Surname Nofsiter

[bearkat]

There was a Benjamin NOSSITER born in 1843 Stepney.

[Mumsie2131]

No I don't have access either but I did a quick look at the counties where there were examples of the name and Lancashire has the most - 37 so perhaps it is worth putting it on the Lancashire board (I have always found the Lancastrians very helpful), Dorset is next with 6, then Warwickshire with with 3 other than that they are 1s and 2's.
I was just very surprised that there were so many examples of the name.

[Rena]

 Thanks for replies. It is definitely Nofsiter. I checked the handwriting on the certificate, so I know that it is an "N" at the beginning. The handwriting is very clear so I'm in no doubt that it is the name.

The marriage took place on 11th November 1877 at the Independent Chapel, the Cattle Market, Sandwich, between John Belsey Finnis and Ann Spratling.

regards Finnisfinder.

hi there,

"fs" usually denotes "ss".   
Quite often a "W" could be mistaken for an "N".

Therefore, I think possibly your surname should be "Rossiter" spoken by somebody with a dialect strange to the writer's ear or spoken with a lisp.

for instance how many people would recognise what a "chimbley" was other than a Cockney in days gone by.  Chimbley = chimney (stack)

Rena

[JenB]

But finnisfinder says that the name is on the original marriage certificate.

So surely it is an actual signature, rather than written by someone else as Rena suggests?

The 'f' in the middle is most likely a 'long s' often taken for an 'f'.

Nossiter is an unusual surname, but I found some 50 examples of it in the 1881 census and 70 on the 1891 census

Jennifer

[Mumsie2131]

Have found lots of the name 'Nofister' on 1841 mistranscribed as Nopiter and others - also a definite Rossiter mistranscribed as Ropiter, however have found a Rossiter transcribed as Rossiter with the 'fs' in the middle. So I suspect that they are transcription errors for Nossiter which although not common the Nopiter et al all had a definite N at the begining.

[Rena]

Since writing - I've also seen Nossiter elsewhere.

Glad it's your problem.

Cheers,
Rena

[finnisfinder]

 I've taken up suggestions, followed through with BMD, census returns but drawn a blank.

Did find a Harriet Nossiter, but that was her married name, born in Sandwich. Wondered if there was a link there.

So " B Nofsiter" remains a mystery!

Thanks everyone, regards Finnisfinder.