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Witnesses or Sponsors

Aloha friends,

Is there an article somewhere that would help me understand the significance of the witnesses or sponsors on church baptism and marriage records? Sometimes it is obvious, because of the last name,  that. it is a family member, but especially Marriage records, it is many times random names. 

Also, on a birth record when they record the mother's maiden name only, can I be fairly confident that is her maiden name?  I guess this sounds silly, but I have Faherty men marrying Faherty women all the time.  

Thanks,

Judy

Judy

4 replies

Judy:

Not aware of an article that addresses your question.

Sponsors for baptisms were usually siblings of the parents or other relatives or neighbors/friends. Marriage witnesses were siblings/relatives and friends. If a marriage record has random names then likely they were friends of the couple.

On a civil birth record, the mother shows her married name first followed by Formerly and then Maiden name is shown. I attached a page of records as an example.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02470/1917176.pdf

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, Roger and Moderator DC...Your help is great and I will study your suggestions!

Thank you so very much.  I have struggled with my Irish genealogy for 40 years and there is so much coming forward now with your site and others...It is like Christmas every day!

When I get a little more confident, I want to post what I have found on my great grandparents and where they lived on Henry St and a shop on Williams street, hoping there will be something surface that I am missing.

Judy

Judy

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