Author Topic: 18th century surnames beginning "ff"  (Read 5347 times)

Online ShaunJ

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18th century surnames beginning "ff"
« on: Tuesday 28 November 06 11:41 GMT (UK) »
Just been reading two Wills left by Joseph Wingod ( a pewtermaker who died in 1778) in which he mentions his daughter Jane ffane and her husband Stephen ffane, and their son James ffane.

There don't seem to be any ffanes in the 19th century census or GRO records (there's only one in the IGI and none in BVRI) and I'm wondering what conventions might be at work here. Did the ffanes all become Fanes at some point?





UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Koromo

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Re: 18th century surnames beginning "ff"
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 28 November 06 12:22 GMT (UK) »

Hi

Yes, the two ffs like that signify a capital F.

I have just transcribed a 1723 will where the testator asked to be buried near the ffont stone in the church, and he had good ffriends and he left various people ffive pounds.

:)
Cheers
Koromo
Census information is Crown copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
____________________________________________________________

Lewis: Llanfair Kilgeddin | Abergavenny | NZ
Stallworthy: Bucks. | Samoa | NZ
Brothers: Nottingham | NZ
Darling: Dunbar | Tahiti
Keat: St Minver | NZ
Bowles: Deal | NZ
Coaney: Bucks.
Jones: Brecon

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: 18th century surnames beginning "ff"
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 28 November 06 12:47 GMT (UK) »
Apparently the ff at the front of some names originated as an old medieval manuscript habit.
Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: 18th century surnames beginning "ff"
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 28 November 06 12:56 GMT (UK) »
From Fowler's "Modern English Usage";
In old manuscripts the capital F was sometimes written ff. This is the origin of the curious speling of some English surnames....... The distinction of possessing such a name is naturally prized."
Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Online ShaunJ

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Re: 18th century surnames beginning "ff"
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 28 November 06 13:14 GMT (UK) »
Koromo and Stan,

Thanks to you both for clarifying the ff convention. Armed with this knowledge I have now traced Stephen Fane's will at the NA.
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk