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[[Wales]][[ | {{CountrySidebar | ||
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|Background=Naming Customs | |||
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| link5=[[Wales Naming Customs|Naming Customs]] | |||
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'''Understanding customs used in Welsh names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.''' | |||
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==Online Tools== | |||
*[https://named.publicprofiler.org/ '''Names, Public Profiler, British Surname Map] | |||
*[https://britishsurnames.co.uk/ '''British Surnames'''] | |||
*[https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/welsh '''Behind the Name: Welsh Surnames'''] | |||
*[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/welsh '''Behind the Name: Welsh Given Names'''] | |||
*[http://www.namenerds.com/welsh/trad2.html '''Traditional Welsh Names: Men'''] | |||
*[http://www.namenerds.com/welsh/trad1.html '''Traditional Welsh Names: Women'''] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname Surname experience] at FamilySearch - search by surname to learn its meaning and origin | |||
==Surnames== | |||
Before record keeping began, most people only had a first name. As the population increased, people began adding descriptive information, such as John "the smith," to a person’s name to distinguish him or her from others with the same name. At first, a surname applied only to one person and not to the whole family. | Before record keeping began, most people only had a first name. As the population increased, people began adding descriptive information, such as John "the smith," to a person’s name to distinguish him or her from others with the same name. At first, a surname applied only to one person and not to the whole family. | ||
== Patronymic Names == | === Patronymic Names === | ||
Patronymic surnames are based on the father’s given name. Generally, '''ap''' or '''ab''' was added between the child’s name and the father’s name. For example, David ab Owen is David "son of" Owen. For a woman’s name, the word '''ferch''' or '''verch''' (often abbreviated to '''vch'''), meaning "daughter of", was used. There were many exceptions to this: | Patronymic surnames are based on the father’s given name. Generally, '''ap''' or '''ab''' was added between the child’s name and the father’s name. For example, David ab Owen is David "son of" Owen. For a woman’s name, the word '''ferch''' or '''verch''' (often abbreviated to '''vch'''), meaning "daughter of", was used. There were many exceptions to this: | ||
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| ab Eynon | | ab Eynon | ||
| Beynon | | Beynon | ||
|- | |||
| ap Harri, ap Harry | |||
| Parry | |||
|- | |||
| ap Huw, ap Hugh | |||
| Pugh | |||
|- | |||
| ab Hwfa | |||
| Povah, Povey | |||
|- | |||
| ap Hywel, ap Howell | |||
| Powell | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ab Owain, ab Owen | | ab Owain, ab Owen | ||
| Bowen | | Bowen | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ap | | ap Rhobyn, ap Robyn | ||
| | | Probyn | ||
|- | |||
| ap Rhydderch | |||
| Prydderch, Prytherch | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ap Rhys | | ap Rhys | ||
| Prees, Preece, Price | | Prees, Preece, Price | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ap Richard | | ap Richard | ||
| Pritchard | | Prichard, Pritchard | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ap Robert | | ap Robert | ||
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| ap Roger | | ap Roger | ||
| Prodger | | Prodger | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Other Types of Surnames == | === Other Types of Surnames === | ||
Surnames also developed from the following sources: | Surnames also developed from the following sources: | ||
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'''Occupational.''' Other surnames are based on the person’s trade, such as Wil Saer (or Wil y Saer), meaning 'Will the carpenter'. Occupational names are sometimes modified. For example, 'Saer' could take the permanent form of '''Sayer'''. | '''Occupational.''' Other surnames are based on the person’s trade, such as Wil Saer (or Wil y Saer), meaning 'Will the carpenter'. Occupational names are sometimes modified. For example, 'Saer' could take the permanent form of '''Sayer'''. | ||
== Adopting a Surname == | === Adopting a Surname === | ||
Some families adopted permanent surnames much earlier than others. Generally, families lower on the social scale used the patronymic system longer than those higher up the social scale. Patronymics lingered the longest in the north and central-western counties. Most noble families adopted surnames by the sixteenth century. The gentry adopted them during the eighteenth century, while some farmers, tenant farmers, and workers did not take surnames until the nineteenth century or later. Generally, the patronymic naming pattern and the various naming customs were coming to an end by 1837, but later usage occurs and there has been a modern revival of the practice. | Some families adopted permanent surnames much earlier than others. Generally, families lower on the social scale used the patronymic system longer than those higher up the social scale. Patronymics lingered the longest in the north and central-western counties. Most noble families adopted surnames by the sixteenth century. The gentry adopted them during the eighteenth century, while some farmers, tenant farmers, and workers did not take surnames until the nineteenth century or later. Generally, the patronymic naming pattern and the various naming customs were coming to an end by 1837, but later usage occurs and there has been a modern revival of the practice. | ||
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Many pre-1800 church registers record the father’s name in several different ways, one or more of which may be abbreviated. For example, "Jane Thomas, daughter of Thomas Dd. William James was baptized the 26th May 1732." Without further evidence, it is impossible to determine which name(s) the father used during his lifetime. | Many pre-1800 church registers record the father’s name in several different ways, one or more of which may be abbreviated. For example, "Jane Thomas, daughter of Thomas Dd. William James was baptized the 26th May 1732." Without further evidence, it is impossible to determine which name(s) the father used during his lifetime. | ||
In Wales, if the patronymic naming system was used, the surname of the child was usually based upon the father’s FIRST name. The following chart shows only males (John EVANS, his sons, and his grandsons). Notice the names highlighted in red showing that the FIRST name of John EVANS was used by his sons as their SURNAME. (Thomas JOHNS, for example, means Thomas . . . the son of. . . John) In our example, by the time John EVANS has 20 grandsons, the grandsons have five different surnames. Today, these grandsons (cousins to each other) would all have the same surname (EVANS). | |||
[[Image:Patronymics illustration.jpg|center|Patronymics illustration.jpg]] | |||
== Solving common name problems == | == Solving common name problems == | ||
Many times when you are searching for someone with a common name, research can become difficult because records are not complete or are unavailable and/or there are too many people with the same name or surname. | Many times when you are searching for someone with a common name, research can become difficult because records are not complete or are unavailable and/or there are too many people with the same name or surname. | ||
{{Tip|"It is often difficult to determine from many early Welsh records, without supporting evidence from other sources, which name an individual used in later life. This difficulty of name identification in most Welsh records, due in part to the patronymic naming system, together with place name problems, make it imperative that all available record sources containing genealogical information covering the locality and period of time in question are thoroughly examined and analyzed for identifying clues and evidence. This must be done in order to establish correct pedigrees."<ref>Family History Department Research Paper Series A, No. 6 1967 (revised 1976)</ref>}} | |||
'''Tips for solving common name problems''' | '''Tips for solving common name problems''' | ||
*Establish an identity for your ancestor. You must know more about your ancestor than simply his or her name. A name, time period and place are critical information. Examples of other information are: Is there a farm name associated with the family? Who were your ancestor’s siblings? What was his/her occupation? | |||
*Identify all records for the place or area of interest in the time period. Search those records. | |||
*Find and use available indexes to these records. Remember that indexes are often incomplete and always have errors. Verify information you find in the index with the actual record. | |||
*Make photocopies of these records as you use them. Oftentimes a piece of information you hadn't noticed when you first found the record will have significance later. | |||
*Create a database to collect the names you find. Include identifying information. Arrange it so you can sort by name, date, place, event, record type, etc. Use the database when evaluating and making decisions. | |||
*Use more than one record type for information about the individual. Using a variety of appropriate records will help you verify if you have the right person and/or give you the correct perspective on the individual or family. | |||
*Evaluate and analyse each record. The combination of what you know about your ancestor and what you learn from records will allow you to determine if it is consistent, conflicting or new information. | |||
*When you find a christening that you believe is ancestral, make sure the person named in the christening does not die before your ancestor married. If the person in the christening dies as a child, he/she cannot be your ancestor. | |||
*Search for all the siblings of your ancestor. The broader the foundation of family you lay, the easier it will be to work backwards. Oftentimes the clues you need will come from a brother or sister and not necessarily the direct ancestor. | |||
*Do blanket searches for the surname, rather than limiting your search to the immediate family. Check all possibilities of those with the same surname. You may find other family or determine that what you have may not be correct. | |||
*Trace all potential families when you have more than one with the same given and surname. This research may help you to resolve which family is really yours. | |||
*When you scan down a list of names on a record, don’t limit yourself to the primary person. For example: Read the names of the bride, groom and their fathers on a marriage record post-1 July 1837. You will pick up women who are widowed with their maiden names. Be sure to read witness’ names. | |||
Using these tips will help you to clearly identify a person or family members and place them in the correct family. | Using these tips will help you to clearly identify a person or family members and place them in the correct family. | ||
== Records that solve common name problems == | == Records that solve common name problems == | ||
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After thoroughly searching those records and laying a foundation for the family using the information found in them, you should then collect identifying information from other less-used records to verify and clarify the research you have done. Use the following records after you have used the commonly used records: | After thoroughly searching those records and laying a foundation for the family using the information found in them, you should then collect identifying information from other less-used records to verify and clarify the research you have done. Use the following records after you have used the commonly used records: | ||
{{Tip|Land records are, perhaps, as important in tracing a Welsh pedigree as the use of parish records. These records identify the family on a piece of property, and even though the family name changes from generation to generation, possession of the property does not. It makes it easier to identify the family, even when the names changes, making estate and other land records extremely valuable genealogical sources.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Wales,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1989-1997.</ref>}} | |||
*Burial Records or Monumental Inscriptions (MI’s) | *Burial Records or Monumental Inscriptions (MI’s) | ||
*Probate Records | *Probate Records | ||
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*Court Records: Petty Sessions, Quarter Sessions, Great Sessions <br> | *Court Records: Petty Sessions, Quarter Sessions, Great Sessions <br> | ||
Be sure to analyse and evaluate carefully each record. You may have to view a record several times to gather all pertinent information for a person or family. | Be sure to analyse and evaluate carefully each record. You may have to view a record several times to gather all pertinent information for a person or family. | ||
== | == For Further Reading== | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/img_auth.php/1/17/Welsh_Naming_Patterns_Handout.pdf '''Welsh Naming Patterns'''] | |||
*[http://www.clwydfhs.org.uk/helachau/patronymics.htm '''Patronymic Paranoia'''] at Clwyd FHS | |||
*[ | *[http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/welshWomen16/patterns.html '''Women's Names in the First Half of 16th Century Wales'''] | ||
*Morgan, T. J., and Prys Morgan, '''''Welsh Surnames'''''. Cardiff, Wales: University of Wales Press, 1985. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|55852|title-id|disp=book 942.9 D4m}}.) {{WorldCat|1030218686|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} | |||
== | *Rowlands, John, and Sheila. '''''The Surnames of Wales for Family Historians and Others'''''. Genealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore, Maryland. 1996. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|765266|title-id|disp=book 942.9 D4r}}.) {{WorldCat|659960977|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} | ||
* | *'''"Welsh First Names for Children: Their Meanings Explained"'''. Cardiff, Wales: Emeralda, 1978. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|600408|title-id|disp=book 942.9 D4w}}.) {{WorldCat|819765430|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} ''<ref>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ''Research Outline: Wales'' (Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President, 2000), 53-54.</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
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{{Place|Wales}} | {{Place|Wales}} | ||
[[Category:Wales | [[Category:Wales]] | ||
[[Category:Naming Customs]] | |||
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