Genealogy Chat

Does any one have any idea how I can find out whether ancestors can from Jewish stock, have got back to 1680 in the Liverpool area but there has been no evidence so far, only speculation, -

When you say you have got back to 1680 - how have you done that? What records did you use to research them to that date?

FreeBMD, Hot Maches, Census Returns

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http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Ledson

I came across this site that does not suggest a Jewish connection for the surname.

Is the speculation based on physical characteristics, or oral history? I see that the 90 or so 1851 English census individuals with the surname are mainly from Lancs with a few Cheshire and Yorkshire entries (although the Yorkshire ones may be a variant of Ledston, a place name).

The same website reviewed the history of the name Resun, and mentioned a marriage in London in the 1500s to a Ledson.

Would it be worth doing a dna test on a male relative's Y chromosome?

Thanks Ivy, it was physical characteristics both in
OH family and the family of a Hot Match contact. OH
attended an interview years ago, got the stage of being offer the job when interviewer asked of course tou are one of us aren't you - Jewish when he said no he didn't get the job. Iranian Jewish friend said it
was an old Jewish name and so I thought I would like to really find out if there was any truth in this
not that it matters, just out of interest.

I googled Ledson, and found this

Ledson Family Genealogy Forum 9 Jul 2000 ... Home: Surnames: Ledson Family Genealogy Forum. This forum serves all obvious variations. Ledson Family Genealogy Forum. Search this forum: ...
www.genforum.genealogy.com/ledson



sylvia

Thank you Sylvia, I will try that later


Ivy, why necessarily the Y chromosome, not well versed in Genes.?

- hi May,

that was when I wondered whether it was the surname that could have had the Jewish connection (surname generally following paternal line).

I know very little about dna tests. Someone recommended a book recently - I'll see if I can spot it.

Stephen, on this thread,

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1058408

said:

"Briefly:

Yes great success for paternal line Y-chromosome DNA - works well, good for men with the same surname (only men have a Y-chromosome - so it passes from father to son, like surname).

Not so much luck with mitochondrial DNA (from mother) because that seems to be more anthropological time scale - but might possibly help.

Autosomal DNA is so far too big a problem - but wait around a few decades and we'll see what happens - after the paper records are exhausted that will be the way to go.

There's plenty of good information to Google etc., and Chris Pomery's book "DNA and Family History" is good."

Hi Ivy, I did google the site you recommended also the one Sylvia recommended and have put a message on the Ledson forum for any further info. having given OH's direct line to 1680. Thank you both for your help, will let you know the result if any.