Naming Patterns in the
18th & 19th Century
In general, families tended to name their children in a specific pattern,
as follows:
Males
First-born Son - named after the father's father
Second-born Son - named after the mother's father
Third-born Son - named after the father
Fourth-born Son - named after the father's eldest brother
Fifth-born Son - named after the father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's
oldest brother
Females
First-born Daughter - named after the mother's mother
Second-born Daughter - named after the father's mother
Third-born Daughter - named after the mother
Fourth-born Daughter - named after the mother's eldest sister
Fifth-born Daughter - named after the mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's
oldest sister