Genealogy Chat

My wife's family name DAFFIN is said to be from one of two Brothers Leaving Switzerland late 1700s one to England one to America Name then DAFFINGER but this does not seem to exist in any research for Switzerland. Any ideas

We all have family stories to deal with and they are usually very inaccurate.

Rose

Yes Peter Im afraid family legends can be very misleading - start working backwards from what you have solid info for and then may be you will find the truth? How far back are you on the Daffin line and what do you need now.

Have you seen this lot?

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:nFxtPpmUaOAJ:genforum.genealogy.com/daffin/+Daffin+genealogy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=12

Have you found these links?

http://daffin.org/

http://genforum.genealogy.com/daffin/

http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Daffin-family-history.ashx

plus

http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Daffin-family-history-uk.ashx

It appears to be an English name and the origin looks concentrated around Warwickshire and Derbyshire. That leads to the probability that it is a one source name.

It's rare but not Swiss.

Sue

Have gone back to William1860 London then it stops . Said to be from town in mountains called Olivone.Also Dafinger family given shield by King of France 1722 for service ( Footsoldiers/archers )outside of France. Nothing found on this either.

Where was William 1860 born?
Which records have you found him in?

I'll have a browse later when I've finished fighting with double entry book keeping........hate it!

Sue

Is this your family?

This one's father was born Newington:

1861 England Census
about William Daffin
Name: William Daffin
Age: 8 Mo
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Mary
Where born: Southwark, St George
Civil Parish: Southwark St George The Martyr
Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephen
County/Island: Surrey
Registration district: St George Southwark
Sub registration district: Kent Road
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Household schedule number: 46
Household Members: Name Age
George Daffin 29
George Daffin 8
James Daffin 6
Joseph Daffin 2
Mary Daffin 28
Mary Ann Daffin 4
William Daffin 8 Mo

Rose

Found Charlotte C Daffin 1881 census born june 1879 . Southwark St George Martyr.She is William Daffin born 1860's daughter. We know this to be correct. Looks like what Rose has found fits perfectly .Thank You maybe it's George who originated Switzerland ,I will keep going if i don't crack up first.

My error found letter from wife's aunt stateing that the Daffin's came to England 1816-1817 from Switzerland Moved to Switzerland from France around 1780's.Where they should be Daffingers i hope.

Do you know where your wife's aunt found the evidence for her beliefs?

They may indeed be correct but I had a Spanish Lady in my family who wasn't Spanish and not much of a lady either! I can think of a number of family stories in my own and my husband's family which haven't had a shred of truth in them but were believed.

Good luck.

Sue

1881:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
William DAFFIN Head M Male 21 Southwark, Surrey, England Horsekeeper
Charlott DAFFIN Wife M Female 22 Lambeth, Surrey, England
William G. DAFFIN Son Male 3 Lambeth, Surrey, England
Charlott C. DAFFIN Daur Female 1 Lambeth, Surrey, England
Joseph H. DAFFIN Son Male 5 m Southwark, Surrey, England

7 Buckingham St
Census Place Southwark St George Martyr, Surrey, England
Family History Library Film 1341117
Public Records Office Reference RG11

Rose

Looks like his mother remarried when George died in 1862:

Deaths Sep 1862
Daffin George Newington 1d 130

Marriages Dec 1868
DAFFIN Mary Ann St. George S. 1d 179
Phillips John St George South'k 1d 179



1871 England Census
about William Daffin
Name: William Daffin
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Mary A
Gender: Male
Where born: Southwark
Civil Parish: St Mary Newington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: St Saviour Southwark
Sub registration district: St Mary Newington
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Household schedule number: 176
Household Members: Name Age
James Daffin 17
Joseph Daffin 13
William Daffin 10
Arthur E Phillips 2
John Phillips 60
Julia J Phillips 5 months
Mary A Phillips 40

Rose

Name appears to be Duffin on earlier censuses. Note George senior born c1800 was born Surrey.


1851:

1851 England Census
about George Duffin
Name: George Duffin
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Harriett
Gender: Male
Where born: Lambeth, Surrey, England

Civil Parish: Southwark St George
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: St George Southwark
Sub registration district: Borough Road
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 26
Household Members: Name Age
George Duffin 34 St Saviour, Surrey, England
George Duffin 20
Harriett Duffin 39
Mary Duffin 22

Rose

1841:

1841 England Census
about George Duffin
Name: George Duffin
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Gender: Male
Where born: Surrey, England
Civil Parish: St George The Martyr
Hundred: Southwark
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Registration district: St George Southwark
Sub registration district: Borough Road
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Duffin 15
George Duffin 40 Surrey Goldsmith
George Duffin 10
Henry Duffin 15
Mary Duffin 12
William Duffin 20
Mary Tandy 28

Rose

1861 England Census
about George Daffin
Name: George Daffin
Age: 64
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1797
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: London, England
Civil Parish: Lambeth St Mary
Ecclesiastical parish: Brixton
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Registration district: Lambeth
Sub registration district: Brixton
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 61
Household Members: Name Age
George Daffin 64 Goldsmith

1871 England Census
Name: George W Duffin
Age: 74
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1797
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Lambeth, Surrey, England
Civil Parish: St George The Martyr Southwark
Ecclesiastical parish: St George
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: St Saviour Southwark
Sub registration district: Borough Road
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Household schedule number: 99
Household Members: Name Age
George W Duffin 74

Rose

I think the Swiss legend is looking rather like my Spanish Lady!

My husband's family were convinced he had a connection to R.D. Blackmore who wrote "Lorna Doone"......no!

One of my contacts had a family rumour that we had a connection to the composer Benjamin Britten........no!

My grandfather's grandmother was supposed to be French.......no!

But there wasn't even the slightest hint of a rumour about the really exciting link we had all along to the Earls of Lincoln!

So beware of family stories and wishful thinking. Sometimes there is a grain of truth but they are often based on assumptions due to names being similar. It's the surprising truths which make this game such fun.

Good luck
Sue

Thanks Rose your good at this. Me .......... only been at it for a month maybe i can get better.

To Sue it looking like your correct