Genealogy Chat

At present my Maynards have gone back to Mennard ag labs in Bedfordshire (1700), but am stuck there, so will prob never know. However, I do know that my gran didn't even know who her own grandfather was, so she wasn't a guiding light in genealogy, she just made it up lol Sarah (sorry to muscle in on this thread!!)

If everyone who said their ancestors came over with William the Conqueror actually did come over with him - then this country who have a lot more people in it today! My surname is Perren, and my nana said they came over with William I - I have since found it to have been mispelt c1807 from Perrin (the ancestor of mine was baptised Perrin but married Perren) - and they probably were Huguenots instead - just another idea, your Mainard ancestors might have been Huguenots? If they were, trying to prove when and where they came/were from is even more difficult (I know, my Dusoleil's are well annoying!) Sorry if I've confused - definitely wasn't what I was trying to do! Chloe

of course it might just be a way of making the name different from the month. nell

And then again my gran changed her spelling from May to Mai because 'her family come over with William the Conquerer' and she said her maiden surname (Maynard) had been spelled Mainard when in France so she wanted to be called Mai as her first name in 'memory' of her old surname......... I think she had delusions of grandure, or maybe just delusions?? lol Sarah

I thought Mair was the Welsh form of Mary. I know Mai is also a German first name. nell

Mai is the welsh form for May

Is Mai a Welsh form of Mary? Jane