Naming Patterns in the 1800’s
19th Century Naming Patterns:
First son: named for his paternal grandfather.
Second son: named for his maternal grandfather.
Third son: named after father or father’s paternal grandfather.
Fourth son: named after father’s oldest brother or mother’s paternal grandfather.
Fifth son: named after mother’s eldest brother or father’s material grandfather.
Fifth son: named after mother’s eldest brother or father’s maternal grandfather.
First dau: named for maternal grandmother.
Second dau: named for her paternal grandmother.
Third dau: named after mother or for mother’s maternal grandmother.
Fourth dau: named after mother’s oldest sister or for father’s paternal grandmother.
Fifth dau: named after father’s eldest sister or for mother’s paternal grandmother.
Sixth dau: named after mother’s second oldest sister or for father’s paternal grandmother.
With people being what they are, there were all sorts of variations, some covered by rules and some by family decision. It was customary to name the next daughter/son born within a second marriage for the deceased husband/wife. If a father died before his child was born, the child was often named for him. If a mother died in childbirth, that child, if a girl, was usually named for the mother. Another child was commonly named for a child who had died within the family.
DUTCH NAMING PATTERNS:
The custom was that the lst son be named for paternal grandfather; 2nd son named for his maternal grandfather; lst daughter for her maternal grandmother; 2nd daughter for her paternal grandmother. If 4 children were born then all 4 grandparents are known.
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