> -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Mary Legarth > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:31 AM > To: MIDLOTHIAN@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish first Names > > from my research point of view, it seems that the Scottish were guilty > of > giving all their children Nick names, or, shortened versions of names , > that > no one else would ever consider. > e.g My Grandmother Registered , Baptised, Janet , was known as Jenny > Her sister Marion known as, May. > I will not bore you with the names of remaining Siblings. > No wonder that I had major problems finding family members, This thread has been discussed on the Lanark List too, where the nickname 'Henny' was querried. Included in the thread is the following from myself: Please don't overlook that in Scotland, a young girl is referred to as "hen" (in Lancashire/Cheshire/Yorkshire etc, as "chick"), so the nickname could have come from this, particularly if the girl in question was the youngest in the family. Her true name could have had no bearing on the nickname 'Henny'. Young boys were called "cock" or referred to as the "wee Lordie" (wee lassie for a girl) in Scotland. In normal conversations with other family, friends or complete strangers, parents and older siblings will referred to the youngest in their family as "our wee hen/cock", instead of saying the child's actual name. Sometimes you will hear "our bairn", again referring to the youngest boy and/or girl. I do know someone who to this day is called 'Bairn". His true name is James William. Toni

Thanks Trena: Yours goes down as one of the most interesting, again thank you everyone. Frank -----Original Message----- From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Trena Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:08 PM To: midlothian@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish first Names > -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Mary Legarth > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:31 AM > To: MIDLOTHIAN@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish first Names > > from my research point of view, it seems that the Scottish were guilty > of > giving all their children Nick names, or, shortened versions of names , > that > no one else would ever consider. > e.g My Grandmother Registered , Baptised, Janet , was known as Jenny > Her sister Marion known as, May. > I will not bore you with the names of remaining Siblings. > No wonder that I had major problems finding family members, This thread has been discussed on the Lanark List too, where the nickname 'Henny' was querried. Included in the thread is the following from myself: Please don't overlook that in Scotland, a young girl is referred to as "hen" (in Lancashire/Cheshire/Yorkshire etc, as "chick"), so the nickname could have come from this, particularly if the girl in question was the youngest in the family. Her true name could have had no bearing on the nickname 'Henny'. Young boys were called "cock" or referred to as the "wee Lordie" (wee lassie for a girl) in Scotland. In normal conversations with other family, friends or complete strangers, parents and older siblings will referred to the youngest in their family as "our wee hen/cock", instead of saying the child's actual name. Sometimes you will hear "our bairn", again referring to the youngest boy and/or girl. I do know someone who to this day is called 'Bairn". His true name is James William. Toni ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.698 / Virus Database: 270.14.49/2480 - Release Date: 11/04/09 00:37:00