Hi All There was a thread on soc.genealogy.britain recently about the use of the name 'Janet'. When was it first commonly used? Now, my response to that would have been it's always been used; but I would have been wrong. Turns out that it was common in Scotland but, until the late nineteenth century, not in England. At least, not in England excluding Cumberland. The estimable Eve McLaughlin commented in the thread that 'in the very north of England, by influence from Scotland, you did get Janets'; but I get the impression that Janet was pretty much indigenous to the county. The name was common in the parish of Lamplugh. The extant parish registers begin in 1581. The first 'Janet' was baptised in 1582. In 1583 there is a 'Jann'; in 1584 a 'Jann', a 'Janet' and a Janne; in 1585 a 'Janet'; in 1586 a 'Jennett'. A 'Janet' was buried in 1582, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1586 (two), 1589 (two), etc.. However, I am aware that other forenames (like Cuthbert, Oswald and Gilbert) can be fairly localised or used just within a few families. So maybe this is a Lamplugh phenomenon? So what's your experience with 'Janet'? Chris chris@dickinson.uk.net

Saturday, January 11, 2003, 11:41:30 PM, Chris wrote: CD> The name was common in the parish of Lamplugh. The CD> extant parish registers begin in 1581. The first 'Janet' was CD> baptised in 1582. In 1583 there is a 'Jann'; in 1584 a 'Jann', a CD> 'Janet' and a Janne; in 1585 a 'Janet'; in 1586 a 'Jennett'. CD> A 'Janet' was buried in 1582, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1586 (two), CD> 1589 (two), etc.. Chris, This caught my eye as I have a Janet listed in my Docwra file. I don't have (yet) any dates for her, but she was born Janet daughter of Sir John Lamplugh (of Lamplugh Hall, Cumberland) and married Robert Docwra (of Dockwray Hall, Kendal). Their grandson Lancelot Docwra died 1577 in Kendal, so I guess she must be very late 1400'/early 1500's? -- Cheers, Anne mailto:docwras@yahoo.co.uk The Docwra Family Research Project http://resource.at/docwra