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GIRLS’ NAMES
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
[Welland Telegraph, 1 March 1912]
VIRGINIA
Virginia has been called “Jennie with a head and tail to it,” but of course, it has nothing to do with the alternative of Johanna.
The name is derived from the Latin and means “flourishing.”
The anemone is its emblem and “virility” its sentiment, probably with reference to the root of the word Virgo, which is is Latin for Virgin.
It is said that in England only sentimental people call a daughter Virginia, but this is certainly not true in the United States, where Virginia usually embellishes women famous in art or successful in business.
The name is rarely used in other than English speaking countries, except France, where its popularity was seemingly insured for all times by the famous romance, “Paul et Virginie,” the chief work of Bernardin de St. Pierre, published just before the revolution.
There are a few American girls who have not at one time wept over Paul et Virginie- A French girl would feel insulted if you suggested that she had not done so. A steel engraving depicting the heroine of the sentimental tale is found in many American houses.
Some Frenchmen made an opera, thirty or more years ago, of the novel, but this has never been seen in the United States.
Sir Walter Raleigh gave the name of Virginia to the fine South Atlantic colony in honor of Queen Elizabeth who liked to be called the Virgin queen. It is more than probable that the author of “Paul et Virginie” named the female heroine after the colony.
Virginia is called “Old Dominion,” and the “Mother of Presidents.”
The “Army of Virginia” was commanded by Gen Pope, who took part in the second Bull Run campaign.
The University of Virginia numbers Thomas Jefferson among its founders.
There are two Virginia cities, one in Montana, the other in Nevada.
“The Virginia Plan,” an oytline for a constitution, was written by Edmund Randolph of Virginia in 1787.
“The Virginians” is the title of a novel by Thackery, dealing with the Virginians of the eighteenth century. It was a sequel to Henry Esmond.
Virginia Harned is one of the several famous American actresses bearing the beautiful name. She was born in Boston in 1868, but spent her early girlhood in England. She made her first appearance on Our Broadway House and her start as an actress of high merit was settled by her creation of Trilby (1895).
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