Hi,
My great grandmother was born Webb, when I was a small child she always referred to herself as a gypsy, and other old family members said that once her father had married a settled woman neither his nor her family wanted to know them.
Now that I've found her parents marriage certificate, I see her grandfathers address listed as a heath in Wheathampsted, which I think confirms the family story. I was hoping somebody might be able to tell me if the Webbs were Roma origin or Irish traveller? That great grandmother was my English grandmothers mother, and the rest of my family are Irish.
I show up as no English blood in my DNA results, so I would be very interested to know the history of the Webbs of that part of the country.
Thanks
The Webb's are of Roma origin, there are Romany Webb's all over the south of England. Many of them from Kent, Cambridgeshire and Gloucestershire/Hampshire.
Webb is also a common surname outside of the gypsy and traveller community, which can make it difficult.
Not all Roma families lived in caravans or tents, some Roma lived in houses and stayed in one place, contrary to popular belief.
The best way to determine if your Webb ancestors were from the gypsy community is to trace the family back through the generations and look at who they married etc.
