While middle names began appearing in the late Medieval times, they were reserved only for nobility in England with an old law making them illegal for the rest of the population. Since the Pilgrims and many early settlers came from England, early American tradition included just the two names.
Why are middle names not used?
The tradition was spread to America as people started to immigrate overseas. As time went on, people started to stray away from religious middle names and get creative with the second name of their child. A common tradition was making the middle name the maiden name of the mother.
Is it normal not to have a middle name?
Do You Need a Middle Name? You absolutely do not need to choose a middle name when deciding on a baby name. Middle names are optional. You can simply choose a baby name with a first name and last name if you so desire.
Are middle names ever used?
She found middle names rare until about 1780 when their popularity began to rise dramatically—almost 99% of children in her sample who had middle names were born after 1780. In general, then, in Europe, middle names became increasingly popular in the 19th century among all classes.
What purpose does a middle name serve?
It provides a point of differentiation for people who have a common first name and/or surname. It’s a great way to compromise if you and your partner can’t agree on your baby’s name, or if you like more than one name..
When did middle names become a thing?
The practice began to catch on with the middle class after the turn of the 19th century, and it had become nearly customary by the time of the Civil War. By 1900 nearly every child born had a middle name.
What culture does not have middle names?
Scandinavia
Scandinavia. The naming convention of the Scandinavian countries do not use given names as middle names.
What if there is no middle name on birth certificate?
If no middle name on your birth certificate appears, you need to file a supplemental report for the missing information using your given first name and your father’s last name. In this case, the petitioner needs to file a supplemental report for the missing middle name using his or her mother’s last name.
Did Abraham Lincoln have a middle name?
He wasn’t given a middle name when he was born. He went through his life with only two names and reportedly preferred to be called Lincoln over Abraham. Our 16th president kept goats, amongst many other animals, at the White House.
Does everyone have a middle name UK?
Middle names are optional and are rarely used in daily life. However, most British have one or multiple.
Why do Southerners go by their middle name?
The best explanation seems to stem from Southerners’ penchant for keeping a name going down the line, especially for males. You end up with John Smith Jr., III, and IV in one family, and calling a child by his middle name is an easy way to distinguish between him and his father.
Why do last names exist?
Surnames were originally added to people’s first names to distinguish them from other people who had the same first name locally e.g. Robert the baker or Robert at the wood.
Should I give my child a middle name?
It’s really up to you. In responding to our survey, 9 in 10 parents said they gave their baby a middle name – but there’s no downside to going without. Some parents say no to the middle moniker based on family tradition: “I have a double first name and no middle, and my daughter will have the same,” says one mom.
What is the most common middle name?
Most popular middle names
| Girls – USA | Boys – USA |
|---|---|
| 1. Marie/Maree | 1. Alan |
| 2. Anne/Ann | 2. Michael |
| 3. Lynn | 3. James |
| 4. Elizabeth | 4. William |
How many middle names can you legally have?
This means that the government takes no official stance on how many middle names your child may have. This is a little odd coming from an entity that cares what color pen you use to fill out the forms, but okay. And it’s good news, in that it means you are not legally prevented from using four or five middle names.
Can you give yourself a middle name?
However, you do not need to go through the courts to be able to create a middle name for yourself – you can simply start using the middle name. To make it legal, though, you need to go through the courts.
Why do the British say our before a name?
This usage is/was common in parts of England, mainly northern England as far as I’m aware. The “our” is effectively referring to ‘our family’. In the examples given from Keeping Up Appearences, the words are usually being spoken by Rose’s mother or father, and hence “our Rose” would refer to their (joint) daughter.
Can you have 2 middle names?
It’s never been a common practice in the U.S. to give two middle names. With today’s digitized records, it’s become a bit of a bureaucratic mess for those who have four (or more) initials to deal with.
Do all Europeans have middle names?
Middle names spread through Europe and to the U.S.
It took a while longer for the practice to reach England and Scotland. British historian William Camden wrote in 1605 that having two Christian names was rare in England, and Stephen Wilson writes that only 10% of the British population had a middle name in 1800.
Is a middle name required on a passport?
Answer: It’s is not mandatory to enter your middle name on the application form. The passport will be issued in the name you entered in it as long as it is supported by the name change document you submitted.
Can I get a passport without middle name?
Do I have to choose between my “birth middle name” and my “maiden name” as my “middle” and only have “Married, First, Maiden,” on my passport? Thank-you! Answer: The name in your passport must be your legal name.
