Was this bairn really NAUGHTY?

[peter]

Although the spelling NAUGHTIE is better known, the spelling NAUGHTY was the more common version of the surname in the 19th century. So I reckon that NAUGHTY was the child's middle name.

 

[brickwall]

I agree . It's more likely to be a middle name than a comment on the child's behaviour ! The official Scotlandspeople website also sees it that way , for the index ( which I went through en route to viewing the original image) shows 'George Naughty' as the forenames of the deceased child . I can't however so far find a baptismal record of the child .

The surname Naughty is certainly found in that era and in that part of Scotland . The 1851 Scottish Census shows 45 people with that surname , all but one living in Aberdeen, or in nearby counties . So Naughty might have been a family surname in an earlier generation , or the surname of a close family friend as a tribute to whom the child was given Naughty as a middle name.

 

[VMS]

Or does it mean naughty as in nought, zero, as he being so young had no occupation? Otherwise I agree with the surname idea, like Jim Naughtie the radio presenter.

 

[peter]

Or does it mean naughty as in nought, zero, as he being so young had no occupation?

If so it should be apparent from other entries in the same register - at that time a large proportion of deaths were of infants.

 

[Claire_T]

On an upper floor of an old downtown building in Vancouver, I used to pass a door with "Young & Naughty" painted on its windows. It probably opened to an accountants' office, but I always wondered....

Although the spelling NAUGHTIE is better known, the spelling NAUGHTY was the more common version of the surname in the 19th century. So I reckon that NAUGHTY was the child's middle name.

 

[MeganN]

I agree . It's more likely to be a middle name than a comment on the child's behaviour ! The official Scotlandspeople website also sees it that way , for the index ( which I went through en route to viewing the original image) shows 'George Naughty' as the forenames of the deceased child . I can't however so far find a baptismal record of the child .

The surname Naughty is certainly found in that era and in that part of Scotland . The 1851 Scottish Census shows 45 people with that surname , all but one living in Aberdeen, or in nearby counties . So Naughty might have been a family surname in an earlier generation , or the surname of a close family friend as a tribute to whom the child was given Naughty as a middle name.

My thoughts exactly. Returning today to the whimsical blogger's site I see that after a handful of sentimental comments there are now numerous ones giving the middle name explanation. A couple of these add that the Scots name Naughtie/Naughty is pronounced Nochty/Nockty. So decidedly not a case of Naughty by name, naughty by nature.

 

[peter]

there are now numerous ones giving the middle name explanation

Probably from readers of the newsletter....