Genealogy Chat

Just googled this: FORENAMES In earlier times, in Scotland, the following traditional naming pattern was adopted by the majority of families. * the first son was named after his paternal grandfather * the second son after his maternal grandfather * the third son after his father * the first daughter after her maternal grandmother * the second daughter after her paternal grandmother * the third daughter after her mother I wondered if a similar pattern was discernable in English fore-names? Mark

Yes, this is very true and only became unfashionable recently. I am 30 this year and it was only in my generation in my family that this tradition seems to have been ignored! The same names have been used in my family tree going as far back as the 1700's. It seems to make it slightly easier to find people! I'm not sure how it works in England!

It does happen in a few cases with my English ancestors, but not quite as rigidly as it seems to be in Scotland. Kath. x

I hoped my Scottish lot would follow this traddition as well there is about 150 in my tree dating back to 1755, but to date none of them have. Most appear to name their first born sons after themselves and not the grandfather.