What's in a Name?
Names, something we are given at birth, or close to it by
our parents and they can be the bane of our lives. Some people change them, as
soon as they can. Some have a nick-name and no-one knows their given name. Some
take a common name and give it a different spelling. Some change the way it is
said. Who remembers Hyacinth Bucket,
from the TV show “Keeping Up Appearances,” always telling people that it was
pronounced Bouquet?
When doing family tree research, I have discovered that I really
needed to think differently about people’s names. We have all come across Baptismal records,
where the priest has written the names in Latin, making us reach for a Latin
dictionary.
But what of the name Peggy? Is she a Margaret, Marjory or a
Margo? On my tree she is a Norma!
I have;
Maryann, who became a
May Mary.
Andrew Alexander, who was known as Sandy.
Elizabeth who was known as Betty, Beth or Tibby.
Cecilia, who was known as Sissy or Cecily.
Then there are the names that can be both male and female;
Kimberley; Evelyn, Terry, Glenn, Gene,
Carol, Beverl(e)y, Aubrey and Lynn, just to mention some.
Throw in nicknames and is it any wonder that we get confused
and frustrated, when searching for them. Or the families that ALL the firstborn sons are called the same, (insert a scream here.)
What about the spelling of names? Look at Matthew or Mathew,
Lilian or Lillian, Philip or Phillip. I have an Aunt who still insists on
spelling my name Lillian not Lilian, which it is.
So next time you find a Gussie, Bert, Glenn or Hooky,
don’t scream, think outside the normal and you might just crack that brick
wall.
I also recommend getting hold of a good first name dictionary and a book that lists first name variants. These are the two I have had for years;
I purchased this one at The Society of Australian Genealogists and have included the publication details. I hope it is still available, it is really good.
Look at your own family. What interesting names do you have?
Bye for now,
Lilian.
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