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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ross & Cromarty => Topic started by: cnr479 on Thursday 07 February 13 15:57 GMT (UK)

Title: 1820's OPR Scotland birth states 2 names for father!?
Post by: cnr479 on Thursday 07 February 13 15:57 GMT (UK)
I have been researching my Family history on & off for 15 years & have come across curious entries in the Logie Easter Birth Registers;
I have 3 children born in 1826,1833 & 1836.  I have obtained copies of the registers & all 3 state the Father's name as William Ross or Seir / William Ross alias Seir; the Mother's name is given as Isobel Ross on all of them.  A further 3 children born 1823,1821 & 1829 simply have the Father as William Ross.  The occupation of Father, across all six baptisms is Tailor, Balchraggan, so I think I have one Family.   I can find a William Ross being baptised, right time, right place & interestingly, there is a William Ross marrying an Isobel Seir right time, right place! 
Does anyone know why the Father would have 2 surnames?? & any ideas on which I start with??
Many, many thanks
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: ev on Thursday 07 February 13 16:28 GMT (UK)
Hi , welcome to Rootschat  :)

I have moved your post to the Ross & Cromarty board.

ev
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: cnr479 on Thursday 07 February 13 16:56 GMT (UK)
SORRY :(
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: GR2 on Thursday 07 February 13 17:05 GMT (UK)
If he was still alive in 1855, you should be able to find his death certificate which will give his parents' names. It is possible that he was born to a mother called Seir who subsequently married a Ross, or vice versa. If he was born out of wedlock, the kirk session may have investigated it and their minutes could supply further details. Perhaps he was born to a family of one name and brought up by a family of the other.
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: Chortlegirl on Thursday 07 February 13 17:54 GMT (UK)
I'm probably just going to confuse things further ....

I've got ancestors from Gairloch parish in Wester Ross whose surnames appeared as "Campbell or McIver" in OPRs and statutory records in the early/mid 19th century. I thought it was odd that the family concerned didn't seem to know what their surname was! However I later discovered that the Campbells from the Gairloch area apparently used the surname McIver to distinguish themselves from other Campbells in other areas of the country.

Just a thought!
Lynn
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: cnr479 on Thursday 07 February 13 21:32 GMT (UK)
Thanks both for the help - I have no reason to think he was born out of wedlock, I can find a birth for a William Ross, just not sure why the Seir is noted.  He died before 1841 & the parish records for deaths for the area are no more.
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: cnr479 on Thursday 07 February 13 21:34 GMT (UK)
Hi, Chortlegirl
Yours is the best solution so far - it would make sense, Ross in Ross & Cromerty is every other name.  Just not sure how I can check the theory out.  Many thanks for the help!
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: djct59 on Thursday 07 February 13 22:04 GMT (UK)
There was a Loch Seir near Brucefield, by Portmahomack, in Ross and Cromarty. Perhaps your ancestor's family were from there?
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: ghostwhisperer on Thursday 07 February 13 22:05 GMT (UK)
Stone in Logie Easter Burial Ground

60. Erected by Duncan Ross Ballachraggan in memory of his beloved wife Jessie Paris who died 24th August 1898 aged 62 years and her daughter Isabella who died 24th August 1888 aged 24 years. Also the said Duncan Ross who departed this life on the 13th March 1921 at Ballachraggan Kildary in his 93rd year. And his father William Ross Ballachraggan who died 10th May 1868 aged 93 years and his mother Isabella Ross who died 12th August 1889 aged 85 years also their Grand-Daughter Janet Ross who died on the 6th July 1933 at Richmond House Strathpeffer. And his wife’s sister Annie Paris who died 10th April 1892 age 67 years.
Title: Re: 1820's OPR SCOTLAND BIRTH STATES 2 SURNAMES FOR FATHER!?
Post by: Skoosh on Thursday 07 February 13 23:12 GMT (UK)
In the Seaboard Villages to the east of Logie Easter, the people all had Gaelic family by-names as there were only half a dozen names. This could be the same as there are more Rosses there than you could shake a stick at.

Skoosh.
Title: Re: 1820's OPR Scotland birth states 2 names for father!?
Post by: cnr479 on Saturday 09 February 13 06:24 GMT (UK)
Thanks to djct59
Your info about Loch Seir is really helpful - hopefully I can find a birth near Brucefield. Many thanks for taking the time to reply

Thanks to ghostwhisperer
The MI from Logie Easter helps rule out one William Ross - as he had a son Duncan; Mine had only one son - a David.  Thank you so much for the MI information - another piece of a huge Ross puzzle!

Thanks to Skoosh - the Gaelic name + surname makes perfect sense.  Thank you for the help
Title: Re: 1820's OPR Scotland birth states 2 names for father!?
Post by: Skoosh on Saturday 09 February 13 09:59 GMT (UK)
cnr,  I have some problematic Ross's myself in that neck of the woods, but spoiled for choice. A couple of sites here,

http://www.fearnpeninsula.org.uk/

http://www.tainmuseum.org.uk/

Bests,

Skoosh.
Title: Re: 1820's OPR Scotland birth states 2 names for father!?
Post by: cnr479 on Saturday 09 February 13 18:34 GMT (UK)
If I can help look for anything, shout - another pair of eyes & all that!!  I'll have a look at the links when I am not quite so tired!  Many thanks for the help, much appreciated.