Genealogy Chat

Looks like Ophamah or Ephamah. Were they an English family do you know?

I need some help deciphering a christian name in the birth records. The surname is Moy, 1856 Dec Qtr, District Walsingham, its the 4th name down. Thankyou. Carole xx

Hi Kathleen Yes they were english. Ive found this person in the census but really struggled to find a birth for him, then I found this entry which is the correct time and place but I cant make the name out! Carole xx

I used the magnify button and compared the letters to other names where the letters were obvious. Try googling the possible names to see if anything comes up. kathleen

I really want it to say Zachariah as that was his name, Ive trawled all the records 5 years either side of 1857, and this is the only possible. In 61 he is 4 and 71 he is 14. Then he completely disappears, cant find him in any census after that, also cant find a death or marriage for him. If I had his birth cert it might say if he had any other names then I could look again. Carole xx

I think it is supposed to be this: EUPHEMIA Gender: Feminine Usage: Ancient Greek, English Pronounced: yoo-FEM-ee-a (English) Means 'to speak well', derived from Greek 'good' and & (phemi) 'to speak'. Saint Euphemia was an early martyr who was burnt at the stake. Cheers, Horatia

I think the name reads bethannah. It isnt zachariah. Linda

It looks more like Ephaniah to me but as far as I know, the name doesn't exist (Zephaniah does but it's not that). It can't be Euphemia if we're looking for a male. My ggg grandmother was called that btw. Uphaniah and Ophaniah also exist but again, as a woman's name. Jack

Hi Carole, You say you have found this person in the census - what does the name look like on there? How does anyone know the sex of a name on the BMD index? Remember John Wayne was called Marion and Big Daddy was really Shirley Crabtree! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

The first letter of the name does not look like an E to me. Look at E in the name Ellen underneath, they are nothing like the same.

I think the ink has faded and all the writing isn't there! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and ideas. Horatio, in 61 census he is Zacarhias and 71 Zachariah. I cant find any birth for a Zachariah Moy anywhere. According to the census he would have been born 1856/57. This is the only entry I can find that may be him. I think the first letter is partly missing but it does look like an H on the end! Carole xx

If you look the the first names follow in alphabetical order as well so you have Arthur, Charles and then Hannah - so it's unlikely to be Ephermah also underneath is is an Ellen Moyee and the E looks rather different to the one on your name