When Irish Ancestors Are Calling - Part 2

For the past few days, I have been auditing my family history lines,

 and spending time in my Irish 🍀 family line.

 I particularly took note of the name AILEEN.

 My full name is Amanda Mathilda AILEEN McNicol (Erasmus).

I am named after both of my grandmothers.

My cousin AILEEN Sandra Venter (Hogan) is also named after our maternal grandmother.

Our late granny AILEEN Phyllis Hutton (Ferns) 

was the daughter of Geoffrey Stritch Hutton born in England in 1889.

Geoffrey married Phyllis ELINE Cooper in South Africa in 1917.

Geoffrey had an older sister named Violet AILEEN Hutton born in England in 1881.

In this 1891 Census record, Violet was simply listed as AILEEN. 

She must have been known by her 2nd name.

 She was nine years old at the time of the census. 

Portion of the 1891 Census record taken in the Parish of St Paul, Bedford, England, showing the family
living at No. 16 Lansdowne Road. Geoffrey's only sister is listed as AILEEN.

Violet AILEEN and Geoffrey Stritch were two of eight children

 born to my 2nd great-grandmother,

Sophia Isabella Mary Stritch (Hutton), who was born in Ireland in 1850.

Sophia was the daughter of Andrew Russell Stritch born in Ireland in 1818. 

Shamrock - a type of clover used as a symbol of Ireland

AILEEN is a feminine name of Irish 🍀 origin meaning "BRIGHT and SHINING." 

I absolutely love that our name is Irish! 

I love what it means! 

AILEEN is derived from the Gaelic name Eibhlin or Eilin, 

which is a variation of the Greek name Helen.

I am awed by how something as simple as a 3rd name 

can make me feel so connected to my Irish forebears.