Early Naming Patterns

The Quakers in Pennsylvania and Delaware generally followed the English naming pattern. Also popular were biblical names such as John, Joseph, Thomas, William and George for boys, Mary, Hanna, Esther, Elizabeth, Sarah and Phebe for girls. Names denoting moral virtues such as Patience, Preserve, Grace and Chastity were also favored.

The frontier settlements of early America generally followed the same naming patterns of the southern colonies, but also tending to make up more unusual names for their children. These settlers were German, Irish, Scottish, French, Dutch and Scandinavian and tended to Americanize their children’s names in an effort to fit into their new country (this included surnames as well as given names). Some popular names in these regions included Alexander, Charles, James, Percy, David, Richard, Robert and John.

One last common naming pattern was the use of surnames as given names. For example, the child of John Woodson and Catherine Haynes might be Haynes Woodson. After the Revolution, it was common to see surnames given as middle names.

A Word About Middle Names

Before the American Revolution, it was against English Common Law for commoners to have middle names. The German population generally ignored this law, giving two or three given names to each child. If a man was known by more than one name before the Revolution, it was generally a nickname or a name used to tell him about from the other John’s in his family (as in “John the elder”) After the Revolution, the giving of a middle name became common. Often, a surname was given as a middle name, such as the name of a maternal grandmother or other distant relation.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic