A problem: Bridget & Margaret interchangable?

[skibbgirl]

Hello all!

Just stumbled across this fascinating thread.  I wish I could definitively tell you that Margaret converts to Bridget, though I haven't seen that.

There is a book of roughly 30 pages called A Rose By Any Other Name  by Judith Wight Eccles that discusses some of the more regular conversion possibilities.

In my own family my Grandmom had a brother named Denis who was called Bob.  In the course of researching the townland (southwest Cork) I discovered another family with a Denis (in the 1901 census) called Bob (in the 1911 census).  When I told my 87 year old aunt about it over the phone, I asked "sound familiar?" and she agreed.  Turns out the wife in that family was Grandmom's dad's sister. 

In Grandmom's dad's family there may have been a Jeremiah called William, but I haven't conclusively linked the two names yet.  That is a bit of a stretch. 
I am starting to wonder if some sloppy or cursively written Latin forms in a baptismal record could have been responsible for the switch.  I can tell you from my experience transcribing tithe applotments that Bartholomew can be mistaken for Patrick; Denis for Daniel;  Alexander for Aloysius, Mortimer for Murtagh, etc.  Many factors come into play, is the name abbreviated, is the initial letter well-formed, partly faded, and so forth.  I haven't compared Bridget and Margaret in the baptismal registers, but I can see they both have "r" then a "get" .  Margaret is often shortened to Margt which can also look like Mary, depending on who wrote it.  You would think the "d" in Bridget would stand out but I've seen them practically disappear in the middle of a word, such as "Cadogan."

[Taidquest]

While I can't see any connection between the names Bridget and Margaret
I wonder if it could still be the same person.My great grandmother Bridget
variously appeared on her childrens baptisms as Christina Dinah and Dina.
I think maybe her actual name was Bridget but may have had the second
 name Christina and hence the family nickname Dinah or Dina and that as
infants were usually brought for baptism by Godparents when baptised a
few days after birth it would be the Godparents who gave the family details.
I wonder if this could be the same in your case.
                                                                                   Anne

[BridgetM]

My step-great grandmother was called Bridget by her family (including my mother), and she's Bridget on her marriage certificate, but in the censuses her name is Mary.

[skibbgirl]

Call it serendipity...

Was watching an old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode on Lizzie Borden (the Fall River Massachusetts women who is believed to have murdered her parents).

The household had a maid from Ireland named Bridget Sullivan, but the family called her "Maggie."

Scroll down to the info about Bridget Sullivan, from Beara:
http://lizzieandrewborden.com/CrimeLibrary/CastofCharacters.htm

[Sandymc47]

Hi there,
Noticed this is an old post so don't know if you have found your answer.

I was also looking for a Margaret who is married to John.  Found John
and his wife is Bridget and all the kids are correct.
Then something from my past general knowledge came to me.
Not being religious but was it not true that no matter what your
real name was, if you were Catholic ,  you had to also take on a
Saints name as well?
Only thing I can think of as to why Saint Bridget becomes Margaret or Mary. 

regards Sandymc 

[BEN999]

Never seen these names as Interchangeable, Margaret is usually Peggy, or Peg, in its foreshortened use, while Bridget, is usually Bridy, or Biddy, there are however instances where a Child could be named Bridget at Birth, and Baptised Margaret, occasionally the second name is used throughout that persons life, rather than the birth name, Ben

[Diggie]

Interesting question. I too have pondered about this. Do you think Margaret would have been a pet name if the child had Bridget as a first name the same as the mother?  Have seen many Bridgets also recorded as Delia, as the mother and daughter had same first name Bridget,  so the daughter was known as Delia.

I'm having a problem with Judith and Julia.  Can anyone tell me if these were interchangeable in Ireland say the period of 1840 to 1870?

Diggie

[Sinann]

I have a Judith who calls herself Julia on the 1901 Census in Westmeath. Her grand daughter was called Julia so I don't think Judith was used much or was only used by the priest.
Just thinking now is Judith Latin for Julia?

[aghadowey]

Bidelia/Bedelia is a form of Bridget and is often the reason for girls named Bridget being known as Delia (although I know of several Irish Delias who were actually Adelias!).

Judith and Julia are separate names.