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Current
News of the NASCAR CIRCUIT
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Oliver
Springs Historical Society Newsletter - April, 2009 |
50
YEAR REUNION |
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Classmates
1941-1953 |
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Class
of 1953
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| What
is the meaning of the name? The name Stonecipher in Tennessee did
not come about until about 1850. Prior to that it was spelled in various
ways, primarily Steinsifer. According to the "Dictionary of the German and English Language" by G.J. Adler, 1848, Appleton Company, NY; revised in 1869, the word "Stein" means a stone or a rock. "Seifer" has to do with soap and soap-making or the washer of ore. Combined Steinseifer means a person who makes soap, washes ore or polishes stone. I personally tend to think that it meant an ore washer as the Stonecipher's that came to Virginia under the patronage of General Spotswood were there to be iron workers. Prior to the 1500's surnames did not exist. People were called as an example what their occupation was, i.e., John the Baker, Thomas the Cooper, etc. Others adopted names from where they lived and their surroundings. The Stonecipher's obviously adopted what their occupation was at that time. |