Two brothers c. with the same first name both living

[watney]

I have a family who have amongst their children 2 sons, both c. William one 1791 and one 1794, both of these lived into the 1860's and both were buried in their birth village, they can be followed through the census. I wondered if anyone else has had a similar situation.

Kind regards, Brenda

[Mart 'n' Al]

Totally off Topic but one of my great television memories comma from about 20 years ago, when the Bob Newhart show was briefly on television. In every  episode this hillbilly called Larry would walk in with two others and say "hi I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl."

Martin

[cati]

One explanation might be that this is connected with "a lease for three lives", which was fairly common during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These leases - usually of farms or other estates in land - were usually for the lives of three specified people: so, for example, to John Smith for his natural life, then to his son Robert, then to his son Edward.  But if Edward died, then the lease came to an end: so it was not unknown for Robert to name more than one son Edward.

On the other hand, my great grandma had two sisters , both born in the late Victorian period, both called Elizabeth. One was usually - but not always - known as Lizzie.

Cati

[watney]

Thank you so much for your reply, it's very interesting,
best wishes, Brenda

[Chilternbirder]

My mother and one of her sisters had the same first Christian name which was also the same as their mother's. My mother was always known by her middle name which made things easier, until that is hospital staff decided that they should be friendly call patients for their appointments by their first names rather than as Mr or Mrs.

My grandfather and great grandfather was registered with the same first names although my grandfather was always called by his middle name. All his service records have his names the "wrong" way round as does his death certificate.

[Maiden Stone]

On the other hand, my great grandma had two sisters , both born in the late Victorian period, both called Elizabeth. One was usually - but not always - known as Lizzie.

Cati

A great grandma was Elizabeth Alice, her younger sister was Elizabeth. A great grandfather and his younger half-brother were both John after their grandfather. They were all born 1860s & 70s.
I've noticed a few pairs of sisters called Betty and Lizzie or Mary and Maria.

Another theory is that the elder child was sickly when the baby was born so new arrival was given same name in case elder sibling died.

[matthewj64]

There's that naming convention where the first born female is named after the father's mother and the second born after the mother's mother etc etc - or however it goes 

So I wonder if it could be to do with grandparents having he same name?

[louisa maud]

In my family I have 2 sisters both registered as Emily, 1 in 1893 and the other in 1896, both lived to a good age
I can only assume the father was overcome with joy and wasn't thinking straight

Louisa Maud

[Ayashi]

I had a great deal of confusion on the census of one of my ancestors, wherein he had in his household his son Theophilus, his daughter Anna and then his daughter Anna. It wasn't until I eventually tracked down their christenings that I found out they were Hannah and Anne