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Family tree names

32 replies

Choccyhobnob · 09/02/2017 15:21

I've just been looking at dh's family tree, there are some great names in it! His Great Great Grandfather was apparently called Alban which isn't a name I've come across before, I think I'd use it as a middle name but not a first name. Have I lost my mind or is it ok?

There are also Adelaide, Nelly, Violet, Violetta and Binky! hehe

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ItsThatBeverleyMacca · 09/02/2017 15:33

I love family history! For women I have some cracking 19th century ones in mine - a Fanny, a Madge, and a Gladys. The men's names are more in line with names still commonly used today - several called Charles, and a few called Thomas or Edward.

ItsThatBeverleyMacca · 09/02/2017 15:34

I love Alban BTW, and Adelaide and Violet from the girls in your list!

LarrytheCucumber · 09/02/2017 15:40

We knew an Alban living in St Albans. Alban was the first Christian martyr in England. Great name.

Elbi · 09/02/2017 15:40

Alban's on my list for a first name! Interested to see what people think of it... and any pronunciation issues. I'd pronounce it All-bn but I've heard it Al-bn and Ol-bn too.

Choccyhobnob · 09/02/2017 15:40

There are a couple of Edwards, Josephs, Stanley, Abraham. And his Great, Great, Great, Great grandfather was called Felix apparently and his wife was Julia, going back to the 1700s!

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Ordinarily · 09/02/2017 16:19

I really like Alban as a name, as well as quite a few others on your family tree! I think Alban would go well as a middle name for Joseph, Felix or Stanley. Abraham Alban would be awkward to say, and Edward Alban would be too IMO (but less so).

Julia Violet would be nice, but I'm not so keen on the other girls names.

Jooni · 09/02/2017 16:50

Alban is great! We're a family of Alans and Muriels, unfortunately...

Choccyhobnob · 09/02/2017 16:58

Oh believe me Jooni there are some Alans, Richards and Dennises in there too lol

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MiniMaxi · 09/02/2017 17:02

Ooh fun, I love family trees

Alban is cool Smile

Waterfeature · 09/02/2017 17:08

Lovely! I'm a family tree addict. No Albans here, but lots of Richards, Tamsins, Marys and even:
Ebhorn!!
They liked it so much they used it over and over again!

Waterfeature · 09/02/2017 17:09

Oh, and also Mahala. Crazy!

Pemba · 09/02/2017 19:33

I found if you go back far enough nearly everyone on both sides was named Mary, John, or William, and I kind of imagined this would be the same for most people. Seems not to be the case though, obviously my ancestors just lacked imagination!

Elllicam · 09/02/2017 19:36

I like Ebhorn Grin. We were mostly traditional Scottish names but there were a few women called Christian which I quite liked.

Ordinarily · 09/02/2017 19:38

Adam

(Mitochondrial) Eve

Chocolatecake12 · 11/02/2017 20:44

We have a Herbert, Solomon and a Willoughby. All first names.
For girls it's Caroline, Rachel and Fanny.
Fanny was my great grandmothers name!

HoratioNightboy · 11/02/2017 21:46

Alban is a fab name! Especially with a bit of family history behind it, so definitely OK to use.

My ancestors all have boring Lowland Scottish names - the males are all James, Andrew, Robert and Alexander and the females all Elizabeth, Jean, Christian and Isabel. I almost fainted when I came across a Barbara among them - it seemed so exotic!

Waterfeature · 11/02/2017 22:06

I find the regional differences really fascinating.

There was a fashion for Old Testament names in one mining village where some of my ancestors lived. It was all Enoch and Obadiah!

I love the continuity in some family naming patterns. DH's grandfather was named after his own great-grandmother's maiden name! So yay for Alban!

Bellybootcut · 11/02/2017 22:09

I have an early 19th centuary Mariah in mine. I like to think she was fabulous!

Waterfeature · 11/02/2017 22:40

DH's family were well posh. Tons of servants for the ancestors -- one of whom rejoiced in the name "Euphemia Pinkerton".

Casz · 11/02/2017 23:23

Mine followed naming rules for about 300 years. First son named after paternal grandfather, first daughter named after maternal grandmother etc.

Led to lots of cousins with the same name, and nearly all called William, John, James, Thomas, Ann, Elizabeth or Mary.

Bet Hephzibah and Kezia were glad their parents had a bit more imagination.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 11/02/2017 23:33

I have a great uncle Isleuin. I really like it.

WankersHacksandThieves · 12/02/2017 00:34

Funny, I've just been looking at ours tonight but it's fairly boring. Lots of Peters, Williams, Georges, Alexanders, Roberts, James' and Johns on the male side and lots of Margarets, Isabellas, Elizabeths, Henriettas, Annes, Jeans and Janes...and one Barbara from 1852.

DHs tree adds a lot of Josephs.

amelie427 · 12/02/2017 08:40

Fairfax appears a lot in ours - "Fairy" for short!

NoSeaSeagull · 12/02/2017 12:23

Alban is a great name! William and Mary feature very heavily in both sides of my family tree, but interestingly Arkley seems to have been used on my paternal side for several generations, both as a first and middle name. My great great grandmother was an Adelaide (shortened to Ada) which I love and would consider using for any future dd's.

LarrytheCucumber · 12/02/2017 19:49

Many of Scottish Neils in our family tree.