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If a child in 19th Century Ireland was given a particular name at his or her baptism was that necessarily the name by which they were known through life? 

KevinMcColgan

Sunday 10th Sep 2023, 05:02PM

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  • No, is the answer.
    Later they may have used their Confirmation name. A second name that was give at their birth.
    Margot

    Margot

    Monday 11th Sep 2023, 03:27PM
  • To add to what Margot said:

    Irish names were often Latinized (or pseudo-Latinized) in baptismal records, or replaced with some sort of Biblical or other Classical name that the priest thought appropriate, though the name might never be used again by the family.  An "anglicized" form of the Irish name might then later be used, and sometimes it was swapped even later for another name they liked better, especially on emigrating.  A boy named Donncha might be baptized as Dionysius, and later might be called Donagh, Denis, Duncan or something else.  A boy named Tadhg might be baptized as Timotheus or Thaddeus, and later become Timothy, Thaddeus, Thady, or Thomas (my great-grandfather was called all of those names in different records).  For some people, the name chosen by the priest "took", which is why many boys named Conor ended up as Cornelius's.  A girl named Sadhbh, Sorcha, or Síle might be baptized as Sophia, Sarah, or Cecilia, and later either keep that name or become Sally, Sibby, Sabina, Sheila, Judith, Judy, Jude, or Julia.

     

    kevin45sfl

    Monday 11th Sep 2023, 09:53PM
  • Thanks so much for your reply. I have been trying to determine if two of my great-grandfather s brothers were actually one person who was baptized Patrick but was known as William 

    KevinMcColgan

    Tuesday 12th Sep 2023, 01:08PM

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