Radnor

The name "redenor" is first mentioned in the Annales Cambriae around 1196 AD when the "Lord Rhys" burned things down.  In the Welsh it was known a Maes-hyfed and Maes-hyfaidd which implies the place where a summer-like fair was held.  I guess that is why one from another area wanted to burn things to the ground.

William Jones appears in the legal records between 1547 - 1553. [Bundle 14/No. 96]  He seems to continue his legal activity through 1579 appearing often in debt during this time.  The spelling Jevan appears as early as 1538 [Bundle 1015/No. 76] such as "Jevan ap Mezzer" of Woebley.  The "seizure of goods and occupation of mortgaged lands..." was the cause of several legal actions.  This again shows the transition between implementation [Act of Union 1536], and the reality of new laws upon the land.

A discussion of Radnorshire can be found in Nicholas, Vol. II, p. 912 - 927.

Montgomery

It was during the year of the conquest of England [1066] that a fellow named Roger de Montgomgery was created Earl of Shrewsbury and Arundel.  It was in the French, English, and Latin languages that this area became know by his name, Montgomery.  It was of course still part of the ancient Welsh Powys, but you know, to the victors go the history books.

The first JONES I could find was Lewis Jones. 

In Nicholas, p. 812, he is listed as "Lewis Jones, Esq. [ or ap John, son of John = John's ]  Nicholas goes on to state "Of him little is known."  He seems to have had some Tudor connections for he is found as "High Sheriff " 1542, 1545, and again in 1558.

The English legal records list a "Richard Joones" [1547-1551] dealing with land in Llanfechan at the bequest of Griffith Jones. [Bundle 1238/ no. 56-60 ].  During this transition period the Norman spelling "Jevan"
is frequently used as in "Edward ap Jevan" and "David ap Jevan".  It would seem that the spelling "Jones" was established consistently by 1558.

Merioneth

Merion, who from Welsh ancestry, was of lineal descent from Cunedda. He is credited with saving north Wales from the Irish after the fall of Rome, thus giving his name to this ancient territorial designation.  Thus, "Meirionydd" was the district over which he ruled.

The first with the surname JONES recorded in the English legal records for this area was William Jones, 1547 - 1551. [Bundle 1238/ No. 50]  He his described as "an infant by Edward Pery his guardian".  In this record, the reasons for the suit had to do with "messuages" [land] in "Llandecwyn" which was owned by Humphrey Jones, "father of complainant".  Therefore, William Jones is listed by case in the records, but Humphrey Jones would have to be alive in the area before this time.  "John ap Evan ap Rice" and "Rice ap Jevan" were listed as "Plantiff(s)".  This again shows how the English records related to the surname JONES and the name John/Jevan.

 A map is shown of Merioneth, and its general geographic location in Wales.

 A detailed discussion of Merionethshire and its history can be found in Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales, by Nicholas, Vol. II, pp. 649-714.

Flint

Edward I continued to slice and dice the ancient comots of Wales under the Statute of Rhuddlan 1283.  The ancient region know as Tegaingl was to become Flintshire.  Ironically, the very town of Rhuddland is in this county where the very statue was signed in 1283.

The first JONES recorded in the English legal records was Edward Jones, 1544. [Bundle 1135/No. 30]
His suit was against  "Edward Puelston, esq., son and heir of Roger Puelston, knt."  Both these folks ended up being connected to my own JONES family tree.  Various geographic locations such as "Mastyn" [Mostyn], "Basingwerk"[ Basingwerk Abby], Pengwern, and Holywell were play a role in my JONES family history.  Several of these locations are shown in the figure below in the context of of northeast Wales.

The geographic relationships between Chester, Wrexham, Llangollen, and St.Asaph are shown.  It was in this area that my JONES family took its roots.

Denbigh

The first English document using the name "Denbigh" is found 24 October, 1282, under Edward I. [Calendar of Patent Rolls, Vol. 2, p.38-39 ]  Before this time, it seems to have been referred to a "Perfedd-wlad" meaning the interior land.  There were four "cantrefs" which could be viewed as our counties of today.  These were 1) Rhos, 2) Rhyfoniog, 3) Ystard, and 4) Dyffryn.  These cantrefs were to play an important role in my own JONES surname family tree.

The first JONES (spelled Johnes) was Robert Johnes, listed as "vicar of Llanvau" [ Llan-fairdyffryn-clwyd] in the records of 1553 - 1555. [bundle 1363/no.55-56]  A John Jevans (1538), and a  Jeavan ap Griffith ap David ap Tuder (1544) appear before Robert, which show how the spellings were being listed.

Interestingly, it is recorded that "Thomas ap Jevan ap David ap Blethyn, alias Thomas Jones" is clearly listed [bundle 1363/ no. 62] during the same time period 1553 - 1555.  This shows the transition from the Welsh naming system to the English surname system. 

It is my own JONES family that has its earliest bridge from the Welsh to the English naming system during this transition period, and from this geographic area.  What a deal!

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.