas Jefferson Burt, my third great grandfather, was born on March 20, 1806, in Chemung, Chemung, New York.
Thomas was born during the time that Thomas Jefferson was president. It is also interesting to note that he named his own son George Washington Burt.
Wesley Madison Hawley, my second cousin three times removed was born on April 8, 1878, in Billings Township, Gladwin, Michigan
James Madison
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817
Rutherford B. Hayes
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1877 to March 4, 1881
Rutherford Birch Steele, my first cousin three times removed, was born on May 19, 1877, in Day Township, Montcalm, Michigan. Rutherford was born just over a month after President Rutherford B. Hayes took office.
Howard Taft Jones, my first cousin three times removed, was born on October 30, 1908, in Brant Township, Saginaw, Michigan
William Howard Taft
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1913
When considering this post I knew of a few instances of children in my family tree named after a president. When I started looking, I found many more than I expected and more than those included in this post.
I would love to hear from you, do you have any ancestors with a Presidential Name?
