My parents chose my given name without regard for the past and
without knowing that for the past seven generation, and possibly for
prior generations, the first born son on the Thom branch was
baptised Robert. As I researched my Thom branch I realised that
certain given names were repeated and I found that experienced
researchers had written about the existence of
Scottish naming patterns. ***** The existence of naming patterns any
where in the world within a family can be important as such
patterns may
assist researchers establishing connections between
generations. ***** There are several patterns for the
naming children which have been observed by family historians
as having been
practised in Scotland; most particularly from the early 19th
century backwards. The patterns have also been observed in other
countries. By using your search engine to search the
internet, say
for “Scottish naming patterns”, you will find much written
about this subject. Also “how
to”
books may cover the subject. ***** In Scotland, this was described by
Gerald Hamilton-Edwards in his book "In Search of Scottish
Ancestry" in
the chapter entitled 'Naming Customs'. The author stated that
the following was the general custom, with some variations: ***** First given
name ***** First son after paternal
grandfather, Second son after maternal
grandfather, Third son after his father, Fourth son
after his father's eldest brother, Fifth son after his
mother’s eldest brother, and so on.... ***** First daughter after
maternal grandmother Second daughter after paternal
grandmother Third daughter after her mother Fourth
daughter after her mother's eldest sister Fifth daughter
after her father’s eldest sister and so on ***** Sometimes the reverse
applied, that is, the first son was named after the maternal
grandfather, the second son after the paternal grandfather, and
same reverse for the daughters. The sequence can be
upset when the
two grand fathers or grand mothers have the same given name.
This may cause the use of a given name from a prior generation or
uncle/aunt. There are other patterns from the fourth son and
daughter. ***** Surnames as Second Given
Name *****
Another naming
custom in Scotland, which appeared in the early to middle 19th
century, is to use family surnames as a second given name, thus preserving
surnames for at least another generation. This can work back from the
mother’s maiden name to grandparents and so on. *****
Examples can be found on the Mid Chief Tree
(link) -
Patrick Hunter Thoms and
Thomas Watt
Thoms.
***** Biblical
Names ***** It was also common practice among
Quaker families and in some Church of Scotland sects for
parents to give
their children Biblical christian names. This practice
became briefly fashionable in Victorian Britain. ***** Deceased
Children ***** Burial registers for the 18th and 19th
centuries reveal a higher mortality rate for young children
than happens
today. This resulted in another practice in many
countries, including Scotland, where parents would have the first
child of the same sex, born after the death of a child,
baptised with the same name. ***** Unexpected
Variations ***** A pattern may be evident for some
generations, then interrupted by a given name not normally
used within the
family. This may be as a result of the family deciding
to recognise an important person in the life of the family or an important
person in the history of Scotland, for example, the use of
Walter, in
recognition of Sir Walter Scott. ***** An important point about the patterns
of given names over the generations is that researchers should
use such
information as a guide and not as proof of a connection
between generations.
