Genealogy Chat

Is part of the problem when you are dealing with a rare surname that the source for the statistics are not very accurate? I looked up two of my rare-ish surnames - Renyard and Horniman. I see one source used is the 1881 census, but the numbers of people transcribed with these surnames is (statistically) widely different to the actual numbers of people with the surname at that date because of mis-transcribtions. Admittedly, not on the 1881 (I forget which census now), the number of Hornimans transcribed is only 25% of the actual number I have found for my tree!! You wouldn't expect 75% of Smiths to be mistranscribed!!! Also when is a surname a separate name from another?? My Renyards probably descend from another motley crew called Ronyard in the next county. My Hornimans are probably related to Horneman and Hornaman and 101 other spelling variations. Merry

Hi Donna, Jelley isn't that rare (although it isn't common either) - there are 35 occurences of that name for every one million people - which means it is ranked as the 4201st most common name from the 25000 names profiled. Matt

I am having trouble finding Jelley. I am thinking it must be pretty rare. Can anyone tell me about Henrietta Jelley Cheers Donna

My grandmothers maiden name was Hornadge. Her father changed the spelling from Hornage. As far as I know that spelling has died out in the UK. My Dad's cousin, who lives in Australia, believes that he is the last with that spelling, his children both being daughters. Neither spelling comes up on the spatial-literacy site although there is an 1881 map for an alternative spelling - Hornidge (still very rare).

OC, I think youve got a point. Cannot find anything for Ogkell...had my suspicions about it.

drinkmilk and goodgames-excellent surnames !

the best surname I have come across is Younghusband which I thought was a strange name to be stuck with and I also have a Humpage in my tree which sounds like some minor ailment (apologies to any Humpages out there)

Frances Just did a quick google on the surname Sanctuary. Couldn't find out the origins, but there is a DNA project for this name, which suggests Nordic/Celtic origins. OC

I have a bickerdike in my tree, I also have a Joiles the only one on GR Linda

My grandmother's surname was Sanctuary. I am trying to trace her, she lived in Bingley and in Keighley in Yorkshire, and was born around 1892. I have found only a handful with that surname, is it one of the rarest?

Three names on my tree appear to be extinct now. They are GOODGAMES, ASHLER and HETLEY. They all seem to have had girls for a couple of generations - it doesn't take long for the name to get very uncommon and then die out completely. Anne

Wilf Lots of names which begin with HOS- are portuguese or spanish in origin and would have been spelled JOS- in their native language. OC

Forgot to say earlier that one of my Horsup's married a Paulston. Seems a reasonable name but they don't appear on either of those two websites.

One of my work mates is a Hosiene. He has no idea though where the name originates Wilf

Oh! and of course I am the only born and bred Tocqueville in the UK to still carry the name.

Horsup. My paternal grandmother's name. The legend goes that the family was called Allsopp (The brewing family) When the Father died his two sons fell out and the one called Allsopp kept the brewery (and poss the trademark for IPA) and my lot became the poor ones. Allsopp was eventually merged with Ind Coope. However, they're a prolific lot and have populated the world. Did you know the leading expert on the Hairy Nosed Wombat is Alan Horsup.

My Achyms, Plankeneys and Drinkmilks are all extinct now and if it wasn't for the prolific Edmund Skillings in eighteenth century Norfolk, that surname would have died out in the county.

Surely Ogkell is a mangled up version of Oghill? OC

I have the name Brundred on my tree. Not a lot of them on the census. Will look at that site to see status. jeanie A.

Ive got an Ogkell. Having major probs with it. And a Beardow. And a Gothard. < Thats not so rare now, as they had many children, who in turn had children.