Sometimes the parent is named after a parent, so that is why it would seem out of order. If grandad is named John and his son is named John, then when they name the first boy (grandson) John, you wonder, is it after the father or the grandad whose name I don't know yet? Same with mother/grandmother. Can be tricky, but definitely a clue! I would look at other family groups (like that dad's siblings) to see how they named their children and in what order. If you see a matching pattern, all the better. Also, if you find the baptism records, compare the baby's name with the sponsors. Are they the same? Then the child might be named after the sponsor. On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 11:24 PM, Ms A <sigtab@hotmail.com> wrote: > > @kerrykuzzin: > > Thanks for the response. > > Oh, darn...the naming pattern you posted does not work for my family: the > fourth son (instead of the third son) was named after the father... > and the second daughter (not the third) was named after the mother... > > Dang it! > > Thanks much, though, for posting this. I appreciate it! > Laura > > > > Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:29:02 -0700 > > From: kerrykuzzin@dslextreme.com > > To: beara@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [BEARA] naming patterns and possible clues to ancestry??? > > > > Laura, > > This is the version that I have seen most often and the one I have in my > files: > > > > Children within an Irish family were traditionally named according to the > > following pattern: > > First son after father's father > > Second son after mother's father > > Third son after father > > Fourth son after father's oldest brother > > Fifth son after mother's oldest brother > > First daughter after mother's mother > > Second daughter after father's mother > > Third daughter after mother > > Fourth daughter after mother's oldest sister > > Fifth daughter after father's oldest sister > > > > > > On 7/22/09, Ms A <sigtab@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > I've been a lurker on this Beara list for years, and enjoy all the > posts, > > > and the wealth of valuable info. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! > > > > > > My question for today: > > > > > > How reliable are the naming patterns of children of a particular > Irish-born > > > couple to ascertain the probable names of the parents of said couple? > > > > > > For instance: > > > > > > My ancestors, Eugene Owen Sullivan (born ca 1830, Cork) and Mary Murphy > > > (born ca 1830, Ireland) had the following children, all born in > Hannibal, > > > Marion County, MO, in the 1850's/1860's: > > > > > > Ellen H. Sullivan > > > Mary Ellen Sullivan > > > Daniel Joseph Sullivan > > > John J. Sullivan > > > Timothy J. Sullivan > > > Eugene W. Sullivan > > > > > > I'm at that proverbial "brick wall" with my Eugene Sullivan and Mary > Murphy > > > and don't know where else to turn to try to find their parents or their > > > parishes/townlands in Ireland. > > > > > > So....How "safe" is it for me to use the names of their children as > "clues" > > > that their children were probably named after Eugene and Mary's > > > grandparents, siblings, etc.? And if so, how do the naming patterns > usually > > > work? > > > > > > Any opinions? warnings? > > > > > > Thanks a million!! > > > > > > Laura > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Bing™ brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try > it > > > now. > > > > http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > > BEARA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in > > > the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > > > -- > > Slán, > > Marge in Southern California > > > > Searching: > > Golden, Sullivan, Kelly, Shea, in Kerry and Connecticut > > O'Connor in Kerry > > Fee, Cassidy, Gilbride in Fermanagh, Cavan and Connecticut > > Lynch in Limerick and Connecticut > > Walsh, Stackpole, Garry/Garrey/McGarrey, Donovan in Kildare > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BEARA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Search, add, and share the web’s latest sports > videos. Check it out. > > http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BEARA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >