Family Naming Patterns

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When researching your family tree, knowing a standard naming pattern for the children in a family might help you in confirming your family history.

The following naming pattern was supplied by Jean Lawson, Genealogist. It helps to explain why similar names were common through various generations of families.

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

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

If both grandfathers had the same name, then the second son could be named after the father.

Some Variants of Names
ELLEN - Eleanor, Elen, Ella, Elle, Ellena, Helen, Hornora, Nell, Nellie or Nora
ELIZABETH - Bessie, Bessey, Bessy, Betty, Betsie, Betsy, Eliza, Libbie, Lisa, Liza, Lizzie, Lizzy, Elsie, Elsy, Elspeth and Elspie (Isabel is Spanish for Elizabeth)

Information contributed by Jean Lawson, Genealogist.

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