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Archiver > GALLAGHER > 2001-06 > 0992319424


From: "O'Golly" <>
Subject: [Gallagher] Irish Naming Patterns
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 22:17:24 -0600


The recent query concerning the name Hilda led me to recall an interesting bit
of trivia concerning Irish genealogy which may aid in research. Ever noticed
that a handful of given names are extremely popular in your ancestral lines?
That may be because many Irish families actually had a naming tradition. It
is not universal, of course, and regional differences apply, but here it is:

• The tradition of given names in Ireland was:

- Oldest son named after the Father's father.

- 2nd son named after the Mother's father.

- 3rd son named after the Father.

- 4th son named after the Father's oldest brother.

- Oldest daughter named after the Mother's mother.

- 2nd daughter named after the Father's mother.

- 3rd daughter named after the Mother.

- 4th daughter named after the Mother's oldest sister.

- 2nd wife's oldest daughter named after the first wife, using her full name.

- Regional differences exist, for example, in West Cork, the oldest daughter
seems to have been named after the father's mother, not the mother's mother.

In my son's case, we did this (of a sorts) even though I was unaware of the
tradition; my eldest son is named Monroe after my father, and my second son's
middle name is Russell, after my wife's husband.

Someday I'd like to discover the reason's this was practiced!
--
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