The Generations Cafe writing prompt for Week 3 is “Namesake.” I’ve chosen to write about the three Jeans in my mother’s family: her sister Jean Flannery; her daughter Jean Fitzgerald (my sister); and her niece Jean Madden. Jean Fitzgerald and Jean Madden are first cousins–their mothers being sisters.

The oldest of the three, Jean Flannery was the sixth child of Francis and Ellen (Nellie) Flannery who lived in Bear Creek Township, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. She was born January 2, 1925 and died September 4, 1952 at the age of 27. Jean was killed in an auto accident on the way home from work, a few miles from where she lived with her parents. I was born in November 1948 and have no memory of my Aunt Jean.

We always knew my mother’s sister as “Jean.” During my genealogy research, I discovered on the 1930 U.S. Census form that Jean Flannery’s first name was Regina. Her middle name was Ellen, her mother’s first name.

The second Jean is my sister Jean Fitzgerald born in June 1951; the second daughter of my mother Mary Flannery Fitzgerald. It was common knowledge in our family that Jean was baptized Regina Marie Fitzgerald because the parish priest demanded that a child’s first name be that of a saint if they were to be baptized in his church.

The name Regina, of Latin origin meaning “queen”, has been around and popular in America for well over 100 years. However, at present time the name is beginning to decline in popularity. (2)

In December 1954 my mother’s sister Irene delivered her third child, Jean Ellen Madden. Unlike Jean Flannery and Jean Fitzgerald, Jean Madden’s first name is Jean, not Regina. I would guess that this Jean was named after her Aunt Jean Flannery who died before she was born. Also, the parish priest must not have demanded that her first name be a saint’s name.

A Bit of History about Naming Catholic Children

The Flannerys, with origins in Ireland, are Roman Catholic. As stated previously, the parish priest at the time of the baptism of Jean Fitzgerald, and I presume Jean Flannery, required their parents to name them after a saint in order to be baptized in the Church. However, the Catholic Church’s canonical law does not demand that a child’s name be a saint’s name. Canon 855 of the Code of Canon Law directly addresses this in stating, “Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.” (3)

If we look at the history of the Church, we find that from the time of the early Church the Catholic tradition was to name a child after a saint. Saints were known for their strength and virtue, and the belief was that they would give that child someone to look to as a role model.

St. Regina was a third century virgin martyr and her name was originally bestowed on girls in the Middle Ages and is still one of the Virgin Mary’s titles. A Catholic hymn, “Salve Regina” was composed during the Middle Ages and originally appeared in Latin. (4)

Add to this history of the Church the fact that my mother’s aunt became a Dominican sister and was given the name Sister Mary Erigina. For a Catholic family to have a child grow up to be a priest or nun is an honor. Sister Erigina was held with great distinction in our family. I believe the three Jeans may have been named after Sister Erigina.

As to why Jean Madden’s first name is Jean, I suppose the parish priest did not demand that a child’s first name be a saint’s name.

Resources:

(1) 1930 U.S. Census form for Bear Creek Township, Waupaca Co., WI

(2) nameberry.com

(3) https://uscatholic.org/blog/do-catholics-have-to-name-their-babies-after-saints/

4. Wikipedia