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Irish Naming Patterns - twins?

Hi Everyone:

I have a question for anyone knowledgeable about Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions (see article at https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/news/irish-naming-conventions-and-… published November 1, 2022)

According to the article, the Irish Naming Traditions for Boys is: 1st son named after the paternal grandfather (his father's father); 2nd son after the maternal grandfather (his mother's father); 3rd son after his father; 4th son after his eldest paternal uncle (his father's eldest brother) and so on in that order.I have found this approach incredibly helpful in uncovering some of the previous unknown generation of my immigrating ancestor John Potter. 

The question is how to use this approach when twins are involved. I have found evidence that supports my immigrant ancestor John Potter's firstborn was named after his paternal grandfather, William (bingo!). John's second-borns were twin sons, James and Patrick. The pattern would indicate that John Potter's father-in-law (the twin's maternal grandfather) was either James or Patrick. I have found evidence of a maternal grandparent named Patrick (bingo!). However, this would leave "James" as the third son, which does not fit the pattern of the third son being named after his father (John Potter).  Finally, John Potter had a fourth son named John, which would fit the pattern if he were third born.  I have recently found potential evidence for John Potter's oldest sibling, James, which would fit the pattern of the 4th son being named after the eldest paternal uncle - but James is "third born" out of twins. 

Does anyone have knowledge or experience dealing with exceptions to the rule when twins are born?    

Thanks in advance!

Ed Potter 

FourthGreatGrandson

2 replies

I have no direct experience of twins but would think that if the family were using the traditional naming pattern they’d just follow the normal rules.

You do have to be wary of relying too much on the naming patterns. There were all sorts of things that could skew it, eg children dying and the name being reused for the next born child. If you don’t know that has happened the sequence will be faulty. Or what do you do if several parents have the same forename, and so on. Some families would also break the tradition for special reasons (eg to commemorate someone they particularly respected).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks very much, Elwyn - I greatly appreciate your insights. Given so many different circumstances possible, I agree with your comment about naming patterns being subject to potential skewing. In my experience, the naming pattern fortunately has helped build and confirm several relationships with recorded evidence that I would otherwise not have been able to make. However, your suggestion that families would break the tradition for special reasons (such as the auspicious birth of twins?) and for someone they particularly respected actually makes sense. In my situation, the naming of one of the twins who didn't follow the naming pattern, "James" would commemorate the eldest paternal brother who inherited all his father's tenant rights and later would generously help his younger brother, John Potter, my ancestor and father of James, with establishing his own tenancy in the townland immediately adjacent to his own. It's a theory, let's see if more evidence can confirm it.  I very much appreciate your insights!

FourthGreatGrandson

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