Personal naming patterns in Scotland, 1700 - 1800: a comparative study of the parishes of Beith, Dingwall, Earlston, and Govan

Crook, Alice Louise (2012) Personal naming patterns in Scotland, 1700 - 1800: a comparative study of the parishes of Beith, Dingwall, Earlston, and Govan. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the personal naming patterns of 18th-century Scotland through a study of the parish records of Beith (North Ayrshire), Govan (Glasgow), Earlston (Berwickshire), and Dingwall (Ross & Cromarty) for the period 1700-1800. The primary aim was to analyse the widespread theory that Scottish children were traditionally named in a specific pattern: ‘the eldest son and second daughter were named after their paternal grandparents, the second son and eldest daughter after their maternal grandparents’ (Scots Ancestry Research Society) and this pattern was extended to incorporate further ancestors if more children were born to the family. A clear lack of research into Scottish naming patterns meant that this theory may be refuted.
The project aimed to support or disprove the theory through a study of the name-stock, rates of parental naming, the role of godparents, and the practice of substitution, as well as examining those families where the pattern may potentially be most clearly observed. After analysis of over 24,000 records and 7,734 distinct families, no definite proof of the naming pattern being in practice was discovered. However, clear instances of families choosing not to follow the pattern were found. Therefore, the theory of a traditional Scottish naming pattern may have to be re-evaluated.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: The section on personal names in the Beith parish has been published in Journal of Scottish Name Studies Vol. 6 (2012).
• Keywords: personal names, naming patterns, Scottish names, 18th century Scotland
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PE English
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
• Supervisor's Name: Hough, Prof. Carole
• Date of Award: 2012
• Depositing User: Miss Alice Crook
• Unique ID: glathesis:2012-4190
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2013 10:17
• Last Modified: 23 Apr 2013 10:18
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4190