Did you know that many families followed patterns when naming their children? This article will explore the most common naming systems in England, Ireland and Scotland. Not all families adhered to these patterns, but many did, some very rigidly. This article will consider how naming patterns can provide clues as to further ancestry.
Common Naming Patterns
Although there were variations, the general naming pattern in England and Ireland was as follows:
- First son: named after father’s father
- Second son: named after mother’s father
- Third son: named after father
- Fourth son: named after father’s eldest brother
- First daughter: named after mother’s mother
- Second daughter: named after father’s mother
- Third daughter: named after mother
- Fourth daughter: named after mother’s eldest sister
In Scotland, the traditional naming pattern was the same, except that the fourth sons and daughters could be named after anyone, not necessarily their aunt or uncle. But some Scots followed a different pattern:
- First son: named after father’s father
- Second son: named after mother’s father
- Third son: named after father’s father’s father
- Fourth son: named after mother’s mother’s father
- Fifth son: named after father’s mother’s father
- Sixth son: named after mother’s father’s father
- Seventh through to tenth sons: named after father’s great-grandfathers
- Eleventh to fourteenth sons: named after mother’s great-grandfathers
- First daughter: named after mother’s mother
- Second daughter: named after father’s mother
- Third daughter: named after mother’s father’s mother
- Fourth daughter: named after father’s father’s mother
- Fifth daughter: named after mother’s mother’s mother
- Sixth daughter: named after father’s mother’s mother
- Seventh through to tenth daughters: named after mother’s great-grandmothers
- Eleventh to fourteenth daughters: named after father’s great-grandmothers
Have you ever seen a name like “Henry Myhill Pike”? If you notice a given name (or middle name) that looks like a surname, take note of this clue. Was the child named after a friend or relative? Could “Myhill” have been the mother’s maiden name?
How Naming Patterns Help Researchers
How can knowing common naming patterns help you trace your ancestry? Consider a common scenario:
Suppose you’ve traced your family in England to the 1851 census, when your direct ancestor was living in a small country town. Let’s call him Elias Smith. The census tells you that Elias Smith was born in London, which presents a real challenge, as his surname is rather common. Not so much a problem in this small town, however, which allows you to find the birth records for Elias’ children. You already know Elias’ mother’s name, Mary, but you want to know his father’s name.
Continuing this example, Elias’ wife’s name is Hannah. Suppose you also know both of her parents’ names: Robert and Ann. Now look at the names of Elias and Hannah’s children. The three eldest daughters, in order of age, are named Ann, Mary and Hannah. The three eldest sons, in order, are named Thomas, Robert and Elias.
Whilst we can’t be completely certain, it does look like this family were following the English naming pattern. If they did, then the eldest son, Thomas, was probably named after Elias’ father. Knowing this could help us identify Elias’ baptism record, and perhaps even locate other members of the family.
Have you seen any of these naming patterns in your family tree?
