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My 3 X great grandmother was apparently  called Jane Chanchey, she lived in Bangor, Co Down. The surname was written on her daughter's death certificate. I haven't found any reference to the name anywhere in Ireland, so assume it must be a speling mistake.

Has anyone come across this surname before?

 

Thanks

Helen

 

Helen Crawford

Sunday 10th January 2021, 11:23PM
Ireland XO Community
Down
Newtownards (Down)
Bangor (Down)

Message Board Replies

  • I looked in the 1901 Irish census and there’s no-one with that name Chancey anywhere in Ireland, let alone around Bangor. So I agree it’s likely to be inaccurate. There’s a few Clancy households around Bangor. That’s about the nearest I can think of. There were a couple of Janes and a couple of Jennys (which is often the same name).  All the families were Presbyterian, save for 1 Church of Ireland, if that makes any difference.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 11th January 2021, 09:06AM

  • Thanks Elwyn.

    The death certificate was issued in Australia in 1890 - many migrants, many accents.

    Saying the name Chanchey out loud it sound a little like Chance, Chancie or Shannessy.

    Helen Crawford

    Monday 11th January 2021, 11:35PM

  • Chance is again very rare. Just 30 in Ireland in 1901, none in Co Down. Nil Chancie or Chancey anywhere in Ireland. 2 families of Shanessy (In Dublin & Limerick). Nil in Co. Down. Shanessy will be a rare variant of Shaughnessy. 1600 Shaughnessy (many variant spellings) but none in Co. Down. 

    Clancy is the only soundalike I can find that is found in Down, and even then it wasn’t very common.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 12th January 2021, 11:11AM
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