Odd Forenames in your Family?

[Fraser178]

Hi,

i have two queries!
In my reasearch i have stumbled across many odd first names, all in the 19th century/ealry 20th century?

The oddest are

Alonzo Aston
Mager Ernest Edward Aston

Were Alonzo and Mager Rare as first names??

Also..
What odd forenames have you come across in your research?

Regards,
Joel

[JenB]

What odd forenames have you come across in your research?

There is a 45 page thread    on that subject here http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,69223.0.html

[cati]

Magers could possibly be from the battle of Magers' Fountain (11 December 1899) which took place during the Second Boer War.

Alonzo is a Spanish or Italian name.


The oddest forename in my family is 'Diehappy'. Her mother was also called Diehappy.

Cati

[Mort29]

suspect 'Mager' is a mistran or even mis-hearing error - this looks more likely (altho unusual vs 'Odd')

Births Mar 1900  
 
Aston  Major Ernest E     Walsall  6b 756


Alonso / Alonzo is not uncommon really ......

[Fraser178]

i know that Alonzo isn't really rare, but considering that the family had no italian ties whatsoever, it just kinda cropped up

oooh yes i've also seen that spelling of Major, but still, i've never come across it before, it could b derived from the army rank, or that battle, but still seems very odd!

Joel

[Mort29]

that birth Index entry is for the lad who appears on the 1901 census as 'Mager' - phonetics innit   


There are over 1200 people with that forename in the 1901 census alone ....

[Fraser178]

ohh perhaps i was wrong about it being unusual!

but i suppose it must've died out, as we dont see it very often nowadays!

Joel

[Mort29]

sorry - but since 1916 there have been 15000+ people with Major as one of their forenames 


so yes, not too common, but not too rare either ....

[Fraser178]

ooh i see
well i feel abit silly!

but it its all in learning i suppose 

still, dosn't mean anyone else can't share their unusual family names on this thread