Christian Names in Local and Family History

by Redmonds, George

• ISBN13: 9781550025071
• ISBN10: 1550025074
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-13
• Publisher: Dundurn Pr Ltd

Summary

Surnames have always provided key links in historical research. This groundbreaking new work shows that first names can also be highly significant for those tracing genealogies or studying communities. Standard works on first names have always concentrated on etymology. George Redmonds goes much further: he believes that every name has a precise origin and history of expansion, which can be regional or even local; up to c1700 it may even have centred on one family. This text fully explores the implications of this belief for local and family history, and challenges many published assumptions on the historical frequency of first names.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgements
A transitional period	p. 1
Tom, Dick and Harry	p. 12
The popularity of christian names	p. 26
Parents and godparents	p. 46
Names from the twelfth century	p. 60
Names from abroad	p. 76
Names of the saints	p. 90
Names from legend and literature	p. 107
Names from surnames	p. 126
After the reformation	p. 140
Changing customs	p. 158
Conclusion	p. 170
First name popularity nationally, 1377-81	p. 173
First name profiles, 1377-1700	p. 175
Select bibliography	p. 180
Christian names index	p. 181
Family names index	p. 186
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