How to pronounce Heth?

[M. Smith]

I know the most common way to pronounce Heth is like "Heath", but I was told by a historian at a site that Heth apparently wrote that it is pronounced how it is spelled. I can't seem to find any supporting evidence though and I'm wondering if this claim is true.

 

[huskerblitz]

I know the most common way to pronounce Heth is like "Heath", but I was told by a historian at a site that Heth apparently wrote that it is pronounced how it is spelled. I can't seem to find any supporting evidence though and I'm wondering if this claim is true.

It depends, honestly. Is the name from the Hebrew origin or Scottish? And it can depend on the family.

We have a family name around here spelled Kocera but different families pronounce it very differently. Heck, I have family members (distant cousins) that pronounce our last name differently. Same is true for first names.

 

[M. Smith]

It depends, honestly. Is the name from the Hebrew origin or Scottish? And it can depend on the family.

We have a family name around here spelled Kocera but different families pronounce it very differently. Heck, I have family members (distant cousins) that pronounce our last name differently. Same is true for first names.

I probably should've specified, I'm asking how Henry Heth pronounced his name.

 

[RedRover]

From 1899, the general's daughter's associates say its' pronounced as if "Heath."

 

[R. Porter]

A quick check of Ancestry.com shows that Gen. Henry Heth's mother was Gen. George Pickett's aunt, making the two generals first cousins. Gen. Heath's sister, Elizabeth Chevallie Heth, married Thomas Vaden, and their daughter, Virginia Michaux Vaden, married my grandmother's uncle, Benjamin Pierson Owen, Jr. As I recall, my grandmother always pronounced his name as "Heath." Back in her day the correct pronunciation of family names was a mark of whether you belonged in Virginia upper social circles or you were just a poser. Also, Wikipedia says to pronounce it "Heath" although it gives no citation for it.

I thought the fact that Pickett and Heath were cousins was interesting. Wikipedia says that they both graduated at the bottom of their class at West Point. Pickett first and then Heth the following year in 1847.

 

[Rhea Cole]

I encourage everyone to google the meaning of the word "heth." For a start it is the 8th letter of the Hebrew alphabet… it just goes on & on.

Since the letter "H" in Spanish has no sound, it would be pronounced "et".

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I've only ever heard it pronounced Heath, but I blame the ice cream.

 

[rpkennedy]

Some of his men wrote his name phonetically and spelled it as "Heath". That's generally my go-to.

Ryan

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

From 1899, the general's daughter's associates say its' pronounced as if "Heath."

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Excellent reply, @RedRover. I always pronounced it like "Heck."

 

[lelliott19]

From 1899, the general's daughter's associates say its' pronounced as if "Heath."

View attachment 558971

I just LOVE these "how to pronounce" threads. I've always pronounced it Heath --- not Heth (like heck) but people make faces when I do. I just keep doing it anyway because you know -- I think it's correct.

Cleburne -- I do that one too. People make faces but if you're from the South, we have counties named Cleburne county and they are ALWAYS pronounced Clee-burn not Clay-burn.

Don't even get me started on Lafayette McLaws and Lafayette, Georgia (near Chickamauga).

 

[Wizard of Cozz]

I just LOVE these "how to pronounce" threads. I've always pronounced it Heath --- not Heth (like heck) but people make faces when I do. I just keep doing it anyway because you know -- I think it's correct.

Cleburne -- I do that one too. People make faces but if you're from the South, we have counties named Cleburne county and they are ALWAYS pronounced Clee-burn not Clay-burn.

Don't even get me started on Lafayette McLaws and Lafayette, Georgia (near Chickamauga).

I've always pronounced Heth as HEATH
I've always pronounced Cleburn as Clay-burn
I've always pronounced Lafayette as Law-Fi-Yet

 

[121st PA Vols]

I just LOVE these "how to pronounce" threads. I've always pronounced it Heath --- not Heth (like heck) but people make faces when I do. I just keep doing it anyway because you know -- I think it's correct.

Cleburne -- I do that one too. People make faces but if you're from the South, we have counties named Cleburne county and they are ALWAYS pronounced Clee-burn not Clay-burn.

Don't even get me started on Lafayette McLaws and Lafayette, Georgia (near Chickamauga).

And don't forget Lt. Hazlett (artillery LRT) with relatives in an article saying it's Haze as in atmospherics not Has as most of us pronounce it. Bat D, 5th US still works.
** An online site also calls it Haze.

 

[huskerblitz]

I've always pronounced Lafayette as Law-Fi-Yet

Law-fay-et (Indiana)

Honestly, the only correct way to pronounce a name is how the family themselves pronounces it.

 

[R. Porter]

It's not Cleh-burn with a letter "e"as in "heck"?

 

[infomanpa]

Law-fay-et (Indiana)

Honestly, the only correct way to pronounce a name is how the family themselves pronounces it.

Also, from the spelling, it would be pronounced that way in the French language.

 

[lelliott19]

It's not Cleh-burn with a letter "e"as in "heck"?

Most people pronounce it Clay-burn. But if you are from the South, one of the States that has a Cleburne County, you pronounce it Clee-burn. (with a long e sound as in "feet.")

Like @huskerblitz said, the only correct way to pronounce a name is how the family pronounces it.

 

[Belfoured]

Most people pronounce it Clay-burn. But if you are from the South, one of the States that has a Cleburne County, you pronounce it Clee-burn. (with a long e sound as in "feet.")

Like @huskerblitz said, the only correct way to pronounce a name is how the family pronounces it.

Have fun with Col/Brig. Gen. Wlodzimierz Krzyzanowski, Brigade Commander, 3rd Division, XI Corps. No cheating ...

 

[Wizard of Cozz]

Have fun with Col/Brig. Gen. Wlodzimierz Krzyzanowski, Brigade Commander, 3rd Division, XI Corps. No cheating ...

Vlodamirs Shizanowski

 

[Belfoured]

Vlodamirs Shizanowski

I thought he coached Duke in hoops ...

 

[iron bender]

The Texas Cleburne is pronounced 'Cleeburn'. I always get a kick out of new radio hosts mispronouncing local town names. They really screw up Waxahachie, Lancaster, Graford and Mexia. You think you'd have a local give tips, but I guess the point gets across. No harm