SCOTTISH NAMING.....

Bertha · Post by **Bertha** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:06 pm

Hi
If it hadn't been for my ancestors using the traditonal naming pattern as in Carriads post, I wouldn't have found it so easy to find them, my maternal side stuck to it ridgidly!
On middle names, my gr gr gr grandfather's surname of Niven has been passed down to this generation as a middle name usually accompanied by his first name of Robert or that of his daughter my gr gr grandmother Elizabeth, however, in my case as my parents eldest daughter (must have expected a boy!) I am Robertha Niven Kelly. Then along came a son what was he called - off course Robert Niven Kelly. You can imagine the confusion in our house when letters arrived just addressed to R N Kelly!
When it came to my children, I decided this naming after family had to stop it was getting too confusing! My son is caled after his dad's 2 favourite footballers Drew Busby & Danny McGrain, my eldest daughter is Kirsty Leigh (the Scottish version of a friend Christine and another friend Leigh) my youngest daughter (poor mite) is Victoria Farquhar Henretty, the Victoria after Vic Falls in Zimbabwe where she was born and Farquhar her gr grans surname (she had just passed away). Well we couldn't very well actually call her Victoria Falls could we!
So pity help the geneologist of the future if they try to trace my lot!
Bertha

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:40 pm

I have a John Easton born in every generation until the 1920's from 1745. When my dad was born his middle names were John Easton, and he gave my brother those middle names too. My brother broke this long standing tradition, and had I been blessed with a second son, he would have had those middle names.

As it was I only had one son, and he is named the seventh generation William, from his father's side, but we call him by his middle name, to stop confusing all the Bills in the family.

And then one of my daughters carries my granny's name for her middle name, except it was Jane and Granny was always known as Nettie, lol.

Nina

rdem · Post by **rdem** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:49 pm

It also amazes me how people love the sound of names and yet don't bother to find out their meaning. No offense to people who named their children with the following.
Cameron Gaelic for "bent nose"
Courtice: Old French for "short stocking"
Kennedy: Gaelic for "ugly head"
are a few examples.

jennovo · Post by **jennovo** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:08 pm

Hello rdem,

Sometimes it just can't be helped: My son is James Campbell Overend - the fifth (as far back as I am) and doesn't Campbell mean crooked mouth? And yes I have a Cameron Douglas (after his grandma) so I have crooked things everywhere------- I wonder what Douglas could mean???????

Jen.

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:19 pm

I'm learning French Sign language for people with hearing deficiencies. What impresses me is that each person's "Sign" (name) really does say something about the person and no one seems to have inhibitions about that. One teacher is called "Pimple on the nose", another "Spotty face",one lad in the class is called "Specs in his Hair" another "Hair standing on end".

And me? Bagpipe!

Catriona

wini · Post by **wini** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:54 pm

You have lost me

wini

FionaZ · Post by **FionaZ** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:23 am

A young friend has just got married. Her MS is Field: his surname is Crowhurst. They are to be known as the CROWFIELDs. I'm glad I won't be researching their family in 100 years time!!

Regards, Fiona (which is my second name ... too many Helens in the family!)

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:10 pm

This is not maybe the right topic for this. Sorry if I'm butting in.

I was unable to find birth of Ellison Laird, but found two siblings - one being Elizabeth Paterson Laird.

Ellison Laird is the name given on her marriage certificate as second wife to Robert Dick (one of an apparently large family of miners who all lived in Grahams Row, Govanhill, Glasgow).

Only recently did I twig that Ellison might be a combination of Elizabeth and Paterson. Would she have got away with putting this on her marriage certificate in 1883? Maybe because it was an "irregular marriage"?

Lorna

Post by **paddyscar** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:19 am

Hi Lorna:

I was unable to find birth of Ellison Laird, but found two siblings - one being Elizabeth Paterson Laird.

Ellison Laird is the name given on her marriage certificate as second wife to Robert Dick (one of an apparently large family of miners who all lived in Grahams Row, Govanhill, Glasgow).

Only recently did I twig that Ellison might be a combination of Elizabeth and Paterson. Would she have got away with putting this on her marriage certificate in 1883? Maybe because it was an "irregular marriage"?

Just as many Elizabeths registered as Betty or Bessie, or Margarets as Meg or Peggy rather than their given names, I would think that she would be just as likely to use the name she was commonly called.

Given the tradition of naming, maybe she was one of a dozen ELIZABETHs
and this was a combination used by her family to set her apart. It could be especially so, in a home where multiple generations lived.

I had a friend who used to run through her family as: Tall Sam, Short Sam, Oor Sam, Y'er Sam, Wee Sam, Young Sam and Auld Sam.

I don't know with certainty but I expect that, in 1883 there would not have been a requirement to produce 'identification', so whatever they told the registrar, would be it.

Frances

rdem · Post by **rdem** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:35 am

Jennovo:

I believe Douglas is from the Gaelic. Dubh glas , meaning dark stream.

thank you for taking my posting as lightly as I had intended.

TalkingScot.com

SCOTTISH NAMING.....

Scottish Names

Scottish Naming