Goodmother

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:55 pm

I've come across the following relationship in a census:-

Goodmother.

Presumably an old Scottish word.

Anyone know what it actually means?

Jean

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:48 pm

Hello Jean

I've not come across it written, but I remember my grandparents (and my parents too come to think of it) referring to people as "guidbrither/sister" etc - they used it to mean an in law, so guidbrither would be a brother in law - we lived in Stirlingshire, but whether it's a local term or not I don't know. Hubby's just added that he remembers people from Broxburn/Whitburn (West Lothian) using the term regularly - that's where my grandma originated, so maybe she imported it to Stirlingshire.

No doubt somebody more knowledgeable will add to this, but hope it helps in the meantime.

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:48 pm

Hi Folks

In my neck of the woods it would mean Mother-in-Law - the expression is still well used in the Edinburgh and Lothians area.

Best regards

Ted

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:16 pm

Hi Pinkshoes and Ted

I had a suspicion that this was what it meant. I vaguely remember my granny using the term when I was a bairn in West Lothian.

Thanks for the confirmation

Jean

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:10 pm

Jean

Me tae - I was brought up in Bo'ness - just barely managing to come out of therapy now after decades of intensive treatment !!

(just kiddin' folks - honest).

Ted

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:15 pm

Hi Ted

I'm from Broxburn

Just noticed you are looking fot Stewarts in West Lothian. Any chance they came from Ireland and settled in Broxburn?

Jean

nancy · Post by **nancy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:51 pm

Hi all
I too remember my gr/parents and parents talking about guid brithers/sisters and that was in Paisley.

Cheers Nancy

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:37 pm

One of my great-uncles, emigrating, gave as his next of kin address in Scotland his 'good-brother' Thomas Lynch, my grandfather, who was his sister's husband, so his brother-in-law.

Jenny

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:22 pm

Jean

Sorry for the delay in replying. I am not sure of the origins of my Stewarts - but they are in the same area as yours. My G Grandfather's sister, Margaret Alexander, married James Stewart

Margaret Alexander
Born 1855 Uphall
Married James Stewart 1882 (kids Abraham / Flora Jane / James Alexander Stewart)
Died 1921

The family are shown on 1881, 1891 and 1901 Census at at Uphall / Broxburn area. Abraham (braw name eh!)Stewart farmed at East Bangour farm Uphall and married Isabella Hunter from a farm in Broxburn in 1912. I have quite a lot of info on this family.

Any potential connection with your lot?

Best regards

Ted

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:48 pm

Hi Ted

Not my lot, unfortunately. I have mine in these censuses in Greendykes Road Broxburn. Nary a sign of an Abraham in my lot. I have the usual, James, John, George etc

Never mind, it was worth a try.

Jean