The Battle of Trafalgar — during which an outnumbered Royal Navy fleet (under Horatio Nelson) soundly defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet (under Napoleon Bonaparte) — took place off the south-western coast of Spain, near Cape Trafalgar, on October 21, 1805.
The battle cost Nelson his life, but the decisive victory “cemented Britain’s reputation as ruler of the seas.”
Dozens of babies in England were given the name “Trafalgar,” typically as a middle, over the next few years. Most of them were boys, but several were girls. Some examples…
- John Trafalgar Black, b. 1806 in England
- John Trafalgar Cotton, b. 1807 in England
- Joseph Trafalgar Dowding, b. circa 1806 in England
- Jane Trafalgar Grapes, b. 1805 in England
- Among her siblings were William Nile (b. circa 1798), Charles Wellington (b. circa 1811), and Charlotte Waterloo (b. circa 1815) — likely named for the Battle of the Nile, the Duke of Wellington, and the Battle of Waterloo.
- William Trafalgar Hannah, b. 1806 in England
- Richard Trafalgar Hillgrove, b. 1807 in England
- Robert Trafalgar May, b. 1807 in England
- Louisa Trafalgar Priske, b. 1805 in England
- John Trafalgar Salmon, b. 1805 in England
- Samuel Trafalgar Sparks, b. 1807 in England
A good number of these babies — including Nelson Trafalgar Black (b. 1805 in Scotland) and Horatio Trafalgar Taylor (b. 1806 in England) — were also named in honor of the late admiral.
The Spanish place-name Trafalgar can be traced back to a pair of Arabic words. The first, taraf, means “edge, extremity” (in reference to the cape itself), and the second may mean “west.”
Sources: Battle of Trafalgar – Wikipedia, Battle of Trafalgar – Britannica, Battle of Trafalgar Timeline – National Maritime Museum, Cape Trafalgar – Wikipedia, FamilySearch.org
Image: Adapted from Battle of Trafalgar (1836) by William Clarkson Stanfield
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