Naming children

[carolegif]

Children were often named for their father, grandfather etc. There seemed to be a pattern for this, can anyone let me know please?
I am trying to find the birth of Thomas Davidson in Carlisle around 1852/3. I know his father was John, but not his mother's name. 'Full age' is given on marriage cert by which time he was living in Tarbock, Lancs. He seems to have left home very early and I think I found him living with grandparents in one census. His eldest daughter was called Elizabeth so it could have been his mother's name.

thanks

[mxyzptlk]

Unfortunately there is no hard and fast rule, so Eliz could have been the MIL or grandparent or none of these.. Have you found the father on the 1851 or 1861 census

[craft1948]

There are 2 Thomas Davidsons registered in Carlisle in 1852 both in Q4.
One is 10b 336 and the other is 10b 357.

[craft1948]

There was a John Davidson christened 11 July 1852 at Christ Church, Carlisle with parents called John and Elizabeth, but obviously this is before the birth registrations shown above.

[carolegif]

I found the christening, but when I ordered a birth certificate from the GRO there was no-one registered. I tried the Wigton office, but no luck there either, so perhaps the birth wasn't registered.

[craft1948]

I've looked for a marriage between John Davidson and an Elizabeth but so far have found nothing...........

[carolegif]

I will get the two certificates and just put down the father's name. Thanks Craft.