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My grandmother was called Ercell. She was born in 1916 in Virginia, USA. I'm curious if anyone has a guess where the name might have come from. She was apparently called this by the nanny and it stuck as her name. When she was 60 she applied for her passport and found out her legal birth name was actually Nathalie!
A few other girls were officially named Ercel, Ersel and Ercell in 1916.
Is it just a fad name that mimicked the sound of Estelle (very popular where she was born)?
Is it a creative spelling of Ursel? There is a lot of German influence in the area she was born in.
The name seems to have been trouble for the census takers. At three she was recorded as Ursille and at 13 she was written down as Estelle. From 23 on she was Ercell in the census.
A few other girls were officially named Ercel, Ersel and Ercell in 1916.
Is it just a fad name that mimicked the sound of Estelle (very popular where she was born)?
Is it a creative spelling of Ursel? There is a lot of German influence in the area she was born in.
The name seems to have been trouble for the census takers. At three she was recorded as Ursille and at 13 she was written down as Estelle. From 23 on she was Ercell in the census.
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