ROOTS-L Archives

From: Shirley Hornbeck <>
Subject: Naming Patterns
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 20:40:18 -0700

19th Century Naming Patterns:

First son: named for his paternal grandfather.
Second son: named for his maternal grandfather.
Third son: named after father or father's paternal grandfather.
Fourth son: named after father's oldest brother or mother's paternal
grandfather.
Fifth son: named after mother's eldest brother or father's material
grandfather.
Sixth son: named after father's second oldest brother or for mother's
maternal grandfather.

First dau: named for maternal grandmother.
Second dau: named for her paternal grandmother.
Third dau: named after mother or for mother's maternal grandmother.
Fourth dau: named after mother's oldest sister or for father's paternal
grandmother.
Fifth dau: named after father's eldest sister or for mother's paternal
grandmother.
Sixth dau: named after mother's second oldest sister or for father's
paternal grandmother.

With people being what they are, there were all sorts of variations, some
covered by rules and some by family decision. It was customary to name
the next daughter/son born within a second marriage for the deceased
husband/wife. If a father died before his child was born, the child was
often named for him. If a mother died in childbirth, that child, if a
girl, was usually named for the mother. Another child was commonly named
for a child who had died within the family.

DUTCH NAMING PATTERNS:

The custom was that the lst son be named for paternal grandfather; 2nd son
named for his maternal grandfather; lst daughter for her maternal
grandmother; 2nd daughter for her paternal grandmother. If 4 children were
born then all 4 grandparents are known.


More tips at my This and That Genealogy Tips page in my signature below.


----Shirley Hornbeck -
MY HOME PAGE: <http://www.s-hornbeck.com/home.htm>;
HORNBECK SURNAME RESOURCE CETER:
<http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck/hsrc/home.htm>;
THIS & THAT GENEALOGY TIPS: <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck>;
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• Naming Patterns by Shirley Hornbeck <>