An unusual name

[ElizabethHerts]

I'm transcribing marriages for Probus and have discovered a bride with a very unusual name -

Brightwoodie Rowse

But look at these too!

http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/baptisms/index.php?year_from=1000&year_to=1664&parish=&forename1=Bright&surname1=surname&forename2=&forename3=&t=baptisms&bf=Search

I wonder if it is a name specific to Cornwall?

[Nell]

I haven't got any in my Cornish forebears. They just like to be quite boring.

[Olde Crone]

Elizabeth

I've ben playing with this and saying it out loud and wondered if it was an attempt at BRIDIE? However, I don't think Bridie was a common name in England at that time.

I also wondered if Brightwoodie was the opposite of Dimwoodie or Dinwoodie, lol.

OC

[Sue at the seaside]

I think Brightwight is a lovely name, just what you need to be a washing powder salesman

[kiterunner]

I wonder whether it was a variation of Bridget (as Bridie also is.)

[ElizabethHerts]

I think it is a different name to Bridget, Kate. I've had a few of those too.

Brightweed seems to be the most common alternative.

Cornwall has its own particular favourite names.
Honour and Phillipa seem to be favourites in the early registers. One thing I have noticed is that there are hardly any Sarahs until the late 18th century.

[Kit]

I have cornish people too but Brightweed does not ring any bells.

I wonder how hard it is to find them on a census?

[ElizabethHerts]

Toni, the name only seems to appear in early registers.

Isn't Brightone a lovely name? I can just picture the child...

[Kit]

Not sure I really like the name but yes I can imagine the child and that is lovely. :)