Christian name mystery - Smollett

[Ruskie]

Smollet appears to be a Scottish surname:
http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Surnames.aspx

It may be that this was originally a surname, used as a forename and continued down the generations. As others have said, a surname as a middle name for males and females is fairly common. Sometimes they are a traceable family name, sometimes the name was given to honor a friend or local dignitary, then passed down and the original meaning lost.

[aussie researcher]

Thanks Ruskie,
That website is great, another one to add to my ever growing research list.
Yes, is interesting that it has been used for both female and male forenames and middle name (like mine).

Thanks everyone for your assistance, it's great.
Cheers
Aussie Researcher

[Ruskie]

Glad you like it AR - hours of fun. 

'Tis just a guide but interesting nevertheless.

[aussie researcher]

yes, gets you thinking.
Thanks for sharing 

[lyndyloo6]

I have found the book.  It was printed in the late 1800's.  Tobias George Smollet was apparently one of the great scottish novelist of his time.  Born in 1721 mother was Barbara and father Archibald.  He was of a Dumbartonshire family and proud of it.  apparently there are 'genealogical records preserved in the town archives which go back to 1500's where another Tobias married the daughter of Sir Patrick Houston, who was the owner of propert in the countyof renfrew.  In the 17th century there is a mention of sir James Smollet in Bonhill.  This was the grandfather of tobias George.  He has a brother James, sister Jane after her paternal grandmother, Tobias was the third child and shortly after he was born his father Archibald died.
Tobias died on 16 or 17th September 1771 at Leghorn and is buried there.  After I have moved house and if this is of any interest to you I will try and either copy or type out dates and names of the people that are mentioned for you, but my internet will not be back on till the 18th March.....

Lynda

[aussie researcher]

Lynda,
Thanks for this info and yes I'd love a copy of it, what is the name of the book you found this info in?
Sounds a great book.
Thanks again

[nick t]

Hi Anita

Yes I'm from the Reid line, which is why I have the book. Alexander Reid, Smollett's brother, was my father's mother's father. The book, printed in 1993, devotes quite a lot of space to Smollett Henderson Reid and his descendants. His first child was named Georgina Jane Smollett Reid (25/5/1861-03/11/1935). She married George William Morley and their first son was Smollett Warburton Morley (15/12/1885-18/1/1974) but the Smollett name seemed to die out after that.

Nick

[lyndyloo6]

The Edinburgh Library of Standard Authors, Smollets Works, published in 1894.  (Author David Herbert M,A.)  Printed by W.P.Nimmo, Hay and Mitchell.
It has tiny writing of that time and in 2 columns 623 pages.I am not sure why my mother would have had this volume, but we do have Reids in our family from Angus.  James Reid married to Jessie Caird, c1835.....I think.

Lynda

[lyndyloo6]

I am also aware that  there was a missionary in our family as my gt grandmother Welsh had some belongings which seem to have been brought back from Africa.  I am sure that there was an uncle who was a missionary which I remember hearing from 'adult' conversation when I was a child.  When I spoke to my mothers cousin 2 years agin, this was met with great enthusiasim and the items were produced......I dont know the surname of this person, but we do have reids in our line.....so who knows.....