Traditional Scottish naming pattern query

[doddie]

I am familiar with the traditional naming pattern that was popularly used in Scotland, but have one question. If a particular Christian name has been used once already was there a formal system for choosing an alternative or was it random. The reason I ask is that in one of my family lines the first son was named Alexander (after his 'father's father'). The third son was named George but technically should have been called Alexander (after his 'father's father's father') but for obvious reasons wasn't. Would the choice of George have been made according to another naming pattern convention or just made randomly?

Regards

Doddie

[SarahND]

Hello Doddie,
I always understood that the third son was named after the father. See this from Scotlands People: http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... ?r=551&561

Traditional naming patterns
Scots often named children by following a simple set of rules:

1st son named after father's father
2nd son named after mother's father
3rd son named after father
1st daughter named after mother's mother
2nd daughter named after father's mother
3rd daughter named after mother

Was the father's name George?

Best wishes,
Sarah

[doddie]

Hi Sarah,

The father was Alexander as was his father. It is interesting to note that you have possibly highlighted differences in naming patterns. A while back I downloaded the same Scottish naming pattern from separate websites. It starts as follows:

'First son is named for the Father's Father
Second son is named for the Mother's Father
Third son is named for the Father's Father's Father
Fourth son is named for the Mother's Mother's Father'

And so on. The naming of daughter's follows a similar pattern but with maternal relevance, obviously. I have posted the link for one of the naming patterns I found.

www.halmyre.abel.co.uk/Family/naming.htm

Regards

Doddie

[SarahND]

The father was Alexander as was his father.

Oh well it was a nice try. I would think that George was someone they were fond of-- mother's brother? Favorite uncle? But I suppose it could have been just a name they liked. Which century are we talking about? Could there be a witness at baptism/christening by that name who stood in as a godfather of sorts?

Cheers,
Sarah

[doddie]

1830's/1840s in Cullen, Banffshire. I will need to see if I can establish which is the definitive naming pattern in Scotland. There is obviously a considerable difference in certain instances (e.g. the third son) which could make it tricky for somebody trying to establish names using the naming pattern and might send them on wild goose chase. If memory serves, the original parish record for the marriage of the relevant parents (Alexander Stewart and Elspet Grant) was pretty scant on detail (two and a half lines) with no mention of witnesses, but I will need to double check that.

Regards

Doddie

[trish1]

Hi Sarah,

The father was Alexander as was his father. It is interesting to note that you have possibly highlighted differences in naming patterns. A while back I downloaded the same Scottish naming pattern from separate websites. It starts as follows:

'First son is named for the Father's Father
Second son is named for the Mother's Father
Third son is named for the Father's Father's Father
Fourth son is named for the Mother's Mother's Father'

And so on. The naming of daughter's follows a similar pattern but with maternal relevance, obviously. I have posted the link for one of the naming patterns I found.

http://www.halmyre.abel.co.uk/Family/naming.htm

Regards

Doddie

I've not heard of this pattern - the one my families have used is the pattern as given by Sarah

1st son named after father's father
2nd son named after mother's father
3rd son named after father
1st daughter named after mother's mother
2nd daughter named after father's mother
3rd daughter named after mother


Once the 6 (or less depending on duplicates) names were used, the most common names used thereafter in my families were the names of siblings, siblings-in-law and the siblings (and their partners) of the children's grandparents. Later in the 1800s the name of the local doctor or other person of prominence in the community was used.

Trish