Naming Patterns

General naming pattern

1st son = was named after the father's father
2nd son = was named after the mother's father
3rd son = was named after the father
4th son = was named after the father's oldest brother
5th son = father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother
1st dau = was named after the mother's mother
2nd dau = was named after the father's mother
3rd dau = was named after the mother
4th dau = was named after the mother's oldest sister
5th dau = after the mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister

English and Welsh 1700-1870

First Daughter was named after the Mother's Mother
Second Daughter was named after the Mother's Father's Mother
Third Daughter was named after the Mother
Fourth Daughter was named after the Mother's oldest Sister
First Son was named after the Father's Father
Second Son was named after the Mother's Mother
Third Son was named after the Father
Fourth Son was named after the Father's oldest Brother

Irish 1800's

First Daughter was named after the Paternal Grandmother
Second Daughter was named after the Maternal Grandmother
First Son was named after the Paternal Grandfather
Second Son was named after the Maternal Grandfather
Then alternate names using the Grandmother's, Grandfather's, Mother's, Aunt's, and Uncle's names

Scottish 1700 - 1800 and early Dutch

First Daughter was named for her Maternal Grandmother
Second Daughter was named for her Paternal Grandmother
Third Daughter was named after her Mother
Other Daughters were named after other Family Members
First Son was named after his Paternal Grandfather (sometimes Maternal)
Second Son was named after his Maternal Grandfather (sometimes Paternal)
Third Son was named after his Father

Old German

The first name of each Daughter was usually the first name of the Mother
The first name of the Son was usually the first name of the Father
Often times the middle name of each child was the name of the baby's baptismal sponsor and they were usually called by his/her middle name