Who was he named after?

Middle names are often seen through the generations and this can help you be sure you have the right family.

See my previous post on naming patterns here.

The middle name Bigby or Begbie crops up in the Thorburn family of Ayrshire and descendants in the USA and New Zealand.   Originally though I think the name was Biggar and I think  I have traced it back to a John Biggar in the 27th Regiment of Foot, possibly born in Ireland and his daughter Mary Biggar born 1814 in Ayr who married William Thorburn and died aged only 23.  More about the Thorburns here

I spent a lot of time looking for the connection between several children with the first names William Vessie in West Kilbride, only to find that  William Vessie was the local minister! So don't assume that the unusual name in your family tree must be an ancestor!

A female ancestor of mine rejoiced in the names Christian Straton Allardice Sievwright  when all her siblings had a single given name. I thought I was on to something. But it turned out Christian Allardice Straton was the minister's daughter!

Alternate names

In Scotland in the 19th century and before, there were not that many given names for children and they tended to run in families. (More about naming patterns another time)

Then as now the official, "Sunday" name was often shortened; Maggie for Margaret and Lizzie for Elizabeth are familiar to us today.

However here are some others. Jessie for Janet has caught me out before. I spent ages looking the birth of Janet, only to find her as Jessie.

Alternate given names
Jane = Jean = Jeanie 
Helen = Ellen = Nellie 
Janet = Jessie
Sadie = Sarah
Nan = Agnes
Minnie = Marion
Mina = Williamina
Ina short for Williamina, Donaldina etc Patrick = Peter
Ian = John (although I think this is more a 20th century variation)

Old forms (early 19th century and before)
Christian for Christina 
Grizzel for Grace 
Euphan for Euphemia

Old abbreviations
Jno =John
Jas = James 
Andro = Andrew 
Alexr - Alexander

Strange given names for girls
Boy’s names 
Nicholas, especially in Dumfriesshire, 
Charles

Surnames (frequently for girls) like Campbell, Sayers, Cochrane, Hamilton, Lewis - they often run in families.

Surnames
Some families fluctuated between having a Mc and not eg McConnell or Connel
McPhillips or Phillips

Irish and other nationalities often anglicised their names
McClurg became McLeod; Mullen became Milne; Scullion became Smith (actual examples!)

Widows often (helpfully) reverted to their maiden name.