Ever wonder why your parents gave you the name they did? Were you named after an ancestor? Famous personality? Family tradition? Or do you carry one of the cute contemporary names fashionably spelled as no one else you've ever heard of? One subtle clue in genealogical research, which is most often overlooked is names or naming patterns of families.

When doing genealogical research you must closely examine documents and records for additional clues that will extend your family line. Perhaps you may locate another descendant, or if you look long and hard enough, perhaps another generation. A close study of family names may give you insight, as to the life and times of your ancestors.

Until about the 14th century most people had only one name. It has been estimated that in medieval England 3 of 5 men carried the name of Henry, Robert, John, William or Richard. As towns and cities grew, so did the necessity to further identify individuals and families, thus requiring a second or surname.

With few exceptions there were four ways surnames or permanent family names were adopted. They were:

For centuries female children were considered the property of their father and carried his last name until they married, at which time became the property of their husbands and adopted the last name of their husband. This long standing practice is now changing as more women have chosen family and careers and want to retain their own surname and identity. Another sign of changing times is the number of children who are given hyphenated last names at birth.

For several hundred years the most popular names given to newborns were those of biblical persons or saints. Some religious faiths today still require a saints name at baptism and confirmation. In the 1600's the Puritans began giving their offspring names which reflected their purity, morals and doctrine. While popular for a few years those names did not endure as those names found in the old and new testament. In colonial America the more traditional biblical names were the most dominate.

In the 16th and 17th century the people began giving their children not only a first or christian name and surname, but also a middle name as well. In america male children were often given the maiden name of the mother as a middle name, thus honoring and preserving the mothers family name. Another common practice was to name children after the parents brothers and sisters, and on occasion a combination of both. When checking records of a particular family it is not unusual to find several family member of one generation giving their children similar or identical names.

A female's name must be analyzed a little differently from the male. They may have been named after a mother, aunt, or sister of either parent or perhaps a name that was pretty and popular. Many daughters were given first names that were shortened or they adopted nicknames. For some reason many female names were interchangeable. Mary found in one record may be listed as Polly in another, while Nancy became Ann or Martha and Margaret were sometimes called Maggie or Peggy.

When researching a family line, you must also do a little study on the history of the time period you are researching. Names and their origin is no exception. In one of the many books on names I found the following, and hope the author will not mind my using this little quote in closing.