[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Shirley was originally a surname (that's a last name or family name) and it was not unusual for the eldest son to be given the surname of the mother. In my family tree are some gents named Fountain Beauchamp (mum's family had been originally Fontaine, French Huguenots) and Marcy Beauchamp. Guys were named Shirley for decades, if not centuries, until Shirley Temple came along and all of a sudden, it's a girl's name. Same with Beverley.

Josselin (with variations) and Robin had been men's names since the 12th Century at least, but nowdays you see them on females more often. Florenz, the German form of the Dutch Floris, was male name until Miss Nightengale showed up. Hilarius was a 5th Century Pope and many guys were named after him over the centuries, the English form being Hilary. The first notable female I find using the name was born in 1914 she adopted it as a stage name - Hillary Brooke, the buxom blonde from the Abbot and Costello movies.

And, yes, I DO find this stuff interesting.

If I were to die now I feel my life would have reached a sense of completion having read this post.

NT