_Brothers of the same Name_ (Vol. viii., p. 338.).--It is not unusual in
old pedigrees to find two brothers or two sisters with the same Christian
name; but it is unusual to find more than two living at the same time with
only one Christian name between them: this, however, occurs in the family
of Gawdy of Gawdy Hall, Norfolk. Thos. Gawdy married three wives, and by
each had a son Thomas. The eldest was a serjeant-at-law, and died in 1556.
The second was a judge of the Queen's Bench, and died in November, 1587 or
1588. The third is known as Sir Francis Gawdy, Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas; but he also was baptized by the name of Thomas. Lord Coke, who
succeeded him as Chief Justice, says (Co. Lit. 3. a.):
"If a man be baptized by the name of Thomas, and after at his
confirmation by the bishop he is named John, he may purchase by his
name of confirmation; and this was the case of Sir Francis Gawdie, late
C. J. of C. B., whose name of baptism was Thomas, and his name of
confirmation Francis; and that name of Francis, by the advice of all
the judges in anno 36 Henry VIII. (1544-5), he did bear and after used
in all his purchases and grants."
The opportunity afforded by the Roman Catholic Church of thus changing the
baptismal name may help to account for this practice, which probably arose
from a desire to continue the particular name in the family. If one of two
sons with the same name of baptism died in childhood, the other continued
the name: if both lived, one of them might change his name at confirmation.
There is no name given at confirmation according to the form of the Church
of England.