Have you heard of a father's middle name becoming child's surname for multiple generations?

Question

I'm very confused about a naming convention I discovered when researching my family in Saint Lucia.  Has anyone heard of this?! 

A direct ancestor of mine on my paternal line went by the name Henry Michel. 

Henry had a son named Charles Henry Michel who, in later documentation, went by the name just Charles Henry.  

Charles Henry had a daughter name Stephanie Charles Henry. Stephanie decided to just go by the name Stephanie Charles. 

So it's 

Henry Michel: Father 

* Charles Henry Michel: Son 

* Charles Henry: Son

- Stephanie Charles Henry : Granddaughter

- Stephanie Charles: Granddaughter

*Same person

- Same person 

Has anyone ever heard of this? It's really confusing and really has thrown a wrench in my research. 

Charles Henry Michel's marriage certificate (it mentions that his father's name is Henry Michel)

Stephanie's marriage certificate, in which her dad Charles Henry (aka Charles Henry Michel) is listed as witness as witness. On this document she is listed as Stephanie Charles and Stephanie Charles Henry. 

For what it's worth, my family name has remained Charles for the 3 generations after Stephanie. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 1

Yes, This happened in one of my lines. Benjamin Joseph Killer/Keiller's descendants to this day are using the surname Joseph. This family from Paspebiac, QC

Comments

Is it a French thing?  Your family is from Quebec and my family is from Saint Lucia - both French Colonies.

Answer 2

Here is a link to today's blog by Judy Russell, both a lawyer and genealogist, discussing middle naming conventions:

http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2015/08/24/stop-middling-along/

It doesn't answer your particular question, but informs the discussion.

Comments

Interesting read. Thanks!

Answer 3

Charles,

I don't know about your specific case, but in the Cayman Islands, some of the people with surnames of Ebanks, changed their last names to their father's middle name and the new surnames are still being used today  Glidden, Jefferson, Farrington, etc.

Perhaps, they thought that Ebanks was much too common of a name in the Caymans that their father's middle name might prove more distinguishing.  That's only a guess, however.