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FAMILY NAMES

Many families of Scottish and Irish ancestry shared the same surname. There were numerous MacNeills, Monaghans, MacDonalds, and Kellys. -- to nan but a few. Many of. the given names found in one family were identical with those found in a half-dozen or more other femilies bearing the same sur- name. It all added up to a complicated probiem of identi fication -- not only in our own area but throughout the Island as a whole.

given It was solved, after a fashion, by adding the /damavof the father to the

given name of the son or daughter: Johnny Angus; Peter Archie; Mary Hector; Annie Alex. Quite frequently, to the name of the father had been added that of his father, which gave rise to such combinations as: Jimmy Neil Hector; Dougal Donald Malcolm; Alex Hughie John; Mary John Sandy; Betsy Duncan Archie. -Sons and daughters of widows of long standing were often given - the name of their mothers. There were: Duncan Mary;. Maggie Margaret; Donald Phemie; Annie Kirsty.

At times. the identification was effected by adding to a man's name some reference to the location of his home. This was noticeable in the Tracasie region in such designations ‘as: Donald’ at the Shore; Angus at the Cove; Big Sandy by the Mill. | |

Kelly's Cross, Emyvale, Lot Thirty, and other Irish communities followed the general pattern with such combinations as Johnny Big Tom. Jimmy Red John; Ellen Big; Frank; Billy Betsy -- whose son, in turn, became Rory Billy Retsy. A slight varietion was noted in the case of a man of an extremely blond, almost albino, shade of complexion, whe bore the tag of Pale Paddy.

In all communities, physical size was sometimes used to distinguish

persons of the same names Big John Bradley -- Little John Bradley;

Big Neil Lamont -- Little Neil Lamont

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