Help Deciphering 2 Surnames!

[mclachlan]

Hi,

I am trying to decipher two surnames on an 1871 Scottish Census.  I know the first four names are John, Ann, Hugh and Mary Lindsay and the address is 39 Bothwell St, Glasgow.  The last name is Margaret McLean but I am having trouble with the two names in between for Elizabeth and John.

Upon using a magnifying glass  I came to the conclusion that Elizabeth's surname was Quimby, with the tail of the 'y' cut off like it is in Ann Lindsay's name above, however, this is only a guess and I am not certain if I am right!  I think the next name is John Kerr but once again I am not 100%.   Elizabeth is showing as widowed so I assume this is her husband's surname.  I looked up both the 1861 and 1871 census' but could not find the surname Quimby.  I have also tried Quamby, Quinly, Quinlan and Quinton, assuming that the first letter is a Q!!!  There are no other letters like it on the census page that I can see.

If anyone can offer suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!
Andrea

[PrueM]

Hi Andrea

I wouldn't have picked that last letter as a y unless you'd pointed out the one above! 
Yes, I think the first letter must be a Q, and Quimby or Quamby are the most obvious names I can think of that might fit.

Where was Elizabeth born?  I'm pretty sure Quimby is an Irish surname but that doesn't necessarily mean anything I suppose.

It's a strange one!

Cheers
Prue

[joanbc53]

Hi Andrea,

This is a real poser! 

Although I have been unable to decipher the surname of Elizabeth I thought I might suggest that the initial letter is 'D'. I sometimes look at something for so long that I am unable to see other options; maybe looking at it from another perspective might give you a clue.

'Scotlands People' website have a useful tool to help with deciphering old handwriting which may be useful to you if you are not already familiar with it.

Good luck with this one

Joan

[danuslave]

It looks like Quornby to me 

Linda

[anabanana]

Not sure about the Q... name, but the second looks like John Kerr to me

[Billyblue]

I think it's more like Quamby than Quimby - there's a definite loop there.

And I think John's name could be Fien??
  I can't see Kerr, at all, but...

Dawn M

[HannahB]

The last letter in the Q name looks like the N in "son" above.  Could this be Quinlan? I know you cannot see an A but spelling was not always good.
I think you are right about John Kerr.

[Ruskie]

Qu...ber?
I think first letter is a Q (I used to write my copperplate Q's this way - similar to a big 2).

Quember?  Doesn't sound likely to be a real surname ...

[grouse]

I think I'm with Joan on this one in that it might not be a 'Q'.