Carnarvon

This northwestern most part of Wales was first known as Arfon.  This meaning over against, or near, the island of Mon (Anglesey).  Caer' narfon thus meaning the stronghold (fort) in Arfon.  Snowdon (3,471 ft.) rises quickly from the shore giving a natural boundary to this land.

The earliest JONES is dated 1538 - 1544.  The case is found in bundle 1016/ No. 49.  The suit is in the name of Sampson Jones of London, but listed as the son and heir of Humphrey Jones.  The Plaintiff (s) is listed as Richard ap Evan ap Davy, clerk.   The reason is "detention of deeds relating to land in Arduddaye & elsewhere".  It would seem that Sampson Jones had moved to London (usually a step to represent the family's interest/business/trade), and his (most likely) relative, questioned part of the inheritance.  Certainly a never ending story it is.

The following figure shows the geographic position of Carnarvon.

 A detailed history and discussion of Carnarvon can be found in Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales, by Nicholas, Vol. I, pp. 309 - 364.

The surname JONES is found next 1558 [Richard Jones and Margaret , bundle 100/ no. 38] and continues at a steady pace from this period of records. [ 1558 - 1579 ]

Anglesey

The JONES surname first appears in the records of history over a fairly short period.  For Wales,  there is a distinct pattern that forms for the JONES surname based upon a number of factors.  Geography, annexation pattern, resistance to English rule, and family are just a few of these factors.  The next series of post will present my research into the JONES surname as it appears in the English legal records of Wales.

This post begins with Anglesey.  It is the most northwestern segment of Wales with a very distinct history.  It is also the place where the JONES surnames appears the least among the counties of Wales.  The figure shown below shows the geographic location.

As Anglesey, it was first created a county by the Statute of Rhuddlan (Statutum Wallie of 12 Edward I,  March 3, 1284 AD)  Prior to this, it was generally a part of the Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd know as Mon. [Ynys in Welsh is island.]  The Act of Union 1536, brought English to the island as the only official language of the courts.  The following is the recorded names as written for "John".

"Jevan ap Llewelyn ap Howel"  1544 - 1547 [bundle/no. = 1135/3-6]
"Hugh ap David ap Jevan"  1558 - 1579 [bundle/no. = 102/35]
"Owen ap Jevan" 1558 - 1579 [bundle/no. = 103/11]
     in suit with "John ap Jevan ap Meredith"
"Richard ap Thomas ap John" 1558 - 1579 [bundle/no. 103/34]
"Agnes vergh David ap John" 1558 - 1579 [bundle/no. 103/50]
     in suit with "Hugh ap John ap William ap Eigan"

No JONES surname appears during this period.  You can see the Norman-French influence with the spelling "Jevan".  The English spelling "John" then starts to appear.

A detailed history of Anglesey is given in Nicholas, Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales, Vol. I,  pp. 1-52.