Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I am confused over a catholic baptism name. One of the children of John Belton and Mary Jane Woodfine was baptised in 1883 at our Lady of Reconciliation de la Salette under the Latin name Bernardus. I assumed the child was male, with a name similar to Bernard. But the only birth registration I found during that time was for a Bridget Belton, b. 1883 and d.1884. I checked out other catholic baptisms for Bridgets and they all have variations on the name Bridget. Can anyone help explain this? Can you tell the gender of the child from the baptism document? (Sorry, I've had no luck inserting a photo.) Thanks.

(Sorry, I've had no luck inserting a photo.)

Certainly an image would be useful.
Check this out: http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... =16&t=9817

It's evidently the same parents as you are looking at but wouldn't appear to be Bridget, the writing is very clear. I've never come across any indication on a baptism record of the gender of the child.

It's definitely a girl. The word 'filia' after the name means 'daughter.' If it was a boy, it would say 'filius.'

Thanks Mary for going to that trouble.
And thanks Karen, now I know what to look for on baptism records. It's a girl. But isn't Bernardus a strange name for a girl? Or is that the equivalent of Bernadette?

Dickiesam, I thought I followed the instructions for posting last time, did the photobucket thing, I will need to practice more.

Karen wrote:It's definitely a girl. The word 'filia' after the name means 'daughter.' If it was a boy, it would say 'filius.'

My Latin teacher would have been disgusted with me for missing that detail!

dickiesam wrote: My Latin teacher would have been disgusted with me for missing that detail!

My only knowledge of Latin is as a result of years of trying to decipher Catholic baptisms and marriages!

Karen wrote:It's definitely a girl. The word 'filia' after the name means 'daughter.' If it was a boy, it would say 'filius.'

You learn something new every day, it's so obvious when you know it.