Slightly off-topic whether Lettice is an alternative for Elizabeth, I just thought I'd warn those people who haven't yet discovered "alternative names" what they might need to look out for. One Monmouthshire LEWIS ancestor of mine has - to date - been found with 6 different first names. Originally I assumed she'd died and her widower remarried, but soon realised that unless he was an extremely busy Bluebeard or bigamist, this was unlikely. I'm as certain as anyone can be that they're all the same person (partly as an 1861 name reappears after 3 or 4 other names in 1901! Also the ages all tie in well). The following names have (so far) appeared in a variety of census returns (all originals checked except for the usual 1881 transcription), marriage certificate and birth certificate (of her second child) (some more than once): Ann Amelia Amy Emma Emily Mary It's now got the stage that I look forward to a new discovery and to see which name she's now sporting! She was illiterate but even allowing for that and incompetent enumerators etc, it's still quite interesting that such a number of different names are used. Of course, someone else out there may have an ancestor who has far more alternatives.... Or a logical explanation for the change of name (she could have just been reinventing herself on a regular basis and just fancied a change of name to suit her mood?).... any ideas? Cate Date sent: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 10:28:13 +1100 From: "BJ & LC Kirkwood" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WLS-PEM] RE: William Henry Davies > Dear Pat and Libby, > > At least my popping in my two-pennyworth has brought forth the lawyer/sawyer > discussion and may lead to > clarification. Thanks, Pat. > > As to the name Elizabeth, at least you are Libby and I am Bettye with an "e" > which my mother assured me was to identify the fact that I was NOT an > Elizabeth. My mother's second name was Letitia and someone once told me > that the Welsh version, Lettice, could also be an alternative for Elizabeth. > As the List is quiet, has anyone any thoughts on this? It would be rather > ironic if my mother, unknowingly, carried a version of Elizabeth herself. > > Bettye Kirkwood >

Dear Cate, I've found Emma and Emily in alternating census records myself, and n's and m's often are hard to decipher....maybe your ancestor co-habited with triplets. The one which amuses me most is the printed marriage record of an Enema.......which I trust should have been Emma. Bettye Kirkwood, Australia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "cate" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 7:51 AM alternative names > Ann Amelia Amy Emma Emily Mary

----- Original Message ----- From: "cate" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 8:51 PM Subject: Re: [WLS-PEM] RE: William Henry Davies - alternative names > Slightly off-topic whether Lettice is an alternative for Elizabeth, I just > thought I'd warn those people who haven't yet discovered "alternative > names" what they might need to look out for. _________________________________________________________________________ Because I have a Lettice in my family tree, I thought I'd look to see if I could find any reference to the name, its origins or derivations anywhere. I have so far failed, but have found this site, the "CYMRU-CATALONIA" (= Wales-Catalonia) Website, which seems to have a number of references to Welsh forenames and meanings: http://www.estelnet.com/catalunyacymru/catala/enwau_bedydd_cymru_mynegai_1e.htm Maybe it will be of use to someone. Much of the site text is in Welsh. Best wishes for the New Year. Martin Owen --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.557 / Virus Database: 349 - Release Date: 30/12/03

Martin Owen <[email protected]> wrote: Because I have a Lettice in my family tree, I thought I'd look to see if I could find any reference to the name, its origins or derivations anywhere. ================= Dear Martin, The Oxford Names Companion has the following entry for the forename Lettice: ---------------- LETTICE (f.) English: from the medieval English form of the Latin name Laetitia 'happiness'. It was popular among the Victorians, but is now regarded as faintly risible (perhaps because of its similarity to the vocabulary word lettuce). Pet forms: Letty, Lettie ---------------- Source: Page 808 "The Oxford Names Companion" by Patrick Hanks, Flavia Hodges, A. D. Mills, and Adrian Room, published 2002 by Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860561-7 Kind regards, John ---------------------------- John Ball, Ystalyfera, South Wales, UK E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://home.clara.net/wfha/ Welsh Family History Archive: http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.557 / Virus Database: 349 - Release Date: 30/12/2003