Instead he argues that each hereditary surname is unique and that its real meaning can be found only when one steps away from the name itself and delves more closely into the circumstances surrounding each origin and evolution. He further explains, and shows in excellent examples, the ways in which surnames have changed over time and how dictionaries of surnames may mislead when they provide a single origin as the explanation for a name. Genealogists are urged to focus their attention on primary sources such as parish records and court documents, which give clues to individual permutations and evolutions that standard surname dictionaries do not. According to Redmonds, Wrose was a surname which was derived from the locality of that name, a place near Shipley in Yorkshire, England. In the parish registers of that area the spellings Wrose and Wrosse were normal in the period from ca 1340 to ca 1640.
Most genealogists learn to deal with slight variant spellings of their names.
However, English names can trip up even experienced American and Canadian researchers. A consonant which appears to attach itself to the beginning of a word is described as prosthetic, and certain English dialect pronunciations lead to developments of this kind. Redmonds' book is crammed with examples and tips on finding the other possible spellings or names of your English ancestors. Inc. All rights reserved.