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Archivessignificance of christian names
In my youth (60 years ago unfortunately) in South Wales there was a folk tradition that certain names (mainly biblical) like Isaac and Jacob, were customarily used to denote the circumstances of a birth such as "long awaited" or "child of old age" or "miraculous" etc.
Does anyone know what these names were if and how they were used in England and Wales in the 17th and 18th Centuries?
Does anyone know what these names were if and how they were used in England and Wales in the 17th and 18th Centuries?
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There are a couple of biblical names which have such a story associated with them, and people in the 17th and 18th c. would have been familiar with the stories.
Isaac was born in extreme old age to a woman with no other children.
Samuel was born to a woman who was unable to have children for many years and prayed continually for a son.
Though I can't answer your usage questions, I can tell you that even today, devout Christian parents who have a son in one of those circumstances very often choose those names. I know several.
Isaac was born in extreme old age to a woman with no other children.
Samuel was born to a woman who was unable to have children for many years and prayed continually for a son.
Though I can't answer your usage questions, I can tell you that even today, devout Christian parents who have a son in one of those circumstances very often choose those names. I know several.
This message was edited 6/16/2011, 6:20 AM
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