Irish Naming Traditions

Old Irish Naming Patterns

Sons
1st son was named after the father's father
2nd son was named after the mother's father
3rd son was named after the father
4th son was named after the father's eldest brother
5th son was named after the mother's eldest brother

Daughters
1st daughter was named after the mother's mother
2nd daughter was named after the father's mother
3rd daughter was named after the mother
4th daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister
5th daughter was named after the father's eldest sister

Nicknames

Have you researched your family only to find a family member you were unable to identify and then realize later it was someone just using a nickname?

Some nicknames are just a shortened form of a person's name such as Alex, is just the shortened version of Alexander. However, there are some nicknames that do not seem to releate to the given name.

In Germany, Fritz is a nickname of Frederich, while the English use Jonty as the pet form of Jonathan.

Here are some nicknames you would have found in American during the 1700s-1800s

Male

Nickname	Proper Name
Augie	August
Dirch	Derrick
Dob	Robert
Hiley	Hiram
Kit	Christopher
Ned	Edward/Edwin
Sandy	Alexander

Female

Nickname	Proper Name
Biddy	Bridget
Callie	Caroline
Dolly	Dorothy
Gussie	Augusta
Hetty	Mehitabel
Lollie	Charlotte
Mamie	Mary
Mate	Mary
Mimi	Mary
Mollie	Martha/Mary
Nell	Helen
Polly	Mary
Sally	Sarah

Names

Have you ever wondered what your first name means? Here is a great website that will tell you. BehindTheName

The Top names for the 1880's

       Male                    
1.    John                    
2.    William              
3.    James                
4.    George                
5.    Charles                

       Female
1.    Mary
2.    Anna
3.    Emma
4.    Elizabeth
5.    Margaret

What's your name?

Have you tried to find your ancestors in the census but could not? Here is a picture from the 1850 census showing my gr gr gr gr Grandparents.

As you see, the census says John Hoofer, however his name was John Hoover.  Based upon whomever was giving the information to the census taker, it is very possible when they said Hoover, it sounded like Hoofer.  But you will find in the census many other mistakes, bigger than just changing an "F" for a "V".

How did this happen? In many cases a census taker was not always allowed to ask someone how to spell their names, so census taker (or the proper term enumerator) wrote the name how it sounded.  Also, many people were illiterate and unable to spell their own names.


Another problem encountered in the census is incorrect ages/birth years.  If a census taker was at the home of John Smith, and John Smith was not home, they could have asked anyone who was home, including children,  or the neighbor for information. Think about it now, would your neighbor know such detailed information about you?

Channeling Roger Daltry

Who are you? No, I am not referring to a song by the 1960's rock group The Who, but rather the subject of photographs.

One of the things I treasure most about doing genealogy is have a picture of the person I am researching. It is nice to put a name to the face, and also see which facial features carry on through your family line. However, the biggest problem I have run into are boxes and albums full of relatives, and having no clue who they are!

I inherited a box full of old photographs from my Great Aunt, and was unable to identify a good portion of picture subjects. I wish I had sat down with her before her passing and asked who everyone is.

That is why it is so important to go out and purchase an "acid free" pen (you can find them at craft stores and places that deal in scrap booking supplies) and identify all of your photos. Even pictures you have taken recently yourself. In the future someone looking at them, may not know who everyone is.

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