"tee-name" naming pattern found in NE

[MaryS]

I have read that in the NE area of Aberdeen, families used the "tee-name" pattern when naming their children.  Can someone tell me what that system is?  My ancestor's name was Mary Jane Anderson.  She was her mother's first child and I believe was illigitimate.  Her mother is one of 13 children (5 sisters) and neither HER mother or any of her siblings were named Mary.  Her third sister is named Jane.

What was the "tee-name" system?

[avm228]

I'd never heard of it, but this link may help:

http://www.whatsinaname.net/faq.html#13

[MaryS]

I found the reference to the "tee-name" system on the Buchan FH website.  Apparently it was used to identify family members because of the number of people with the same surname in the area.  Unfortunately the website doesn't explain how the system was applied.

Thank you for sending me the link.  I will keep reading!

[aghadowey]

From what I've read it was a way of identifying a family in an area with so many people having the same surname but was not anything to do with names chosen by parents for their children.
http://www.whatsinaname.net/faq.html#13

[MonicaL]

A good definition of tee/t/too-names here:

....In those areas where a relatively small number of surnames were in use, T-names were tacked on to the name to distinguish individuals with the same surname and forename. The nickname may have referred to a distinguishing feature or be the name of the fishing boat on which the person was employed. These T-names have made their way into the records. For example, amongst the numerous John Cowies of Buckie can be found fisherman John Cowie “Carrot” who married Isabella Jappie of Cullen in 1892. Was this perhaps a reference to the colour of his hair?

The T-name appears on a statutory results page in brackets in order to distinguish it from a middle name e.g. James (Rosie) Cowie, James (Bullen) Cowie, Jessie (Gyke) Murray, and may be designated in inverted commas on the image of the actual entry.
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?560

[MaryS]

Thank you all!  Given your information I am thinking now that my ancestor did not have a tee-name but an actual first and middle name.  I may never find why the child was named Mary when there appear to be no Mary's on her side of the family.  Perhaps she named her child after someone who was kind and helpful to her given her pregnant unmarried situation.