Genealogy Chat

Elizabeth Odger was married in 1788. Three of her grandchildren were given the middle name of Odger. Her great-grandson had the middle name Edgar (a corruption). Her great-great grandson had the first name Edgar. All in all, the name was handed down for just under 200 years before it died out. Surnames and common names aside, does anyone else have a name they know has been in their family for as long?

My nephew has the second name James, as does my brother and father. Grandfather was called James as was ggrandfather. GGGrandfather was John and his elder brother was James and their father was William who also had an elder brother James. William was born about 1801. I havent got back any further yet, but it seems that the name James was given to the eldest son as either a first or second forename.

In my lot the first son was named James for over 250 years - even up to date, but as you say, not an unusual name like yours! Jonas was another that lasted 150 years same with Bridget.

The name 'Thorburn' has been used as a middle name in my family for 200 years right up to my father. Dawn

The last Edmund Skillings that I know of was a Norfolk stationmaster who died in the 1980s. He, and all other Skillings with Norfolk roots, was a descendant of Edmund Skillings, born in the 1720s. That's as far as I can prove it. But, there's an Edmund Skillings bp in the 1590s, only a few miles away. For the moment, I am accepting the theory that there are two completely unrelated families, one of which died out entirely and the other having a single surviving line, but I'm not convinced!

On another line, I have Taintons in the 1700s and up to the present day all named either Thomas, Richard or Henry. I wonder if that is where 'any Tom, Dick or Harry' came from.

Hi My 1st sons middle name is JAMES, 2nd son's middle name is CHARLES. Their gr gr gr gr gr gr grandad's first name was JAMES & surname was CHARLES - he was born about 1720! Penny PS Only found this info out after they had been named!

I have a Francis in every generation in 2 villages in Northamptonshire from 1633 up to the last known one in the 1901 Census. In fact it was this clue that led to me to tbe next village to find the rest of the family. It is following clues like this that can take your family history further back. Janet

The middle names in my family were from 1745 to 1833 ish not as long as your record. The name was Drayton and even the girls had this as their middle names although sometimes it was mistranscribed as Draken. Sue

It's strange to think that none of these people knew how 'special' their name was and didn't even know that their namesake had ever existed. Much as I like the tradition of naming, I don't think I could ever name my son Edgar.

Does it count if I made up a middle name for my ancestors eg Andrew 'you will never find me' Johnstone or Andrew ' ha ha ha, got you' Johnstone

My name is Christine, named after my mother Christina. Dad had one too many before going to register my birth, and forgot it was an A not E. Apart from that, there is a Christina in every generation back to the late 1700's where it has changed from Christian. It may go further but that's as far back as I've got. Christine. Oh, and my daughter has it for a middle name.

Has anyone got a female named Stewart in their family? My husband has 2 in his and then it died out! Rosalyn

In 1980 my brother named his newly born daughter 'Eleanor'. I was rather annoyed because that was the name I had chosen for my daughter, who was born five days after. Since then we have discovered that 3 of 4 Gt Grandmothers were called Eleanor, 7 of 8 GTGrandmothers, 6 of 2 x Gms and 3 of 3 x GMs were all called Eleanor! And I am not even going to START telling you about the number of James Holden-son-of-James Holdens I have found, going back to 1303. Marjorie

The name Ambrose is one which was used by my Rosebrook relatives from Essex I have found the name dating back to about 1730 ( although I have not proved he is mine yet!) My Mums Grandfather was William Ambrose. He was born 1873 and did not bless any of his children with the name (unless it was a middle name and I haven't found out). Its wonderful to have sucjh a wonderful name to trace - but I have hit a brick wall anyway! Alice

My Grandfather was Frederick George Horatio Phillips. His father was Frederick John Horatio Phillips, whose father was George Frederick Phillips and uncle was another Frederick John Horatio Phillips. Their father was also Frederick John Horatio Phillips, born in 1805 (the same year as the battle of Trafalgar). Then, his father was plain old George Phillips! So, it seems that Horatio became a family name in 1805 due no doubt to the fame of Admiral Nelson, and stayed in the family for 4 generations. Seems to have died out now though. Richard

My dad's (1950-2003) first names were Derwick Ormond and so far I have tracked this name in every generation before him, 8 so far, back to apx. 1730. No one on my dad's side of the family has used the name for their children - how could you these days! lol - so guess it's up to me to carry the tradition on if I have children - poor things! x