"Researching Tidbits"

An Older Tradition

Have you ever wondered while you researching ancestors why families have many of the same first names? Our ancestors often used the following naming practice when a new child came into the family. Watching for the following  patterns may help in your genealogy research and documentation.

Child           Named After

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