Alfra / Alfrey forename

[artifis]

Has anyone come across this forename before, it's a new one on me.

Alfrey Heathfield m Samuel Harmer on 19 Aug 1794 at Salehurst, their four children were all baptised there with the mother's name as Alfra which was again used at her burial in 1801.

Samuel married again at Salehurst and his third child with his new bride was named Alfrey on his baptism in 1811.

It seems this is a name that can be used for either sex unless I'm missing something or there was a spelling error at the time.

I did come across another Alfra in the burials at Salehurst late 1790s.

[jonw65]

There's also Alfra Heathfield, baptized Salehurst, 27 August 1797. Daughter of William + Mary.
William Heathfield married Mary French, 1 June 1796, Salehurst. Witnessed by Samuel Harmer, and John Heathfield
John Heathfield witnessed a lot of marriages in Salehurst, including Samuel Harmer's to Alfrey Heathfield. She signed the register as Alfra

Were William and Alfra Heathfield brother and sister?
There were certainly people in Sussex with the surname Alfrey, and variations.
So my first thought was a family surname used as a christian name. Is Alfra a variation of Alfrey though? You may have to try and dig deeper into the antecedents of the Heathfields.
John

[artifis]

Thanks jonw65, the surname used as a forename is certainly something to look into, hadn't thought of that.

I'll certainly look into the Heathfields again.

[JohninSussex]

There is an American actress Alfre Woodward or Woodard.  Although it may not have been her birth name, it must have come from somewhere.

[jonw65]

There might be a way back...
John Heathfield married Olive Hiens(!) in Salehurst, 3 April 1766
He signed, he could be the man witnessing all those marriages there later.
Olive marked (perhaps not surprising)

Three baptisms to John + Olive are indexed on FamilySearch
Edward Heathfield 1767
John Heathfield, 1769
Wiliam Heathfield, 1771

They say they were baptized at Rye, but I had a look and couldn't find them there.
Edward was actually baptized at Salehurst in October 1767 (from BT)
But so far I haven't found any baptisms for the period among the Salehurst parish registers on Family Search. And the BT's are in a state! So, admittedly from a quickish look,  I can't verify that the other two were at Salehurst and see if they also had a daughter.

Burials at Salehurst include
William Heathfield, 10 July 1819, age 48
Edward Heathfield, 8 April 1836, age 68
Just right!
And that could be the William Heathfield who married Mary French in 1796 (witnessed by his brother in law?, and John Heathfield) and had the daughter Alfra.

There is this marriage at Etchingham, close to Salehurst
22 April 1727
Edward Heathfield + Afra Benden
PR is here if logged in
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRZH-7NR?i=140&cat=215354

Did Edward and Afra have a son John? That would be good!
And is Afra the source of your Alfra name?
John

EDIT - Edward and Afra may have been in Ashburnham, there is an Edward Heathfield buried there in 1766, and Alfra in 1782.

[artifis]

Thanks both, much to think on and follow up.