First Names:
The Dutch Naming TraditionMost of the Dutch families settling in New Netherland used a specific pattern when naming their children. This was the same pattern that had been used back in the Netherlands.
- An Overview of the Naming Pattern
- An Example
- A Warning
- Test Your Knowledge
The tradition went something like this:
- The first and second son were named after their grandfathers. Most often, the first son was named after his father's father and the second son after his mother's father.
- The first and second daughters were named after their grandmothers. Again, most often, the first daughter was named after her father's mother and the second daughter after her mother's mother.
- The third son was named after his father and the third daughter was named after her mother.
- If a child died, the next child of the same gender born after this death would be named after the dead child.
So, if Cornelis, the son of Johannes and Maria, married Magdalena, the daughter of Willem and Margriet, and had three sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to adulthood, what would they name those children? If Cornelis and Magdalena followed the naming pattern strictly, their sons would be named (in order of birth) Johannes, Willem, and Cornelis and their daughter would be Maria, Margriet, and Magdalena (see figure below). (If, however, Willem died in infancy, Cornelis and Magdalena's children would be: Johannes, Willem, and Willem for the sons and Maria, Margriet, and Magdalena for the daughters.) 
An Example
Be advised that not all families used the conventions mentioned above, even among families that were entirely Dutch. However, the Dutch naming tradition was common enough that it can be used as a rule of thumb for researchers of New Netherland families. The pattern was used into the 18th-century among the Dutch settlers in America.
A Warning
So, now that you have learned this, click here for a chance to practice.
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Michelle's Main Page New Netherland Family History Names Page (General) To contact me: michelle@boydhouse.com
Last updated 22 Oct 2002.
© Michelle Boyd, 2003.