Would the REAL Tae MacDonald Stand Up?
© Virginia Marin
- Are you running into brick walls researching your Scottish ancestors? If so, you are not alone! It has been said, though I cannot attest to the fact, that Scottish research is the most difficult of any you may undertake.
No doubt one of the great difficulties is due to the 1841 Census which did not identify family relationships. Another difficulty is due to the 1851 Census in which some years are missing altogether. Add to this the fact that some parishes did not keep death records, and you could find yourself up the proverbial creek.
But, for a real stumper, obtain a ship's passenger list and attempt to find your Tae MacDonald out of perhaps ten to fifteen, or more, Taes! Will the REAL Tae MacDonald please stand up!
It is good to begin your research by having an understanding of the Scottish naming system. Of course, this may not help at all, but it is a beginning!
The first son is named after the paternal grandfather. The second son is named for the father. The third son is named after the mother's father.
The first daughter is named after the mother's mother. The second daughter is named for the mother, and the third daughter is named after the father's mother.
My six-times great-grandparents had ten boys and six girls you say. Well, you have a problem! Of course, so did your six-times great-grandparents!
After the third boy and girl, the names of their aunts and uncles came into use with a similar right of hierarchy. Then, there may have been family adoptions with same names, and not listed as adoptions.
Scottish surnames do not present the same problems as given names. There are many excellent web sites on surnames of Scotland, but scant information is there for given names. Oh, sure there are lists giving proper Scottish names for boys and girls, but finding help in untangling your ancestor's Gordian Knot is difficult.
An excellent publication available in most genealogical sections of the public library is Outline of Scottish Research. It gives all of the problems associated with your research in an easy and understandable outline form. Other research tools for understanding Scottish first names, and Scottish research in general can be found here.
So, with your surname, your tartan, your badge, a good librarian and a pair of research scissors, you will cut that Gordian Knot and find all of your terrific Scottish ancestors and their descendants who have done so much to make the United States and Canada the great places that they are today!
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