The sixteenth century saw many cultural and artistic innovations. The Reformation, Shakespeare, the Armada and the reign of the Tudors are just a few notable features of that century. The age also brought with it some wonderfully eccentric and bizarre names. Trawling through Norfolk baptisms in my genealogical searches I have also squirrelled away many intriguing names from 1500-1599.
Note: Only a small fraction of the Norfolk parish registers go back to the sixteenth century -- most start at the beginning of the eighteenth -- so the names below are only a small sample from that time period.
Beyond Mary and John:
| Abednego Abraham Adam Alexander Ambrose Archeleus Augustin Austine Barnaby Bartheram Bartholomew Benedict Bryan Clement Cornelius Cuthbert Cyprian Easter Ellys Emanuel Erasmus Esau Ezekiel Felix Gabriel Griffyn Hannibal Holland |
Jeremiah Jonas Lancelot Leonarde Lawrence Marmaduke Mathias Methusela Midnave Morgan Moses Myles Nathaniel Octavian Oliver Owen Reinold Salathiel Solomon Theodorus Theophilus Titus Tobias Valentine Walter Zachariah |
Amancia Amphillis Annys / Annis Aquila Audrey Augustina Avis Benedicta Bethsabie Betella Bethia Blyth Bridget Bursabye Christabel Christiana Cornella Debora Diana Dionyse Dorcas Dorothy* Cicely Etheldred Galatia Grissell Hadriana Hugenna |
Juprinis Lettice Lidia Mabel Magdalen Mathea Marianne Mariella Mistres Mirabel Newthena Olive Pernella Petronell Philippa Phoebe Priscilla Rhoda Sabine Scarlet Tomasine Ursula Vasti Winifred Wybetha Zaphire Zephora |
Virtue/ word names:
| Angell Amor Christian Fortune Godsgift Victor |
Causeanger Charity Clemence Constance Faith Fortune |
Good Grace Honor Love Modesty Patience |
Pleasance Prudence Temperance Virtue |
Surname-first names:
| Ayland Chambers Chappell Chrolie Cobham Corley Duelt |
Eastyn Fenmore Galwell Gunvyle Hammant Jarmingham Le Strange |
Malhus Meatland Rendle Sampson Segrave Wolston |
Ashlie Bennet Ealls Neele Jernegan Rookwood Whyborow |
Gender-benders:
| Dorothie | Allen Basil |
Julian Julius |
Matthew Raphaell |
Stay tuned next week for the Curiosities of the Seventeenth Century.
* At this time Dorothy was pronounced with a 't' rather than a 'th' sound (as was Anthony, Thomas, Esther), as attested by the spellings Doritye. The same can be said for Katherine which commonly appears as Caterin, Katerin, Kateryn, Kateryne.
