Naming patterns, German It was a custom for German families to name the first son for the father and the first daughter for the mother - then following children for grandparents and uncles and aunts. Sometimes a researcher can almost follow a family by the names used over and over. Sometimes it is confusing too. For example: A mother might be named Catherine Marie and her first daughter is given that name. After that, the mother may no longer use the name Catherine, but be known as Marie, and the daughter will be known as Catherine. The same reversal of names was also often true for fathers and sons. ------- English, Scots and Irish Naming patterns "Heritage Hunting" correspondent, Sharon Tate Moody, of the Tampa Tribune: This was a common naming system of the English, Scots and Irish. Her e-mail wmoody3@tampabay.rr.com To see her past columns go to TBO.com and type in keyword: Heritage (Thanks, Skip Harman) Naming Patterns 1st son = father's father 2nd son = mother's father 3rd son = father 4th son = father's oldest brother 5th son = father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother 1st daughter = mother's mother 2nd daughter = father's mother 3rd daughter = mother 4th daughter = mother's oldest sister 5th daughter = mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister ------ Some URLs: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck/naming.htm http://www.fairacre.demon.co.uk/index.htm http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Naming.Patterns.html http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/naming_patterns.htm http://myweb.wyoming.com/~msaban/SCTname.htm http://www.genealogy.com/35_donna.html