Most Popular Restoration Names: A study of 47 Norfolk parishes

The Restoration period was the era following the restoration of the monarchy -- after the massive upheaval of the Civil War and the latter rule of Oliver Cromwell and his son as "Grand High Protector" -- when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660. "Restoration era" is a somewhat vague term, used to refer to the Stuart monarchs from Charles II that were part of a new political regime. Some end with King James II (1688), others go right up the the Georgians (1714). I have chosen the end in 1702 (the reign of Mary II and William III) which also corresponds with the dates considered for Restoration Literature. 

Sample:

The following rankings have been compiled from a total of 11,843 baptism records (6102 male; 5741 female) in the years 1660 to 1702 from 47 Norfolk parishes. Not all parishes had records dating back to 1660: 

Alby with Thwait: 1675-, Ashmanaugh: 1660-, Beeston St Lawrence: 1660-, Bintry: 1687-, Blickling : 1660-, Brandiston: 1660-, Buxton: 1660-, Caston: 1660-, Coltishall: 1660-, Dilham: 1660-, East Ruston: 1690-, Frettenham : 1660-, Great Hautbois: 1660-, Hackford : 1660-, Hainford : 1660-, Haveringland : 1660-, Hingham: 1683-, Honing : 1660-, Horsham St.Faith cum Newton: 1695-, Horstead : 1660-, Hoveton St.John: 1673-, Lamas: 1660-, Martham : 1660-1692, Morningthorpe: 1660-, Morston : 1689-, Neatishead: 1671-, North Walsham : 1660-, Oxnead : 1660-, Potter Heigham: 1660-, Reepham : 1660-, Ridlington: 1660-1700, Sherringham : 1670-, Skeyton : 1670-, Smallburgh : 1660-, Spixworth : 1660-, Stratton Strawless: 1660-, Thetford St.Marys : 1660-, Tilney All Saints: 1680-, Tilney cum Islington : 1675-, Tunstead : 1678-, Tuttington : 1660-, Westwick : 1660-, Whitwell : 1660-, Wickmere – 1665, Worstead : 1661-

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 (Ellen, Elen, Elin, Ellyn 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, Julian, Martin, Miles, Nicholas, Stephen. St Ursula and St Dorothy were also popularly depicted in local churches. 

The use of surnames was often used to honour a family member or godparent, and in cases of illegitimate children, they often had their father's family name as their given name. Other examples of surnames come from local namesakes such as Shovell in honour of Rear-Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel. Some surnames seem to simply have been a local fashion such as Willoughby for girls (which was used for several centuries in Norfolk) and Hammond for boys.

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The most popular names in Norfolk during the Restoration Era: .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 14 15 16 17 18 18 20 21 22 23 24 24 26 27 28 29 29 29 29 33 34 34 35 37 37 39 40 40 42 42 42 42 42 47 47 47 47 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 58 58 58 58 58 58 58 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88

John Thomas William Robert Richard Henry James Edmund Joseph Edward Samuel Francis Matthew George Charles Nicholas Benjamin Daniel Stephen Christopher Philip Peter Roger Michael Nathaniel Simon Martin Isaac Abraham Andrew Anthony Jonathan Ralph Clement Lawrence Gregory David Jeremiah Jacob Bartholomew Joshua Augustine Humphrey Miles Solomon Timothy Alexander Dennis Leonard Mark Erasmus Ezekiel Jeremy Luke Oliver Tristram Valentine Adam Brian Cornelius Cuthbert Jeffrey Moses Walter Giles Ishmael Israel Job Judah Maurice Nathan Paul Aaron Arthur Bennet Brobert Caleb Clare Frank Hammond Harrison Jasper Josiah Lionel Sabone Shadrach Shovell Absolom Allen Aubrey Aurelius Austin Barnaby Bell Browne Burragh Clopton Cooke Earle Eleazar Elisha Esau Esdras Fairefax Felix Firman Fortune Gabriel Gallant Glen Hall Hardnesse Hugh Isaiah Kettleborough Masters Neriah Oldrid Osmund Palgrave Payton Perry Poynter Reuben Rowland Salmon Salvino Samson Sheldrake Squire Theophilus Thorney Tobias Windwood

1433 863 805 564 246 208 199 161 144 138 122 83 83 82 81 66 61 60 60 58 43 33 25 20 20 19 18 17 16 16 16 16 15 14 14 13 12 12 10 9 9 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 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 1 1

.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 27 27 29 29 31 31 33 34 35 35 38 38 38 41 41 43 43 45 45 45 45 45 45 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79

Elizabeth Mary Ann Sarah Susan Margaret Martha Hannah Alice Frances Jane Katherine Amy Bridget Rachel Rose Esther Judith Rebecca Thomasine Dorothy Ellen Matthew Grace Barbara Lydia Anna Emma Abigail Deborah Agnes Christian Helen Prudence Diana Joan Lucy Tabitha Ursula Amphillis Ruth Cicely Isabel Jemima Joyce Lucretia Palgrave Pleasance Willoughby Aurelia Bennet Faith Jeane Joanna Letitia Mariah Marianne Mildred Philippa Temperance Annis Audrey Charlotte Dorcas Eleanor Elling Frideswith Julian Margery Modesty Monica  Muriel Penelope Philadelphia Phillis Verily Winifred Arabella Azoah Beatrice Bertha Camilla Christabel Clemence Daphne Dinah Ednah Edoni Emmenie Euphane Eve Felicity Flora Harriet Jaronomie Josephine June Kezia Knevett Leah Magdalina Marina Mercy Millicent Mirabell Ollye Pamela Patience Peace Phebe Plane Rosamon Sebeliah Selina Stafford Valentine Venus Zipporah

1329 1303 721 401 249 223 185 159 124 117 88 75 68 54 45 44 43 43 29 28 26 22 20 18 16 16 15 15 14 14 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 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

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

 

Christian = Christiana
Esther = Hester, Easter
Susan = Susanna, Susannah
Thomasine = Thomasina, Tamsin, Tammeson