Xxpher?

[frogmarch]

One of my ancestors, who was born in England in 1609, and who, as a Pilgrim, came to America in 1632, was given at birth the first name Christopher/Cristopher (I have seen it spelled both ways on old documents). Sometimes, though, his first name is spelled Xxpher on colonial American documents.

I don't understand. What does Xx mean? Anyone here know?

I've found many Puritans in my family tree who were early colonists in Massachusetts, but Christopher/Cristopher/Xxpher is the only Pilgrim I've found so far. He settled in Plymouth. Most of my non-Pilgrim Puritan ancestors settled in Andover.

I think the difference between Pilgrims and other Puritans is that Pilgrims were Puritans who chose to separate from the Anglican Church, whereas other Puritans, called non-separating Puritans, tried to change the Anglican Church from within. If I'm mistaken, please correct me.

Xx? It makes me think, big kiss, little kiss. :-)

[dalaigh lllama]

1. Those heathens were trying to take "Christ" out of Christopher!1!1!

I'd venture to guess it's the same reason we see "Xmas" today. The Greek letter chi "X" stands for Christ.

[frogmarch]

2. Why didn't I think of that?

Xx probably stands for Christ or Christo, as in "Unio cum Christo" which is Latin for "Union with Christ." Xx = Christo +pher. Yup, that's got to be it, although I don't get why one X wouldn't have sufficed.

I didn't associate the Xx with the X in Xmas. Duh. That's what I get for being a descendant of heathens! LOL

Thanks!

I forgot to add :rofl: for what you said about those heathens trying to take the Christ out of Christopher. I can't wait to share that one with others of Xx's descendants. Good one! It's a winner! :thumbsup:

[sybylla]

3. Abbreviations of names were the norm back then

Paper and ink were expensive so they economized by abbreviating everything they could. Jo or Jno for Jonathan. Wm for William. Geo for George. I came across Jas once and couldn't figure it out until I saw in another document that the man's name was Jason. They saved two letters!

I've even seen letters written between family members abbreviated to the point that a modern reader has hardly any clue as to what's being said.

[csziggy]

4. The worst letters were cross written

They would write one direction, then turn the paper ninety degrees and write more lines perpendicular to the original lines. Absolutely horrific to try to make out!

[shraby]

5. Jas. is also James. I have a county gen. site and run into

that quite often when putting data online for researchers.