Namely Speaking

Just like most Americans, I have a first, middle, and last name, of which I am so very proud. My given middle name is Gerard, named after  St. Gerard – the patron saint of Mothers. Back in 1975, my father Robert S. (Stanley) Kowalski, hung a shingle on a small 3,000 sq ft lakefront facility to service the needs of the tool and die industry in northern Ohio and began what has grown over the years into Kowalski Heat Treating today. From his original vision, we remain committed to solving your PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! I’m told I was named after St. Stephen – the patron saint of bricklayers (he was the protomartyr of Christianity and stoned to death – ouch!). Initially, middle names were tied to the Roman tradition, as they used three names, especially upper-class men – (back then women typically had two names, and enslaved people only one). I have friends who prefer to be called by their middle names, usually because they share a family name as a “Jr.” or “the third” – and it makes it easier to identify them in the household…, or they just don’t like their first name! Here’s some fun trivia and history on the use of middle names. Special thanks to historyfacts.com, Wikipedia, and guinessworldrecords.com. Enjoy!

Roman full names started with a praenomen, or personal name, which often came from numbers or months, possibly noting the time or order of birth, such as “Quintus” or “Sextus.” The middle name, nomen gentilicium, came from a person’s genes, a broad family clan based on a patriarchal line. Names then ended with a cognomen, which could reflect a smaller family group or reference a specific attribute, such as a big head, pug nose, or left-handedness. Often these nicknames were passed down to children, and throughout a person’s life (they could have more than one cognomen).

Some Roman men, particularly aristocrats, had more than three names — often because they were adopted or accepted an inheritance, linking them to additional family members. One senator in the second century AD had a whopping 38 names, six of which came from his father. 

By the fifth century AD, multiple names had mostly fallen out of use, and after that Roman citizens typically went by just one name. Middle names came back into vogue in Renaissance Italy. 

In many cultures, middle names are used to honor a family member, such as a grandparent. In Hispanic cultures, it is common to have two last names, one from each parent, rather than a middle name.

The use of middle names became more common in the United States during the 19th century. For example, John Quincy Adams was the first U.S. president with a middle name.  Some famous figures are known for not having a middle name, such as Ulysses S. Grant. His middle initial “S” didn’t stand for anything; it was a mistake on his application to West Point.

In many families, the middle name might be chosen to honor a relative and using it as the primary name keeps that connection strong. Sometimes, the individual simply prefers their middle name. 

The longest personal name ever recorded consists of 746 characters. The name was given to a German-born man in 1914, who later shortened it to “Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr.”  (I’m glad he’s not from New Zealand – the longest place name in the world is the full name of a hill in New Zealand: “Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.” It has 85 characters…imagine that on your license!!)  Learn about the longest name here.  

The common moniker “Pablo Picasso” is actually only a small fraction of the famous painter’s full name. When he was born in 1881 in Andalusia, Spain, his family gave him around 15 names (sources vary), taken both from saints and members of his own family. The exact order is unclear, but his full name was along the lines of Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano María de los Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso. His first name, Pablo, came from an uncle who had died a few years before he was born. It actually took a while for Picasso to settle on which names to use in his signature. He signed his earliest paintings P. Ruiz, then P. Ruiz Picasso, then P.R. Picasso, before settling on Picasso.

Beethoven’s full name was “Ludwig van Beethoven,” but in certain contexts, his full title might include additional names from his family lineage, such as “Ludwig Maria van Beethoven.”

The naming traditions among Native American tribes are rich with cultural significance, and deeply intertwined with nature, spirituality, and the environment. Names that reflect animals, places, or times are common, each carrying unique meanings and importance within the community. Names include Tatanga (Lakota for “buffalo”), Makwa (Ojibwe for “bear”), and Zitkala-Sa (Lakota for “red bird”). Tawa (Hopi for “sun”) is a name given to a child born at sunrise, while Aponi (Algonquin for “butterfly”) is given to a child born in spring.

Some famous companies that adopted the founder’s name include:

Ford Motor Company: Founder: Henry Ford – Founded in 1903, Ford is one of the largest and most enduring automobile manufacturers in the world.

Walt Disney Company: Founder: Walt Disney- Established in 1923, Disney has become a global leader in entertainment, with iconic animated films, theme parks, and media networks.

Johnson & Johnson: Founders: Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson – Founded in 1886, this company is a leader in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products.

Hershey’s: Founder: Milton S. Hershey – Founded in 1894, Hershey’s is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world.

Pfizer: Founders: Charles Pfizer and Charles F. Erhart – Established in 1849, Pfizer is a leading global pharmaceutical company.

Boeing: Founder: William E. Boeing – Founded in 1916, Boeing is one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, known for its commercial airplanes and defense products.

Procter & Gamble: Founders: William Procter and James Gamble – Founded in 1837, this multinational consumer goods company is known for products like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette.

Rolls-Royce: Founders: Charles Rolls and Henry Royce – Founded in 1904, Rolls-Royce is synonymous with luxury automobiles and has also been a leader in aerospace engineering.

Gucci: Founder: Guccio Gucci – Founded in 1921, Gucci is a leading luxury fashion brand, known for its high-end clothing, accessories, and leather goods. (love the first name Guccio!) 

And of course, Kowalski Heat Treating: Founder Robert Kowalski – Founded in 1975, KHT is known worldwide for specializing in those PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs!