The custom of giving patronymic names was, for a century at least, peculiar to England, and is still rare on the Continent.

tution of the practice:

Camden notices the insti

"Whereas in late yeares sirnames have beene given for christian names among us, and no where else in Christendome: although many dislike it, for that great inconvenience will ensue : neverthelesse it seemeth to procede from hearty goodwill and affection of the godfathers, to shew their love, or from a desire to continue and propagate their owne names to succeeding ages. And is in no wise to bee disliked, but rather approoved in those which, matching with heires generall of worshipfull ancient families, have given those names to their heires, with a mindefull and thankfull regard of them, as we have now Pickering, Wotton, Grevill, Varney, Bassingburne, Gawdy, Calthorpe, Parker, Pecsal, Brocas, Fitz-Raulfe, Chamberlanie, who are the heires of Pickering, etc.”—“ Remaines,” 1614. Fuller says

"Reader, I am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a surname made christian in England, save since the Reformation. Since it hath been common. "Worthies," i. 159, 160.

For two hundred years this custom had the widest popularity among the higher classes, and from some of our registers there are traces that the lower orders were about to adopt the practice. In the case of female heiresses the effect is odd. However, this was got over sometimes by giving a feminine termination :

66 1660, Aug. 28. John Hendon, Knight, of Biddenden in Kent, and Northamtonia Haward, of Tandridge in Surrey, married."Streatham, Surrey.

manifestly increasing, the number of such double surnames is not yet a large one.

"1711, Jan. 3.

Buried Jermyna, d. of Mr. Edward Tyson, gent.” -St. Dionis Backchurch.

"1699, March 7. Nathaniel Parkhurst and Althamia Smith, of Kensington, married."

Althamia was daughter of Altham Smyth, barrister, son of Sir Thomas Smyth, of Hill Hall, Essex (Chester's "Westminster Abbey," p. 173).

But more often they were without the feminine desinence :

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“1639, Oct. 18. Buried Essex, daughter of Lord Paget."Drayton (Lyson's "Middlesex," p. 42).

Will of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, 1680 (Doctors' Commons):

"Item: To my daughter Mallet, when shee shall have attained the like age of sixteen, the summe of foure thousand pounds."

The Countess of Rochester was Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Mallet, Esq., of Enmore, Somerset.

"1699. Petition of Windebank Coote, widow, to the Lords of the Treasury, showing that her husband Lambert Coote was a favourite servant of King Charles II., and left her with a great charge of children."-" C. Treas. P.," 1697-1702.

"Tamworth, daughter of Sir Roger Martin, of Long Melford, married Thomas Rookwood (who was born Aug. 18, 1658).”— "Collect. et Top.," vol. ii. p. 145.

“1596, Nov. 21. Baptized Cartwright, daughter of Nicholas Porter."-Aston-sub-Edge, Gloucester.

"1634, April 18. Baptized Steward, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knight."-Stepney, London.

"1656, March 24. Douglas Sheffield, daughter of Sir John Sheffield."-"Lunacy Commissions and Inquisitions," Record Office. "1709, Feb. 3. Tankerville Chamberlyne, spinster, daughter of Edward C."-Ditto.

"1601, Feb. Buryed Handforth, d. Thomas Davenport, a soldier in Ireland."-Stockport Parish Church.

"1610, July 24. Baptized Kenburrow, ye daughter of Dr. Masters, one of the worshipfull prebendaries.”—Cant. Cath.

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'1688, March 29. Baptized Tufton, daughter of the Rev. Dr. James Jefferys, one of the prebendarys of this church.”—Cant. Cath.

Even down to the middle of last century the custom was not uncommonly practised:

"1763, Sep. 15. Thomas Steady, of Chartham, to Chesterton Harnett, of the precincts of this church, spinster, by licence."Cant. Cath.

"1759, June 12. Honourable Chatwynd Trumbull, widow.”— "Lunacy Commissions and Inquisitions.”

As to the male heirs, we need not furnish illustrations; they would require too much room:

"Sir Humphry Winch, Solicitor-General to Queen Elizabeth, married Cicely Onslowe. His eldest son was Onslowe Winch.""Collect. et Top.,” vol. iii. P. 86.

"Woodrove Foljambe, born Jan. 25, 1648, son of Peter Foljambe. His mother was Jane Woodrove, of Hope, Derbyshire."Ditto, p. 88.

How common the practice was becoming among the better-class families the Canterbury register shall show:

"1601, April 16. Baptized Nevile, the sonne of Edwarde Whitegrave.

"1614, Nov. 28.

Baptized Tunstall, sonn of Mr. William Scott, the sonn-in-lawe to the worshipful Mr. Tunstall, prebendary of this church.

Baptized Dudly, sonn of Mr. Doctor Jacksonn.

Baptized Dudley, sonne of Sir John Wiles.

Baptized Sydney, sonne of Sirre William

Dudley was, perhaps, the first surname that obtained a place among ordinary baptismal names: Christened Dudley, son of Thomas Styles.

“1614, Aug. 17. "1684, April 17.

Christened Dudley, son of Francis and Sarah Dylate."-St. Dionis Backchurch.

The introduction of surnames at the font permitted private predilections full play. At Canterbury we naturally find:

"1727, Feb. 22. Buried Cranmer Herris, gent., in ye cloisters." -Cant. Cath.

"1626, Oct. Baptized Bradford, sonne of Christopher Wilson, of Limehouse."-Stepney.

Hanover Stirling was a

scholar of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1729. A Scotch Jacobite in London showed some skill in the heat of the great crisis of 1715:

"1715, June 10. Christened Margaret Jacobina, d. of Mr. Archiball Johnson, merchant."-St. Dionis Backchurch.* This will be sufficient. The custom is by no means extinct; but, through the introduction of second baptismal names, the practice is now rare, and all but entirely confined to boys. Two hundred and fifty years ago, it was quite as popular with the other sex.

Both Dudley and Sydney, mentioned above, have been used so frequently that they have now

"At Faversham a tradesman in 1847 had a son baptized Churchreform, and wished for another, to style him No-tithes, but wished in vain."— P. S. in Notes and Queries, February 3, 1866.

taken a place in our ordinary list of baptismal names. So far as Sydney is concerned, the reason is easily explained. The Smith family have been so fond of commemorating the great Sydney, that it has spread to other families. Chauncey and Washington occupy the same position in the United States.

V. THE INFLUENCE OF FOUNDLING NAMES UPON DOUBLE BAPTISMAL NAMES.

One circumstance that contributed to the adoption of two baptismal names was the christening of foundlings. Having no father or mother to attest their parentage, being literally anonymous, there sprang up a custom, about the year 1500, of baptizing these children with a double title; only the second one was supposed to be the surname, and not a baptismal name at all. This second name was always a local name, betokening the precise spot, street, or parish where the child was found. Every old register has its numerous instances. The foundlings of St. Lawrence Jewry got the baptismal surname of Lawrence. All-Hallows, Barking, the entries run:

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At

"A child, out of Priest's Alley, christened Thomas Barkin. "Christened a child out of Seething Lane, named Charles Parish.. "A child found in Mark Lane, and christened Mark Lane. Maskell, "All-Hallows, Barking," p. 62.