Alias names at this period are generally not place names nor are they names generally adopted for the purpose of subterfuge. Instead, they are alternate surnames that come down to the bearer by virtue of a descent from a match (marriage) where one partner, generally the bride, was of a more important family heritage than the groom. Alternately, they were sometimes adopted in what in modern parlance would be called blended families, i.e. by step-children, which often used to be called in-laws. In addition, they might be old trade names by which a family was also known in addition to a patronymic, such as my own Morse alias Martlewright family in Wilts., whom I suspect of having been hammersmiths. In some areas, where the patronymics were common ones, such as Williams, a particular family might also use an alias to distinguish itself from other, presumably unrelated Williams families. I hope this helps. Richard searching Treleaven (and vars) in and around Lanlivery, Cornwall. On 24/06/2015, Ken STEWART via <cornish-gen@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hi people > > Can anyone help me please. > I have a problem of interpreting the parent(s) of some of my Cornish family > lines in Breage. > Some references in the 1600's to about 1720 give the surname followed by > "als" and another name. > Sometimes the "als" is replace by "or" > Some examples are > WILLIAMS als POLBADDA > WILLIAMS or ORCHARD > WILLIAMS or PASCOE > WILLIAMS als PAULE > WILLIAMS als MARTEN > WILLIAMS als ANGOUE > > My question(s) are > Is this an "alias" of the parent stated > or does it mean "also" and > it is to include the surname of the mother, who is usually not stated in > these references, but sometimes can be. > It is quite uncommon after 1720, but there is one known entry in 1751 among > the WILLIAMS families. > > It cannot refer to a place, as they are not place names within Breage > Parish. > > Can anyone clear up this. > Best wishes > Ken STEWART > (KITTO one-name-study) > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > > ------------------------------- > Listmom: ybowers@gmail.com or CORNISH-GEN-admin@rootsweb.com > > Visit the OPC (Online Parish Clerk) web page for transcription information > http://www.cornwall-opc.org/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CORNISH-GEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >