“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.[63]
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 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. At All-Hallows, Barking, the entries run: