Genealogy Chat

This is a name that crops up in my partner's family - Robinson. Has anyone heard of it or know what it comes from? I thought it a mis-transcription till I found it several times - 1881/91/1901 and also 1851. Hazel

Are you absolutely certain that it isn't Avice - a feminine name? or Avril? Otherwise - no, I haven't come across it, myself. Christine

Just spotted a name trasncribed in 1871 as Avils - but the ''l'' actually has a bottom stroke as well - I think it's an old first-of-double-S, so it's a form of Avice, but spelled Aviss. Christine

Yes positive - Avils ROBINSON b. 1879 Bradford - clear as a bell! Hazel

The earlier one is born 1840 in Bradford too (1841 Census, not 51) Hazel

I only found two when I put the name into Ancestry - and they both turned out to be Aviss - in one case with an old-fashioned double-S, where the first one had been interpreted as an L because they'd not realised that the tail was there. Christine Sorry - I've repeated myself - but after checking.

The 1879 Bradford one could go with this record: Name: Avies Robinson Year of Registration: 1878 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep District: Bradford County: Yorkshire - West Riding Volume: 9b Page: 241 Christine (Sorry if I'm annoying you - but I doubt you'd have raised the matter if you had really had no doubt at all?)

Have seen only one person b Bradford c 1879, surname Robinson and whose name looks at all like that - dtr of Elizabeth. The name seems to be Avies (another variant to go with Avice/Aviss - and probably that birth registration). Christine

Hi Christine Certainly sounds like it could be her - but 81/91/01 definitely LOOK like Avils - as does 1851. Don't you agree? I, too thought it had to be Avril or Avice but became persuaded otherwise! I must admit I haevn't been into Birth Certs. yet!! Yes she is is daughter of Elizabeth. Hazel

There's one in 1840, dtr of Thomas and Mary, who's also transcribed (justifiably) on Ancestry as Avies. She's transcribed a ''Anies'' in 1851 - but it's obviously Avies. Christine

Hazel, You need to find the corresponding BMD on FreeBMD. Remember the census images are a transcription of the household schedules filled in by either someone in the household or the enumerator. Plenty of room for errors. After all this they are transcribed yet again by Ancestry. Rose

I think this is her marriage (and I do agree that if you hadn't known or thought of the name Avice and its variants, Avils is a possible interpretation) Name: Avies Robinson Year of Registration: 1859 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun District: Bradford County: Yorkshire - West Riding Volume: 9b Page: 22 she ought to have husband Samuel Wilman (judging by 1861), but there's a name missing. Christine UPDATE - he's there when you look at the images Bradford 9b-22 1859 Jun qtr

Christine! Well done!! I had transcribed Thomas P(eace) Robinson on 1851 but forgotten to save the image!! Looking back through all the images I see that you must be right and that it is indeed Avies and not Avils - I'm so glad GR exists because one often needs 'kicking' out of a sort of 'acceptance' rut!! You know, sort of accepting what you thought you saw the first time, and making all else 'fit in' with it. Thanks again! Hazel

Thanks again Christine and Portland Rose - missed the replies while I was typing!! Will certainly chase up the Marriage! Hazel

It's very easy to start from a theory and make things fit. i've almostcertainly done it myself - I just have to hope I haven't hung anything too critical on the errors! And, yes, GR does help with that sort of thing - a fresh pair of eyes, or two - or three - or... Christine

Googling found mention of it as a man's name but the author thought from another source it was Avila (still a man's name). The 1881 shows one family with that surname (Avils) - I was wondering if it had been given as a first name, but not very likely it seems! On the other hand there seem to be several AVILA families. Not very helpful, but interesting! Jan

Hi Jan (are we related'!) I had been content with Avils for a while without asking myself too many questions - it was someone asking about 'Elic' that prompted me to ask for help - I now have a Marriage and a new family to chase!! Family Research is too fascinating, isn't it??!!! Hazel

There's a place called Avila in ?Italy - where a St Teresa came from. Christine