I have saved a file on tips for naming patterns from other sources for my own information. I hope this is useful. Cathy Murphy Bulls0729@aol.com This first presentation is from an AOL beginners genealogy group. I try to always note who gave the presentation so I can request permission to sent it to someone else. In this case, I inadvertently deleted the date, the name of the group, and the presenter. I sincerely apologize if it's a problem for anyone that I reprint this information, but I do not know from whom to get permission. It does give the source for her/his information. First of all, I want to welcome everyone tonight. This information comes from a lecture I attended given by Marsha Hoffman Rising in 1991. Too often the genealogist focuses research on those individuals bearing the surname and often only in the direct line. For this reason, records which may clarify relationships, "prove" ancestral connections or add evidence to support a hypothesis can be overlooked. It is important that the researcher emphasize the family network rather than linking via surname. This lecture is about finding your family by early naming practices and studying collateral kin. Since data regarding the direct line is often not available, you can make the connections by studying the collateral kin. One of the ways of finding your collateral kin is by utilizing naming practices. In the early colonies, the law of primogeniture was in effect. It is an exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit the father's estate. To ensure that the eldest son inherited, in the event the father died intestate, the eldest son was generally given the same name as his father. The second son was often given the first name of one of his uncles, generally the father's oldest brother. Later, families devised their own system to ensure that their offspring inherited. ie., giving all children the same middle name, denoting the fact that all with that name could inherit, and not just the oldest son. As many families were very large, it is possible to find collateral kin, and thus an earlier ancestor by studying the names of your ancestors siblings. As stated earlier, the eldest son had the same name as his father, the second son, the first name of one of his uncles. (paternal usually, unless the father had no brothers, then a maternal uncle). The middle name was either his mother's maiden name, or grandmother's maiden name. Basically, as more children were born, more maiden names were used, but generally those in the direct line. Great grandmothers, great great grandmothers, etc. Interestingly, after the fifth child, there will be names of famous people. ie, Joseph Wheeler, Robert E. Lee, etc. Second generation immigrants often deviated from the original family names. They often named their children after local heroes. It is not uncommon for a southern family to name male children after famous southern political personalities, such as Robert E. Lee, Francis Marion, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, etc. However, the following generation often returned to the names of the previous generation. Therefore, when you find a generation of "local heroes", don't be discouraged. Ignore the names and try to concentrate on the more common names. This will help guide you back to the earlier ancestors. Women's names follow the same practices as men's names, but generally follow the maternal line. The eldest daughter is often named for her maternal grandmother. Once again maiden names are often used as middle names. Sometimes, if the family is very large, you will only find one or two of the daughters with a maiden name as a middle name. Ironically, to find your female ancestor, you might have to take the first name of the eldest daughter, and the middle name of the second son. Another interesting tidbit regarding women's lines. If you have the marriage record of your ancestor, and have no information about the wife other than her name, make a note of the person that married them. Many times the minister who performed the wedding is a relative. Her name may be different because she was a widow, thus being referred to by her first husband's name, instead of her maiden name. It is often difficult to prove identity when there are several individuals with the same name. Aside from analyzing the family thru the naming trends, one should attempt to learn everything about their ancestor; wife, children, children's spouses, minister, debtors, creditors, occupation, religion, neighbors, siblings, politics, etc. Find his neighbors by studying the description of every parcel of land that he owned. Try to learn as much about his neighbors as possible. If you own primary research, assume this to be true until you find out differently. Reconstruct and track the lives of the various same name people in question. Study the people, not just the names you are looking for.. There are some key principles to remember when researching collateral lines. First, names may change, particularly with women, but the relationships will remain, no matter how often the name changes. The strongest kin ties appear between women. The most enduring bond occurs between mothers and their grown daughters. This means that you may find more information by looking for a different surname than the direct line you are researching. Ties to the wife's kin are generally stronger than those to husband's, unless male ties are crucial to the husband's occupation. It is therefore necessary to learn the occupation of your ancestor. Social relationships among kin are not broken by geographic mobility. This is important because you may be looking in an area where the records have been destroyed. You may find your information from one that is geographically removed from the destruction. Genealogical organizations and literature are based on surnames. Too often, female lines are neglected. Be sure you understand the meaning of kinship terms in the period in which you are working. In colonial times, "in-law" referred to the relationships that we now call "step". KINSHIP TERMS Affinity - relationships which exist because of marital ties. The contemporary term for these relations is "in-laws." Augmented family - extension of nuclear family to include people bound together by law, rather than blood; eg. half siblings, adopted children, step-parents, step-siblings, etc. Aunt - in American society, this term can refer to a woman in four different relative positions: father's sister, mother's sister, father's brother's wife, mother's brother's wife. Brother - in addition to obvious meaning may also include (1) the husband of one's sister (2) the brother of one's wife (3) the husband of one's sister-in-law, (4) half-brother (5) step-brother. Genealogists must also be aware "brother" may refer to a member of one's church. Collateral family - referring to relatives who are "off to one side" i.e. not in the direct lineal ancestry, but who share a common ancestor. In western society, these people are called aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Consanguinity - refers to persons who share common descent or biological heritage. Cousin - very general term in American society referring to someone with whom you share a common ancestor. Can refer to a person occupying relationship on either mother or father's side; may also refer to someone related only by affinity. If this person is in a different generation, the term "removed" is used giving the number of generations apart. Extended family - when families of more than two generations compose a household or relationship. Full sibling - one who has the same biological mother and father (thus the same ancestry) as oneself A half sibling has one of the same parents (and therefore shares only one side of the lineage) as oneself. In Law - in contemporary society, term used to designate someone to whom you are related by your own marriage or that of a sibling. In colonial society, this term also referred to relationships created by the marriage of a parent, currently called "step" relationships. Thus a "mother-in-law" in the 17th century, may have been a father's second wife. Natural child - when the term "natural" is used the researcher should not jump to a conclusion that it denotes an illegitimate relationship. It is meant to indicate a relationship by blood rather than one by marriage or adoption. An illegitimate child may be called "my base son" or "my bastard son." Nephew/Niece - one who is the child of a sibling (or a half-sibling, or step-sibling, or a spouse's sibling, or your spouse's spouse's sibling. Since the term derives from the Latin term, "nepos" meaning grandson, it is possible an early colonial reference may have this meaning. "Now wife"- often assumed that the testator of a will with this term had a former wife. While this may be true, it is more likely the testator is indicating the bequest is intended only for his present wife and not necessarily to any subsequent wife he may have. Donald Lines Jacobus wrote, ".... it is to be doubted whether any other legal phrase has fooled so many of our most experienced genealogists." Nuclear family - a family group consisting of mother, father and dependent children. Step-sibling - one related by virtue of a parent's marriage to an individual with children by a former marriage or relationship. While no relation by blood, there can be strong ties of emotion and tradition between step-siblings. Uncle - in American society this term can refer to a man in four different relative positions: father's brother; mother's brother; father's sister's husband; mother's sisters's husband. Next is a posting from the Research-Howto list From: trace97@pacbell.net (Tom Broadlick) The Illinois US Gen Web has an excellent Web Page that includes a helpful section "Surnames what's in a name". Its URL is http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilgenweb/ Next is a posting from my Jones List From: Ausha74 Hi, One of the best ways I have found to tell whom to search for in the ancestors, is this naming pattern. It was in a book I read and they called it the old Jones naming pattern. But in checking other surnames I find that it does fit them also. Check it with your families and see if it works: The first son is named after the father's father the second son is named after the mother's father the third son is named after the father himself. the fourth through end son is named after a favorite brother or friend (usually of the fathers) the first daughter is named after the mother's mother the second daughter is named after the father's mother the third daughter is named after the mother herself and the fourth through end daughter is named after a favorite sister or friend (usually of the mothers) Of course in order for it to work you would have to know the first and second name of all involved. There are exceptions of course, like if the naming pattern was already satisfied. For instance say the mothers name was Martha and she was named after her mother Martha. Then she names the first girl Martha after her mother, the second she names after the fathers mother, and the third girl's name is now open to other possibilities because she already named a girl after herself, or she could use her middle name. The same is true for the sons also. Especially watch if a child dies with an important name and they rename the baby the same name; usually you would try to put that name into the place where the child died as to follow the naming pattern. I told this to a lady in the Genealogy library one day when she told me that all of her family had named their first daughters Margaret and as I was reciting it she became white as a sheet and started to cry. You see she had followed the naming pattern and hadn't even known that it existed. Then when she started following it backwards she realized that even tho she had a Jones surname, she knew who she was looking for. Hope you find yours. Good research to you all Caline Kitchen Ausha74@aol.com From: rory70@juno.com (Rosemary Shield) Caline is correct about the naming patterns of the Welsh and Irish, except the third son is named for a brother or friend, not the fourth. I found the ancestor of my Joshua Jones this way. A book on him said his father was Evan Jones, yet he waited until his 12th child to name a son Evan. I knew no one of Welsh descent (he was born in PA in 1739) would do this. His first son was William, second John, for his wife's father, third James, for his brother, first daughter for his wife's mother, etc. right down the line. Evan was the last name of his wife's mother. When I first started genealogy I had found a 1771 will of a William Jones in Loudoun Co, VA with sons James and Joshua, but it said Joshua had died shortly after his father. After years of searching I went back to the records of Loudoun Co, and found that this William was in fact the father of my Joshua, and the death of Joshua had been entered in error. Point of all this?------don't throw out any records that may in the future help with your research. I have found the ancestors of several of my lines this way. Rosemary And next a posting from Rowan Roots (NC): Subj: Scotch-Irish From: khodge@gdi.net (Kenneth Hodge) The following pattern was used in the late 1700's to early 1800's. It sometimes can give a clue but not always. The 1st son--named after the fathers father The 2nd son-named after the mother's father The 3rd son -named after the father The 4th son-named after the father's eldest brother The 1st daughter-named after the mother's mother The 2nd daughter- named after the father's mother The 3rd daughter-named after the mother The 4th daughter-named after the mother's eldest sister Ken in Orlando And again, from the Jones list: Is any knowledgeable about traditional Scotch-Irish naming patters? Bob Reid (rreid@ap.org) Subj: Nicknames, Middle Names & Other Clues From: Micki.Jones@MCI.Com (Micki Jones) The forwarded message has some very good tips. Thought it was worth passing along. Hope it is helpful. Thanks, Sharon ... hope you don't mind my sharing this info. Micki Jones From: Sharon McAllister <73372.1745@COMPUSERVE.COM> No hard genealogical data here. I just want to add a bit to the tips Sharon Crawford shared: Nicknames can be VERY important clues -- I have yet to hear anyone who actually knew my father to call him by either of his given names, and I can tell how someone knew him by which nickname is used. But official records and newspaper stories, like his obituary, give only his proper name. I can imagine how hard it would be for someone to find hard information about him starting from family tales. I'm with Sharon, but would add: Record any nicknames you know and ask elderly relatives about other people's nicknames -- you'll probably get some juicy stories. Middle names can also be a lot of help -- or can be quite misleading if the person you're searching for has been known by middle name. One of the things I've learned the hard way is that if no one knows the middle name of a person only a few generations back, that may be because it was the middle name that was used. My gggrandmother, Ellen CROCKET, has been something of a mystery. Recently a photograph came into my possession, labeled "Mary Ellen Crockett Cole" in her granddaughter's handwriting. Maybe, just maybe, this will be the clue I need to break through that particular brick wall. My COLE family is quite a challenge to unscramble. Lots of cousins in the area, some better documented than others did. I have at least four related Wm. COLEs in Deep Fork Township at the same time. Two even had the same middle initial. If I didn't know some of their nicknames and middle names, I'd have an even harder time keeping them straight. Like Sharon said, family tradition can provide great clues but isn't infallible. To make the best use of it, look at how many times the story has been passed down and how long it's been since you heard it. I had the husbands of one greatgrandaunt out of order. I knew which one died and which one survived her, so put them down in that "logical" order. Turns out she'd divorced the first, married the second, and was then widowed -- but divorce was unmentionable when the tale was told. In one case, it took a nickname, a middle name, AND family tradition to solve a mystery. I'd "remembered" a greatgranduncle who died before I was born as Albert Edward COLE. Then found him identified as "A. G. COLE" in some old clippings. Well, could've been a misprint..... Found his obituary: Albert Grant COLE. So who the #$%^&*) was Albert Edward COLE? A figment of my imagination? Nope. Cousin "Ed". I knew that "Ed" was short for Edward and had been frustrated in my attempts to find out his middle name or even initial. I knew his family well, better than the family of Albert Grant COLE, and I felt this was something I should remember myself. Then I found the newspaper clipping about his daughter's wedding -- and he was identified formally as A. E. Cole rather than Ed Cole. And I realized that I had been learning about both branches of the family at about the same time, and the passage of time had simply mixed-up some of those memories. Once that piece of the puzzle fell into place, all of the stuff I'd saved about about both A. G. & A. E. COLE made sense. Often, following Not My COLE has led me to information I hadn't been able to find directly. In a case like this, any and every clue is important. So when in doubt, I urge you to save that questionable piece of information. Just as you wouldn't accept it as gospel without further evidence -- don't reject it unless there's enough counter-evidence to eliminate it as a possibility. It may come in handy someday! Sharon McAllister -- climbing down from her soapbox now.... 73372.1745@compuserve.com