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Old Harvard Names

ash13
By ash13
Updated Tue Apr 25 2023
If you bleed Crimson (like me) or are simply looking for something preppy, waspy and ambitious, look no further. Try out some of these family names of individuals and families who featured prominently in Harvard University's illustrious history and even had buildings named after them.
  1. Bertram

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "bright raven"

    • Description:

      Old Norman name last current in the 1930s, and firmly in our 'so far out it will always be out' category – despite its appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter. This is the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster.
  2. Holden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "hollow valley"

    • Description:

      Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the name of its hero, Holden Caulfield -- not coincidentally in tune with the Hudson-Hayden-Colton field of names.
  3. Hollis

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "near the holly bushes"

    • Description:

      Hollis is a rugged, gentle and quietly used name, given to over 200 boys and 150 girls each year in the US. In 2023, it became one of the newest entries to the US Top 1000, where it fits in with the surnames-as-first-names trend, and other familiar choices like Ellis, Silas, and Holden.
  4. Lionel

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "young lion"

    • Description:

      Lionel is one leonine name that hasn't taken off as cousins Leo and Leonardo have, though it did reenter the Top 1000 in 2010 after several years away; it was at its highest point in the 1920s and 1930s.
  5. Lowell

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "young wolf"

    • Description:

      Lowell is an upstanding and somewhat conservative name that calls to mind the genteel patrician families of nineteenth century New England, such as the one poet Robert Lowell was born into. Two other Lowell-surnamed poets are Amy and James Russell.
  6. Kennedy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "misshapen head"

    • Description:

      This attractive surname name still projects that Kennedy family charisma. While it didn't come into widespread use until long after the deaths of martyred heroes President John F. or Senator Robert Kennedy, Kennedy is now one of the most popular unisex names, particularly for girls. This is one name that manages to sound trendy and traditional at the same time.
  7. Thayer

    • Origin:

      French variation of Taylor

    • Meaning:

      "tailor"

    • Description:

      Thayer is an affable, less-common alternative to Taylor, with a much more indirect connection to its occupational source. Actor Thayer David (born David Thayer: Thayer was his father's first name) was known for his roles in Rocky and Dark Shadows.
  8. Quincy

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "estate of the fifth son"

    • Description:

      Quincy is a Presidential surname name that actually sounds both cute and strong when used for a girl. For the first time ever, Quincy joined the Top 1000 roster for girls in 2023, given to over 250 baby girls that year.
  9. Cabot

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "to sail"

    • Description:

      Cabot is an attractive English surname associated with the daring early Italian-born British explorer known as John Cabot; his birth name was Giovanni Caboto.
  10. Willard

    • Origin:

      English from German

    • Meaning:

      "resolutely brave"

    • Description:

      Unfortunate identification with an army of rats in the movie of the same name.
  11. Eliot

    • Origin:

      Variation of Elliot

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is God"

    • Description:

      Sleekened spelling.
  12. Lamont

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "man of law"

    • Description:

      Outmoded comic book choice.
  13. Chauncey

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "chancellor"

    • Description:

      A name halfway between its old milquetoast image and a more jovial Irish-sounding contemporary one.
  14. Winthrop

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "friend's village"

    • Description:

      Proper Bostonian.
  15. Cotton

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      A name heard in Puritan times -- Cotton Mather was a minister involved in the Salem witchcraft trials -- which really deserves modern consideration as it blends nature and softness into a really trendy and wearable masculine name.
  16. Increase

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      One Puritan virtue name unlikely to thrive in the 21st century.
  17. Eaton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "riverside"

    • Description:

      Eaton's similarity to Eton gives it an upscale Old School feel, though in the U.S. a name that sound like eatin' could have teasin' potential. Eaton could also sound like the much-more-familiar Ethan with a tough-guy accent.
  18. Conant

    • Description:

      Conant is an uncommon masculine name with roots as an Old English and French surname. Originally derived from the word 'conan' meaning 'wise' or 'intelligent,' it was typically a family name before occasional use as a first name. Conant has historical significance in American colonial history, with several notable families bearing this surname, particularly in New England. As a first name, it remains exceedingly rare, offering a distinctive option for parents seeking something with historical depth and uniqueness. The name has a sophisticated, academic quality while maintaining a strong, masculine sound. Its rarity means a Conant will likely stand out in any setting.

  19. Peabody

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "having the body of a gnat"

    • Description:

      Peabody is a quintessentially Waspy surname that your child won't thank you for -- either the pea part or the body part, or the meaning part.
  20. Houghton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "place in an enclosure"

    • Description:

      A family name, a bit haughty.