Can Shaw be used as first name?

[Tees]

Hi All,

I would like your wee help--can Shaw be used as first name?

The reason I ask this question is that I could not find any good connection between Alexander Armstrong and Shaw Armstrong despite the fact both are on the same farm in Knockcairn, Tullyrusk.

I tried the UHF and the Emerald Ancestors to no avail.

They were of the Protestant faith if that help any. Which church they belonged to, I do not know.

Kind regards,

Tees

[Suffolk Mawther]

http://www.shawtaylor.com/pages/1/index.htm

British television presenter Shaw Taylor comes to mind 

SM ...

[AMBLY]

The IGI has a submitted entry of:
(Male) Shaw ARMSTRONG age 23, (son of father: Shaw ARMSTRONG)
married Catherine WILSON age 30, on 25 Jan 1861 in  Belfast, Antrim

If you enter just "SHaw" in first name on IGI and seach just British Isles, there are oodles of them - male & female.

Cheers 
AMBLY
 

[aghadowey]

In Northern Ireland it is very common to use surnames as Christian names for both males and females. I know of Hamill, Blair, Craig (female), Acheson, Whiteside, Moore, Hamilton, Smyth, Pollock, Knox, Irwin... all used as 'Christian names.'
Sometimes a person is named for someone and given both their Christian name(s) and surname. If a child was called Alexander Shaw Armstrong he might have been known as Alexander in school and on a marriage certificate but as Shaw on other occasions.

[geniecolgan]

The habit of using family names as given names seems to be quite common. I think it was something to do with a Scottish tradition.
My grandfather's given names were Charles Templeton and I can't find the Templeton connection. It will drive you nuts 
So I think that Shaw most certainly could be a given name.
jc

[Tees]

Hi All,

Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my query.

Aghadowey, it is TWO different persons--Alexander Armstrong is my ancestor--Shaw Armstrong is a relative that I am trying to connect to him. Just wanted to know what kind of relative he was to my Alexander.

Ambly, thank you for that the IGI entry--will check it out.

JC, it can be Scottish thing with the Armstrongs. Unfortunately, this surname is too common for me to trace the couple (Alexander and his wife) back to Scotland. 

Once again, thanks all of you for answering my query.

Kind regards,

Tees

[loo]

Quite a common phenomenon in the side of my family that has Scottish origins. 
In one case, the person's two "Christian" names are the surnames of his grandmothers, and he has no "normal" forename at all.  No problem figuring out who HIS parents are!

[Tees]

Loo,

Good for you!! I am very interested in my Alexander Armstrong but want to know what's the connection (relationship) between him and Shaw. Possibly brothers?

Thanks to Amby, I was able to locate the civil marriage entry on Emerald Ancestors--it turned out that the surname was incorrectly spelt. It was in the Registrar Office, not the church.

Still figuring how to establish the relationship. It would be most helpful if I know which church they attended. I only know that they were Protestants according to my family history.

Kind regards,

Tees

[loo]

Their names are Scottish origin, I would think.  This seems like a vote in favour of Presbyterian.  I would look there first.  Failing that, Church of Ireland, which is Church of England, I believe.
I neglected to mention that the first given name of the rellie I was referring to is Armstrong!