Genealogy Chat

Hi, It happened to me. The very first ancestor I researched, I obtained the birth certificate to find (so I thought) he lied about his age. I told all my family that he had lied then through someone I met on here it appeared that his fathers mother had a child who died whom she named that particular name and because it was unusual (very) I assumed the wrong thing, I have since got the correct birth cert which corresponds with what is written on his gravestone. I was very naive then, but with the help of the people I have met through Genes Connected whom are more experienced than me, I am more experienced now. As they say, you live and learn which is very true. Best wishes karen

My ancestors chose to name children the same as there brothers and sisters, i.e George would name 1st born George Georges brother James would then call one of his sons George aswell, and George 1st would call one of his sons James etc etc and they were all born around the same dates and areas, plus they all had around 11 children each. Nearly every one of them used a deceased childs name again, and so did there extended family. What chance have I got!!!

Thanks a lot everyone. That definitely ties up a few things (and no doubt will open up new questions!) Thanks for the tip on the Scottish naming. All my ancestors are Scottish (so far) and I was unaware of this but had noticed some patterns emerging. Lynne

It seems the first child did not even have to die. See the Thomas, Thomas, Thomas thread on the Reg Office board. Someone found a family where all the sons had the first name Thomas and only the middle names identified them. What chance do we have?!!! Anne

I've found it very common in my family. The use of the Scottish naming pattern was very strong: 1st son named after paternal grandfather 2 maternal grandfather 3 father 1st daughter named after maternal grandmother 2 paternal grandmother 3 mother and if the child happened to die in infancy (or whilst the parents were still able to bear more children) then it was usual to re-use the name. Future generations also used the names, as did each sibling, for their children. This leads to much confusion and is only saved by a similar fondness for using the mother's or grandmother's maiden name as middle name for the child thereby tracking the generations - Dunbar Smith, Dunbar Smith Dyson, Dunbar Dyson Beck, Dunbar Dyson Beck Thomson, Dunbar Dyson Beck Little Thomson. K.

Lynne It's very likely. It has happened quite a lot in my family. One child was christened Elizabeth Hannah after her 2 deceased sisters Elizabeth and Hannah. Jeanette

Hi! It was not uncommon (particularly in 18th & 19th centuries) for couples to name a surviving child the same name as a previously deceased child as many families carried names through generations. Often children carried the same middle name as well (for the same reason and because infantile death was common) So you have probably hit on this anomaly!! Good luck Di in Sydney

Is it possible that a couple could have had a child that passed away in infancy and then given the same first name to a subsequent child? This would clear up some births and deaths that don't match up for me. If it did happen, how common does it appear to be? Thanks for your help Lynne