Geneology

[HarryM1BYT]

I've now progressed my fathers side back to 1800, but I was stumped on my mothers side, until now.

I've just managed my first step back in time on my mothers side - My maternal grandfather was called Henry Rhodes le Farrar.

Is that two Christian names - Henry Rhodes, or is the surname Rhodes/ Farrar please?

[HarryM1BYT]

Bump!.....

[wraymond]

Rhodes is a village in the Lorraine district of France. le Farrar is of Norman French origin (possibly even the nowadays Belgium area). In this country one assumes it was embedded following William the Conqueror's invasion, so family names might be of French extraction. My wife's father was called D'arcy (sic) and his antecedents came originally from southern France.

[COLVERT]

I'd guess that-----Rhodes le Farrar---is the surname.


Colv.-

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

I'd guess that-----Rhodes le Farrar---is the surname.


Colv.-

That is the way I was thinking, except the 'Rhodes le' part never reappeared subsequently, just the Farrar part.

I'm still working on the predecessors of Henry so no clues there yet.

My thought was that perhaps the Rhodes part was a mothers name retained as part of the surname.

[Time Searcher]

In what context did this information (le Farrar) get published?
Can you provide the document Source?
I suspect that as it seems to have only appeared once, then a mis-transcription has occurred somewhere...

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Time Searcher

In what context did this information (le Farrar) get published?
Can you provide the document Source?
I suspect that as it seems to have only appeared once, then a mis-transcription has occurred somewhere...

It appeared in the census form, which I no longer have access to.

On the paternal side, someone in Arizona married to one of my grandfathers off springs, who apparently specialises in researching family trees, has done all the research going back to just before 1500. The one name she had missed off the list of GP's kids, was my father, the very last of the litter. I'm still waiting to hear back from her, as to where her hubby fits into the family - my guess is he is derived from one of GP's kids who emigrated.

Grandpa had 8 kids, his father 2 and his father 10. Its interesting to see the sheer mass of surnames in the mixing pot.

All of the mass of kids except one, seemed to survive to ripe old ages, where as I had the impression that they bred lots to overcome early mortality. Even more amazing, is how did they manage to work to earn their crust to support that many kids, how did they manage to cook and feed so many - no electric lights, no cookers and none of the rest of the modern things we take for granted and could not do without - amazing.

[oldcarguy]

In tracing my family tree I was intrigued by the use of the mothers maiden name as child's middle name. Maybe this is the case with yours.

[jackatesme]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

I've now progressed my fathers side back to 1800, but I was stumped on my mothers side, until now.

I've just managed my first step back in time on my mothers side - My maternal grandfather was called Henry Rhodes le Farrar.

Is that two Christian names - Henry Rhodes, or is the surname Rhodes/ Farrar please?

I have been led to believe that surnames represent place of birth or taken from the lord of the manor you worked for e.g. charles de gaulle,alfredo di stefano.My niece has progressed back to 1530 with my maternal line.My mothers maiden surname was MUTTON,we think it's french origin is DE MUTON.In my history knowledge William the conqueror gave parcels of land in England to his generals.So we believe our ancestors down in cornwall worked for general de muton.

[Freebyrd]

Originally Posted by jackatesme

I have been led to believe that surnames represent place of birth or taken from the lord of the manor you worked for e.g. charles de gaulle,alfredo di stefano.My niece has progressed back to 1530 with my maternal line.My mothers maiden surname was MUTTON,we think it's french origin is DE MUTON.In my history knowledge William the conqueror gave parcels of land in England to his generals.So we believe our ancestors down in cornwall worked for general de muton.

The problem with names is changes to spelling over time. As dialect changes so does pronunciation of names (modern Birmingham from the original Brimingaham is a good example).

Mutton: Recorded as Motton, Mouton, Mutton and Mitton, this is an Anglo-French surname, but with at least two distinct origins. Firstly, it may be of pre 10th century Old French origin, and an occupational name for a shepherd. The derivation being from the word "mouton", meaning sheep. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and only later became hereditary when a son followed his father into the same job or profession. The surname from this source first appears in the late 12th century with examples including: Robert Mouton of Leicestershire, in 1219, and William Moton of Sussex, in 1327. The second possible origin is Anglo-Saxon, and a locational name from residence at any of the various places named from the words "gemyth-tun", translating as the settlement (tun) at the junction of two streams. These places include: Little Mitton in Lancashire, recorded as "Little Mutton" in 1283; Upper and Lower Mitton, Worcestershire; Great Mitton, Yorkshire; and Myton in Warwickshire, Shropshire, and the North Riding of Yorkshire. Early recordings from this source include: William de Mutton of Staffordshire, in the year 1287, and Robert de Mutone of Somerset, in 1327). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Stephen Muton. This was dated 1195, in the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Richard 1st, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/mutton#ixzz3UXS8ETdI