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Early 16th Century Scottish Lowland Names

Men's Given Names - Alphabetical
Draft Edition

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The names in these tables are from the Aberdeen Council Register from the years 1500-1550. Instances refers to the number of mentions found, not different individuals; a number of instances may refer to the same individual. In addition, this data does not include all instances of given names recorded in the Aberdeen Council Register from 1500-1550! Therefore, the number of instances are only a very rough guide to the relative popularity of a name and only somewhat more reliable as an indication of how common a particular spelling or form of a name was compared to other spellings and forms of the same name.

Note that the spellings used for name headings may be modern spellings only; please refer to the 16th century spellings listed in the tables.

A <3> in a spelling represents the letter yogh. In 16th century Scots, yogh was usually pronounced with a consonantal \y\ sound, like the <y> in English <yes>.

In 16th century Scots handwriting, a y-shape was used for two different letters, thorn and actual <y>. Thorn is pronounced like the letters <th>. (This is the source of the cliche "ye olde" -- the <y> in <ye> represents a thorn, and this <ye> is pronounced like, and indeed is, the word <the>.) In the names below that use <y>, if other 16th century spellings or the modern spelling of that name use <th>, <t>, or <d> instead, then the <y> represents thorn; otherwise, it represents a normal <y>.

The letters <u>, <v>, and <w> were sometimes used interchangeably, depending on context.Similarly, the letters <i> and <j> were sometimes used interchangeably, also depending on context. In the names below, use the modern form as a guide to interpreting any of these letters in the 16th century spellings.

An equals sign (=) after a spelling indicates that it is a standard full spelling of a name recorded in the manuscript in greatly abbreviated form. For example, <Alexander=> and <David=> represent the standard full spellings of names recorded in the manuscript as <Alx’> (or <Alxr’> or <Alexr’>, etc.) and <Dd> (or <Dad>, etc.).

An apostrophe () in a 16th century spelling indicates an unexpanded abbreviation mark. In most cases below these were superfluous scribal flourishes, but it is possible that a few real abbreviations have mistakenly been left unexpanded.

An asterisk (*) after a spelling indicates that it was expanded from a non-diplomatic transcription which may have contained errors; unless the same spelling is also listed without an asterisk, these spellings are suspect but still indicate that some (possibly different) form of the name was used in the year(s) indicated.

A question mark (?) after a spelling indicates that it may be a misspelling in the original manuscript, transcription error, or typo; unless the same spelling is also listed without a question mark, these spellings are suspect but still indicate that some (possibly different) form of the name was used in the year(s) indicated.


Adam (19 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Adam*101502 (1) , 1520 (1) , 1521 (8)
Adame*31520 (1) , 1521 (2)

Alexander (336 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Alesander=*31521 (3)
Alexander31502 (3)
Alexander*171501 (6) , 1502 (11)
Alexander=1091500 (5) , 1501 (3) , 1502 (28) , 1503 (5) , 1505 (2) , 1508 (2) , 1510 (2) , 1517 (2) , 1518 (2) , 1519 (3) , 1520 (6) , 1521 (43) , 1546 (1) , 1549 (1) , 1550 (4)
Alexandir11502 (1)
Alezander=*?11502 (1)
Sand11533 (1)
Sande221518 (7) , 1519 (1) , 1520 (3) , 1522 (2) , 1532 (1) , 1540 (3) , 1549 (3) , 1550 (2)
Sande*401520 (4) , 1521 (36)
Sanderis11540 (1)
Sandris21549 (2)
Sandris*11521 (1)
Sandy151500 (1) , 1502 (3) , 1505 (1) , 1509 (2) , 1510 (2) , 1511 (1) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (3) , 1514 (1)
Sandy*21502 (2)
Sundris*?11521 (1)

Allan (15 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Allan*11521 (1)
Allane*31501 (1) , 1521 (2)
Allene*11521 (1)
Allyane21549 (2)
Allyone21549 (2)

Andrew (243 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Andrae*11521 (1)
Andre11549 (1)
Andreow*11521 (1)
Andrew*31502 (2) , 1521 (1)
Andro221500 (1) , 1502 (1) , 1503 (3) , 1505 (1) , 1506 (4) , 1508 (5) , 1510 (2) , 1532 (1) , 1533 (1) , 1549 (3)
Andro*561501 (7) , 1502 (31) , 1520 (1) , 1521 (17)
Androe11506 (1)
Androe*91520 (1) , 1521 (8)
Androu61503 (1) , 1506 (1) , 1508 (1) , 1511 (1) , 1517 (1) , 1520 (1)
Androu*341502 (1) , 1520 (5) , 1521 (28)
Androue31508 (1) , 1509 (1) , 1510 (1)
Androue*11521 (1)
Androu=31508 (1) , 1521 (2)
Androv21519 (2)
Androv*11520 (1)
Androw81502 (1) , 1509 (1) , 1518 (1) , 1520 (2) , 1523 (1) , 1525 (1) , 1540 (1)
Androw*221501 (1) , 1502 (1) , 1520 (3) , 1521 (17)

Archibald (3 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Arche11549 (1)
Arche*11520 (1)
Archibalde11503 (1)

Charles (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Charlis*11502 (1)

Cristy (6 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Cristy21503 (1) , 1507 (1)
Cristy*41502 (4)

David (239 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Daue*21521 (2)
Dauid21512 (1) , 1533 (1)
Dauid*791501 (2) , 1502 (20) , 1520 (9) , 1521 (48)
Dauie*11521 (1)
Dauy81502 (2) , 1503 (2) , 1506 (1) , 1516 (1) , 1518 (2)
Dauy*261501 (1) , 1502 (25)
Dauyd*11521 (1)
David=41520 (1) , 1521 (3)
dauid251500 (3) , 1502 (1) , 1507 (1) , 1510 (1) , 1511 (2) , 1513 (1) , 1514 (2) , 1517 (1) , 1518 (4) , 1519 (2) , 1520 (2) , 1523 (2) , 1532 (1) , 1540 (1) , 1549 (1)

Donald (40 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Donald221505 (3) , 1506 (2) , 1508 (5) , 1509 (2) , 1510 (3) , 1511 (2) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (4)
Donald*71501 (1) , 1502 (1) , 1521 (5)
Donalde41503 (1) , 1505 (1) , 1506 (1) , 1511 (1)
Donalde*11502 (1)
Dovny11508 (1)
Downy*11521 (1)

Dukhe(?) (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Dukhe*11521 (1)

Duncan (72 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Duky11506 (1)
Duncan51500 (1) , 1505 (1) , 1511 (1) , 1514 (2)
Duncan*301502 (5) , 1520 (4) , 1521 (21)
Duncane51509 (1) , 1513 (1) , 1518 (1) , 1533 (1) , 1550 (1)
Duncane*81520 (1) , 1521 (7)
Duncan’11540 (1)
Duncun11503 (1)

Edmond (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Evmond?11500 (1)

Flore (3 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Flore21520 (2)

Forsy (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Forsy11511 (1)

Gavan (7 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Gavand11519 (1)
Gavane21550 (2)
Gavine11509 (1)
Gawane*11521 (1)
Gouvun*?11502 (1)

George (34 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Georg41511 (1) , 1519 (1) , 1530 (1) , 1540 (1)
Georg*131501 (1) , 1502 (4) , 1520 (1) , 1521 (7)
George31522 (1) , 1549 (1) , 1550 (1)
George*41501 (1) , 1502 (2) , 1521 (1)
Georgis*11521 (1)

Gilbert (109 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Gilbert281501 (1) , 1502 (1) , 1503 (2) , 1505 (4) , 1506 (2) , 1508 (5) , 1510 (3) , 1511 (1) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (6) , 1546 (1) , 1549 (1)
Gilbert*371502 (18) , 1520 (2) , 1521 (17)
Glibert?11522 (1)

Giles (8 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Geilis11541 (1)
Geleis*11521 (1)
Gelis11505 (1)
Gelis*11502 (1)
Gelleis11513 (1)
Gelleys*21502 (1) , 1521 (1)
Gilleis11549 (1)

Hay (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Hay11507 (1)

Henry (13 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Henrie*11521 (1)
Henry21512 (1) , 1516 (1)
Henry*11502 (1)

Hew (3 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Hew*11502 (1)

Ingram (6 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Igram11520 (1)
Igrem*?11521 (1)
Ingram11518 (1)
Ingrem11532 (1)
Jgrem*?11521 (1)

J. (2 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
J.*11520 (1)

James (73 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Copin11507 (1)
Jacob11549 (1)
Jame41518 (1) , 1540 (1) , 1550 (2)
Jame*11521 (1)
Jame*?11521 (1)
James81500 (1) , 1505 (1) , 1522 (1) , 1533 (1) , 1540 (1) , 1549 (3)
James*351501 (2) , 1502 (4) , 1520 (5) , 1521 (24)
Jamis*11502 (1)

Jasper (4 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Jasper21522 (1) , 1550 (1)
Jasper*11521 (1)
Jaspert*11521 (1)

John (734 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Jhone11503 (1)
Jhone*21502 (2)
Jhon’*11502 (1)
Johen11517 (1)
John*11502 (1)
Johne241500 (1) , 1502 (6) , 1503 (6) , 1509 (1) , 1510 (2) , 1513 (1) , 1520 (1) , 1532 (2) , 1540 (4)
Johne*2161501 (7) , 1502 (62) , 1520 (10) , 1521 (137)
Johne=171540 (1) , 1548 (1) , 1549 (9) , 1550 (6)
Johne’81511 (1) , 1519 (2) , 1520 (4) , 1523 (1)
Johne’*361502 (1) , 1520 (16) , 1521 (19)
Johnn71533 (6) , 1543 (1)
Johnn*31502 (3)
Johnne341503 (1) , 1506 (1) , 1508 (2) , 1509 (5) , 1511 (2) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (3) , 1515 (1) , 1517 (8) , 1518 (7) , 1522 (1) , 1532 (1) , 1540 (1)
Johnne*161501 (3) , 1502 (6) , 1521 (7)
Johnne’41519 (4)
Johnne’*21502 (1) , 1520 (1)
Johnnj’*11502 (1)
Johnn’21518 (2)
Johnn’*11502 (1)
Jok51512 (1) , 1517 (2) , 1520 (2)
Jok*11521 (1)
Jouhen?11500 (1)
Jouhne141500 (5) , 1508 (2) , 1509 (1) , 1510 (2) , 1511 (1) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (2)
Jouhne*211501 (6) , 1502 (15)
Jouhnne11517 (1)

M. (2 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
M.*21520 (2)

Make (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Make*11521 (1)

Malcom (14 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Malcom11518 (1)
Malcom*11521 (1)
Malcome11550 (1)
Malcome*41502 (1) , 1520 (1) , 1521 (2)
Malcome’*21520 (1) , 1521 (1)
Malcum*11521 (1)

Martin (19 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Martin*11521 (1)
Martine*11521 (1)
Martyne*41521 (4)

Matthew (12 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Mathew*31502 (1) , 1521 (2)
Mathou*51502 (1) , 1521 (4)
Mathow*31521 (3)

Maurice (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Moryis11503 (1)

Michael (3 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Michaell21549 (1) , 1550 (1)

Neil (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Neill11549 (1)

Nicholas (16 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Nichol31517 (2) , 1518 (1)
Nichol*21521 (2)
Nicholes*11521 (1)
Nicholl21519 (1) , 1532 (1)
Nicholl*21502 (1) , 1521 (1)

Ninian (4 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Niniance*?11521 (1)
Niniane*31521 (3)

Norman (14 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Normand*21521 (2)
Normond21500 (1) , 1532 (1)
Normond*31520 (1) , 1521 (2)
Normont*11521 (1)

Oliver (9 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Olevar’*11520 (1)
Oleveir’*11520 (1)
Olewer’*11520 (1)
Oleweyr*31520 (2) , 1521 (1)

Patrick (73 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Patre31549 (1) , 1550 (2)
Patrick*11521 (1)
Patrie21522 (1) , 1525 (1)
Patrie*71520 (1) , 1521 (6)
Patrik31503 (1) , 1524 (1) , 1540 (1)
Patrik*171502 (3) , 1520 (4) , 1521 (10)
Patry51500 (1) , 1503 (1) , 1504 (1) , 1510 (1) , 1511 (1)
Patry*111502 (9) , 1520 (1) , 1521 (1)
Patte*21521 (2)
Patty11520 (1)

Peter (2 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Peter11550 (1)
Peter*11502 (1)

Philip (5 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Philp11500 (1)
Philp*11502 (1)

R. (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
R.*11521 (1)

Ranald (7 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Ranald*21521 (2)
Rane11520 (1)
Rane*11521 (1)
Rany11523 (1)
Rany*21521 (2)

Richard (61 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Rechart*11520 (1)
Reche*?11521 (1)
Recherd11515 (1)
Rechert11523 (1)
Rechert*21521 (2)
Richard*21501 (1) , 1521 (1)
Richard=21502 (1) , 1513 (1)
Richart31519 (1) , 1520 (1) , 1534 (1)
Richart*71520 (1) , 1521 (6)
Riche31508 (1) , 1519 (1) , 1550 (1)
Richerd231500 (1) , 1502 (1) , 1503 (1) , 1505 (2) , 1506 (1) , 1508 (4) , 1509 (1) , 1511 (6) , 1512 (1) , 1513 (3) , 1514 (1) , 1516 (1)
Richerd*21502 (2)
Richerd*?11501 (1)
Richerde71503 (1) , 1505 (1) , 1506 (2) , 1510 (2) , 1511 (1)
Richird*11502 (1)

Robert (161 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Ribert*11521 (1)
Rob11518 (1)
Rob*131502 (1) , 1520 (5) , 1521 (7)
Robe11522 (1)
Robe*61521 (6)
Roben11514 (1)
Robert171500 (3) , 1503 (2) , 1507 (2) , 1510 (2) , 1514 (2) , 1516 (1) , 1517 (1) , 1519 (2) , 1532 (1) , 1533 (1)
Robert*631501 (3) , 1502 (7) , 1520 (11) , 1521 (42)
Robert=61502 (1) , 1521 (5)

Roger (2 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Rogera11549 (1)

Simon (12 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Syme21503 (1) , 1518 (1)
Syme*11501 (1)
Symon*11521 (1)
Symond11518 (1)
Symond*21521 (2)
Symone*11521 (1)
Symont*21521 (2)

Simson (1 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Symsone11508 (1)

Thomas (236 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Theme*11501 (1)
Thom41503 (1) , 1508 (1) , 1550 (2)
Thomas231505 (1) , 1506 (3) , 1508 (6) , 1509 (2) , 1510 (1) , 1511 (1) , 1512 (2) , 1513 (1) , 1518 (2) , 1519 (1) , 1533 (2) , 1534 (1)
Thomas*411501 (5) , 1502 (14) , 1520 (8) , 1521 (14)
Thome311500 (3) , 1502 (5) , 1503 (4) , 1504 (1) , 1505 (6) , 1506 (4) , 1508 (1) , 1510 (2) , 1513 (1) , 1518 (1) , 1519 (1) , 1522 (1) , 1525 (1)
Thome*471501 (1) , 1502 (18) , 1520 (9) , 1521 (19)
Thomeas*11521 (1)
Thome’21517 (2)
Thome’*11521 (1)
Thomi*?11501 (1)
Thommas11509 (1)
Thom’11532 (1)
Tome*11502 (1)

W. (2 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
W.*21520 (1) , 1521 (1)

Walter (60 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Valter*11521 (1)
Walle*11520 (1)
Walter31519 (1) , 1549 (2)
Walter*101502 (1) , 1521 (9)
Waltir31502 (3)
Waltir*41502 (4)
Wat11523 (1)
Wat*81502 (6) , 1521 (2)
Water*?11521 (1)
Watte11549 (1)
Watte*11521 (1)
Watter*?51521 (5)

William (351 Instances Total)

16th Century Spelling Instances Year (Instances) Notes
Ville11550 (1)
Villeam’11532 (1)
Wil11511 (1)
Wil3am31512 (1) , 1517 (2)
Wil3eam21514 (1) , 1517 (1)
Wil3eam*81521 (8)
Wil3eame31509 (1) , 1511 (1) , 1513 (1)
Wil3eame*41521 (4)
Wile11503 (1)
Will31503 (2) , 1540 (1)
Will*61520 (1) , 1521 (5)
Wille71518 (2) , 1520 (1) , 1532 (1) , 1533 (1) , 1549 (1) , 1550 (1)
Wille*71520 (3) , 1521 (4)
Willea[m]*21520 (1) , 1521 (1)
Willeam11533 (1)
Willeam*461520 (3) , 1521 (43)
Willeam’*11521 (1)
Willes*11521 (1)
Willia3m*11521 (1)
William121500 (5) , 1502 (2) , 1503 (2) , 1504 (1) , 1505 (1) , 1509 (1)
William*361501 (4) , 1502 (31) , 1521 (1)
Williame111502 (4) , 1503 (2) , 1505 (3) , 1507 (1) , 1511 (1)
Williame*261501 (3) , 1502 (23)
William=151521 (8) , 1532 (2) , 1533 (1) , 1549 (1) , 1550 (3)
Wolliam*11502 (1)
Wul*11521 (1)
Wull*41520 (1) , 1521 (3)
Wulle11522 (1)

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