Romany Gipsy Connections Family History Website (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Monday, April 30, 2012, 22:57 (4667 days ago) @ Jefff

Hi again Alex,
Googling the above I found this site which maybe of interest to you, I think it lists those people from the 1881 UK Census who appear to have Romany connections.
http://theromany.weebly.com/1881-census-for-gypsy-and-gipsy-all-counties.html

The reason Google found this site for me was it found this Tippins, the only one on the whole site and in our area, is he any relation/ancestor to you ??

"William Tippins , Bc 1867 Mitchel Dean, Gloucestershire, England Adapted Son Newland, Gloucestershire."

I assume this should maybe read "Adopted Son" ?

Google also found this old Rootslink thread which maybe of interest, interestingly wrt the above it discusses Tippins as Romany sweeps in the Forest. It also lists some old census returns of Tippins households in the Ruardean hence Walford areas.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,555069.msg4084411.html

It opens "i came across an article called 'Gypsies in the Forest of Dean' the lady who wrote it said "A lot of gypsies camped in the Forest especially over the winter. A favourite place was the woods behind Crump Meadow Colliery. My Dad remembers three families, the Tingles, Tippins and Tingles. He knows a good bit of Romany from playing with the children."

That article also mentions a painting by Bernard Ninnes called 'The Severn near Lydney' which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1936. It shows some gaily-painted gypsy caravans with the Severn in the background, search the net and you'll find an image. It's likely the location "near Lydney" refers to Viney Hill, which was a popular spot for The King of the Gypsies' Xavier Petulengro who is buried at Viney Hill church, which has apparently always been known as the Gypsies Church. He was a horse trader, violinist, writer, broadcaster and an astrologer. His paternal Grandfather was Jasper Petulengro, immortalised in George Borrows books 'Lavengro' and 'The Romany Rye'. The name Petulengro means Blacksmith.
https://www.sungreen.co.uk/Viney_Hill/Gypsy_King.html
https://www.sungreen.co.uk/Viney_Hill/Gypsy_King.html

Another comment was " Try Tappin(s). I remember somewhere that this is a variation on Tapsell (Gypsy). Given the degree of illiteracy, a small change of accent can sometimes be the key."

Searching this site's PRs for these gives
Year Surname First Name Event Parish/Chapel More detail
1901 TAPSELL Daisy Gertrude Baptism Christchurch More detail
1904 TAPSELL Lilian May Baptism Christchurch More detail
1936 TAPSILL Ada Burial Christchurch More detail
1924 TAPSELL Daisy Gertrude Marriage Christchurch More detail
1939 TAPSELL May Lillian Marriage Christchurch More detail
1797 TAPPIN Robert Baptism Staunton near Newent More detail
1917 TAPPENS Gerard William Baptism Drybrook More detail
1917 TAPPENS Iris Eva Baptism Drybrook More detail

???

In the unlikely event you haven't already searched this forum, this prior thread re Romanies discusses the Ruardean Tippins & will hopefully be of interest. One poster comments "All the Tippins that I could find were born in the Forest but some did move to Wales.... I was sent some info on the Tippins family by some family who emigrated to New Zealand."
https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=19512

I hope at least some of this is of interest.
It all suggests to me that yes Tippins may well be a Romany name.

atb Jeff