unusual first name

[dennis dominator]

Well to me it is as i have never heard of it, it's my G.G.Granddad his first name was Jabez his surname was Plews now i know Plews to me sounds maybe French someone will tell me diffrent I'm sure but Jabez i have never heard of any one got any idea of it's origin.

Regards
Dennis Dominator.

[peckham]

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,73541.0/topicseen.html

I think Plews may be Welsh  - at least Gaelic - in origin.

Jabez on the other hand gets off to a bad start in the world:
Meaning: born or borne in pain
Origin: Hebrew

Jabez
Meaning: affliction

The name of a man and a place...

A descendant of Judah, of whom it is recorded that "God granted him that which he requested" after he called on Him. He was apparently an honorable head of a family in the tribe of Judah. He was given this name by his mother, "Because I bare him with sorrow." Jabez only appears in these two verses:

"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested" (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

There was even a prayer named after Jabez
http://www.solagroup.org/articles/christianliving/cl_0004.html

[J.J.]

Hi Dennis...
Just Google search... names Jabez .....
and you will get a large eyeful of info...
The name is used in the bible, apparently...
and also has hebrew origins, but I am
SURE there is more.

( p.s. one of my ancestors used "skingley" )

All the best, J.J.

[bobtanner16]

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/plews-family-crest.htm

[dennis dominator]

Thanks to all of you

Phew why call you Son Jabez and thanks bobtanner16 for the Plews crest link

Regards
Dennis Dominator

[peckham]

Re Houe of Names and other similar purveyors of "ancestral goods".

Has anyone reflected on how it is that whatever your last name is there is a family coat of arms for it.

Can it really be that in some bygone age everyone was a Chief and there were no Indians.

Perhaps at some point an Adam and Eve coat of arms will be added to the selection, which (theoretically at least) everyone qualifies for.

[dennis dominator]

I went on the house of names site and looked up my name [Clark] and i was amazed to see the family coat of arms was identical to the one in my parents home my Father bought a shield many years ago and it's the same coat of arms as the one on house of names.

The shield in my parents house is easily over 30 years old I'll ask my Father when next in touch when and where he bought it from