Ayres family location in 18th century

[Redroger]

During the 19th century my Ayres ancestors were widespread in the Bottisham/Lode area of Cambridgeshire. During the late 18th century they are absent apart from one family unit. Does anyone know where they were living during this time. I am told the Ayres surname is of gypsy origin so Iwonder if they were in fact travelling around during this period. Thanks.

[bedfordshire boy]

Or do all of the 19th century Ayres derive from the one 18th century family unit? Or, as happened with some Beds Ayres I worked on, are there name variations such as Hare?

The only way to go is to trace the 19th century names back to where you get a blockage, and then to ask for help with specific names and events if you can't proceed further

David

[Redroger]

Thanks for the tip David, I have a plan of that time under development and expect to make some postings fairly soon.

[tobin]

hi
my grandmothers maiden name was ayres,her father was a alfred ayres he was born in whittlesey cambs,but since starting my tree ive found that the line of ayres he descends from come from the huntingdon area.mainly wennington,gt raveley and broughton.

id love to know if there is truth in the name having gypsey origin,thats the first i have heard of that,my ayres were mainly ag labs apart from my gt grandfather he worked with horses.

regards patsy

[Redroger]

Tobin, I believe that the Ayres gypsy origins are pretty definite, apparently they were fairground people, there is at least one researcher on the surnames listing who is specifically looking for this Ayres family. Like yours mine were mainly ag labs, and settled in the Bottisham/Lode vicinity for many years, with apparent associations in surrounding villages. The surname does seem to be spread widely across the UK, which I think might be a possible pointer to its gypsy origin.

[tobin]

thankyou for that info thats something i will have a look into 

[bedfordshire boy]

The surname does seem to be spread widely across the UK, which I think might be a possible pointer to its gypsy origin.

This is a non sequitur! My surname is Cooper which is widely spread across the UK. It has no gypsy origins.

[Redroger]

Possibly, but gypsy origins would or could help a surname become widespread!

[DeMaille]

I have an Ayres in my family tree and I am probably distantly related to all Bottisham/Lode Ayreses, including those who were head gardeners at Anglesey Abbey.  I have never come across any suggestion before that the Ayres were Gypsies and I have done quite extensive research at Cambridge Records Office. The Ayres family were certainly well settled in Bottisham by the mid 1700s.  The name Stubbings Ayres continued through into the 1800s, where I seem to remember that one Stubbings Ayres was fined for having faulty weights in his shop (even though the census gives him as an Ag lab).  I recall that a Stubbings Ayres was also a stalwart of the Lode Chapel.  The censuses also show numerous Ayres as born and/or living in Lode throughout the 1800s. In fact one of my grandmother's sisters (born Lode) married another Ayres from Lode!  Could I ask what your resources for the Gypsy connection are?  Most of my family names are scattered throughout England, so I don't think that is a pointer. Here is my Ayres connection:
   
Child of WILLIAM WEBB and ANN RICHARDSON is:
   i.   SUSAN3 WEBB.
2.  SUSAN3 WEBB (WILLIAM2, JOHN1)  married JOHN AYRES 21 Jun 1791, son of STUBBINGS AYRES and HANNAH PRAT. 

   Child of SUSAN WEBB and JOHN AYRES is:
3.   i.   ANN4 AYRES, b. 03 Jan 1796.


Generation No. 3

3.  ANN4 AYRES (SUSAN3 WEBB, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 03 Jan 1796.  She married PHILIP CORNWELL, son of WILLIAM CORNWELL and ANNE ARBER.  He was born 1798.

   
Children of ANN AYRES and PHILIP CORNWELL are:
   i.   EMMA5 CORNWELL, b. 30 Mar 1828; m. RICHARD RAYMENT, 25 Dec 1844, Bottisham England; b. 1831.

   ii.   LEVI CORNWELL, b. 30 Mar 1828; m. SARAH PETTIT, 21 Mar 1857, Bottisham England; b. 1836.

4.   iii.   WILLIAM CORNWELL, b. 29 Sep 1829, Bottisham  England.
   iv.   CHARLES CORNWELL, b. 15 May 1832; m. (1) ELIZABETH AYRES, 1855; m. (2) EMMA HANCOCK, 30 Oct 1857, Bottisham England; b. 1836.

   v.   ELIJAH CORNWELL, b. 14 Nov 1834.
   vi.   ELLIS CORNWELL, b. 08 Jan 1837.
   vii.   URIAH CORNWELL, b. 1842.
                viii.   ZILLAH CORNWELL, b. 1843.
   ix.   JOHN CORNWELL, b. 1847.

I descend from William Cornwell.