In the US: Do you have a relative named Lorenzo? Or Lorenzo Dow?

+8 votes
359 views
In all the various genealogy work that I do (in the US), on multiple families, I come across men, typically in the 1800s named Lorenzo. Sometimes, they also have the middle name of Dow.

It seems to be an unusual name, Lorenzo Dow. Especially when there didn't seem to be any prior use of these names within the family. I have run across this too, and I have also wondered about this name.

Well, if you have seen this too, you might be interested in this Wikipedia article about the man, Lorenzo Dow, who all these people are named after:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Dow

Some excerpts:

"Lorenzo Dow (October 16, 1777 – February 2, 1834) was an eccentric itinerant American evangelist, said to have preached to more people than any other preacher of his era. He became an important figure and a popular writer. His autobiography at one time was the second best-selling book in the United States, exceeded only by the Bible."

"His influence and popularity during his life led to many children of the early 19th century, especially on the American frontier, to be named after him."

"His autobiography became a bestseller and the 1850 U.S. Census counts Lorenzo as one of the most popular first names in America."

And, he has a profile here on WikiTree:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dow-1037

Thought you might be interested in this. And if you have someone in your family named Lorenzo, or Lorenzo Dow, you can link to the Wikipedia article, to show who they're named after.
WikiTree profile: Lorenzo Dow
in The Tree House by Eric Weddington G2G6 Pilot (514k points)
edited by Eric Weddington
See also the 'Second Great Awakening'. A fascinating time in the development of the varieties of American religion.
Thanks Eric, I have wondered, and that makes perfect sense now!

There is a pdf of a letter written by him to his father in June 1801 here [https://www.lycoming.edu/umarch/chronicles/2005/9.lorenzo.pdf]

Thank you for this!  I have LOTS of relatives named Lorenzo  Dow, and although they were named after a famous man of that name, did not know who.

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