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Archiver > SCT-FIFE > 1999-09 > 0936309750


From: "Bill Burland" <>
Subject: Re: Where Do Family Names Come From?
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 17:02:30 -0500


I, too, have a "family name" problem. I have been unable to find out why my
ggg grandmother, Mary Telfert Marr, was given that middle name. She is a
fifth child of nine, and the only one who was christened with a middle name.
The family was from St. Monance, Fife, and I have not found any Telferts
there. Any suggestions?
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Page <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 12:39 PM
Subject: Where Do Family Names Come From?


> For Jill Martin:
>
> Hello Jill
> You were wondering where your husband's middle name of BRAND originated.
The first thought is that such names are family names and, in most cases,
they are. I have 2 middle names and had to go back as far as my great great
grandparents to find their origin. However, from time to time, children are
given the name of the minister who baptised them so it is worth while
checking to see who he was.
> As a variation on this theme, I recently came across someone in Fife who
was given the name of the factor on the estate where his father worked. I
only knew this as this person was listed as one of the witnesses at the
baptism. One thing you can be sure of is that there was some specific
reason for the name being given, as opposed to today when many names are
fairly arbitrarily awarded!
>
> Don Page
> Edinburgh
>
> ______________________________

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