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                              THE LANGSTAFFS OF TEESDALE AND WEARDALE
                                                                BY
                                       GEORGE BLUNDELL LONGSTAFF

                                                                                        Transcribed
                                                                                                by
                                                                                CAROLE A.M. JOHNSON
                                                                                      COPYRIGHT 2001
                                                                                      All Rights Reserved

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                                                                                            PART 4 

40

Chapter 3 

The Family Christian Names
 

Far older than surnames are personal, or now as we usually call them, Christian names and in a family history, they certainly merit some attention. The earliest known Langstaff personal names, are Robert, Thomas, William and John, all met with in the thirteenth century. 

These all occur again in the fourteenth century, together with Simon, Agnes and Emma. 

In that great period of prosperity and progress, the fifteenth century-- William, John, Thomas and Robert still survive, Simon is lost sight of, but we come across for the first time, Richard and James, bringing the Medieval Period to a close. The history is fragmentary in the extreme, the individuals mentioned are few in number and scattered over the kingdom, so that it is impossible to state, what were really prevalent names. 

With the accession of the Tudors, we get more complete records, and by the time of Elizabeth, wills and parish registers are generally available, so that it becomes worthwhile, to treat the subject by counties. 

County York ----- Tudor Period 

As regards men's names, John, seems to have been the most popular by a long way extending throughout the period. The only other common names are Thomas, William, Michael and Christopher, which differ, little in frequency. There are a few each, of James, Edmund, Robert, Nicholas, and Richard. Of Martin, Edward, and George, there are perhaps, two each, for it is often impossible to say whether or no, different entries refer to the same individual. Of many names, but single entries are found, viz; Lancelot, Brian, Henry, Leonard, Edward, Reginald, Anthony, Rowland, Reynold, Bartholomew, Gregory,Ralph, Miles, Charles and Simon.--- this last after a lapse of nearly three centuries. It is possible to connect this silence, with the circumstances attending the sudden death at Colchester in 1316. 

40a The Family Christian Name 

It is much more difficult to be certain as to women's names, since wives cannot properly be taken account of, and in the case of burials, it is not always easy to say, whether deceased was daughter, wife or widow. Subject to this qualification, we may say that Ellen or Helen occurs most frequently, then Margaret, Jane, and Ann. Curiously enough, Elizabeth is not met with until 1594. This strange fact, coupled with the equally strange fact that there is but one Henry looks as if the Tudor sovereigns had been far from popular, with the Yorkshire Langstaffs. The following occur singly, Agnes, Isabella, Alice, Mary (!)Mabel and Syth. [see Appendix 1V p.1vi] 

Co. York ---- Stewart Period [1603 - 1688] 

John still retains his lead without much difficulty, William is a good second, Thomas third, some way behind but still decidedly popular, are James, Michael, George and following them, Robert, Christopher, Henry, Simon, [Simond, Symond]. Several individuals rejoice in the names Richard, Nicholas, Francis, Ralph, Danial, Edward, Anthony, and Martin. There are at least two Lawrences, Talbots, [Toby, Tobit, Tobias, Talbert], Edmonds, Martins and Josephs, but only one each of the following:- Lancelot, Gyles, Brian, Charles, Philip, Gamaliel, Moses, Jeramiah and Amos. 

Among women in this period, Margaret, was clearly, the most popular name in the family and next to that Ann [Anne, Anna, Annas] and Mary, [Maria]; then Jane, [Geane, Jenett] and Elizabeth about equal. Far behind all of these, were Isabel and Ellen[ Elinor, Helen , Helenor].

Sarah, Alice, and Agnes occur from time to time, only two Graces a pair of Mabels and the like number of Deborahs, Dorothy, Martha, Thomasin, Ellis, Averell, Merilla, [Myrrel] Emma, Phillis,[Felice] Sicilly, Christiana, Rebeckah and Martha were represented by single individuals.

[ The Christian name Martha, has been entered into both the single and double entry lists***(Carole Johnson)] 

Co. Durham ............. Tudor Period. 

As there were at this time, far fewer Langstaffs in the County Palatine, than its larger southern neighbour, naturally the list of names is shorter. Yet closely as the two counties are connected, there is a perceptible difference in the names. In the first 

40b The Family Christian Names 

place Thomas is slightly more common than John. William comes next closely followed by Richard [Rycharde], Christopher and George while Henry is not far behind. Ralph [Rauphe, Rawlffe*, Rafe*, Raph], James, Robert and Edward had each more than one bearer, but Miles Cuthbert [Chutbert], Simon, Nicholas and Edmund, each stood alone. The daughters of the Durham Langstaffs were by preference, christened Margaret or Jane, though in single instances they received the names of Ellen, Frances, Katherin, Elizabeth or Averil. 

Durham ................ Stewart Period. 

Under the reign of the Stewarts, Thomas still prevailed in "the Bishoprick", though John and William pressed him hard, while George was a good fourth. Neither Henry, James, nor Robert could be called really popular. There were a few Ralphs, Richards, Christophers, Anthonys and Mathews, but only a couple each of Michaels and Bryans. It is not quite clear whether their were more than one Charles Francis Cuthbert or Andrew, certainly only one Roger, one Marmaduke, one Bartram,one Bartholomew, one Wellford, one Jeremiah, one Nicholas, one Abel, one Amos, and one Jonah. There was a Barnard at Darlington, who was sometimes called Bernaby. Among the Auckland Quakers was a man called Bothwell, Bothewell, or Bothuel, while at Gainford, was the strange and puzzling name of Triny or Trynie. 

Among women, Margaret [Margrett, Marget, Mergery] and Ann[often in the curious form [Annas] were equally popular. Elizabeth and Jane scarcely less so. Mary and Isdabel, Katherine and Eleanor 

40c The Family Christian Names 

Dorothea [ Dorothy Dorotie] and Frances [Fransisca] were names less often given at the font, Wynifryde, Emma, Alice [Alis], Cecilia and Magdelen only once. Gertrude appears Latinized as Gathara. Four children were named after their grandmother, Geronime Gryce, [wife of John Langstaffe] Jeronimia, Jeronime, Gerrie and Jeronemy. 

Westmorland ......... Stewart Period 

The very fragmentary records disclose several Roberts, a Christopher, a George, a Thomas, a James; and among the girls, an Annas, a Margaret, a Elioner, a Jennet and an Isabell. 

Co. Lincoln. ......... Tudor Period. 

There are so few notices that it suffices to say, that the names found are, Arthur, Thomas, William, Edward, James, Jasper, John, and Robert among men; Ann, Margaret, Alice, Mary and Aymis among women. Co. Lincoln .......... Stewart Period. 

Among men, James and Thomas are most used, John and Arthur scarely less. There are three Christophers and two Jaspers, but only one William and one Edward, also one man called indifferently, Josias or Joshua. 

Mary, Jane, and Elizabeth head the women, but there are several Anns, Alices, [Alce], Marthas, Margarets, and Sarahs, but with but one, Bridget, one Luce, one Susana, and one Fayth, [and she died young].

It will be noted, as might have been expected, that the personal names in the eastern county differ materially from those in the north. 

Speaking generally, and of the northern counties especially,the commonest wives names are Margaret and Elizabeth. Amongst the less usual names, may be mentioned Idonea, Estasse, Sibelle, Barbara, Agnes, Julian, and Christabella. 

Several common names are conspicuous by their absence, even in the eighteenth century; thus we do not meet with Alfred, Alexander, Arthur [save in co. Lincoln], Benjamin, David, Hugh, Jacob, Peter or Stephen.

40d The Family Christian Names 

Again the unpopularity of Edward, Henry and Mary is quite remarkable, whereas Michael and Nicholas [in Yorkshire], Christopher, Anthony, Margaret and Ralph, in both counties, may be looked upon as quite family names. 

Cuthbert is only found in Durham, which shews in the County Palatine, the name of their patron Saint was not wholly forgotten, even in post Reformation times. Biblical names occur as might have been expected, more frequently in the middle and end of the sixteenth century. 

It does not appear worthwhile to discuss the family Christian names of the later periods of history. 

It should not be forgotten that the association, in remote places, of a special set of Christian names, with one surname, is frequently an indication of descent from a common ancestor when there is no other evidence available. 

The writers great grandfather [from whom there is no doubt that he derives his personal name] was baptised before Queen Anne died, and therefore may have been called after Prince George of Denmark. But early popularity of the name George, among the Langstaffs of York, Durham, and Westmorland alike, justifies an earlier and less prosaic origin in Sainte George of Merrie England 

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