Alias Wales

[bosretd]

Hi,

Can anyone shed light on the practice of attaching the term "alias Wales" to some surnames particularly prior to early 1700's?

I have traced the Ashton family in Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire to a James Ashton to whom was applied this add-on in the baptism registers of his children, his burial register 1692 and in his Will.

The only reference that I can find is a suggestion that it is "ap Wales" denoting that the family originated from Wales.

Grateful to anyone who can help.

Brian

[Alexander.]

Hi Brian,

It probably has nothing to do with the country Wales.

An alias usually indicates only that someone was known by two names - therefore James Ashton alias Wales was sometimes known as James Ashton and at some other time known as James Wales.

There were many reasons why people took aliases, for example illegitimacy, inheritance, adoption or remarriage of a parent.

Alexander

[Wiggy]

Lots of convicts adopted aliases too!

Wiggy   

[KGarrad]

Have a look at this article:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~staustell/Word_Doc/Life/Aliases.htm

While it refers mainly to the practice in Devon and Cornwall, the points made are valid for other parts, too!

[bosretd]

Thanks for the responses. The Devon/Cornwall article is well worth reading.

Brian