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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2005-06 > 1119175545


From: Gavin Bell <>
Subject: Re:[ABERDEEN] Placename
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 11:08:24 +0100


Jan wrote:

> I have 2 ancestors in the 1881 census who is down as being born in
> Trecumncau, Aberdeen, Scotland.
> The family were Welsh and must have only been living in Aberdeen for a
> little while, as they went back to Wales and had more children there.
> Please could someone tell me where Trecumncau is, as I can't find it
> in my searches.

If this is from the 1881 Census on CD, then the first thing to say is
that "Aberdeen" could well mean "Aberdeenshire" (the LDS don't seem able
to get their heads round the naming conventions for Scottish counties).
In which case "Trecumncau" ought to be the name of an Aberdeenshire
parish. But there isn't one with a name even vaguely like that.

> I think it must be a mistrancription of another place

Assuming that is the case, then you need to get a sight of the 1881
Census on microfilm. I have found various mistranscriptions in the 1881
Census on CD, and referring to the film often reveals the truth.

But it could also be that "Trecumncau" is quite correct, and it is the
assignment of the place to "Aberdeen" (or Aberdeenshire) that is the
error. The name looks to me more plausibly Welsh than Scottish, and my
motoring atlas offers various placenames beginning "Tre..." in Wales or
Cornwall.


Gavin Bell

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