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After the Norman Conquest the vast majority of the old Saxon
names became extinct and were replaced by Norman importations such
as, William, Richard, Robert, Henry, Ralph, Odo, Hugh and Walter
together with a few Celtic names from Brittany (Ives. Sampson,
Alan).
In the 12th and 13th centuries biblical names
became increasingly common. At first these were mostly the names of
apostles John, Matthew. Peter. Andrew. Bartholomew. Philip. James.
Simon) or Evangelists Luke, Mark.
Germanic female names
almost disappeared, being replaced by Joan (first encountered in
England 1189), Agnes (1189), Catherine (1196), Mary (1203),
Elizabeth (1205) and Anne (1218)
During the 13th and 14th
centuries, Old Testament names from the Mystery plays made their
appearance Adam, Eve, Noah, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac. Jacob. Joseph,
Daniel, David, Absolom, Susanna, Judith, Anna, Hester, Tobias, Jonah
Nevertheless the number of names in common use actually
declined. Names such as Austin, Basil, Bennet, Blaise, Brise,
Christopher. Clement, Crispin, Denis, Fabian, Gervase, Hilary,
Martin, Quentin, Valentine and Viel became rare or disappeared
altogether.
Henry, John, Richard, Robert and William accounted
for 38% of names in the 12th century, 57% in the 13th and 64% in the
14th.
The confusion resulting from such common names was
undoubtedly one of the main factors in the development of surnames.
With the Reformation a host of the obscurer Biblical names
appeared. These were, of course, especially favoured by the Puritans
and so will appear not only in Puritan families but also amongst the
parishioners of Puritan clergy. Many Puritans started coining their
own names, at first in Latin, e.g. Renovata, Donatus, Renatus) and
later in English e.g. Desire. Given, Love)
Most, but not all of
the unusual names appearing in Parish Registers at this time were
scriptural. Abish, Herodiah, Hortimias, Mehatabel, Peterlaine,
Timmatha, Repent, Patience, Trephos, Obedience
Twins were often
named Esau and Jacob, Moses and Aaron or Joseph and Mary.
Bastards were sometimes given names indicative of contempt or
derision.
Foundlings were freely given such names as Helpless,
Repentance, Lament, Forsake and Flie-fornication.
Peregrine was
often given to the children of tramps and travellers.
The more
extravagant of the Puritan names died out with the Restoration
leaving many Biblical names and a few moral qualities such as Faith,
Hope, Charity, Prudence, Patience.
Of the Biblical names Samuel,
Benjamin, Joseph, Jacob, Sarah, Susan and Hannah were fully
integrated.
The 16th century also saw the introduction of a
number of classical names e.g. Julius, Horace.
In the 18th
century the Latin forms of women's names were preferred especially
among the upper classes e. g. Anna, Maria, Sophia, Olivia, Evelina,
Cecilia, Juliana.
The late 18th century saw the revival of Old
English or Medieval names e. g. Edgar, Edwin, Alfred,
Matilda.
This accelerated with the Romantic Movement, Tennyson
and the Pre-Raphaelites (e. g. Wilfred, Guy, Roland, Nigel, Quentin,
Amy, Hugh. Walter, Roger, Ralph, Alice, Isabell, Edith).
The
Oxford Movement revived names such as Aiden, Augustine, Alban,
Theodore, Benedict and Bernard.
Names Used by Both Sexes
The following
names have been used indiscrimately for both - Evelyn, Hillary,
Leslie. Vivien.
To this list, may be added Francis/Frances and
Jesse/Jessie.
Men's Names used for Women
The custom
of forming a feminine equivalent from a masculine name came in with
the Norman Conquest, and they were often given to daughters because
a son had been hoped for, to perpetuate a masculine hereditary
Christian name or to place the girl under the patronage of a male
saint. e.g. Joan of St. John.
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