Genealogy Chat

I have just stumbled upon a name that contains a sad story In the 1871 census for Woodrising in Norfolk at 6 shipdham Rd. - Her Unhappyluck Mattwood - servant 16 housemaid Griston. makes you wonder wether the mother of this poor child was disgusted with her or wether she was forced to use this name as a form of punishment for her indiscretion. imagine always being refered to and even having to call yourself 'her'. tragic. anybody else have similar finds?

David There's obviously an intriguing story behind this - or an appalling bit of handwriting! Nothing like this in my family - just a Charity - my mum's great aunt Chat who was lovely and lived up to her name. nell

I had a look in 1901 for 'Her'. Found 53! One that stood out was this one... Name: Her Royal Highness (Princess Victoria) Age in 1901: 32 Estimated birth year: 1869 Relation: Visitor I was quite suprised at how many men were called Her lol

Once when I was doing a bit of transcribing I found a servant girl who gave her place of birth as Dog Kennel, Yorkshire Jeanette x

There seem to be several "places" called Dog Kennel eg: "1863: Lived at Dog Kennel; employed as a labourer; married Adelaide Grigg; Joseph's father Thomas Barratt employed as a labourer (marriage certificate) 1866: Son Joseph born at Dog Kennel, Warley Wigorn, Oldbury, Worcestershire; employed as a chemical labourer (Joseph's birth certificate)"

That's interesting Georff. So it could actually have been the name of a village rather than a house for the dog in the back yard! Jeanette x

Found this by Googling "unhappyluck" "Subject: RE: Kerenhappuch Someone a few days ago suggested this name came from the Bible. Can we have a reference - that is rather a long book to search through!!! Incidentally my family tree has been traced (with complete records) back to MOSES [Moses Apling, thatcher m. Mary COLLIER 21 Sep 1761, Southleigh, Devonshire, both made their mark; and he is possibly linked to earlier ZACCHARIAHs and MOSESs on the Devon/Dorset border]. With thanks to all who have commented on my misinterpreted name of Her Unhappyluck."

"Job chapter 42 King James Version 1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. 10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, KERENHAPPUCH. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days. " So... maybe "Her Unhappyluck" celebrates a tale with a happy ending after all :)

On the subject of Dog Kennel, I used to live near Dog Kennel Hill in East Dulwich, the origin of the name turned out to be the hunting kennels which were located there up until the early 1900's. I think it's demise was hastened by the building of a tram line from Victoria to the wilds of Surrey as it was then. Well either that or some of our ancestors really did have small accomodation!!

I found one born in 'a shed' poor thing. Were they living there or just born in a hurry?

Thats really interesting Richard. So you think that may have been the right name for the girl. I know the second name, Keziah, is very common in this part of Norfolk about that time.

There are 142 Kerenhappuch (and variations) on 1881 census on LDS site. nell

There are also 534 on Ancestry civil registration! nell

Maybe this name tells a happy tale......not on my tree, but reading thru' deeds to my Dad's house, one previous owner was named: Ian Goodwilly Thompson.

hehehe. now that is a name to conjour with! I wonder if he met his Herluckyday?

Hi Helen When Ancestry *finally* gets round to putting Norfolk 1871 online, we'll be able to see the image to see what the name really was.... I doubt very much that it was "Her Unhappyluck" though!! Kerenhappuch seems like a likely mistranscription, don't you think? Cheers, Richard

Yes, thats a brilliant thought Richard, dont know how you did it! Perhaps the transcriber had a sense of humour back then.

Just thought I'd revive this thread, as the Norfolk 1871 is now on Ancestry (and I do so like closure!)... The name in question has been transcribed by Ancestry as "Wherenhapplock"! Looking at the image, I think that it's actually "Kerenhappluck". Whatever, it is definitely all one word, and begins with a K not an H (compare with the Harriet 3 lines above & below). If anyone's interested, the ref is RG10/1843/5/2

A couple of days ago I came across an entry on one of the censuses giving a place of birth as "In a shop on a boat at sea". That must have been a bit of a shock for the other customers!!

ive just had a look on ancestry its herrenhappluck!! lol or maybe kerenhappluck? susie