family definitions
Naming Patterns In England, 1700-1800’s
ANGLO NAMES
- 1st son — father’s father
- 2nd son — mother’s father
- 3rd son — father
- 4th son — father’s eldest brother
- 1st daughter — mother’s mother
- 2nd daughter — father’s mother
- 3rd daughter — mother
- 4th daughter — mother’s eldest sister
Other children could be named after earlier ancestors, but there would be no particular pattern to them.
Variations on this:
- 1st son — mother’s father
- 1st daughter — father’s mother
- 2nd son — father’s father
- 2nd daughter — mother’s mother
OR….
- 2nd son — father
- 2nd daughter — mother
OR….
- 3rd daughter — after one of the great-grandmothers
- 4th daughter — mother
GERMAN NAMES
German society mainly consisted of: a first name and a calling name:
- Ewald Anton named on church records, deeds, etc., — but known as Anton
Naming order for the Mennonite families:
- 1st two sons — child’s Grandfathers
Usually the father’s side was first honored unless the Mother’s father had died and the Father’s father was still living. Females were named the same. Strog belief in honoring fathers and mothers. This naming order started to go out in the 1840’s.
SEARCHING FOR MAIDEN NAMES
- Death certificates.
- Children’s death certificates.
- Engagement notices.
- Newspaper obituaries.
- Children’s marriage certificates. (preferably the application)
- Public Notices (Debuts, Coming Out or Society pages).
- Public Church Libraries.
- Unpublished records microfilmed at branch LDS libraries.
- International Genealogical Index (IGI) on microfiche at LDS libraries.
- Divorce papers from where filed.
- Convict or Release records.
- Wills.
- Publish notices in regions you suspect as birth place.
- Deeds and other land records.
- A census occassionally mentions a mother-in-law.
- Industry employment records (females employed were usually in domestic or manufacture industries prior in early years).
- Ship passenger lists.
