Genealogy Chat

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Some of you will recall that I had a mystery relative, called Octavian Gray, who appears 1851 census with his grandparents William & Mary Gray (my gt gt gt grandparents) in Langley, Norfolk. I got his birth cert today. His mother, Elizabeth, was a daughter of William and Mary. 1871 William and Mary have a granddaughter aged 11 staying with them. I couldn't find a baptism for this Mary when I looked in Norton Subcourse register at Norfolk Archives, but found one on the IGI for Mary b. 1859 bapt. 1864 mother Elizabeth Gray. My two questions are: a) why the late baptism and b) why Octavian has that very unusual name? Ideas welcome.

Just a snippet from googling: Origin and Meaning of the Name Octavio The boy's name Octavio is pronounced ahk-TAH-vee-oh. It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is 'eighth.' From Octavius, a Roman family clan name. Mexican poet Octavio Paz. Octavio has 8 variant forms: Octave, Octavius, >>>>>>Octavian<<<<<<, Octovien, Octavious, Octavo, Octavus and Ottavio. Octavio is a common male first name, ranking 786 out of 1219 for males of all ages in the 1990 U.S. Census. Octavio is a rare surname as it was not ranked for people of all ages in the 1990 U.S. Census.

Well, Octavian is definitely her first child and I am very curious about the name. EVERYONE else in the family is John, William, Robert, Samuel etc. Her daughter is Mary (there are tons of Mary Grays). Octavian had no middle name and no indication on birth cert of who father was. Intriguing! nell

hi nell i have a octavius in my family, he was my grandfather.

Morning Nell, just adding my theory! :)) that Octavian Royle was a Surgeon M.D. bit of a big-wig I reckon, he got married in 1950, (Times Online again!) Wereham is over near Downham Market way, perhaps he delivered him! :)) or Norfolk was very proud of him! :)) Great name!. Chris :) (completely daft am I!) where is Elizabeth in 41' and 51'?... Octavians Father James Royle was Curate and Parish Clerk, hmm. Elizabeth didn't go tip-toeing to Wereham way did she!, or Octavian vice versa! :))

Hallo Chris! You've got a suspicious mind! I dont' definitely know where Elizabeth was in 1841 or 1851, mystery girl. I do know that she married a widower 13 years older than herself and they lived in Yarmouth. He was called Thomas Baxter. nell ps Priscilla is very happy on my kitchen windowsill!!

1) she might have changed faiths,or had personal reasons for not doing it straight away-I have inconsistencies in the same fanmily- stayed in the same village,steady people,maybe decided to do a job lot !! 2)Was he born in the eigth month ?

Alter Ego Nice idea! He was born 28 April 1847. Perhaps she just liked the name, but it was much more fanciful than any one else in the family! nell

she was in labour for 8 hours......?....sorry getting desperate now :~((