There will be all sorts of variations on this no doubt, but a basic tip is that sometimes these patterns will help you find the next generation back i.e. the parents names.

It will certainly give you a small pool of names to try first in your basic searches.

English and Welsh Naming Pattern ...

First son was named after the father's father.
Second son was named after the mother's father.
Third son was named after the father.
Fourth son was named after the father's oldest brother.
Fifth son was named after the father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother.

First daughter was named after the mother's mother.
Second daughter was named after the father's mother.
Third daughter was named after the mother.
Fourth daughter was named after the mother's oldest sister.
Fifth daughter is named after the mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister.


Irish Naming Pattern ...

First son after father's father
Second son after mother's father
Third son after father
Fourth son after father's oldest brother
Fifth son after mother's oldest brother

First daughter after mother's mother (or father's mother)
Second daughter after father's mother (or mother's mother)
Third daughter after mother
Fourth daughter after mother's oldest sister
Fifth daughter after father's oldest sister


Scottish Naming Pattern ...

First son was named after his father's father
Second son was named after his mother's father
Third son was named after his father

First daughter was named for her mother's mother
Second daughter was named for her father's mother
Third daughter was named after her mother
Other daughters were named after other family members

Don't be misled into thinking that this is a hard and fast rule.


Cornish ancestry

Common practice in Cornwall was to give all children their mother's maiden surname as a second christian name.


Other Countries

• Swedish Naming Patterns

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