Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
| The long "Humphrys" tradition |
It turns out the spelling of our surname has a long history:
The spelling "Humphrys" may reflect the original Welsh origins. It was pronounced "Hum-friss" or "Um-friss" in Co.Limerick. Alfred O'Rahilly said the Humphrys family didn't like that pronunciation and preferred to pronounce it the more standard "Hum-frees". Even today, though, despite the Limerick family changing to the spelling "Humphreys", it is still pronounced locally as "Hum-friss" or "Um-friss"
When in 1985 I found out about the old name, I liked it, and just started spelling my name that way. I changed my name officially by deed poll in 1988. No one else in my family changed, so I spell my name different to my brothers. I did surprise my father by discovering that his father was born "Humphrys" in 1896.
My children use the spelling "Humphrys", so I have started a whole new branch of the tree with this spelling.
The grave of my great-great-great-great-grandfather
William Humphrys (died 1792 or 1799),
showing the old spelling.
The grave of my great-great-great-grandfather
John Humphrys,
showing the old spelling.
My great-great-great-grandfather
John Humphrys Senior, of Glenstal,
is party to
[Deed of 1809],
which
shows the old spelling.
Entry for Glenstal in
[Tithe Survey, 1826],
showing the old spelling.
Entry for Glenstal in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1851],
showing the old spelling.
The grave of my great-great-grandfather
James Humphrys (died 1899),
showing the old spelling.
Stained glass window erected in memory of
my great-great-grandfather
James Humphrys and his wife,
by their son Fr. James Humphrys.
Letterhead of my great-granduncle
Mick Humphrys, 1902.
Letterhead of Mick Humphrys, 1919.
Tiled floor at the door of
Mick Humphrys' pub, 81 Dame St, Dublin.
Grave of my grandfather's
1st cousins,
showing the old spelling.
Flyer for the pub of my grandfather's
1st cousin.
The first clear appearance of the new spelling is "Dr. Humphreys"
on a Christmas card from Dr. David in 1894-95.
See larger.
From
[P106/343].
The marriage settlement 1895 of Dr. David Humphreys
shows the new spelling.
He also spells his brother
Fr. James
as "Humphreys".
See full size.
However then the marriage cert 1895
shows the old spelling.
Dr. David had been baptised with the old spelling in 1861.
The birth cert of my grandfather
Dick, 1896,
shows the old spelling.
1898 telegram shows the new spelling.
The birth cert of my grandaunt Sighle, Feb 1899,
shows the new spelling.
The will of Dr.David, Dec 1899,
showing the new spelling.
He also spells his
mother
as "Humphreys".
See full size.
The will of
Richard Rahilly's widow, 1903.
Think this is a transcript rather than the original,
but either way it shows someone confused about whether to use
the old spelling
or the new spelling
for her daughter Nell.
See full size.
Same for her grandson Dick.
From above.
See full size.
Dick starts as a boarder, 12 Sept 1910.
From [An Macaomh, Christmas 1910, pp.73-74].
See full size
top and
bottom.
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