Names in The Family

[Jebber]

One of my North East England ancestors has the surname Ogle as a middle name.

I also have several generations of Lancelot without going too far back. That would be a fine name. I wonder why it died out.

Martin

What makes your think it has died out? There are quite a number showing in the births as first name and middle name this century,  up to 2005, the latest year I can see births online. There were lots registered between 1950 and 2000.

[Vance Mead]

The name Pricilla or Priscilla was used as a male name in my family for several generations from 1550 until 1700 (in Watford and Ridge, Herts). They were called Prissley, Tillius, Tilly, and so on. I'm not sure where the name came from. Possibly the surname Priestley or Presley?

[guest189040]

Whilst not used as a middle name my Wife is descended from a Prodger which is probably a pretty uncommon surname.

The strangest forename used that I have found is a person by the name of:-

Quickfall Gladwin.

[Top-of-the-hill]

   Surnames as middle names - "It seems quite a common practice in Kent". Not in my Kent families, (East Kent) nor my husband's (North Kent). In fact there were very few middle names at all before the latter years of the 19th century, apart from a few Mary Anns. I am talking almost entirely about agricultural workers.

[a chesters]

In OH's direct paternal line, there is Henry with son John, with son Henry etc............. for ten (10) generations.

[pharmaT]

It's very common in the NE to use surnames as first and middle names ... also in Scotland. 

In fact there are lots of Bells in those areas too.

One of the families I was researching had 11 children and all were given the same middle name (which was their mother's maiden name).

I have a lot of surnames used as first and middle names in my tree.  I have one where the son was named after the Dad's employer.  He had given permission for the parents to marry before the dad had finished his apprenticeship on the condition that they named a child after him.

[coombs]

I find in Suffolk and Essex, a higher percentage of family names being used as middle names or first names. I have a Newman Jacques born 1775, son of Thomas Jacques and Sarah Newman.

Nathan Jackson Quilter, Mary Newman Smith, Mary Robjent Boosey - all names for some of my Essex lot. They can be very handy but on the other hand it could be a tribute to a local celebrity or more. Take Joseph Carey Merrick - The Elephant Man, his middle name was after William Carey, a preacher, who was in no way related to Merrick.

[Andrew Tarr]

One of the families I was researching had 11 children and all were given the same middle name (which was their mother's maiden name).

... which is still standard practice in Spain I believe.

[UK4753]

My first name, Bryce or Brice in the old days, can be traced back about 250 years to Maryland, USA and appears in each generation of my family tree.  The name first appeared in the Selbys but was picked up by other related family surnames.  This makes tracing a little easier. 

I haven't found that name farther back but I did notice "Brice" used as a surname in another prominent Maryland family and assume my Selbys added it out of respect.  I only wish I could make the Selby connection back to England.

Interesting topic.