During the period roughly from 1750 through 1875, many families used the following naming pattern:
The first son was named after the father's father
the second son after the mother's father,
the third son after the father,
the fourth son after the father's eldest brother,the first daughter after the mother's mother,
the second daughter after the father's mother,
the third daughter after the mother,
the fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister.
Of course, people still named children after influential people in their lives, friends and neighbours. Not everyone adhered to the above formula! Biblical names were also popular for quite some time.
Especially when dealing with children, it is very important to check for burial records It was common in earlier days that if a child died, the next child born in the family (of the same sex) was given the same name. For instance, in one Symons family from 1801 to 1825, there were four Mary Anns - all born to the same parents. As each child died, the next child of the same sex was given the name. (Unfortunately, there were several rounds of smallpox and typhoid in the area where they lived.) The last Mary Ann did survive long enough to have her own family, and yet another Mary Ann!
If a person were unaware of the preceding children, one might have thought that Mary Ann was aged 34 at the birth of her first child, rather than the correct 20. And they might believe she was aged 96 at death, rather than the correct 82.
Particularly in Cornwall, once second (middle) names became acceptable (circa 1820-1840*) the maiden name of the mother was often used. Therefore, a name such as Henry Yeo Trewegen gives a very good clue as to the mother's maiden name.
There has been lively discussion regarding children born out of wedlock; does the middle name give indication of the father? The only answer possible is 'it depends'. Some women did not disclose the identity of the father; many others did, but chose not to include the surname when naming the child. To ascertain the parentage of such a child, a review of the parish chest records might result in the correct information (parish support of the woman and her child), as might court proceedings. Parishes were loathe to take responsibility for children so born, and strongly 'encouraged' mothers to disclose the name of the father, so he might be charged for support. Further discussion of the matter is beyond the scope of this article, however.
* these dates are based on parish registers for one parish in Cornwall. Actually, middle names started to be used much earlier, but the practice wasn't widespread until later.
