Author Topic: The name 'Apollonia'  (Read 738 times)

Online M_ONeill

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The name 'Apollonia'
« on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:15 BST (UK) »
So I'm currently trying to map all of the instances of people with a particular surname in an area of Shropshire in the 18th century. The vast majority of the names are the common fare; lots of Johns, Thomases, Williams, Marys, Sarahs, etc. Then I come across the name 'Apollonia', not once, but twice!

Each example was born about thirty years apart, in different areas, and both were illegitimate daughters with no fathers listed. As of yet, I can't see a family connection.

Was the name Apollonia somehow linked to illegitimacy, or is it just an incredible coincidence?  ;D

Offline ThrelfallYorky

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:31 BST (UK) »
I'd assume that the name is somehow a female version of Apollo, the Greek God? Although he - like all the other Gods - was pretty free with his favours, I'd not assume there would be any particular connection with illegitimacy?
Threlfall (Southport), Isherwood (lancs & Canada), Newbould + Topliss(Derby), Keating & Cummins (Ireland + lancs), Fisher, Strong& Casson (all Cumberland) & Downie & Bowie, Linlithgow area Scotland . Also interested in Leigh& Burrows,(Lancashire) Griffiths (Shropshire & lancs), Leaver (Lancs/Yorks) & Anderson(Cumberland and very elusive)

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:39 BST (UK) »
Apollonia is the Latin feminine form of the Greek male name Apollonios, from Apollo.

Stan
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Offline andrewalston

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:40 BST (UK) »
A quick search of FreeBMD and following up a sample of half a dozen in the GRO index found no obvious illegitimacies.

The same was true of what appears to be the male equivalent "Apollos".
Looking at ALSTON in south Ribble area, ALSTEAD and DONBAVAND/DUNBABIN etc. everywhere, HOWCROFT and MARSH in Bolton and Westhoughton, PICKERING in the Whitehaven area.

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Online M_ONeill

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:46 BST (UK) »
Yeah, I thought it probably  didn't have anything to do with illegitimacy - I just thought it was an interesting coincidence. ;D

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 11 July 19 16:54 BST (UK) »
Saint Apollonia is the the patron saint of dentistry. https://www.drbunn.com/faq/st-apollonia-patron-saint-of-dentistry

Stan
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Online M_ONeill

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 11 July 19 17:03 BST (UK) »
Saint Apollonia is the the patron saint of dentistry. https://www.drbunn.com/faq/st-apollonia-patron-saint-of-dentistry

Stan

A couple of months ago I was in Remagen and visited the church of St. Apollinaris, a lesser known Syrian martyr of the early church. He is apparently the patron saint of gout, epilepsy and venereal disease!

Offline Andrew Tarr

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 11 July 19 18:26 BST (UK) »
One of the rail stations near the harbour in Lisbon is named Santa Apolonia ....
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Offline Pheno

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Re: The name 'Apollonia'
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 11 July 19 18:27 BST (UK) »
If you suffered from all of those I should think you would be in need of a saint!

Pheno
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