Interesting traveller names!

[rebekahm28]

Ive not come across the name in any Romany family, but it may be an old bible name?  In the book Carrie's War by Nina Bawden, a character is named Hepzibah.

[sheena58]

Hepzibah is a bible name. A few of my very religious but definitely non travelling extended family used Hepzibah in the mid-late 19th century. The side of my family that were travellers had fairly standard names, several Keziahs and Mercys but there was an Emery and a Fountain, both girls. Not names I've come accross before but don't know that there's anything particularly linking them to travellers or whether they just liked the sound of them.

Sheena

[jaytoot]

had to post this name I came across the other day.

Strange but true!!!

SPORTSELLER D Taylor.

She is a 10 year old sister of Obidiah D Taylor.
Parents were John and Charlotte Taylor.

A very strange name or was it just a misunderstanding by the enumerator?

In 1901 Obadiah has now taken the name Draper and is with his wife and a son with another odd name either Shedine or Fhedine???
Might be Theodore - i found a baptism in Malling in Kent for a Feodore Diaper 2nd May 1899 with the right parents

Jim

[CitizenSmith]

Hi Jim

Thanks for posting this about Sportsellar. She belongs to my family!

I'm sure the spelling is accurate as she named one of her own daughters Sportcellar (shortened to Sportie) too who only died within the past few years and all the family know/knew her as that. I've met the daughter of Theodore/Feodore Diaper who is now in her 80s and she's given me all the family info, including a photo of Sportie the younger and some of Obidiah.

Obidiah and Sportsellar were raised by their maternal grandparents: these are the John Taylor and Charlotte you found in the census, mis-recorded as their parents. Their father was in fact a Spencer Diaper and their mother Alice Taylor. So the children went by both names, Taylor and Diaper.

I'd love to have the full details of the baptism of Feodore Diaper that you found in Malling. His daughter would be thrilled to see it.

I have lots of evidence that the family travelled down regularly from Suffolk to Kent, presumably for the hop-picking.

Many thanks in advance.

Best wishes
Sharon

[Ian2904]

I have an Ocean in my past.

I have done a bit of further digging, and it was not an uncommon name in the 19th Century.  Girls who were born at sea (because of the long voyages around the Empire) were often called Ocean.

Quite why the mainly landlocked Romanies used the name is another question though!

[jaytoot]

Hi Sharron,

I thought you might pick up on this as there is a Draper!!

The Baptism is on the west malling resource centre, they have kindly transcribed and there are a number of search options. If you search on Knife grinder under the TRADE tab it will take you straight to it.

http://www.west-malling.co.uk/V2/baptisms.php5

Now the 100 dollar question - why did they name her Sportseller?

regards,

Jim

[CitizenSmith]

Hi Jim

Many thanks. What a great site! Lots of interesting finds if you do a search by occupation, as you say.

Best wishes
Sharon

[sheena58]

I have an Ocean in my past.

I have done a bit of further digging, and it was not an uncommon name in the 19th Century.  Girls who were born at sea (because of the long voyages around the Empire) were often called Ocean.

Quite why the mainly landlocked Romanies used the name is another question though!

Interesting to see this as I was dealing with a travelling family at work yesterday and one of the children was called Ocean so it sounds as though it is still in use!

[Clare smith]

No Sorry my Vanslow was a Smith born in 1897 in Mitcham, Surrey, it is a very unusual name and I have one old aunt still alive that remembers him and the strange name.  Sorry I couldnt help but good luck with your search.

Chellin

Hi Im trying to find my dad, Vanslow Smith. All his family come from the Mitcham area.
It sounds like your Vanslow could be the person he was named after.They all come fro the mitcham area and we have travellers in the family line. I wonder if you could be kind enough to contact me if you have any news that could help me, either with details for him, or anyone else in the family that may be able to lead me to him. I am trying to find him and my brother would like to get in touch again too, to tell him about updates in the family he is unlikey to know about. I would really like to find my dad, its been too long, so any info you have however small, would be really appreciated. Thanks

Moderator's Note: recent details removed per Rootschat policy of not posting details of living, or possibly living, people and email addresses. If anyone can help Clare with information please do so ONLY by PM (personal message) after she has 3 posts. Thank you