Genealogy Chat

My gran who was born in Londonderry county northern ireland, of scots irish ancestry was called Mary Anne Foster Hamilton, her dad was Robert Hamilton and her mum Sarah Taggart, grandad another Robert and grandma Matilda Gardiner, Mary Anne included the Hamilton name in her sons names and the Foster in her daughters, so it was important to her but where did the Foster name come from? Any suggestions gratefully accepted. Barbara..xx

You need to trace the various lines...........no doubt you will eventually find a bride with the surname Foster............it is likely to have been a maiden name in one of the earlier generations. Reg

Hi Reggie, got some names, I think I was hoping someone would say oh this is a naming pattern look for so and so............. regards Barbara..xx

I'm not clever enough to know, but could it possibly be her maternal grandmother's maiden name? Roger

Roger its Flanagan............sob! Barbara..xx

hi barbara, i had an uncle called ted [foster] **** also his two sons had that middle name hazel.

Hazel, I could be your cousin 27 times removed! Barbara..xx

would'nt that be something lol hazel

Hi Barbara, Do keep looking for the maiden names. I had one where it was the maternal great grandmother's maiden name. The eldest great aunt had been given it as her middle name, but none of her siblings. I haven't found it in the next generation but it then was given to the eldest gt grandchild, and thereafter. Best of luck. Carol

You don't say what in what year these people were living, but, it is almost certain that the odd middle names are given as a respect to a surname lost in marriage, this possible because of the end of a male family line or a daughter in marriage determined to continue her surname through her children. As you research further back you may even hunt down the original changes. Good luck, Bob

Gran was born in 1889, and thats interesting thamks........ Barbara..xx

just to say thanks to everybody who replied Barbara..xx

I had 5 minutes and was intrigued, so I did a quick search, some of these may even be yours! Record Type Information found in record 1891 England Census Record Census View Image Name: John Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1857 - Bradford, Yorkshire, England Residence: 1891 - Stockport, Stockport, Cheshire, England 1891 England Census Record Census View Image Name: Margaret Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1883 - Nova Scotia, Durham, England Residence: 1891 - Nova Scotia, Harraton, Durham, England 1871 England Census Record Census View Image Name: Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1870 - Nottinghamshire, England Residence: 1871 - Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England 1871 England Census Record Census View Image Name: J Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1837 - Streatham, Surrey, England Residence: 1871 - London, St Marylebone, London, England 1871 England Census Record Census View Image Name: John Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1857 - Bradford, Yorkshire, England Residence: 1871 - Pinner, Middlesex, England 1901 England Census Record Census View Image Name: John Foster Hamilton Spouse: Annie Birth: abt 1857 - Bradford, Yorkshire, England Residence: 1901 - Levenshulme, Lancashire, England 1861 England Census Record Census View Image Name: John Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1857 - Bradford, Yorkshire, England Residence: 1861 - Manningham, Manningham, Yorkshire, England 1851 England Census Record Census View Image Name: Henry Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1835 - Anthorn, Oxfordshire, England Residence: 1851 - Abingdon St Helen, Berkshire, England 1851 England Census Record Census View Image Name: Mamie Foster Hamilton Birth: abt 1830 - Weath Stone Residence: 1851 - Plymouth, Plymouth St Andrew, Devon, England Bob

That is really interesting Bob because we are not 100% sure where the '1st' Robert Hamilton came from, there is a story that he came from Scotland to Ireland, but no one is sure, just that it must have been before 1865 when Robert 2 was born........ regards from Barbara..xx

I'm still intrigued, I may have something more interesting for you in about five minutes! Bob

1851 England Census Record about Mamie Foster Hamilton Name: Mamie Foster Hamilton Age: 21 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830 Relation: Officer 4 Regl Gender: Male Where born: Weath Stone Civil parish: Plymouth St Andrew Town: Plymouth County/Island: Devon Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: Plymouth Sub-registration district: St Andrew ED, institution, or vessel: Plymouth Citadel Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 1 Above is the Ancestry transcribed version of this man! Here is mine, I’ve studied the image quite carefully, this man at that time is garrisoned in Plymouth, His name is in fact...... Francis Foster Hamilton, he was an Ensign in the 4th Regiment. His birth place is also mis-transcribed, it should be Meath--Slone, I would imagine this is County Meath or Neath in Ireland ...........and by the fact that there is a place called Slone Park in Meath I would perceive a historical notation! By the names and the birthplaces of both Officers & enlisted men it would seem that it is a mixed body, but there are many Irish & Scots. So without getting too excited this maybe a fellow worth looking at quite intently. Fill your boots!! Bob

Bob I am so excited its ridiculous..........if you start a fan club I want to join............... regards from Barbara..xx

.......steady with the club situation, there are people on this site who are ten times quicker and twenty x's cleverer! and as a P.s. I owe them plenty. Your family line has so much potential. (green eye showing here). not really, I have my mothers paternal back to 1647. Keep in touch, site only, I have saved all records looked at. Let me know if you strike a rich seam of history, its definitely there. The Scots/Irish/British Military theme is a great lead. look at what was happening at the time. Bob, signed off.