Why were Cornish babies named in English?

Q:

Why do people born around 1700 in Cornwall, tend to have boring English language first names (lots of John and Mary), instead of Cornish language first names?

A:

People born around 1700 in Cornwall tended to have more traditional English first names like John and Mary due to several reasons:

1. English influence: Around the early 16th century, the Tudor dynasty established the Kingdom of England as a unified state, which included Cornwall. As a result, Cornish people increasingly adopted English customs and way of life, including the usage of English names.

2. Suppression of the Cornish language: By the 17th and 18th centuries, the English government actively suppressed the Cornish language, promoting the use of the English language in schools and churches. This led to a decline in the knowledge and use of the Cornish language, impacting the prevalence of Cornish first names.

3. Social and economic factors: As Cornwall became more integrated with the rest of England, there were social and economic pressures to assimilate and adopt English customs, including names. In order to fit in and access opportunities, many Cornish people chose to give their children English names as a means of social integration and upward mobility.

4. Anglican Church influence: With the establishment of the Church of England as the official state religion, the influence of the Anglican Church was strong throughout the country. The church promoted more traditional English names from the Bible. Given the importance of religion in everyday life during this time period, many families would have been influenced by these naming conventions.

In summary, a combination of political, social, religious, and linguistic factors led to the adoption of traditional English first names among people born around 1700 in Cornwall, resulting in the prevalence of names like John and Mary. The gradual suppression of the Cornish language and the increasing influence of English culture, particularly through the Anglican Church, contributed significantly to this shift in naming practices.