Surnames / occupations

[jnu]

Hi
I have the following surnames and occupations in my family tree and i think i have gypsy ancestry.Are any of these common?

Jones,Houghton,Highcock,Lee,Gregson,Hartley,Metcalfe,Whittaker,Baker,Lowe,Walker,Stephenson
 (oxfordshire,Lancashire and Yorkshire)


Cotton weaver,Wool comber,blacksmith,out door labour,tool maker,yeast hawker,iron turner/mechanic,iron broker,marine store dealer,brass finisher,hawker.

[devonblue]

I'm not nearly so knowledgeable as many on here but I'd say that some of the surnames could be Romany/Gypsy

Lee possibly Jones.  I don't know about the others.

For the occupations, Hawkers stands out but I'm really not sure about the rest. Obviously not all hawkers were gypsies but a lot were.

Hopefully someone a bit more savvy will come on and give you more help.

[An65]

Jones Lee Baker Walker and Stephenson are all possible from my knowledge.

out door labour, tool maker, marine store dealer, hawker
are possible occupations.

Did these people live in houses or tents/caravans? were they in winter lodgings rather than homes of their own? do they appear with extended family nearby?

[jnu]

Thanks for replies.On the Hartley side they lived at "The Springs" Bury, Lancashire, they moved between there and Bradford where most of the family seemed to be.The Hartleys,Stephensons and Gregsons came from the Bingley/Keighley/Bradford area.I have a Timothy and Bella Metcalfe who I believe are relations living in Accrington, Lancashire, on the 1881 census Timothy is a Hawker.Their occupations ranged from WoolComber to Marine Store dealer.

[jnu]

What Was A Journey man Brickmaker, Is That a Gypsy That Makes Bricks ?

maybe, maybe not

[Suffolk Mawther]

ok lol that helps but thanks, because my granny said my great great great grandfather was a gypsy, and in his census thing it says he is a journey man brick maker.. so i dont know how to make that out

A journeyman in any occupation where an apprenticeship has been served is a craftsman, who is not working on his own account, but working 'by the day' for an employer.

So a Journeyman has served his apprenticeship and is skilled.

It is thought that Journeyman comes via the French 'by the day' par le jour.

We have a skilled hand made brickyard near Sudbury in Suffolk. They still make unusual bricks for such places as palaces when repairs are needed to original Tudor brickwork.

Pat ...

[Suffolk Mawther]

ok thank for that but i want to know if journey man has anything to do with a gypsie?

No idea!

Most journeyman lived in the villages and worked for the local tradesman, such as the brickmaker or the blacksmith.

Davey is found all over Suffolk, it is not an uncommon name.

Why do you think yours were gypsies?

A journeyman would have to serve a long apprenticeship - not usually something undertaken by travelling people?

Pat ...

[jnu]

ok thanks, and because my granny told me that the daveys were gypsies in woolpit, and they settled their in wagons, but this was 1700s, so im trying to conferm this for my granny

A journey man was paid by the day for his work i think.People may have been listed as Journey men(on census or certificates) and not have served an apprenticeship.

[jnu]

ok thank you
but how wouldi go about findin out more about the gypsies?

Im in the same boat from what i have been told my grandmother was of Romany decent and also my grandfather has gypsy ancestry.My grandad who is still alive doesnt like talking about family history and my grandmother didnt either.My gran and her sister were both very dark and there mother was too.I am still looking for clues