Hi Emma, Our JOLLYs go back to at least the 1600s and probably before in Cornwall. Yes, I agree that there are some from France, but whether they all are I don't know. Some of our line also went to Guernsey and married into French families there. Here are my findings for Scotland: JOLLIE, Janet Kinnimont Christening Sex: Female Birth Date: 22 Dec 1855 Christening Date: 6 Jan 1855 Recorded in: London Road United Presbyterian, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Father: David JOLLIE Mother: Isabella ORRICK Source: FHL Number 1485046 Dates: 1853-1869 Note: FRCH3V160NO14P59 JOLLY, Christening Sex: Male Christening Date: 12 Oct 1873 Recorded in: Free Church, Craig Parish, Angus, Scotland Father: David JOLLY Mother: Elizabeth MOIR Source: FHL Number 1482991 Dates: 1843-1877 Note: FRCH3V62NO1P159 JOLLIE, Robert Marriage Wife: Elspat PETTRIE Marriage Date: 27 Jul 1782 Recorded in: Stracathro, Angus, Scotland Source: FHL Number 102675 Dates: 1782-1785 Note: FRP15 Kay Emma wrote: >Thanks for posting this. I'm not sure what the original query was, but I >have an ancestor called William JOLLY, who was born c.1843 whose father was >James Jolly. He was supposed to have been born in Montrose in Angus, >Scotland, but his birth wasn't registered. If anyone researching William >JOLLYs of similar period comes across my ancestor, please don't hesitate to >get in touch. > >On another point, I am interested in gauging where JOLLYs originated from >and where they lived in clusters in the world. I have heard that the name >originates from France. There are still variations on the name in France >today [e.g. Joly]. I have come across clusters in Angus (19th century) up to >the present day), Lancashire (19th century, but less so now), and Cornwall >[not sure of the period]. I'd like to know of any other clusters that >listers have come across and more on the origins of the name, so that I can >try and establish some kind of pattern. > Kay Hinnrichsen Mandurah, Western Australia Listowner Rootsweb *JOLLY *BOSANKO *TONKIN Lists - also searching for WILSON, ECCLESTONE, HINRICHSEN and more http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/ Research Names: http://carmen.murdoch.edu.au/community/dps/research/hin02.html