Does any one know why in the late 1700's early 1800's some people have 4 names , such as Alexander Hamilton Phyllip Hicks? Was it because they might have been Catholic? I know this is a stupid question but I am curious that I might be missing something that could lead me in a direction for researching. Thanks Nancy Hicks ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.

Nancy, There are no stupid questions!, we often say in the world of librarians. A quick look on the Internet shows that it is, or was common to give children 3 first names in parts of Germany - "most often the names of their godparents, not their parents"; it may be common among Jewish people; some people think it is magic to have 3 names; some think it is bad luck; common in the Bahai faith; some American Indian tribes do it; common in the South (Alabama for one); Ghanaians often have three first names; some Irish have 3, sometimes all saint's names; some parents name their kids this way (according to the grown up kids) for "fun"; and all this by searching "three first names" (with the quotes) on Google. Maybe this doesn't help, but at least it was a fun question! Bill Benson -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 8:36 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Tri-Counties] names Does any one know why in the late 1700's early 1800's some people have 4 names , such as Alexander Hamilton Phyllip Hicks? Was it because they might have been Catholic? I know this is a stupid question but I am curious that I might be missing something that could lead me in a direction for researching. Thanks Nancy Hicks ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== Tri-Counties Site includes nearly 700 Cemetery Listings available from the township pages and from the Cemetery Index at http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm

It was usually done to honor ancestors. For instance, one of my 3rd-great-grandfathers was christened Robert Stidham Smith Walbridge. Stidham and Smith were his maternal grandparents' names. One of his brothers was William R. S. Walbridge. (I don't know what the R and S stand for; probably Richmond -- a grandfather's middle name -- and Smith.) They do help track down and connect people. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 08:36 Subject: [Tri-Counties] names > Does any one know why in the late 1700's early 1800's some people have 4 > names , such as Alexander Hamilton Phyllip Hicks? Was it because they > might have been Catholic? I know this is a stupid question but I am > curious that I might be missing something that could lead me in a > direction for researching. > Thanks > Nancy Hicks > > ____________________________________________________________ ____ > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > Tri-Counties Site includes nearly 700 Cemetery Listings available from the township pages and from the Cemetery Index at http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm >

Not always. Explain this: August Bolinski, wife Marianna Pulaski (Pawleski) children: Anna Stafford (not a German name at all) Hermann August Jr. Julianna Aman Emerson This is from 1850s David Tim Nenno wrote: > > It was usually done to honor ancestors. > > For instance, one of my 3rd-great-grandfathers was > christened Robert Stidham Smith Walbridge. Stidham and Smith > were his maternal grandparents' names. > > One of his brothers was William R. S. Walbridge. (I don't > know what the R and S stand for; probably Richmond -- a > grandfather's middle name -- and Smith.) > > They do help track down and connect people. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 08:36 > Subject: [Tri-Counties] names > > > Does any one know why in the late 1700's early 1800's > some people have 4 > > names , such as Alexander Hamilton Phyllip Hicks? Was it > because they > > might have been Catholic? I know this is a stupid question > but I am > > curious that I might be missing something that could lead > me in a > > direction for researching. > > Thanks > > Nancy Hicks > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > ____ > > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! > > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! > > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: > > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. > > > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > > Tri-Counties Site includes nearly 700 Cemetery Listings > available from the township pages and from the Cemetery > Index at http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > Please post all surname listings and surname or family queries on the Query section of Tri-Counties site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm