Opening the door to America's colonial past reveals some very antiquated names that were worn by early craftsmen. Many of the names borne by Colonial furniture and clockmakers are what you’d expect — classic biblical names such as Jacob and Solomon, as well as traditional English names like William and Oliver.
 
Along with Jacob and William, other Colonial craftsman names in the US Top 100 include Caleb, Elias, Josiah, Levi, Miles, Samuel, Silas, and Thomas. Among the more surprising names found in furniture directories of the period are Gamaliel, Hercules, Kenelm, and Peregrine.
 
Colonial-era Americans also held onto the trend of Puritanical virtue names, evident in craftsmen named Prudent and Noble. Browse our collection of Colonial Craftsmen names below.

Colonial Craftsmen Names

One of the least known of the Ken names, though could make an intriguing namesake for an outdated Kenneth. 

Kenelm

Irish surname derived from the name Gairbhín, a diminutive of garbh, "rough". It's barely been used as a first name, but could be a similar-yet-different alternative to names like Nolan and Sullivan.

Garvan

Rocking out on the porch with buddies Hubert, Norbert, and Osbert. 

Elbert

Gawen

Gerrard

Gamaliel

Marinus

Believe it or not, Prudence is on the rise for girls in both the US and UK. Could Prudent be next?

Prudent

Zacheus

boy names building

Opening the door to America's colonial past reveals some very antiquated names that were worn by early craftsmen. Many of the names borne by Colonial furniture and clockmakers are what you’d expect — classic biblical names such as Jacob and Solomon, as well as traditional English names like William and Oliver.

Along with Jacob and William, other Colonial craftsman names in the US Top 100 include Caleb, Elias, Josiah, Levi, Miles, Samuel, Silas, and Thomas. Among the more surprising names found in furniture directories of the period are Gamaliel, Hercules, Kenelm, and Peregrine.

Colonial-era Americans also held onto the trend of Puritanical virtue names, evident in craftsmen named Prudent and Noble. Browse our collection of Colonial Craftsmen names below.