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From: "Barbara Griffiths" <>
Subject: [Mon] Assorted PARRYs and surname distributions
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 15:31:39 +0100
References: <024901c331a0$eb699740$6401a8c0@GW> <7OaAFBAR2l6+EwHr@reverendvox.demon.co.uk>


Thanks for your reply, Barrie.

> Karl Llewellyn, an old mate of mine from Merthyr, has done a lot of
> research on Joseph Parry. I know a lot has been written about him, but
> he is gradually updating and finding out 'new' facts, so to speak;)

That sounds interesting. Is he planning to publish something about Joseph?

Although I will be including "Famous Parrys" pages on my web site with some biographical
details, where there is published work I would rather write less myself and refer people
to the other work. My main aim is to try to match up census and PR entries etc to make it
easier for people researching the various PARRY families, and I don't want to 'step on
anyone's toes' with regard to biographies. (There are already several for other famous
Parrys, and I know of one in the pipeline for Blanch Parry who was maidservant to Queen
Elizabeth I).

> My wife, Brenda, is transcribing census for Powys FHS. Powys FHS are
> transcribing all they can, thanks to the organisational and technical
> skills of Co-ordinator and compiler Mike MacSorley. 1851, 1861, is
> complete
Yes, transcribers do a wonderful job (I know how difficult it can be, having done the
Clodock & Kentchurch Districts for 1901, which are on my web site).

> There is a book 'origination of surnames' which is supposedly been
> updated. I will check out the book-stalls at our open day at Cwmbran
Was there any news with regard to this?

> Glamorgan- West for example. Where do the concentrations of Parry's come
> from ?, Morris, Hughes, Davies's???? (Jerri Linke's ancestors)
>
> The Rowlands book touched on this. Geoff Riggs from our Gwent FHS gave
> us an excellent talk on this a year ago and he intimated there is a book
> coming out, pie charts and stats. etc. with the concentrations of he
> relevant surnames.

Obviously, being patronymic, PARRY could arise anywhere in Wales. Rowlands place it in
their "second rank" of surnames, ie "surnames which are only occasionally absent, with an
overall incidence of between 0.7% and 2.5%" (from "The surnames of Wales" John & Sheila
Rowlands. 1996).

In the case of PARRY, although the average incidence throughout Wales is 1.08%, there is a
concentration across North Wales (Prestatyn hundred almost 7%), and in South East Wales
(ie Breconshire/Monmouthshire border with England) of up to 3%, with a low occurrence
elsewhere. The possible reasons for the concentrations is something I want to study in
the future. My own view, mainly with regard to the BRE/MON concentration since I don't
have much experience of the North Wales families, is that it is due to a particular couple
of families who settled on the surname quite early (but I could be wrong!).

As far as I am aware, Geoff is working on a book using figures supplied by members of the
Guild of One Name Studies (which I wasn't in at the time so I doubt it will include
Parry). Some of them are now showing such maps on their sites (eg Polly Rubery's at
http://www.rowberry.org/distribn.html) so I imagine the book will be out soon. It should
be very interesting. (There's also a program being brought out by Archer software which
will enable the plotting of surname distributions -
http://www.archersoftware.co.uk/satlas01.htm - although that won't give the consideration
of the topic which I imagine will be in the book.)(I've no connection with either Geoff or
Archer Software)

Another good site for anyone interested in the frequency and distribution of surnames is
Philip Dance's at http://homepages.newnet.co.uk/dance/webpjd/index.htm (which shows that
PARRY was the 23rd most common Welsh name in 1986).

Best wishes
Barbara Griffiths
Coventry UK




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