Chester

The last series of posts [Monday, March 11, 2013 - Monday, November 18, 2013] have presented the Jones surname that first appears in the counties of Wales.  I thought it might be of interest to continue this theme into the counties of England.  It will begin with the counties that border Wales [Marches], and in later post move east, northeast, south, and southeast.

The first county along the border is Chester.  It was one of the earliest counties to be organized along the Norman feudal system. [Palatine of Chester].  The map is that of England and Wales, to show the general geographic locations.  The county of Chester is colored blue.

John Jones was the first to appear in the English legal records. [1558 - 1579 : Bundle 99/ No. 94]
The case involves a Robert Fletcher with the reasons being "tithes".  The location is given as "Bromborough".  Of course, it would have to be a John Jones.

First JONES Surname In Wales By County

The following table summarizes the last series of posts discussing the first to have the JONES surname in Welsh counties between 1500 - 1560.  It puts together (by date) those who first appear in the English legal records of the day.  The name of the Welsh county is given first, followed by the year that a individual with the surname JONES appears in that county.  This is followed by the name of the individual as recorded in the legal records.   The date of the post which discusses this county, and gives the documentation of each individual presented is shown. 

Anglesey is the only Welsh county during this period that did not have an individual appear with the JONES surname.  Glamorgan is only Welsh county to have a JONES surname appear before the Act of Union 1536.  There are a variety of first names with only "William" occurring twice.  This figure will provide at least a starting date and location for the genealogist seeking the origin of the JONES surname in Wales.

Glamorgan

The last county in Wales to be listed is the first (earliest) county in Wales to show the surname JONES.  Of course, it had to be "John Jones"...:-).  It is the county of Glamorgan.

John Jones was identified as the "son & exec." of Jankyn ap John [1515 - 1518] (bundle 421/ no. 72).  The case had to do with the lease of "...1/2 the mills of Cardiff held by the s'd Jankyn of John Howell, baker".

Now Tacitus was the first to describe these folks in his "The Life of Agricola".  He writes:

"The dark complexion of the Silures, their usually curly hair, and the fact that Spain is the opposite shore to them, are an evidence that Iberians of a former date crossed over and occupied these parts."
These Romans were to take control of this area by 84 AD. 

It would seem that the legal system of England had already established its influence well before the Act of Union" 1536.

Well, say hello to John Jones, the first to take this surname in Wales.

The history of Glamorganshire can be found in Nicholas, Vol. I, pp. 458 - Vol.II - 648.  The reference to Tacitus can be found in "The Historians of Ancient Rome", ed. Ronald Mellor, p.399.

Monmouth

The name of the confluence of the river "Monnow" with the Wye [Aber-Mynwy] became the mouth [aber] of the Monnow, translated in the English Mon-mouth.  First the site, then the town, and then the county it became.

The first of the Jones surname was Hugh "Jonys", 1538 - 1544. [bundle 1016/ no. 59]  A Maude Jevan, daughter and heir to Jevan ap Griffith (1504 -1515); a Jenkin ap Jevan, carpenter (1538 - 1544); and Edward Jeyn, yoeman (1538 - 1544) were also found.   Hugh Jonys was identified as "groom of the King's Chamber, and nephew and heir of Edward "Davyd" clerk.  The spelling of "Jones" begins with a David Jones (1547 - 1551) [bundle 1238/no. 38] which again shows the transition from "Jevan" to "Jonys", to "Jones".

A discussion of Monmouthshire can be found in Nicholas, Vol. II, pp. 715 - 787.

Carmarthen

There is a fairly lengthy discussion as to the origin of the name Carmarthen found in Nicholas. [Vol. I, pp. 211-212]  He concludes that the most likely source for the name comes from the nearly 400 years of Roman occupation which produced Caermardin.  [a fortified point situation near the sea] 

The first of the JONES surname to appear in this county's legal records was Griffith Jones, 1553-1555. [bundle 1362/ no. 66-69]  He is identified as "...of Wickhambreux, co. Kent, yeoman".  His case is against "David Jevan ap Rice" relating to land in Llanedy,  "late of Mabeley Howell, dec'd, mother of complainant".  The first JONES in Carmarthen is found to be Thomas Jones, 1558-1579 [bundle 99/ no. 27] in a case against Griffin ap Owen. 

Names like "Jevan ap Jevan ap Jenkyn", "Jevan ap David ap Hoell", and "Howell ap Rice ap Muryke", make the records difficult to sort through the connections.  Such is the case during this period of annexation.

Pembroke

Pembroke takes its name from the Welsh pen [head, extreme part ], bro [region, district ], and og or wg [ a terminal particle applied in old Welsh to an inhabited region ].  The more ancient name was Dyfed, and called Dimetia by the Romans.  Pembroke is certainly situated at the "end" of Wales.

The first of the JONES surname was Owen.  His case is found in Bundle 242/ No. 66 which is dated 1558 - 1603.  It is unclear the exact date of the case, thus Owen Jones would be found after 1558 and before 1603.  Interestingly, Owen [Bowen] also becomes a surname [ ab Owen ] that were to share some of the same Y-chromosomes but with different surnames.   A full account of Pembrokshire can be found in Nicholas, Vol. II, pp. 832 - 911.

At any rate, say hello to Owen Jones, the first of this surname to appear in the English legal records.

Brecon

There is some discussion as to the origin of the name Brecon.  One belief is that a Welsh chieftain named Brychan, who came from Ireland, name the area.  The term wg, or og , was used to signify a region, or county.  Thus Brychein-wg became the country of Brychan.

Roger Jones is the first of this surname to be found in the legal records.

His case is dated 1547 - 1551 [Bundle 1238/ No. 45-46 ].  It deals with the "messuage" in Llywel (Thwewell).  Interestingly, it list Roger Jones as the son of Roger Evans who in the English is called Jones.   Here is clear documentation that Roger Evans [Ievan] had a son Roger Jones.  The case is against John Gefrey and Margaret verch [daughter] of Thomas ap Rosser who was the wife of John Gefrey.  Here the term "verch" is the Welsh word for daughter.

Say hello to Roger Jones who's father is Roger Evans.

The history of Brecon [Breconshire, Brecknock] can be found in Nicholas, Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales, pp. 53 - 122.