Thank you Ray, I had wondered about Auchnavaird but wondered if this was the modern version of an old name or if the place was elsewhere in Old Deer. Mary

2009/11/14 Mary Simpson <mary@msimpson.demon.co.uk> wrote: Thank you Ray, I had wondered about Auchnavaird but wondered if this was the > modern version of an old name or if the place was elsewhere in Old Deer. > _____________________________________________ I have to confess, Mary, that I don't know for sure that Auchnavaird is the same as Auchnaven/Auchnavend. It just seems likely! Some six years ago I recorded all the names on the 2002 OS map - together with the grid references - for four parishes in which we had a deep interest & the names without GRs for another seven in the same area. There is no other name remotely like the ones you seek in OD or in these surrounding parishes though I haven't looked at all of them, e.g. Rathen, Cruden, Ellon. One way to find out if these are the same places, might be to scan the Census records for Old Deer to see if some families are in the differently named places from census to census. However, I have just scanned the 1881 CD for Old Deer and can't find mention of any of these placenames. It should be in ED9 but no luck. Scanning the microfilms is another possible approach - if you have the stomach for it!! ANESFHS have some printed transcriptions which they might be able to read for you - if you are a member, of course. -- Best wishes Ray ********************************************************** >From Ray Hennessy Forenames website: www.whatsinaname.net Preferred Email address: ray@whatsinaname.net Hints for Scotland's People at http://bit.ly/WIAN-SCP **********************************************************

Hi Mary I have just had a look at the FreeCEN 1841 Census and the spelling there is Auchnaverd. There doesn't appear to be any record of that or a similar placename for 1851. As I also couldn't find Auchnavaird [nor any similar placename] on the 1881 CD for Old Deer the question arises: Where did you find the two spellings? If they were in the OPR, was it a transcription by someone else and did you examine the original? I have been discussing your query with Gavin and we wonder if the actual location could just possibly be Auchnagatt. While a conversion over time from Auchnaven(d) to Auchnavair is more likely, a misread of Auchnagatt is just about feasible. The reading on 1841 of Auchnaverd seems to promote the case for Auchnavaird. Examination of the original films might help resolve the question. Auchnagatt is a small village/hamlet on the parish boundary. It is formally just within New Deer but parts of its area now spill into Old Deer. It is at NJ931418. See http://bit.ly/Auchnagatt [set the zoom scale to 1:50,000 or 1:100,000] -- Best wishes Ray ********************************************************** >From Ray Hennessy Forenames website: www.whatsinaname.net Preferred Email address: ray@whatsinaname.net Hints for Scotland's People at http://bit.ly/WIAN-SCP **********************************************************