Dear List, This posting was sent to the YORKSGen and I found it sufficiently interesting to post here. The naming patterns might prove useful in clearing some doubts - at least they might help with clues! Magdalena From: "dwcraig" <dwcraig@globalnet.co.uk> To: YORKSGEN-L@rootsweb.com I have found that a lot of my ancestors used the following naming pattern, which was posted a while ago, while yours is nearly an exact copy of mine, this post includes English and Scottish Naming Patterns which I hope will help you as much as it has helped me. I am indebted to the original poster whose name I cannot remember! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- British Naming Patterns: First Son - Father's father First Daughter - Mother's mother Second Son - Mother's father Second Daughter - Father's mother Third Son - Father Third Daughter - Mother Fourth Son - Father's oldest brother Fourth Daughter - Mother's oldest sister Scotland Naming Pattern: First Son - Father's father Second Son - Mother's father Third Son - Father Fourth Son - Father's eldest brother Fifth Son - Father's 2nd oldest brother or Mother's oldest brother First Daughter - Mother's mother Second Daughter - Father's mother Third Daughter - Mother Fourth Daughter - Mother's eldest sister Fifth Daughter - Mother's 2nd oldest sister or Father's oldest sister In some cases you will find the naming order is reversed with the first and second children, i.e. the First-born son being named after the Mother's father and the Second-born son named after the Father's father. If this is the case then the daughters are also usually reversed.