RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Sussex => England => Sussex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: geneivas on Monday 11 April 11 06:44 BST (UK)
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Looking for the ancestors and descendants of William Welcome, born mid 1700's, originally from France. Changed his name to Welcome.
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According to those who have their family interests quoted on Genes Reunited, the first Franco / English William Welcome lived in Hunston, a village near Chichester, in 1753. Roy G
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Yes, this is the right family. Do you know his French name he was born to, before changing it to Welcome. Are you related.
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Not related, just an avid Rootschatter.
Two schools of thought on the origins of the name, one says French Hugenot stonemasons who literally translated their surname of Bienvenu, the other says they are from Devonshire. My suggestion is that you visit the website below where I found that discussion.
http://boards.ancestry.com.au/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=31&p=surnames.wellcome
Most on that site believe that the name was derived from "Willcomb" not "Welcome" and came from Devonshire via a captain Michael Willcomb.
If French stonemasons though, you might like to check their years of arrival against any major refurbishment work at Chichester Cathedral.
You should also try contacting 8 people on Genes Reunited that have William of Hunston b 1753 in their family tree. Roy G