English Naming Patterns
Time Period: 1700-1875
Please assist by sending Gary Foster an e-mail

This is the normal naming pattern:
  • 1st son -- father's father
  • 2nd son -- mother's father
  • 3rd son -- father
  • 4th son -- father's eldest brother
  • 1st daughter -- mother's mother
  • 2nd daughter -- father's mother
  • 3rd daughter -- mother
  • 4th daughter -- mother's eldest sister
 Here are variations to the normal naming pattern:
  • 1st son -- mother's father
  • 2nd son -- father's father or after the father
  • 3rd son --
  • 4th son --
  • 1st daughter -- father's mother
  • 2nd daughter -- mother's mother or after the mother
  • 3rd daughter -- named after one of the great-grandmothers
  • 4th daughter -- named after the mother

Younger children would be named after earlier ancestors, but the pattern in their case was more varied.

 

Here are the unknown names of Richard Foster's parents and grandparents (suspected as of 19 June 2005) based on the use of first and middle names of their children and grandchildren.  
?? indicates a guess of the name but not proven yet.

Here are the known names of Susannah's parents and grandparents:  Note by the colored names the possible source of the names used.
  Grandfather:
Mr. __________ Foster

Most common use of names for this families 3 generations:
Elizabeth (9)
Ransom (8)
Richard (4)
Susannah (4)
Harwood (4)
William (4)
Beverly (4)
Peter (3)
John (2)
 

   Grandfather:
Ebenezer Rand
Father: Richard Foster ?? Father: Colonel William Rand
  Grandmother:
Miss _________ ??		   Grandmother:
Elizabeth Brigden
  Grandfather:
James _______ ??		   Grandfather:
Colonel
 William Beverly
Mother: Elizabeth Ransom ?? Mother: Elizabeth  Beverly
  Grandmother: 
Miss _____ Garnett ??		   Grandmother:
Elizabeth Bland

Here are the names of Richard Foster and Susannah Rand's (5) children and their grandchildren are indented below their parents names.  The children are listed in the order of their births.

1.  Beverly Ransom Foster born 1748 in , Isle Wight, Virginia, USA married Elizabeth Coman  Father: John Coman
                                                                                                                                                      Mother: Elizabeth Harwood
        1.  John Harwood Foster born 24 Apr 1773
        2.  William Harold Foster born 27 Oct 1776
        3.  Peter Ransom Foster born born Abt 1778
        4.  Susannah Ransom Foster born Abt 1780
        5.  Elizabeth Harwood Foster born Abt 1782
        6.  Beverly Ransome Foster Jr. born 25 Sep 1785
        7.  Samuel Foster born June 1787
        8.  Richard Harwood Foster born Abt 1787

2.  Richard Foster born about 1750 in Ware Parish, Gloucester, Virginia, USA married Elizabeth Jordan Hall  Father: Robert Hall
                                                                                                                                                                                    Mother: Nancy Johnston
        1.  Robert Foster born Abt 1782
        2.  Joicey Foster born Abt 1784
        3.  Josiah Foster born Abt 1786
        4.  Spence Foster born Abt 1788

3.  Miss (Elizabeth) Foster born about 1753 in Ware Parish, Gloucester, Virginia, USA married James Clark
        1.  Susanna Ransome Clark

4.  Peter Garnett Foster born 22 Mar 1757 in Ware Parish, Gloucester, Virginia, USA married Ann Hall  Father: Robert Hall
                                                                                                                                                                              Mother: Nancy Johnston
        1.  Susannah Ransom Foster born 3 Sep 1777
        2.  Nancy Ann Foster born 5 May 1780
        3.  Elizabeth Foster born 4 Oct 1782
        4.  Richard Foster born 26 Jan 1785
        5.  Peter Foster II born 11 may 1787
        6.  Mary Foster born 24 Jan 1789
        7.  William Edward Foster born 26 Sep 1795
        8.  Harriet Foster born 20 Oct 1798

5.  James Foster born 15 Dec 1759 in Kingston Parish, Gloucester, Virginia, USA

Return to Previous Page

Return to Foster HomePage