Traditional Scottish Naming Patterns

Question

I ran across this and thought it may help someone break through a brick wall. It helped me with one line I was stumped with. 

The traditional patterns used when naming boys were as follows:

• The first son would be named after the father's father (variation is after the mother's father)
• The second after the mother's father (variation is the father's father)
• The third son would be named after the father
• The fourth son would be named after the father's oldest brother (variation is after the father's paternal grandfather)
• The fifth son would be named after the mother's oldest brother (variation is after the mother's paternal grandfather)

and for girls:

• First daughter named after the mother's mother (variation is after the father's mother)
• Second daughter named after the father's mother
• Third daughter named after the mother
• Fourth daughter named after the mother's oldest sister (variation is after the mother's maternal grandmother)
• Fifth daughter named after the father's oldest sister (variation is after the father's maternal grandmother)

Here's the blog with explanation: 

https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/traditional-scottish-naming-patterns-2115646700.html

Comments

Thank you for sharing Martha!  I have a copy of the naming pattern that I use quite often. I am sure it will be helpful for others too.

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Among the common deviations from the pattern are when a child dies in infancy and the name gets used again for a subsequent child.

Answer 1

They did much the same in old Sweden - so probably the pattern has origins way back in time.

However, it wasn't used consistently (within paper trail time) - it was probably abandoned at different times in different parts of the country. So it isn't all that reliable.

Comments

Certainly the Victorians did it - and naming patterns can be seen right back to the 16th century with most southwestern English families.

Answer 2

Please do not rely on these naming patterns. They were not universally followed, especially from the 19th century onwards. My own family, fully confirmed genealogically with unimpeachable sources, were all over the place in namings even in the 18th century. It was really up to the parents as to whether they wanted to apply these traditions. For men who did not get along with their father it is unlikely they would have named their son after him.

Comments

I know it's not foolproof, but it did help me when I'd hit a brick wall with one of Mr 18th century Scottish ancestors.