What's in a Name? -Irish Naming Patterns

What's in a name?

A traditional naming pattern was often used by Irish parents up until the 19th Century.

Some families strictly adhered to the pattern and, if a child died in infancy, the next born child of the same gender was given the same name as the deceased infant to ensure the pattern continued.

Other families were more flexible in their application of the pattern and were also influenced by current naming trends (e.g popular saint's names), national heroes or much loved friends and the like.

So, what is the naming pattern?

First son usually named for the father's father
Second son usually named for the mother's father
Third son usually named for the father
Fourth son usually named for the father's eldest brother
Fifth son usually named for the mother's eldest brother
First daughter usually named for the mother's mother
Second daughter usually named for the father's mother
Third daughter usually named for the mother
Fourth daughter usually named for the mother's eldest sister
Fifth daughter usually named for the father's eldest sister.

It is interesting to apply the naming pattern to families when trying to identify the name of the grandparents or other family members who are unknown- sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Below are two test cases:

Test Case One:

Bridget Hingerty and Abraham Harrington are both listed on their shipping records as being from Templederry in Tipperary. They arrived in Victoria in June of 1848. They seem to have applied the naming pattern when naming their children born in Victoria in the subsequent years.

First son: Father's father: John. YES

On Abraham's death certificate his parents are listed as John Harrington a farmer and Mary Ahern. If this is correct then Abraham did indeed name his first born son for his father. There is a farmer John Harrington listed in the Griffiths Valuation in Templederry in 1853 (along with James and Abraham Harrington). Is he Abraham's father? or brother?

Second son: Mother's father: Michael. MAYBE

There are certainly men named Michael Hingerty who are farmers in northern Tipperary. However, there is no firm evidence that Bridget's father is one of these Michaels. No father's first name is listed on Bridget's death certificate. It only states that her father was Hegerty a farmer.

Third son: Father: Abraham. YES

First Daughter: Mother's mother: Mary MAYBE

No mother's first name listed on Bridget's death certificate.

Second Daughter: Father's Mother: Honora NO, but.....

Abraham's mother's name is listed as Mary on his death certificate, so the two grandmothers seem to have had the same name. They have already named their previous daughter Mary.... so they choose another name.....but who is Honora named for????

There is then a blip in the pattern.

The first Mary died as a 4 year old in 1855. The next daughter was born in 1856 and was given the name Mary. So, while she is technically the third daughter, she takes on the name of the first daughter.

Third Daughter: Mother: Bridget YES

If we allow for the double use of the name Mary, the pattern continues with the next daughter who is named for her mother Bridget.

Fourth Daughter: Mother's eldest sister: Johanna MAYBE

We do not know the names of Bridget's siblings.

Abraham and Bridget applied the naming pattern in relation to Abraham's family names and their own names of Abraham and Bridget. It is tempting to conclude that they would have also applied the pattern in relation to Bridget's family names. If this is the case, then Bridget's mother is Mary, her father is Michael and her eldest sister is Johanna. Future research may confirm or refute this.

Test Case Two:

John Hingerty of Templemore, Tipperary arrived in Sydney in 1841. He married Isabella McDonald in Goulburn, New South Wales in 1845. They had 10 children. Did they apply the naming pattern?

First son: Father's father: John YES

On John's death certificate his father is reported as John Hingerty, farmer. If this is correct, then John did name his first born son for his father. This son died as an infant.

Second son: Mother's father: William NO

Catherine's father was Donald McDonald. Interesting to note that John and Isabella did not re-use the name John for this second son, born the year after his elder brother died.

Third son: Father: John YES

Fourth son: Father's eldest brother: Thomas MAYBE

We do not know the names of John's siblings.

First daughter: Mother's mother: Catherine YES

Second daughter: Father's mother: Mary Ann MAYBE

John's mother is listed as Elizabeth on his shipping records. However, she is listed as Ann on his death record. An unresolved conflict in the records.

Given that no daughters are named Elizabeth, the argument that this was John's mothers name is weakened. However, there is a record for an Elizabeth Hingerty living in northern Tipperary in the correct timeframe- conflicting evidence!

Third daughter: Mother: Margaret NO but....

It looks like John and Isabella swapped around the naming pattern for the Third and Fourth daughters. Margaret was Isabella's eldest sister, and the fourth daughter is called Isabella...

Fourth daughter: Mother's eldest sister: Isabella NO but.....

See above.

Fifth daughter: Father's eldest sister: Theresa MAYBE

We do not know the names of John's siblings.

As is often the case, the evidence is inconclusive and conflicting..... future research may cast further light or add more uncertainty- such is the nature of Irish family research!

For further information about Irish names (naming pattern, first names, surnames etc) see Family Search

If you have any information or insights to add, please

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