We’ve gotten a few questions about Claire’s middle name, Elizabeth, and thought we’d share some of the history behind a name inspired by both sides of our family.

On her mother’s side, Claire Elizabeth is named for her great-great-aunt, Elizabeth Emma Lampe Erickson (pictured here a few weeks ago at a Lampe family reunion in Glacier National Park). Aunt Betty, as she is widely known, is the matriarch of Katherine’s dad’s family. Claire shares the honor of being named after Aunt Betty with her great-aunt, Susan Elizabeth Heidel Lotz. Born in 1915, Betty celebrated her 92nd birthday just one day after Claire was born. She grew up in Philadelphia and Oak Park, Illinois. She has lived all over country including Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Ohio, and even Hollywood, were she worked for a movie producer. Betty currently lives in Iowa City and still drives her own car.

On her father’s side, Claire Elizabeth is named for at least four generations of Elizabeths. The first was Claire’s great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Dunne (pictured here on the right in about 1915 with her daughter, Claire’s great-grandmother Eileen Dunne Corboy who we know as Granny). The second generation of Elizabeths was Claire’s great-aunt, Jeanette Elizabeth Dunne (known as Aunt Tilly). The third is Claire’s grandmother, Mona Elizabeth Corboy West (known to Claire as ‘Nana’ and a frequent and enthusiastic commenter on this blog). And finally, the fourth is Claire’s aunt, Mona Elizabeth West (who is visiting Claire this weekend).