What’s in a Name? The Tale of Two Jeremiahs

What's in a name? 

Names often carry stories—they’re chosen with meaning, with memory. I was named after my grandmother, a gesture that ties me to her even though we never met. My brother’s middle name? Passed down from our father. 

Jeremiah 

The name Jeremiah is derived from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu, which is composed of two elements: "Yah," a shortened form of the name Yahweh (the Hebrew name for God), and "rami," meaning "to loosen" or "to raise". 

Jeremiah is a prominent figure in the Old Testament, known for his prophetic ministry and the Book of Jeremiah, which contains his prophecies and laments. 

In English, it's also the basis for the name Jeremy. Beyond its literal meaning, Jeremiah can also be seen as symbolizing hope, faith, and divine promise, particularly within the context of the biblical narrative.

In my family tree, I have two Jeremiahs. One on my paternal side and one on my maternal side. 

Jeremiah W.  Miller (my second great-granduncle) and Jeremiah Miley Spahr (my third great-grandfather).

The reason I've taken note of these two men is that they not only share a name, but they both committed murder. 

Whenever I research my family tree, I can’t help but daydream—maybe I’m distantly related to someone famous. A legendary musician, a celebrated writer, a forgotten royal... But I never expected the fame to come from something darker. I certainly didn’t imagine I’d uncover multiple relatives known not for greatness, but for murder.

Jeremiah Miley Spahr’s story is brought to life in Scott Mingus’s compelling and thoroughly researched book, Marauders & Murderers: Civil War Mysteries of York County, Pa.

https://a.co/d/aTlkb2T

https://yorkblog.com/cannonball/a-murder-in-warrington-townshi/

Spahr walked home from the Third Battle of Winchester to find his horse had been stolen. He took vigilante justice into his own hands and formed a lynch mob. Spahr murdered and hid the body of the horse thief with the help of seven others. The body was eventually found, a grand jury was convened and Spahr got off, no punishment. His obituary remembers him as a Civil War veteran and father, with no mention of lynch mobs and murder. 

Jeremiah W. Miller's story is told through various newspaper articles published in 1890. He and his wife did not get along. He often accused her of infidelity. In a jealous rage, he shot her and then turned the gun on himself. His nine children were witnesses to the entire tragedy. No family members attended Miller's funeral. He was buried in Mount Zion Churchyard, only yards away from the man his father murdered in 1856. (That's an entirely different tragic story, and I'll write about that another time.) 

Exploring your family tree can be full of surprises. You never know what you’ll discover—hidden stories, unexpected connections, long-forgotten truths. One thing is certain: every story, no matter how joyful or painful, deserves to be told. The good, the bad, and even the uncomfortable chapters all form the rich tapestry of my family’s history. These memories aren’t just worth preserving—they’re worth learning from. The past holds powerful lessons, and it shapes who we are today.

Jeremiah Miley Spahr at his home in Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania 

Newspaper articles from August 1890- Jeremiah W. Miller