Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know if Scotland has a similar naming pattern for their children as Ireland, particularly middle names. We have a whole load of middle names that are recognised surnames, some (and I suspect all) of which are surnames of various ancestors, but we still have plenty of these middle names to 'pin down' to someone. Hope this makes sense ...... Many thanks Bev x

Hi Bev, Yes, Scotland does tend to carry family surnames through families by way of 'middle names'. It's a tradition which is still carried on to a certain extent today. I myself am guilty of this. My 5 yr old son has his Grandfathers surname in the middle, as do I. I would guess that of all my rellies, 95% have a middle name connection to an earlier generation. It's an invaluable help when tracing you're tree. It's gotten me back a fair way anyway. Christine. Forgot to mention that I am a Scot.

My baby grandaughter registered this week and has her Mums Maiden name Campbel as middle name, my Mother has Carmicheal another sir name, we are in Scotland so it is pretty much still done.

happens in Wales too - various members of family have had 'ancestral' surnames as middle names eg John Lewis Griffiths, Walter Griffith Griffiths, and a Arthur Evan Evans. I had always wondered where the Lewis bit came from in my father's name, through family research - question solved, his gran's maiden name.

Thanks for the replies girls, but does this follow a pattern, or is just random. In the family I am tracing, the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 12th (youngest) children have these middle names while the others do not. Not exactly a pattern there yunless there are middle names we don't know about ......... The 7th child's name is that of her maternal grandmother, but we're stumped over the others. Any help much appreciated. Bev x

Hi My lot don't seem to have a definate pattern. I have one name James McEwan Perrie, that my dad thought were only a few. The name runs through from at least 1821 to the 1950's that I know of, and I bet there are more I just havent looked into yet. The thing is I dont know wher it comes from as I am stuck about 1800. Another thing I found out is some children were named after dead sibling's or in some cases they just named more than one with the same name. Maiden names in middle are common too. Marion

Oh drat! lol! Thanks anyway Bev x

I have my maternal grandmothers maiden name as my middle name, Cunningham, but when my sister was born she couldnt be given my fraternal grandmothers maiden name as it was Jack. My parents went back another generation and gave her the name Marshall. I dont think there is a set pattern but I have found in other parts of my tree that it tends to be mothers and grandmothers maiden names. Hope this is clear!! Jill (originally from Scotland but living in Sussex)

My sister has my gr grans first 2 names and my dad hashis mum's maiden name which 4 of my family have but I don't think the family carried them on and I am from Scotland too

Thank you Jill So far I have 3rd son named after maternal grandfather and lst daughter after maternal grandmother. The rest have still to be found, but that list is a great help. thanks very much Bev x