Genealogy Chat

Hi Everyone, Does anyone know how interchangable the first names Jane and Joan were in the 1730's - 1780's?? My rellie was baptised Joan (she was a sibling of my direct line ancestor). All the other people researching this part of my tree have made her the bride in a marriage where the bride is clearly Jane. But I'm not happy - can Joan change to Jane? Everyone else has the baptism down as Jane too, but I'm sitting here with a copy of the PR baptism entry in front of me. If that says JANE then I'm giving up my tree for good and buying new specs.......Gggggrrrrrr!!....ANy ideas? Happy Hunting - Merry xx

I have a Joan who was Joanne! Rosalyn

You stick to your guns Merry!! However I have seen Joan spelt JONE on old parish records, if thats any help. I would be suspicious of Joan becoming Jane - but you never know how fickle our rellies were! Anne

Thanks for the replies so far.................!! Another thing I've just realised......This Joan (bap) is recorded as Jenny in her father's will........... So now I need to make Joan change to Jenny (have to accept that one!) and then to Jane....................... Time for bed now.... Merry

Alan, I'm quite happy if it is the same person, to detail the various names she has been recorded as on my home tree. The trouble would start if Joan is not Jane and Jane is a different person altogether!! When Jane married she had 14 children, so I dread to think how many grandchildren etc. Now, one of my reasons for doing my tree is to try and link up with present day-rellies. I am in regular contact with several 5th, 6th and 7th cousins through family history and it's great, BUT I don't want to work forward from this marriage if the lady isn't mine!! So that's why I need to know if Joan at baptism could have morphed to Jenny in her dad's will and then morphed to Jane when she got married. I am beginning to think it highly likely from what I have read on this thread. As I know that Joan (bap) and Jenny (will) are definitely the same person, I really should have been asking if Jenny can morph to Jane!!! Merry

Hi Merry I have a Jane who was known as Jenny or Ginny. Heather

Hi, I have a Joan who wrote a will but she was baptised Johann. Gwynne

One of the commonest things you will find in researching your ancestors is inconsistancy of names and spelling variations particually on census records . but also on other records. Names were written by clerks who often misheard a name. Joan and Jane have a similar sound.Regional accents were stronger, also family variants were often used. One of my ancestors was sometimes Hannah sometimes Annie on official documents.Her daughter sometimes Leah sometimes Lillie. hope this helps. Rowan ps before the 17th century there was no consistancy of spelling first or surnames.

Exactly, Rowan!! But I've no experience of Jennys morphing to Janes!! Merry

Merry Jane>Janie>Jennie>Jinny. I have several Janes whose 'sunday name' was Jane, but were called Jenny/Jinny by the family. Olde Crone

Hi OC, I find it easier to accept that Jenny might change to Jane (the bit that's unproven) than to accept that Joan can change to Jenny - the bit where I know it's the same person!! Maybe Joan (bap) was an error by the (probably not local) vicar. I will have to practice my Dorset burr and see what Jane could sound like........!! Merry