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Author Topic: 'Neighbour' as a first name  (Read 3330 times)

Offline miss marple

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'Neighbour' as a first name
« on: Monday 26 March 07 12:07 BST (UK) »
Hello all

One of my family connections has the unusual first name of Neighbour. I have no idea of the origins of this name (biblical, perhaps?) but I have noticed almost all "Neighbours" in the censuses come from Gloucestershire, particularly the Bishop's Cleeve area. Intriguing!  Can anyone explain it?

Jane

Offline avm228

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Re: 'Neighbour' as a first name
« Reply #1 on: Monday 26 March 07 12:12 BST (UK) »
I would think it's likely to have originated by the use of the surname Neighbour as a given name - in honour of a mother's maiden name for example.  If it's as localised as you say then perhaps it became a tradition in a particular extended family (?)

Anna
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline Garethboxing

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Re: 'Neighbour' as a first name
« Reply #2 on: Monday 26 March 07 12:30 BST (UK) »
I came across it back in the 1950s, spelt Naber.
  I played cricket against a team from Raglan, Monmouthshire, and their ground was on farmland owned by this man. At first I thought it was a quaint rural custom when everybody greeted him as 'Neighbour', but then I discovered the truth  :D

   Gareth
Scott, Dowdeswell (Merthyr Tydfil), Jones (Loughor and Merthyr Vale), Roberts (Nelson), Prichard (Collenna and Cefn Fforest); Evan Roberts (Corwen and Amlwch); Scott (Pentre); Scott (Ancrum); Thomas (Pantywaun and Bedlinog); Morgan Jones (Ystradfellte); Bowen (Loughor); Jenkins (Bridgend); Thomas Dowdeswell (b. Gloucester, 1829).

Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline miss marple

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Re: 'Neighbour' as a first name
« Reply #3 on: Monday 26 March 07 13:21 BST (UK) »
Having not enough to do with my time, some would say, I did a quick poll from the censuses.

1841: out of 17 Neighbours, all were in Gloucestershire, and all but one born there

1851: out of 17 Neighbours, 15 were in Gloucestershire, 1 in Worcestershire, 1 in Surrey

1861: out of 23 Neighbours, 17 were in Gloucestershire, 1 in Staffordshire but born in Gloucestershire, 2 in Worcestershire, 1 in Herefordshire, 1 in Surrey, 1 in Sussex

1871: out of 21 Neighbours, 15 were in Gloucestershire, 4 in Worcestershire (2 of those being born in Gloucestershire), 1 in Berkshire but born in Gloucestershire, 1 in Kent

1881: out of 32 Neighbours, 19 were in Gloucestershire, 4 in Worcestershire (1 of those born in Gloucestershire), 2 in Herefordshire, 1 in Durham but born in Gloucestershire, 1 in Berkshire but born in Gloucestershire, 1 in Surrey but born in Worcestershire, 1 in Middlesex but born in Gloucestershire, 1 in Devon, 1 in Durham, 1 in Kent

1891: out of 9 Neighbours, 4 were in Gloucestershire, 4 in Worcestershire (2 of those born in Gloucestershire), 1 in Surrey

1901: out of 15 Neighbours, 9 were in Gloucestershire, 1 in Worcestershire, 1 in Herefordshire, 1 in London but born in Herefordshire, 1 in Durham, 1 in Kent, 1 in Middlesex.

So it seems if a Neighbour didn't live in Gloucestershire, he was probably born there or was from neighbouring (excuse the pun) counties Herefordshire or Worcestershire. Funnily enough the surname Neighbour was quite rare in Gloucestershire according to the censuses. Strange. ???

As for variations like Nabor – no, I really can't get started on that....must do some work.... ;)
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