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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 13 August 14 17:48 BST (UK)

Title: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 13 August 14 17:48 BST (UK)
An ancestor of mine was christened Amy Jane when born in Kent in 1865. On the 1871 & 1881 censuses she is shown as Amy.

When she marries in 1891, she is shown as 'Annans Jane', and on the 1911 census her husband has written her name as 'Annans'.

I've never heard of it before (is it some sort of nickname?) - has anyone else come across it?
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: 777777 on Wednesday 13 August 14 18:14 BST (UK)
An ancestor of mine was christened Amy Jane when born in Kent in 1865. On the 1871 & 1881 censuses she is shown as Amy.

When she marries in 1891, she is shown as 'Annans Jane', and on the 1911 census her husband has written her name as 'Annans'.

I've never heard of it before (is it some sort of nickname?) - has anyone else come across it?

Maybe she is related to Kofi Annan?  ;)
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: Spidermonkey on Wednesday 13 August 14 18:16 BST (UK)
I teach an Annan (boy)  - I believe the name is Welsh  :-\
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 13 August 14 18:32 BST (UK)

Maybe she is related to Kofi Annan?  ;)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: Jaxyfone on Wednesday 13 August 14 19:37 BST (UK)
Are there any links with the West Indies? I'm thinking of Anansi, the spider character in West Indian children's stories.

Seems like modern parents aren't the only ones to give their unfortunate offspring some awkward names. I have an Alvila in my tree.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 13 August 14 20:13 BST (UK)
Is this Mrs Beech? Looking at the census entries (particularly the most recent available) I am convinced that the name is Annaus, not Annans.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 13 August 14 20:33 BST (UK)
Deaths Dec 1953   
BEECH    Annaus J    84    Tonbridge    5b   813
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 13 August 14 20:58 BST (UK)
Is this Mrs Beech? Looking at the census entries (particularly the most recent available) I am convinced that the name is Annaus, not Annans.

I agree that she is Annaus in 1911.
This person is also Annaus in 1901.
Annans Jane (which appears on the GRO Index) is quite possibly a mistranscription of Annaus.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 13 August 14 21:07 BST (UK)
Is this Mrs Beech? Looking at the census entries (particularly the most recent available) I am convinced that the name is Annaus, not Annans.

You're quite right, it is. On the 1911 census Ancestry have transcribed it as 'Annaus' (I find it difficult to say which is correct by the handwriting by her husband when looking at the actual image), and JenB is also correct in that the GRO index image for the marriage (typewritten) definitely shows 'Annans', but this could be a mistranscription.

Thanks for the death record info giggsycat - that is obviously her, which leads me to the conclusion that it should be 'Annaus' - but 'Annans' or 'Annaus', either is very unusual not something I've come across before.

No luck when I Google it, either!
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: stanmapstone on Wednesday 13 August 14 21:44 BST (UK)
In the 1881 Census there is an Annaus Smith Walloc, second mate of the "Halvard" in Hartlepool
RG11; Piece: 4912; Folio: 92; Page: -8

Stan
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: John915 on Wednesday 13 August 14 22:41 BST (UK)
Good evening,

I have had a search of girls names in German, Dutch and Belgian but Annaus doesn't appear in any of them. It sort of sounds Germanic or Dutch but not there.

John915
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: fastfusion on Wednesday 13 August 14 23:43 BST (UK)
Firstly> Annan is a surname found in Wiltshire .

Secondly> if u ever have problems generalising with a surname .....shove it in freebmduk and have looksee what registration district pops up most frequently

have fun :)
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: Barbara.H on Thursday 14 August 14 00:00 BST (UK)
Might it be a variant of the French name Anais?

 :) Barbara
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: ShaunJ on Thursday 14 August 14 08:31 BST (UK)
There are a quite a few females named Annis or Annas in the censuses. I think this is just a variant spelling.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: Galium on Thursday 14 August 14 08:44 BST (UK)
Annis is a variant of Agnes.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: joboy on Thursday 14 August 14 09:46 BST (UK)


I've never heard of it before (is it some sort of nickname?) - has anyone else come across it?
[/quote]

Maybe she is related to Kofi Annan?  ;)
[/quote]
Caffe'Noir perhaps?
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Friday 15 August 14 00:34 BST (UK)
In the 1881 Census there is an Annaus Smith Walloc, second mate of the "Halvard" in Hartlepool
RG11; Piece: 4912; Folio: 92; Page: -8

Stan

Well, at least there's another one!

Thanks for all your interesting thoughts and suggestions.  It remains a bit of a mystery in terms of how/why my ancestor called herself this after being christened (and known as) Amy.
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mare on Friday 15 August 14 02:44 BST (UK)
Similar thoughts as others, I thought Anais ( French ) though she could have used Ami or Amie or alternatives  :)
As Galium said, Annis is variant of Agnes

'My book' gives Annus, Annis, Annice, Annes, Anise, Anis, Anesse as variations of Anice ( English ) an alternate form of Agnes

also Annus a variation of Anci (Hungarian ) a form of Hannah
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 15 August 14 09:20 BST (UK)
Annaus is a boys name in Germany and Scandinavia - is there any connection with northern Europe?
Title: Re: Never heard of this name before
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Friday 15 August 14 17:30 BST (UK)
Annaus is a boys name in Germany and Scandinavia - is there any connection with northern Europe?

Not that I'm aware of, Shaun.  And I can't (so far) find any sort of link with some of the other suggestions made.  As far as I know, that side of my father's family were all Kent-born and mostly ag labs.