THE HISTORY OF NAMES

For many generations, names have served us like a fingerprint, a basic clue to our personality and past. Awareness of naming practices can help us trace our families back to a village or a place. It can tell us their likely occupation, or even give an idea about what our ancestors looked like.

The story of surnames dates back thousands of years and is called the study of onomastics.

The first known people to introduce surnames were the Chinese. It is said that the Emperor Fushi decreed the use of surnames, or family names, about 2852 BC

In early times, the Romans had only one name, then later changed to using three names. The given name stood first and was called a "praenomen." This was followed by the "nomen" which designates the gens, or clan. The last name designates the family and is known as the "cognomen". As the Roman Empire began to decline, family names became confused and single names again became customary.

During the early Middle Ages, people were referred to by a single given name, but gradually the custom of adding another name as a way to distinguish individuals gained popularity. Certain distinct traits became commonly used as a part of this practice. For instance the place of birth, a descriptive characteristic, the person's occupation, or the use of the Father's name.

In Italy, the Venetian aristocracy developed the use of surnames around the 10th century. Crusaders returning from the Holy Land took note of this custom, and as the need to distinguish individuals became more important, it was soon introduced into the rest of Europe. By the 12th century, the use of a second name had become widespread but did not apply to families, nor were they hereditary. Hereditary names advanced slowly over a period of several hundreds of years.

In the 1370's the word "surname" was beginning to appear in legal documents, and had begun to establish a significant influence. Government became increasingly a matter of written record and required identification of people for the levying of taxation and other civil records.

By about 1450, most people of whatever social rank had a fixed hereditary surname. This surname identified the family, provided a link with the family's past, and would preserve its identity in the future.

Many family names were dependent on the competency and discretion of the writer. The same name can sometimes be spelled in different ways even in the same family group.

Family names have evolved in various ways. They may have originated from a person's surroundings, job, or the name of an ancestor.

The local house builder, food preparer, grain grinder and suit maker, would be named respectively: John Carpenter, John Cook, John Miller and John Taylor. The blacksmith was called Smith. Every village had its share of Smiths, Carpenters and Millers but were not necessarily related to those in the next village.

The John who lived over the hill became known as John Overhill; the one who dwelled near a stream might be dubbed John Brook. Many surnames can be recognised by the termination - son, such as Williamson, Jackson, etc. Some are indicated by prefixes denoting "son" such as the Welsh - Ap, the Scots and Irish - Mac. In Wales, David the son of John tacked "ap" in front of his Father's name, and David ap John was soon being called David Upjohn. In Scotland, Gregors descendants were known as MacGregor and later shortened to Greg, Gregg, Grag, and many other versions.

An unusually small person might be labeled Small, Short, Little or Lythe, and a large man might be named Longfellow, Large, Lang or Long.

Surnames taken from occupations came later, and those of patronymic origin were the last to become hereditary. Even though patronymic names have been in use a long time, they would change with generations: William's son John would be known as John Williamson, while his son William would be William Johnson. The surname Gregg appears to be patronymical in origin although many surnames have more than one origin.

The spelling in use today may very well have been different hundreds of years ago, and you may even know of someone who has changed his or her family name in recent times. Language variations, carelessness, and illiteracy compounded the number of ways a name might have been spelled. Often the man himself did not know how to spell his own name and the town clerk spelled the name the way it sounded to him.

Although our last names offer substantial clues to our family history, first and middle names can also be valuable in tracing a family tree. Generally we have first, middle and last names. First names are called "given" or "Christian" names, because early Christians changed their pagan first names to Christian names at baptism.

The Hebrews contributed biblical names, which are the earliest personal names on record, and Christians of the first centuries used Old Testament Hebrew names. In time, these were abandoned by many New Testament figures as a way of protesting against Judaism. Today about one-half of the English-speaking population have first names from the New Testament such as Elizabeth, Mary, John and Joseph.

Celtic refers to a family of languages used in the British Isles dating back to 1000 BC including Erse, Scottish, Gaelic, Irish Manx, Breton, Cornish and Welsh. The Celtic languages also gave us names for personal characteristics. Names of Celtic origin are almost poetic, such as Kevin meaning "gentle and beloved" and Morgan meaning "sea dweller."

While today there are many first names in use, it is worthwhile remembering that in 1545 the Catholic Church made the use of a saint's name compulsory for baptism, and so most first names were confined to the John -- and -- Mary tradition. During the Middle Ages, there were only about twenty common names for infant boys and girls. And John and Mary were most frequently used. With few exemptions it also became usual to name children after their Parents, Grandparents and close members of the family; hence the repetitions throughout our family tree of such names as James, William, John, Matthew and Robert.

In the 1600s, the Protestants rejected anything associated with Catholicism, and so again, they reintroduced names from the Old Testament, such as Elijah, Priscilla and Joshua.

Middle names were not used until the 15th century when nobility used a second "first" name as a status symbol. But second names in general did not become widespread for many years.

An interesting tradition, particularly in the north of England and Scotland, was to include the maiden surnames of Mothers and Grandmothers as 'second' or 'middle' names, and this can be identified throughout our family history in the names of Denholm, Seaton, Fletcher, Paton, Perry and Doyle.

Often we found record of more than one child in a family having been given the same name, which can be somewhat confusing when trying to identify ones ancestors. Usually it was because an older sibling had died in childhood, and the name was reused either in memory of the first child or in tribute to a prominent family member. Typical was the case in which my Grandparents named three daughters Catherine Seaton Gregg.

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In the traditional Scottish naming pattern, used almost religiously until the 19th century, the pattern of naming a child was as follows:

The 1st son was usually named after the father's father
The 2nd son was usually named after the mother's father
The 3rd son was usually named after the father

The 1st daughter was usually named after the mother's mother
The 2nd daughter was usually named after the father's mother
The 3rd daughter was usually named after the mother

SCOTLAND

Roman rule in Britain was nearing an end. Their empire was crumbling, and the legions being withdrawn to defend territories closer to home. They had occupied Britain for nearly four centuries, but throughout that time were unable to subjugate the nation as a whole. Scotland in particular proved difficult to occupy for any length of time. Although some military campaigns penetrated to the far north, the Roman soldiers could not defeat the Pictish tribes, and eventually they resigned to withdraw their northern frontier to Hadrian's Wall.

Following the departure of the Romans around 410 A.D, and left in the hands of native factions, Britain became devoid of central organisation and was vulnerable to attack from all quarters. North of the old Roman frontier, the Argyll region and West Coast islands were invaded by the Scots from Dalriada in Northern Ireland. They later settled there and founded the new Kingdom of Dalriada; its capital being at Dunnad in central Argyll. The Picts(Meaning: 'The painted ones') dominated the northern and eastern regions known as Pictland, and to the south were the Gaels, Angles, and Saxons.

SCOTLAND takes its name from the SCOTS who arrived there about 600 AD. During the following 200 years, New Dalriada flourished, but pressure to expand eventually brought the Scots into conflict with the opposing kingdoms. There were battles with the native Picts and skirmishes with the Vikings who oft times plundered throughout Scotland and into England. Eventually, and some time after A.D 843, the Scots were able to unite the northern factions into one nation, which became known as Alban.

Britain then entered into a period of history known as the 'Dark Ages', a rather inappropriate term to describe a time during which tribes from diverse backgrounds and cultures were desperately trying to establish and re-establish themselves throughout the land. Eventually from this melting pot emerged the re-organised nations of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales. Finally, in the eleventh century under the rule of King Harold, England was conquered by the Normans who were to have a profound effect upon the whole of Britain. Although Scotland stayed virtually an independent nation for a further six centuries, lands were granted to the Norman's by Scottish Kings and Chieftains, and many Clans paid allegiance to the Norman Lords.

The Clan system had developed in Scotland from earliest times, and from historical chronicles we find that throughout the centuries they were in almost continual conflict with one another - in feuds, raiding forays and massacres. It was not until the Battle of Culloden in 1745 that the Clan system began to give way to general law and order throughout Scotland, and in our story we claim allegiance, and pay particular tribute to the fortunes[and should it be said - the misfortunes] of the old and famous Clan MacGregor.

Legends surround the origin and history of the Stone of Destiny. It is supposed to have originated, in biblical times, from the Middle-East where Jacob used it as his pillow. From there, it is said, it arrived in the Old Dalriadic Kingdom in Northern Ireland in the time of King Erc. Future Irish(Scots) Celtic Kings were ceremonially crowned upon it, and when, after the 4th Century, the 'Scots' established their New Kingdom of Dalriada in Western Scotland, it was brought with the settlers to Dunadd and continued to be used for the crowning ceremonies.
The old village of Scone was situated in Perthshire Scotland, just north of Perth and located on the River Tay. It is said that in the early centuries Scone was the capital of the Pictish Kingdom, and that Kenneth MacAlpin, King of the Dalriadic Scots (and later the Picts), brought the legendary sandstone to Scone about 840 - 845 AD. Often referred to as the Stone of Destiny, it would bear witness to the crowning of Scottish Kings for a further four centuries. As an insult to the Scots, Edward I, King of England had the stone removed to London England in 1296, where it was placed under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. There it remained until 1996 when John Major, British Prime Minister, announced that it was the 700th anniversary of the removal of the stone, and Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for the chunk of grey sandstone to be returned home to Scotland. After much debate and divergence of public opinion it was decided that the stone was to be placed on public view in Edinburgh Castle.

In times past the spoken language in Scotland was Gaelic, and the early MacGregor motto in that tongue - 'S RIOGHAL MO DHREAM, means 'Royal is my Race'. The war cry or slogan of the Clan is "Ard Coile" meaning 'High Wood"MacGregor

According to ancient tradition and writings from the early bards, Griogair or Gregor MacAlpin is said to have been founder of Clan MacGregor. Born about A.D 820, Gregor was the younger son to Alpin, a Dalriadic King of Scotland. His Mother was a native Pict who's name is not recorded.

His elder brother Kenneth MacAlpin[Reign A.D 834 - A.D 860] ascended the throne when Alpin died in A.D 834. He became famous for his conquest of the Picts, and after eventually uniting the tribes into one Kingdom, became the first ruler of all Scotland.

In chronicles relating to Kenneth MacAlpin, his younger brother Gregor is mentioned as a military commander in the Pictish conflicts, and it is from his sons - the MacGregors (sons of Gregor) - that the name is derived. Thus the descendants of Griogair evolved as a branch of Clan Alpine and from whence they claim their Royal descent.