Scotland's Names

Sigh, my name is not even used. Well, my legal name was used back in the 1970's and there's a Mardy in there but no Mardee. I did see a Marlee, which almost counts because that is how Siri and other dictation models spell my name. :)

Just for fun I have just looked up English and Welsh General Register Office Records since 1837. The name Mardee has only been used three times in all those years- two marriages (in 2003 and 2004)- a Mardee Baumgarten and a Mardee Balitor (neither of which sounds like an English surname) and a birth in 1885- a splendidly named Mardee Annie Lloyd Jackson Spruce (that is actually a baptism, the girl was registered as Haidie Annie Lloyd Jackson Spruce).

So it's a very forename over here.

Quite a few Mardeeps, as an Indian forename.

(Yes, I know this has nothing to do with travel!)

Hi, Stuart,

You must have a lot of free time on your hands! :)

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: I do, too!

For me, the funny one is my name was not uncommon when I was given it by parents who forgot how to spell Alexander. It became really popular about 20 to 30 years afterwards.

So, I was having a look at some wine (Spanish, I like Spanish wine, one of my bribe levels is 'Rioja' (one of my bribe levels is also Terry's Chocolate Orange)) at Sainsbury's and a young mother behind me, by young she was younger than me, 'NAME put that back!'

I was still holding the bottle as I put it on the shelf before we both twigged. She was mortified for a moment before we both broke into laughter. I remember saying 'you've got the tone right, I went on auto pilot'

This came from a story on BBC Radio Scotland whilst in a traffic jam. One thing they did point out is the top tens in the 1970s were often combined to over 40%. Now the choices are much more varied.

Mike,

It's actually very easy to look up a BMD event in England and Wales, especially if you do it all the time. It's Scottish records which are hard, as they all have to be paid for, and at quite a price. I have to say I don't understand the Isle of Skye- where records seem to be split between Edinburgh, the Archives in Portree and Armadale Castle. And in my case, maybe even Dunvegan Castle (from a recent thread here, which I hadn't expected).
I was disappointed in 2021 when bad road conditions on the road from Strathpeffer on the 1st go cut my time in Portree so heavily I couldn't get to Portree Archives, then the 2nd time I tried had to flee because the Skye Bridge was about to close due to high winds, and there was badly drifting snow on the mainland, then even more surprised to find that the records I wanted were really at Armadale (if they exist at all, which is doubted, and they want £50 an hour).
US Records tend to be a challenge, because of the fact that there is not really a federal system- other than social security and draft registration in the two wars. Both those record sets I find invaluable.
The two states for which I have deep working knowledge- WA and NY, don't even have state wide systems, it's done by County, which is, well, challenging.

Hi, Stuart,

I have to admit that I had a relatively (horrible pun!) easy time looking up my antecedents at the Family History Society office in Aberdeen. It appears that I come from a long line of mill workers and prostitutes. I suppose that in some way that makes me rather unique. I can truly claim that I come from a working class background.

Mike (Auchterless)

Stuart, that is really interesting! Good to know there are a few in the UK. There's some in the US - every once in awhile I run into someone. And occasionally I get emails - once I received a confirmation for an American Airlines flight from Houston to San Francisco for someone named Mardee. I wound up emailing the person listed on the confirmation to let them know and it turns out it was her husband and he had put my email address in there instead of hers (mine is my name + the email server). Her email was similar but with a number attached, and her husband forgot to include the number. He was very appreciate that I contacted him. :)

MC-Glasgow, now after that story, you're not going to tell us your first name? I will just have to imagine a name for you, ha ha!

Mike, I think we ALL have a lot of free time. :)

US Records tend to be a challenge, because of the fact that there is not really a federal system- other than social security and draft registration in the two wars. Both those record sets I find invaluable. The two states for which I have deep working knowledge- WA and NY, don't even have state wide systems, it's done by County, which is, well, challenging.

Stuart, I was a family law attorney before I retired and spent a lot of time searching for information online. I was licensed in Ohio and Kentucky, and Ohio was one of those states that has most of their records at the county level. It can be a pain but when you're used to it, it's not bad.

Mike, I laughed very hard at your comment about your ancestors. Did you come from Scotland? Or your parents (or one parent)? Your profile says Delaware but I've noticed a few British spellings in some of your posts and you are certainly familiar with Scotland (although I know you travel there extensively).

Hi, Mardee,

Good guess! I was born in Scotland, and lived there for the first ten years of my existence. That is mainly why I have returned so many times. That and because it's such a damned beautiful country. And I really am descended from a long line of mill workers and prostitutes! Probably a good thing that I got out of Aberdeen! But I always go back to Aberdeen when on holiday - oftentimes twice in a holiday. (Much to Mrs. A's dismay!)

As I am of partially unknown parentage, I hope that you don't encounter any of my (unknown) relatives on your journey through or around Aberdeen!

As always, best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Mardee, my name is fairly common, but I can give a hint. It is neither Mark nor Martin which I have both been called over the years.

Okay, MC, I'll bite.

Marcus? Malcolm? Marco?

This is almost as much fun as Wordle!

Mike (Auchterless)

Or Matthew!- I'm trying and failing to link an M name with Alexander.

You can say that, I cannot possibly comment.

A riddle! (Saying that in my best Scottish accent)

Maxwell? Murray? Murdoch?

One of you has it, remember it has to be mistakable for Mark or Martin in either its full version or a diminutive form.

Enjoying this thread.

Maxander? Margaret? Madeleine? I think Mike already captured Malcolm, Melanie?
Marcel?

MARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, not Marty. Though I do have a label on one of my work equipment given as 'Martin' as a one of our tech guys gets my name wrong consistently, and have also been 'Martin' elsewhere.

I was going to say “Mungo.”!

It is not Mungo.

Must be Marcus???

it is not Marcus