Most Popular Elizabethan Names: A study of 23 Norfolk parishes

What was the most popular Elizabethan name? A simple question, but one that's almost impossible to answer. Records from that period are scarce, difficult to decipher and were little regulated. 

Despite all that, below is my study of twenty-three parishes in Norfolk during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 -1603).

Sample:

The following rankings have been compiled from a total of 6239 baptism records (3259 male; 2980 female) in the years 1558 to 1603 from twenty-three Norfolk parishes. Not all parishes had records dating back to 1558: 

Ashmanaugh: 1562-, Beeston St Lawrence: 1559-, Blickling: 1559-, Brandiston: 1562-, Caston: 1558-, Coltishall: 1558-, Dilham: 1568-, Frettenham: 1559-, Hackford: 1584-, Hainford: 1557- Hautbois Magna: 1563-, Horstead: 1558-, Lamas: 1558-, Martham: 1558-, North Walsham: 1557-, Oxnead: 1574-, Reepham: 1558-, Ridlington: 1559-, Smallburgh: 1561-, Spixworth: 1551-, Stratton Strawless: 1562-, Tuttington: 1558-, Whitwell: 1559- 

Why Norfolk?:

I have compiled this sample from Norfolk baptisms for the simple reason that I had ready access to them. As my paternal line hails from Norfolk, I have been collecting Norfolk baptism records for years whilst researching my family tree. Added to this, the availability of parish records for Norfolk is remarkably high. Almost all parish records have been collated in the Norfolk Record Office and many have been transcribed and made available by a host of kind enthusiasts – far more than in most counties. 

Standardising names:

As there were no rules as to how baptism entries should be set out, they vary widely from parish to parish. The entries were handwritten either by the parish priest or his curate and each had their own style. Most wrote in English, with spellings varying widely (Cicely, Cicilie, Cisselye, Sisley, Sisslye, Sysly, Syslye, Sysselye etc), while a few chose to write in Latin. Sometimes there was a mix, such as Samuell Dayve son of John and Awdrie, followed two years later by Robertus Dayve fillius Johanis et Etheldreda.

To give accurate rankings I have standardised different spellings in a vernacular common form.

Local variations:

The highest raking names in this survey are broadly in line with the national picture for the period. Many names that were popular lower down the ranks in Norfolk were inspired by saints who had churches dedicated to their honour in the local area: Andrew, Augustine, Audrey (St Etheldreda), Barnaby (St Barnabas) Bartholomew, Benedict, Clement, George, Jude, Martin, Miles, Nicholas, Stephen, Wyborough (St Withburga). Alongside these, St Wolstan, St Ursula and St Dorothy were commonly depicted in churches alongside others. Many of these were popular in other counties also, depending on local dedications.

In most parishes in this sample, Dionys was used for both boys and girls. Both come from the same route, and we recognise them today as the names Dennis and Denise. In a few parishes, Dennis and Denise were used as separate spellings.

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The top 100 most popular names in Norfolk during the reign of Elizabeth I: .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 27 28 28 30 30 32 32 34 34 36 36 36 36 40 40 40 40 40 45 45 45 45 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71

John Thomas William Robert Richard Edward Henry Edmund Nicholas James Christopher George Stephen Francis Roger Samuel Lawrence Ralph Simon Clement Walter Anthony Matthew Peter Myles Daniel Nathaniel Andrew Michael Martin Philip Alexander Gregory Dennis Hugh Abraham Joseph Leonard Timothy Arthur Barnaby Bartholomew Benjamin Geoffrey Augustine Humphrey Jeremy Reignold Adam Ayland Charles Cuthbert David Emmanuel Erasmus Jerome Mark Mathusela Tobias Wolstan Ambrose Bartram Elias Ezekiel Jude Lancelot Lionel Nathan Oliver Theophilus Alban Amor Aquila Barnard Benedict Chambrs Clare Cleeve Cornelius Eastyn Elisha Elling Esau Esdras Evered Florence Gabriel Galwell Garret Gilbert Giles Godfrey Godsgift Hugo Isaac Jacob Joshua Julian Lewis Marmaduke Migsett Nazereth Octavian Osmund Parry Powell Roland Salathiell Sampson Titus Uric Valentine Vincent Zacharia

628 454 450 358 191 122 121 98 78 77 63 41 39 34 34 31 26 25 23 21 21 19 19 19 14 13 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 17 17 19 20 20 22 23 23 25 26 26 26 26 30 31 32 33 34 35 35 35 38 38 40 40 42 43 43 43 43 47 47 49 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68

Elizabeth Margaret Mary Ann Agnes Alice Dorothy Joan Katherine Bridget Susan Amy Jane Ellen Cicely Sarah Margery Rose Christian* Grace Rebecca Thomasin Frances Ursula Audrey Eleanor Helen Lucy Martha Judith Emma Lettice Priscilla Esther Blythe Faith Rachel Amphillis Denise Beatrice Prudence Olive Avis Bethsabe* Lydia Temperance Isabell Winifred Pleasance Barbara Christabell Deborah Diana Dorcas Mabel Marian Millicent Phoebe Abigail Constance Eale Edony Mathaye Maud Philippa Sybil Vashti Annabel Anthonye Benedicta Betella Bethia Clare Eylmer Fortune Frideswide Gillian Good Grissell Hannah Holwice Honor Joyce Love Mariella Mildred Myrna Parnell Patience Ruth Stephana Unice Wyborough Zephora

344 342 274 244 184 182 136 113 112 103 99 50 45 44 41 41 40 40 34 31 31 30 28 28 24 22 22 22 22 19 17 15 14 12 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

                                                               Statistics compiled by Eleanor Nickerson at britishbabynames.com
                                                                          No unauthorised copying without credit or permission.

 

* Christian = Christine, Christina, Christiana
  Bethsabe = Bathsheba