Unusual forename ?

[Andrew Tarr]

While transcribing births and burials for the Manchester area I have come across several children recorded as Emin (as in Tracey, but not a surname).  Is this a variant, and what of ?

[AlexMcK]

Hello Andrew

I believe Emin may be a Turkish, Indian or Arabic name - and a variant of Amin

Kind regards

Alex

[Andrew Tarr]

That seems most unlikely in late 18th-c Manchester ....

[vrvt]

Emeny/Eman/Emonie/Imanie/Ismene was a female given name used in the medieval period.

My other thought is that it could be a corruption of the name Hermione, popularized by Shakespeare.

You might find other ideas browsing the Oxford Dictionary of First Names, available online here (your library may subscribe):
http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198610601.001.0001/acref-9780198610601

[AlexMcK]

That seems most unlikely in late 18th-c Manchester ....

On the contrary, there were at least four Arabic cotton trading houses in Manchester by the late 18th Century, due to a well-established Arabic population and the booming textile industry in that area

[Andrew Tarr]

On the contrary, there were at least four Arabic cotton trading houses in Manchester by the late 18th Century, due to a well-established Arabic population and the booming textile industry in that area

Having checked my data, I find that I overestimated the recurrence of the name Emin.  I have merely  found one individual born to a Fletcher family in 1795, who was buried two years later.  On the basis of your suggestion I must assume her father was in the cotton trade - not surprising of course.

[avm228]

There are quite a few occurrences of Emin, Emine and Emina among FreeBMD birth registrations in the 19th century.  I must say I had not heard of these names before this thread prompted me to look.

[avm228]

On the contrary, there were at least four Arabic cotton trading houses in Manchester by the late 18th Century, due to a well-established Arabic population and the booming textile industry in that area

Having checked my data, I find that I overestimated the recurrence of the name Emin.  I have merely  found one individual born to a Fletcher family in 1795, who was buried two years later.  On the basis of your suggestion I must assume her father was in the cotton trade - not surprising of course.

I don't think it's safe to assume anything about the father's occupation in the absence of evidence.

To take one example, there is a baptism for Emin Farnworth in Bolton RD, Dec qtr 1839.  She was baptised at Deane on 15 Dec 1839 as Emmin Farnworth, daughter of Thomas (a miner) and Margaret.