Naming Patterns

While doing some research on a family history this past month I found a really interesting tidbit included in a family tree, so I thought I’d share:

In 18th & 19th Century Britain families generally tended to name their children in a specific pattern as follows:

Males

· First-born Son – father’s father

· Second-born Son – mother’s father

· Third-born Son – father

· Fourth-born Son – father’s eldest brother

· Fifth-born Son – father’s 2nd oldest brother or mother’s oldest brother

Females

· First-born Daughter – mother’s mother

· Second-born Daughter – father’s mother

· Third-born Daughter – mother

· Fourth-born Daughter – mother’s eldest sister

· Fifth-born Daughter – mother’s 2nd oldest sister or father’s oldest sister

A frequently found variation from this pattern is: Eldest son named for Mother’s Father; Second son named for Father’s Father; Eldest daughter named for Father’s Mother; Second daughter named for Mother’s Mother.

Original information can be found here.

Related Posts:

1. A Little Lesson in Irish Names
2. The Clark Mystery