Names and Naming Patterns in England 1538-1700

This is a study of names given to children born in England between 1538 and 1700. It looks at the most commonly used names, how children came to be given these names, why they were often named after their godparents and parents, and how social status affected the names chosen. Using statistical data drawn from forty English parishes, Scott Smith-Bannister's ideas and conclusions will be of interest to social historians of early modern England, genealogists, demographers, and historians of the family.