Home » Musings and Media » Genealogy Tip: Scots Naming Patterns

Genealogy Tip: Scots Naming Patterns

North Americans who hit a brickwall in the genealogy may be interested to learn that Scottish families traditionally named their children based on a naming pattern. This is merely a pattern, and is not definitive. Also, this pattern is likely to break down in more modern times, particularly if a Scots male marries a non-Scottish wife.

The Pattern, according to the Scottish Kin site goes as follows:

The first son is named after the father’s father;
The second son is named after the mother’s father;
The third son is named after the father.

The first daughter is named after the mother’s mother;
The second daughter is named after the father’s mother
The third daughter is named after the mother.