Middle names became commonplace in Baptism Registers in Orkney in the early 19th century, right across the social spectrum. At the lower end of the spectrum the surname of the local laird or Minister became a popular middle name; at the upper end the surnames of maternal ancestors were popular. This practice seems to have replaced the earlier usage of "alias" (today's "aka") names as a means of distinguishing several "John Smiths" (up there the "Magnus Fletts") in the same district. It may have eased, but certainly did not wholly replace, the occasional practice of two siblings being given the same (single) chirstian name, even (very occasionally) when the elder sibling had not died! Presumably nicknames resolved the confusion at the time; of course the parents were not concerned about the problems they left for later genealogists!! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Malcolm Paterson" <mdp1@sympatico.ca> To: <DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 7:07 PM Subject: Re: [D-G LIST] frequency of middle names > Some notes: Middle names were seldom specified in Christenings or Birth > registrations, but they tended to show up in other records in later life. > The practice of giving middle names began in the last half of the 19th C. > and became more common after 1875. Middle names were often given to > distinguish a child who had been given the name of a sibling who had died > young. My great-grandfather was Baptized Thomas Douglas; Thomas was his > father's name and an older brother of that name had died. Later in life, > my g-gf became known as Thomas Butler Douglas, Butler being his mother's > ms. Girls were more likely to be given middle names than boys; the name > was very often the mother's or maternal grandmother's name. > > These are mostly generalities and there are no doubt instances to > contradict any of these statements, but I think they are largely valid. > > Cheers! > Malcolm > ----- Original Message ----- >> >> Hi there all >> >> Someone on the Montreal list has stated quiet categorically that: >> >> snip >> >> in Scotland they did not give >> out middle names very often in the time frame of her birth (1789) unless >> children were illigitamate that is >> >> snip >> >> I have done a spot check in an almanac and found tons - for people who >> would >> have been born in that timeframe.But these were people like ministers and >> lawyers. really posh types tend to have strings of extra names, but >> that's >> different I think. >> >> In my own family, the habit was well-established by the mid-19thC. I >> think >> the first name and given name were often the given name and surname of a >> grandparent. But usually I only have one child per generation with an >> extra >> moniker - or only one I know about anyway. >> >> Apart from our research, middle names would have been very useful where >> cousins were being named after the same grandfather or grandmother (for >> example). >> >> But is the person I quoted generally correct?. Were middle names rare in >> the >> 18thC? Or was it an establishment habit that the aspirational middle >> classes >> and artisans picked up on. >> >> Did people have more middle names than we know about - because they were >> not >> registered on the census? >> >> Can anyone put a date on these trends. And what about the illegitimate >> thing? >> >> I have chosen to post this to the D&G list as you are the most >> knowledgeable >> ones I know.....;-) >> >> Judy >> >> >> >> >> ==== DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY Mailing List ==== >> ********************************************************************* >> If you have any problems with this list or any of its members please >> contact the listowner....Tom Welch....tomas@directcon.net >> ******************************************************************** >> >> > > ______________________________