So, in my Deaf Culture and [name_m]History[/name_m] class we are learning about this island in Chilmark, Massachusetts called [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard. Several of the residents on this island were Deaf or hard of hearing during this time period (deaf gene not as common nowadays.) [name_f]My[/name_f] teacher gave us the 1850 and 1880 Federal Census with the names of the residents of this island. Being a name nerd, I got very excited! There were a bunch of common names listed, but there were also some very unusual and surprising names.
Note: I’m not putting the dates that they lived on this island. I’m just putting all of the names I found interesting
Common names: (multiple people with these names)
[name_m]John[/name_m]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_m]George[/name_m]
[name_m]Joseph[/name_m]
[name_f]Ann/name_f
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_u]Francis[/name_u]/[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_m]Thomas[/name_m]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriett[/name_f]
[name_m]William[/name_m]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_u]James[/name_u]
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
Names I was surprised to see (for that time period):
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f]
[name_u]Owen[/name_u]
[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]
[name_m]Jared[/name_m]
[name_f]Carrie[/name_f]
[name_m]Prince[/name_m]
Tamson/Tamsen
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_m]Levi[/name_m]
I just want to clear something up, as I actually live on [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard and don’t want there to be confusion. Chilmark is one of many towns on the island of [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard, which definitely still exists (the wording in op was confusing for me, sorry). While we do have a long and interesting history of people born with deafness, as well as MVSL, there was never a point where most people on the Vineyard were deaf, there were some prominent island families that carried a gene for deafness. More accurate info on the subject can be found at the link below.
I hope I don’t sound rude, I just wanted the information people took from this to be correct. The names around here were definitely interesting, and sometimes continue to be. I know a little [name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m] who’s name his parents found on a local tombstone from the 1700’s.
Thanks so much for posting this, [name_f]Erin[/name_f] – really fascinating list of names and since the Social Security lists don’t start until 1880, it’s especially valuable and interesting to see a collection of names from before that period.
I’ve been to [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard but I wasn’t aware of the deaf culture connection. Kalebsmom, thanks for the clarification and further information on that.
I’m not sure if or how these names might be related to deafness but they certainly seem related to Puritanism. I’d love to read a guest blog on historical names from [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard, if anyone is inspired to write one for us!
I’m sorry I should have worded things better and given more information. Thank you for clearing things up.