Did/Do Gipsy families keep the maternal surname?

[mc8]

here's another useful link which may save some time with census hunting
http://www.thegalloper.com/Family/fairgroundfamilies.htm

[poly1963]

Reference to the message above. The Galloper is very useful, some of my family called Stone were on there under Van People, my gg grandparents and their children.

I also remember many years ago reading a book by Gordon Sylvester Boswell, who wrote about his life on the road.  Really interesting and even mentions him going to Eastwood in Essex where my family ended up, and one of his siblings being buried in the family churchyard.

I believe his son has a Romany Museum in Lincolnshire visit the website below.

www.boswell-romany-museum.com

Jenny 

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Jenny and Mc8,
What a brilliant website that it is - I wonder how many people with Romany/Gipsy/Traveller ancestors realise that it exists...
Keith
When I used to go hop-picking in Kent in the 1960's there were usually a couple of  families of travellers working on each hop-machine; the names I remember were SMART and SIDDALL (not sure of spelling), and the SMITH's...
They gave the hopfields and campfires in the evening a wonderful injection of colour...
Keith

[casalguidi]

Research into my own family has shown that the female line was often the more dominant ie. men "marrying" into the family travelled and settled with the wife's parents and siblings.

The following is another interesting site - particularly for those whose Romany ancestors had Kentish connections:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/romany_roots/

Casalguidi

[Keith Sherwood]

Casalguidi,
When I started this thread I somehow imagined that someone must have enquired about this topic before, or at least that there might be a special section devoted to Gipsy family history.  I imagine you, more than anyone, would know if this is the case...
Do you think that there ought to be created such a slot on Rootschat, as the links produced by several people have been excellent ones, but might not be yet known to those wanting to research their Gipsy/Romany/Traveller ancestors on here. (Much more difficult of course, with the constant movement and migration)
Very best wishes,
keith

[liverpool annie]

Hi Keith!

Here is a fascinating site - I spent hours here! - when I was hoping my Coopers were gypsies - I was REALLY disappointed when they weren't!! it's still a wonderfully informative site ... !

http://www.geocities.com/~patrin/

Annie

Liverpool University has a great gypsy collection too!

[Keith Sherwood]

Annie,
This is excellent!  Thanks very much for that...
Keith

[rovert]

Hi, I have been chasing my Romany family for some time. I have found children with surnames of both parents.

Have you looked at this site; Romany and Traveller Family History Society @ http://www.rtfhs.org.uk/

Another good site is Passing Through @ http://www.passing-through.co.uk/

Good luck  Rovert

[rebekahm28]

My ancestor did, thank God because she never married her 'husband'.  Matilda Elliott Roberts, anyone?