National Middle Name Day

Happy National Middle Name Day!

I think most people have a middle name.  And, I think most people believe that you have a middle name so your Mom or Dad can use it when you do something wrong...

"(first name) (middle name) (last name) GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!"

That's when you knew you were in trouble.

I thought I would do a little research on why people are given three names and this is what I've come up with so far.

For a time, middle names were given to important people (royalty).  This tradition picked up in the 1700's.  A middle name indicated your (higher) place in society.  In some countries, your middle name was a family name.  Sometimes this led to quite lengthy names, but it made it easier to trace your family history.

The middle name tradition continued when people moved to America.  The three names were a way to show your (high) rank in society.  A mother's maiden name was a common middle name.  After the Civil War, people started using names that they liked as a middle name.

So, what's your middle name?

Does your middle name have a special meaning?