Why is it in family names...?

Question

When a child is named after his father he becomes for example John Junior, but it isnt the same if a child is named after the mother? As you never hear of a female being either Janet Senior/Junior.

Answer 1

It's a matter of legally identifying someone for property ownership and inheritance.

Since men owned property, or were the executors for their widowed mother or unmarried sister, it was important that 'John son of John', and his first cousin, 'John son of George', were identified as separate people in legal documents and with creidtors.

It was important that three generations of a family -- John Sr, John Jr and John III -- were not confused when all were alive at the same time and owning property near each other.

However, this system was NOT the same in all times and places. In the New England area of the USA, there could be a John Sr and John Jr who are *not* related but who the clerk designated that way to keep them separated in the official records. Over time, when John Sr died and John Jr's son came of age, the suffixes could shift a generation, causing wonderful genealogical confusion.

Answer 2

Hey Moobie,

This may not answer your question exactly, but my name is passed down to me from 3 generations, making me the 4th. But it is not just these generations. The name was brought to this country in 1767 prior to the American Revolution. Tradition had it in Scotland that a First name would be passed down, to the eldest son, in most cases. Sometimes to keep the name in the family, and continuing to be passed down, an Uncle would pass it to a Nephew. My real name can be traced back with records to the 1500's , and with a guess/likely ancestry to the 1300s.

This was not limited to the males though. My aunts have names that their mothers had. It seems the reason for this is to Honor the deceased ancestors and keep the name among the living. Call it a Tradition.

Kings of England did this too, not necessarily in successive generations. King George III was the Grandson of King George II, so the name can jump a generation, as long as it is passed down in respect of the Ancestor.

Answer 3

Well for your information Taz, it's the father that determines the sex of the child. All children are precious. I named my daughter after my mother. My son does not have his father's name and junior. My husband name him after a good friend of his. If a man is disappointed that he didn't get a son it's not the woman's fault.

Answer 4

Perhaps it's an example of how proud the father is to have a son in the family. It doesn't mean the same to a woman if a daughter is born into the family, & is also seen as a disappointment to the father who hasn't had the son he wanted.

Answer 5

John Smith Junior will be that until his father dies. (And maybe after.) His sister, Mary Smith Junior will be that until 16 - 24, when she marries and becomes Mary Jones.

Answer 6

It's all confusing to me, why have two people in the family with the same name.