« Reply #13 on: Wednesday 11 May 11 09:25 BST (UK) »
A tee-name is an alternative name used by a family (principally in fishing villages) to distinguish them from others with the same names. Given that in the old days, the only Male Forenames used in most instances would have been: John, William, James, George, Alexander etc. because many of the fishing villages were fairly insular, inevitably there was a concentration of particular Surnames as well, so there would be loads of George Cowie's in Buckie for instance. To distinguish themselves from each other, they would use their tee-name, so you would have for example:
- George Cowie "Carrots"
- George Cowie "Bullins"
- George Cowie "Coup"
Where did their tee-names come from? Any particular individual chasteristic or preference, sometimes from the name of a boat, anything really. The thing is though, if you can tie a tee-name to the family you are researching, it will make things a great deal easier!
Banffshire - WILSON, RIACH, CALDER, MUIRY, PETERKIN, CRAIB, OGG, CRUICKSHANK, FARQUHAR, COPLAND, HAY, SHAW, HIND, STRATHDEE, MORRISON, WISEMAN, MOIR, MILNE, SHEPHERD, BLACK, BRUCE, RAMSAY, PEARSON, MCPHERSON, SHEED, MCANDIE
Morayshire - MAVER, RAMSAY, PHINN, SIMPSON
Aberdeenshire - MCINTOSH, GILLAN
Kincardineshire - DUTHIE
Ross-shire - MCANGUS, MCKENZIE, TARRELL,
Inverness-shire - MACKAY, FERGUSON, MACCUISH, BEATON, GILLIES, MACDONALD, MACVICAR, MACDIARMID
Louth - KIERAN, KANE, ENGLISHBY, FEGAN