Christian Names in Local and Family History
Description
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 c. 1700 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.
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Person
George Redmonds is a leading authority on names and how they relate to localities. He has been researching surnames and first names for 50 and 30 years respectively, and was awarded his Ph.D in surnames at Leicester in 1970. His most recent work includes Surnames and Genealogy: A New Approach.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Foreword by Peter McClure
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 A Transitional Period
- Chapter 2 Tom, Dick and Harry
- Chapter 3 The Popularity of Christian Names
- Chapter 4 Parents and Godparents
- Chapter 5 Names from the Twelfth Century
- Chapter 6 Names from Abroad
- Chapter 7 Names of the Saints
- Chapter 8 Names from Legend and Literature
- Chapter 9 Names from Surnames
- Chapter 10 After the Reformation
- Chapter 11 Changing Customs
- Conclusion
- Appendix 1: First Name Popularity Nationally, 1377-81
- Appendix 2: First Name Profiles, 1377-1700
- Select Bibliography
- Christian Names Index
- Family Names Index
