0
What's In A (family) Name?
31 August 2008
[indent]I was amusing myself this weekend with some ad hoc genealogy, looking up my family name online, hunting around for my roots, a vanity search as its called. Of course, we all have two roots to dig into - our mother's and father's families. Each of those bifurcates into two more and so on. That makes it both interesting and challenging.
My father's family came from northern England - Lancashire. He was born and raised in Oldham, outside Manchester. I know a bit about his youth, about his war years before he came to Canada (1947). Aside from that. I know little about my father's family heritage aside from the generic descriptions and histories of the name found online. They are often wildly different and sometimes amusing so. I suppose each must contain some grain of truth, but since many of the histories show up on web sites trying to sell me something - a scroll, a family crest or coat of arms - I treat most as entertaining fiction rather than fact. a
Unfortunately for me, much of the online genealogy is American, and a huge volume of material relates to American members of the family who may be distantly related, but are of little help in tracing back my own family's British roots. Even trying to narrow the search to the area I know my father's parents were from only helps a bit.
There was a William Chadwick in Oldham, who helped form the Oldham Roughyeds in the late 19th century: "In 1876 Oldham Football Club was founded in a meeting at the Prince Albert Hotel, Union Street West attended by Chairman of the Watch Committee William Chadwick, Chief Constable Charles Hodgkinson, mill owner Fred Wild, eminent local quaker and Lord to be Alfred Emmott and three brothers of the Fletcher family."
The 1901 census of England lists numerous Chadwicks, many of them in Lancashire, some of whom I might suspect as being related. Unfortunately to investigate the list of names further, I have to pay for the privilege.
I found one item copied from a headstone in the Chadderton Cemetery, Oldham, which could possibly be an ancestor: "In affectionate remembrance of Watts CHADWICK of St Domingo Street who died May 3rd 1888 in his 61st year. Also Nanny Eliza his wife who died November 10th 1893 age 62 years. Also William LAW of Dog and Duck who died May 17th 1898 age 33 years. Also James and Kate son and daughter of William and Eliza LAW died in infancy. Also William their son who died November 19th 1893 aged 8 weeks."
I say that because Watts was my father's name, and continues in the family in my middle name. Chadderton was an independent municipality near Oldham until the mid 1970s, when it was amalgamated into a restructured Oldham. In the late 19th century, there were several Chadwicks who served on municipal council in Chadderton, according to a local history site. James Chadwick served three terms as Chair of the Chadderton Local Board. Perhaps it is to him I owe my interest and involvement in municipal politics.
Wikipedia lists many Chadwicks in its database, even an entry for the composer, George Chadwick. Unfortunately, I can't claim any musical heritage from the talented composer, because if there's any relationship, it's rather distant. besides, I doubt he played the ukulele, guitar or harmonica. Then there's this family history and family tree, with an altogether different crest.
Rootsweb also gives this historical description: "The English family of Chadwick, from which the American Chadwicks are descended, springs from a hamlet named Chadwick in Rochdale, Lancashire. William de Chadwyk, the first of the name, was born about 1355, and in 1413 was called "Senior," then having a son William of age. His descendant, John de Chadwyk, of a few generations later, was progenitor of the Chadwicks of Chadwick; the Chadwicks of Healey Hall and of Mavewyn, Ridware, the Chadwicks of Pudleston Court, Herefordshire, late of Swinton Hall, Lancashire.
The arms of the Chadwicks of Chadwick: Gules an escutcheon within an orle of martlets argent. Crest: a lily argent stalked and leaved vert. The Swinton Hall family bears the same arms. Motto: In candore decus. Crest: In front of two crosses crosslet fitchee in saltire the flower and stem of a white lily slipped proper. A branch of the family in Cornwall spells the name sometimes Chadock, and bears similar arms, showing relationship. Crest: On a ducal coronet or martlet. The similarity of the names indicate that the Healey branch of the family is that from which the American family given below is descended, though all the American Chadwicks, Chadocks and Shattucks are undoubtedly from the original stock at Chadwick, Lancashire. "
According to the description at 4crests.com,
Chadweeke, eh? There's some Monty Python character lurking in that spelling. You remember that French character on the castle ramparts played by John Cleese who insults Arthur and his men in Monty Python and the Holy grail? he might have known a Chadweeke.
Another site, House of Names, has a somewhat different history of the family name:
That motto, shown on the crest, reads "In candore decus." I like that. But while most of the family crests show it, some have other words, and some of the crests are simply completely different. One family site about a Canadian branch of the family, notes,
Another motto in the Chadwick family is described as "juxta salopian" which I haven't been able to translate exactly, but which may mean "Near Shropshire" (Salopian is an old name for Shropshire). A third motto, seen on a different crest, appears to be "Deo fidemus profielo" (?) and the unreadable motto shown on the crest at the very top of this page is clearly not "In candore decus." Yet another says "stans cum rege" which may also be a Chadwick motto according to this site. It means "Stand with the King." Somehow that just isn't me, if we translate modern politics from king to mayor (the man who would be king?). More like Stans Contra Rege...
The family crest is described, with a brief history, on this site as:
"The English family of Chadwick, from which the American Chadwicks are descended, springs from a hamlet named Chadwick in Rochdale, Lancashire. William de Chadwyk, the first of the name, was born about 1355, and in 1413 was called "Senior," then having a son William of age. His descendant, John de Chadwyk, of a few generations later, was progenitor of the Chadwicks of Chadwick; the Chadwicks of Healey Hall and of Mavewyn, Ridware, the Chadwicks of Pudleston Court, Herefordshire, late of Swinton Hall, Lancashire.
The arms of the Chadwicks of Chadwick: Gules an escutcheon within an orle of martlets argent. Crest: a lily argent stalked and leaved vert. The Swinton Hall family bears the same arms. Motto: In candore decus. Crest: In front of two crosses crosslet fitchee in saltire the flower and stem of a white lily slipped proper. A branch of the family in Cornwall spells the name sometimes Chadock, and bears similar arms, showing relationship. Crest: On a ducal coronet or martlet. The similarity of the names indicate that the Healey branch of the family is that from which the American family given below is descended, though all the American Chadwicks, Chadocks and Shattucks are undoubtedly from the original stock at Chadwick, Lancashire."
It's tough to try and pick the right crest or coat of arms because there are several very different versions presented online. Not being literate in heraldic-speak, I find it difficult to translate the above description into a suitable graphic image to help guide me through the various versions to the correct one. Some I can't show here because they have dynamic, not static links. And then there's this crest... the kitchen-sink approach to heraldry, I suppose.
The Internet Surname Database says this about the family name:
This explanation of the family name above runs counter to other descriptions I've found. Is it Anglo-Saxon or Celtic in origin? What I've read in the past fits more of the following description of a Celtic source:
Chad is a Celtic word meaning defence, or sometimes, "Protector; defender. English form of a Welsh name meaning battle or warring." It is also translated as "warlike." One site says, "Modern form of Anglo-Saxon Ceadda, possibly meaning 'battle.'" Wick comes from the old English "wic" meaning dwelling, but also "A street; a village; a castle; a dwelling; a place of work, or exercise of authority; -- now obsolete except in composition; as, bailiwick, Warwick, Greenwick. " It also means a farm or a homestead (a wich was a settlement where salt was produced). The Celtic word, wick, also means to bend or be supple, which might translate to "Flexible battle" or "flexible defender." But the suffix wick - the Norse translation means haven or bay - was used for defensible sites and fenced in settlements, so Chadwick might be a settlement where a battle took place - a battlefield as it were.
Another site for the Chidwick name relates the two names: "...the first record of the name Chidwick was found in Staffordshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by the Duke William of Normandy their liege lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Many alternate spellings were found. They were typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. The name Chidwick occurred in many references, and from time to time, the surname included the spellings Chadwick, Chadwicks, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Chedwick, and many more. "
I know a bit more about my mother's ancestors (McDonalds on her mother's side and Pudneys on her father's) than my father's. My mother's mother's family came from Scotland, arriving in Canada in 1773 on the ship, the Hector, landing in Pictou after what appears a rough voyage. My mother was not sure when her other family, the Dunlops, arrived in Canada (also from Scotland).
According to a page on Rootsweb,
My mother actually dated the trip in the late 1760s, but I can find no record of the Hector sailing to New Scotland (Nova Scotia) before 1773. The period was the turbulent era in Scottish history known as the Highland Clearances that followed as the aftermath of the battle of Culloden. So I can guess my mother's family comes from Highland Scots. My mother still has relatives in Nova Scotia and she served as a WREN during WWII in Halifax. We can trace our family back more than 230 years in Canada on her side.
The Pudneys I know less about, except I seem to recall my grandfather's family came from Cornwall. There were Pudneys in Devon, too. According to the Internet Surname Database,
The article ends with this interesting note: "Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling." Which of course confounds researchers looking for their ancestors.
Anyway, it's interesting to read and speculate about who did what, where they went and what happened to the family gene pool. I'd love to delve deeper and identify for sure some of my ancestors, but a lot of the sites are for pay, and a little too American to be of much use to me. Still, I wonder if I should get a copy of the family crest for my door... and maybe start writing the family motto in my email signatures. In candore decus: There is honour in sincerity. It's certainly something worth living up to.[/indent]
Unfortunately for me, much of the online genealogy is American, and a huge volume of material relates to American members of the family who may be distantly related, but are of little help in tracing back my own family's British roots. Even trying to narrow the search to the area I know my father's parents were from only helps a bit.
There was a William Chadwick in Oldham, who helped form the Oldham Roughyeds in the late 19th century: "In 1876 Oldham Football Club was founded in a meeting at the Prince Albert Hotel, Union Street West attended by Chairman of the Watch Committee William Chadwick, Chief Constable Charles Hodgkinson, mill owner Fred Wild, eminent local quaker and Lord to be Alfred Emmott and three brothers of the Fletcher family."
The 1901 census of England lists numerous Chadwicks, many of them in Lancashire, some of whom I might suspect as being related. Unfortunately to investigate the list of names further, I have to pay for the privilege.
I found one item copied from a headstone in the Chadderton Cemetery, Oldham, which could possibly be an ancestor: "In affectionate remembrance of Watts CHADWICK of St Domingo Street who died May 3rd 1888 in his 61st year. Also Nanny Eliza his wife who died November 10th 1893 age 62 years. Also William LAW of Dog and Duck who died May 17th 1898 age 33 years. Also James and Kate son and daughter of William and Eliza LAW died in infancy. Also William their son who died November 19th 1893 aged 8 weeks."
I say that because Watts was my father's name, and continues in the family in my middle name. Chadderton was an independent municipality near Oldham until the mid 1970s, when it was amalgamated into a restructured Oldham. In the late 19th century, there were several Chadwicks who served on municipal council in Chadderton, according to a local history site. James Chadwick served three terms as Chair of the Chadderton Local Board. Perhaps it is to him I owe my interest and involvement in municipal politics.
Wikipedia lists many Chadwicks in its database, even an entry for the composer, George Chadwick. Unfortunately, I can't claim any musical heritage from the talented composer, because if there's any relationship, it's rather distant. besides, I doubt he played the ukulele, guitar or harmonica. Then there's this family history and family tree, with an altogether different crest.
Rootsweb also gives this historical description: "The English family of Chadwick, from which the American Chadwicks are descended, springs from a hamlet named Chadwick in Rochdale, Lancashire. William de Chadwyk, the first of the name, was born about 1355, and in 1413 was called "Senior," then having a son William of age. His descendant, John de Chadwyk, of a few generations later, was progenitor of the Chadwicks of Chadwick; the Chadwicks of Healey Hall and of Mavewyn, Ridware, the Chadwicks of Pudleston Court, Herefordshire, late of Swinton Hall, Lancashire.
The arms of the Chadwicks of Chadwick: Gules an escutcheon within an orle of martlets argent. Crest: a lily argent stalked and leaved vert. The Swinton Hall family bears the same arms. Motto: In candore decus. Crest: In front of two crosses crosslet fitchee in saltire the flower and stem of a white lily slipped proper. A branch of the family in Cornwall spells the name sometimes Chadock, and bears similar arms, showing relationship. Crest: On a ducal coronet or martlet. The similarity of the names indicate that the Healey branch of the family is that from which the American family given below is descended, though all the American Chadwicks, Chadocks and Shattucks are undoubtedly from the original stock at Chadwick, Lancashire. "
According to the description at 4crests.com,
Quote
The surname CHADWICK was a locational name from any of various places so called, such as a hamlet in the parish of Rochdale, County Lancashire. This surname is to be met with in every town in Lancashire.
Early records of the name mention Nicholas de Chadwyke, documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Anne Chadwick of Chadwick, County Lancashire, was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1636. Baptised. Margaret, daughter of Edward Chadweeke, at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London in the year 1669.
On the evening of May 13th 1787, after months of being held in ships, at dock in Woolwich, the First Fleet left for Australia, carrying with them the first convicts. Most were petty criminals, forced to a life of crime by a pitiful need. Amongst the 1,500 persons was poor Thomas Chaddick. Hunger had driven him into a garden where he 'did pluck up, spoil and destroy against the form of the statute' twelve cucumber plants. For that, he was transported.
Sir Edwin Chadwick (1801-1890) was an English social reformer, born near Manchester. He was called to the bar in 1830, and was appointed assistant poor-law commissioner in 1832, and in his report of 1833, he laid the foundations of a later system of government inspections. He became secretary of the new Poor Law Board from 1834 until 1836.
The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.
Early records of the name mention Nicholas de Chadwyke, documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Anne Chadwick of Chadwick, County Lancashire, was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1636. Baptised. Margaret, daughter of Edward Chadweeke, at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London in the year 1669.
On the evening of May 13th 1787, after months of being held in ships, at dock in Woolwich, the First Fleet left for Australia, carrying with them the first convicts. Most were petty criminals, forced to a life of crime by a pitiful need. Amongst the 1,500 persons was poor Thomas Chaddick. Hunger had driven him into a garden where he 'did pluck up, spoil and destroy against the form of the statute' twelve cucumber plants. For that, he was transported.
Sir Edwin Chadwick (1801-1890) was an English social reformer, born near Manchester. He was called to the bar in 1830, and was appointed assistant poor-law commissioner in 1832, and in his report of 1833, he laid the foundations of a later system of government inspections. He became secretary of the new Poor Law Board from 1834 until 1836.
The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.
Chadweeke, eh? There's some Monty Python character lurking in that spelling. You remember that French character on the castle ramparts played by John Cleese who insults Arthur and his men in Monty Python and the Holy grail? he might have known a Chadweeke.
Another site, House of Names, has a somewhat different history of the family name:
Quote
Chadwick is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Chadwick family lived in the parish of Rochdale in Lancashire. They were granted the lands near Chadwick in this area by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Chadwick family name include Chadwick, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Shadduck and many more.
First found in Staffordshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Chadwick family to immigrate North America: Charles Chadwick who settled in Salem Mass. in 1630; and an important branch of the family settled in Toronto, Canada. Elizabeth Chadwick settled in Potomac Maryland in 1728.
Motto Translated: There is honour in sincerity.
Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Chadwick family name include Chadwick, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Shadduck and many more.
First found in Staffordshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Chadwick family to immigrate North America: Charles Chadwick who settled in Salem Mass. in 1630; and an important branch of the family settled in Toronto, Canada. Elizabeth Chadwick settled in Potomac Maryland in 1728.
Motto Translated: There is honour in sincerity.
That motto, shown on the crest, reads "In candore decus." I like that. But while most of the family crests show it, some have other words, and some of the crests are simply completely different. One family site about a Canadian branch of the family, notes,
Quote
"The motto of the Chadwicks generally is In Candore decus, which has a double meaning and may be rendered Beauty in whiteness, presumably with reference to the white lily, or in a secondary sense Honour in uprightness. The Latin Candor may be translated whiteness, purity or uprightness; and Decus means beauty, grace or honour. Truly a motto well worth trying to "live up to," as is also the second motto of the Ballinard branch, Toujours pret, Always ready. The motto of the Chadwicks of Healey is another good one, Stans cum Rege, Standing with (i.e., loyally supporting) the King. This was used by Richard Cooper-Chadwick, but not properly, as it is a motto adopted by the Chadwicks of Healey from a family allied to them, but not to our branch. Richard Chadwick, Barclay branch, used on his seal as a motto, "Juxta Salopiam," but that is rather a statement of the locality in which he resided.
The family crest is described, with a brief history, on this site as:
"The English family of Chadwick, from which the American Chadwicks are descended, springs from a hamlet named Chadwick in Rochdale, Lancashire. William de Chadwyk, the first of the name, was born about 1355, and in 1413 was called "Senior," then having a son William of age. His descendant, John de Chadwyk, of a few generations later, was progenitor of the Chadwicks of Chadwick; the Chadwicks of Healey Hall and of Mavewyn, Ridware, the Chadwicks of Pudleston Court, Herefordshire, late of Swinton Hall, Lancashire.
The arms of the Chadwicks of Chadwick: Gules an escutcheon within an orle of martlets argent. Crest: a lily argent stalked and leaved vert. The Swinton Hall family bears the same arms. Motto: In candore decus. Crest: In front of two crosses crosslet fitchee in saltire the flower and stem of a white lily slipped proper. A branch of the family in Cornwall spells the name sometimes Chadock, and bears similar arms, showing relationship. Crest: On a ducal coronet or martlet. The similarity of the names indicate that the Healey branch of the family is that from which the American family given below is descended, though all the American Chadwicks, Chadocks and Shattucks are undoubtedly from the original stock at Chadwick, Lancashire."
It's tough to try and pick the right crest or coat of arms because there are several very different versions presented online. Not being literate in heraldic-speak, I find it difficult to translate the above description into a suitable graphic image to help guide me through the various versions to the correct one. Some I can't show here because they have dynamic, not static links. And then there's this crest... the kitchen-sink approach to heraldry, I suppose.
The Internet Surname Database says this about the family name:
Quote
This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from any of the places thus called. Chadwick in Lancashire and Worcestershire were recorded as "Chaddewyk" in the Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey (1180), and as "Cheddewic" in the 1182 Placenames of Worcestershire respectively.
Both placenames share the same meaning and derivation, which is the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Ceadda", with "wic", dairy farm; hence "Ceadda's dairy farm". Ceadda is the name of an Anglo-Saxon bishop, St. Chad. Chadwick in Worcestershire, recorded as "Celdvic" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and Chadwick in Warwickshire, recorded as "Chadeleswiz" in the 1242 Book of Fees, have the Olde English personal name "Ceadel" as their first element; hence "Ceadel's dairy farm". Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace.
The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 13th Century (see below), and has many variant spellings ranging from Chadwyck, Chaddock and Shaddick to Shaddock and Shadwick. Andrew de Chadewyke is listed in the Chartulary of Whalley Abbey (1328). On October 24th 1585, John Chadwick married Joan Dimock at St. Dunstan's in the East, London, and Richard, son of John Chadwick, was christened in the same place on October 13th 1588. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Chadeleswic, which was dated 1221, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Warwickshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272.
Both placenames share the same meaning and derivation, which is the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Ceadda", with "wic", dairy farm; hence "Ceadda's dairy farm". Ceadda is the name of an Anglo-Saxon bishop, St. Chad. Chadwick in Worcestershire, recorded as "Celdvic" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and Chadwick in Warwickshire, recorded as "Chadeleswiz" in the 1242 Book of Fees, have the Olde English personal name "Ceadel" as their first element; hence "Ceadel's dairy farm". Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace.
The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 13th Century (see below), and has many variant spellings ranging from Chadwyck, Chaddock and Shaddick to Shaddock and Shadwick. Andrew de Chadewyke is listed in the Chartulary of Whalley Abbey (1328). On October 24th 1585, John Chadwick married Joan Dimock at St. Dunstan's in the East, London, and Richard, son of John Chadwick, was christened in the same place on October 13th 1588. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Chadeleswic, which was dated 1221, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Warwickshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272.
This explanation of the family name above runs counter to other descriptions I've found. Is it Anglo-Saxon or Celtic in origin? What I've read in the past fits more of the following description of a Celtic source:
Another site for the Chidwick name relates the two names: "...the first record of the name Chidwick was found in Staffordshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by the Duke William of Normandy their liege lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Many alternate spellings were found. They were typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. The name Chidwick occurred in many references, and from time to time, the surname included the spellings Chadwick, Chadwicks, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Chedwick, and many more. "
I know a bit more about my mother's ancestors (McDonalds on her mother's side and Pudneys on her father's) than my father's. My mother's mother's family came from Scotland, arriving in Canada in 1773 on the ship, the Hector, landing in Pictou after what appears a rough voyage. My mother was not sure when her other family, the Dunlops, arrived in Canada (also from Scotland).
According to a page on Rootsweb,
Quote
The Hector left Greenock about July 1, 1773. There were ten shipped aboard at Greenock (from The Clyde) and 179 at Loch Broom. Eighteen children died on the passage and one child, afterwards Mrs. Page of Truro, was born aboard the ship on the voyage.
The Pudneys I know less about, except I seem to recall my grandfather's family came from Cornwall. There were Pudneys in Devon, too. According to the Internet Surname Database,
Quote
This interesting surname is a variant of Putney, which is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from a place so called in Surrey. The placename is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "Puttan", from the byname "putta" meaning kite and "hyp", landing-place, thus, "Putta's landing-place". Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The place was first recorded as "putelei" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Potenhipe" in the Beves of Hamtoune in circa 1327.
The modern surname can be found as Putney, Pudney, Patney and Powtney. Among the sample recordings in London are the christenings of Edmund, son of Daniel and Jane Pudney, on July 30th 1727 at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, and of William, son of George and Elizabeth Pudney, on June 15th 1777 at St. Mary's, Marylebone, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Putney (christening), which was dated January 6th 1559, St. Gregory by St. Paul, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603.
The modern surname can be found as Putney, Pudney, Patney and Powtney. Among the sample recordings in London are the christenings of Edmund, son of Daniel and Jane Pudney, on July 30th 1727 at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, and of William, son of George and Elizabeth Pudney, on June 15th 1777 at St. Mary's, Marylebone, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Putney (christening), which was dated January 6th 1559, St. Gregory by St. Paul, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603.
The article ends with this interesting note: "Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling." Which of course confounds researchers looking for their ancestors.
Anyway, it's interesting to read and speculate about who did what, where they went and what happened to the family gene pool. I'd love to delve deeper and identify for sure some of my ancestors, but a lot of the sites are for pay, and a little too American to be of much use to me. Still, I wonder if I should get a copy of the family crest for my door... and maybe start writing the family motto in my email signatures. In candore decus: There is honour in sincerity. It's certainly something worth living up to.[/indent]
Seriously though, delving into the family background can be fascinating stuff; I've found artists and sailors mixed in among my ancestors. However, the most interesting is the background of my grandmother's family: three generations of printers and pressman, plus her father was an engineer for one of England's largest printing firms. Add to that my grandfather (her husband) being a pressman for more than 30 years, and I can definitely say the ink runs through my veins...