I've often wondered the same myself, how did they get their names?? Some are self explanatory (9 patch, card trick, split rail) but I don't know when they came into being.
I only know of one, and it's one of my favorite block (and I love to make it in Red White Blue!). Fifty-Four Forty or flight.
Here's a link that explains it.
http://geography.about.com/od/politi...440orfight.htm