17th century English names

[kublacant]

I’m reading a book called The Blazing World, which is a history of the 17th century. I’m only up to the Civil War but have come across rather marvellous names.

fancy any of these?
Calybute
Cornelius
Praisegod
Endymion
Bulstrode
Denzil
Marmaduke
Marchamont
Nehemiah

along with a huge cast of
William
Arthur
John
Edward
Walter
Edmund
Philip
Richard

Women’s names are:
Jane
Ann
Elizabeth
Susan
Lucy
Frances
Penelope

Give me a marmaduke! Amazing. Also Denzil

Marmaduke for a cat😅

There is a Willder in our local cemetery, 17-something iirc.

I had a 4 x great grandad called 'Greensword'.

That’s brilliant !

I'm more into the Fear-God, Fornicate-Not, Sorry-For-Sin style of Puritan name. And maybe a simple classic like Obedience.

It was his grandma's maiden-name.

@Scrimt great names! I haven’t come across any in the book yet, maybe they’ll come along with Cromwell’s rule!

I always wanted a Philadelphia.

At the less elevated end of the scale, one of my husband's ancestors was simply 'Arry'. It was the time of Henricius', so I presume it isn't just a dropped H!

I know a Wilder.
Have you seen the Horrible Histories sketch about real Victorian names? I recall a Minty Badger..

I completely love this. Marchamont gets my vote.

What about Er.
I think it was more common in Devon and probably biblical.
Ive got a Thankful in my family tree.
My favourite name is Aphra/Afra.
It seemed to be considered ok to use any family surname as a first name, no matter how odd. And believe me, some surnames that seem to have gone out of use were to our ears very unpleasant, though the original meanings of some are now obscure eg Tiplady, Toplady.

I found this on a website of Puritan names:

A Sussex jury roll from the 1600s includes the names Accepted Trevor, Redeemed Compton, Kill-Sin Pimple, Fly-Fornication Richardson, Search-The-Scriptures Moreton, The-Peace-Of-God Knight, Stand-Fast-On-High Stringer, The-Gift-of-God Stringer, and Fight-The-Good-Fight-Of-Faith White, Obediencia Cruttenden, Called Lower, Hope-For Bending, More-Fruit Flower and Meek Brewer. Some other wonderful Sussex names around this time include Safely-on-High Snat, Mortifie Hicks and the marvellously-named Humiliation Scratcher. And let’s not forget Be-Stedfast Elyarde, Faint-not Dighurst, Hew-Agag-in-pieces Robinson, Swear-not-at-all Ireton and Obadiah-bind-their-kings-in-chains-and-their-nobles-in-irons Needham.

That is actually my middle name. I was named after my Nan. She was born in the late 19th century though.

I do like it but I am rather glad that my first name is rather more ordinary!

@Ilovemyshed Accepted Trevor!

Thank you that list is gold!

My paternal Grandad was known as Alan, but his real given name was Hugh Aloysius. My middle brother (and first grandson of the family) was given his middle name in his honour. Although sadly Mum and Dad opted for Alan instead of Aloysius.

Accepted Trevor! I'm dying 🤣. My next cat, perhaps.

I’m from Nigeria. Lol sounds like typical Nigerian names

When people on the baby names board ask for strong names, they need only look here

My great-great grandfather was a Jaben.

Jennet

Love Endymion & Bulstrode. The women's names seem tame.

Really like Denzil.
Also like Cornelius but not the nn corny. Lol.

Like all the casting names! Especially Phillip, Edward and William.

Like all the girls names too- especially Elizabeth, Lucy and Ann.

Gives me bad vibes. Reminds me of the child from the Pendle witch trials.

We did some genealogy research not too long ago and I had two great great great (or whatever) grandads called Marmaduke 😁. Marmaduke snr and Marmaduke jnr!