The above picture is a cut out from the Temps Passe Section in the local newspaper in Jersey called the Jersey Evening Post or otherwise known as the ‘J.E.P.’ It was this little piece of history from 1916 that started my quest into my family history. Being a ‘Davey’ myself I was curious to find out if I was related to Captain William Davey. I have yet to find out the exact connection. As you can see I cut the piece out of the paper on the 17th January 1991.
THE NAME: DAVEY
Spelling variations: Davie, Davey, Davy
The origins of the name are apperently Celtic. Common in England and Scotland, but particularly common in Wales where I have been told that ‘Davey means ‘friendly’ or ‘darling’‘. I have found no Welsh connection yet.
If you are interested to see the distribution of this name in 1881 then go to the following link: www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk . It appears most often in the towns of Exeter and Truro, England.
I have managed to get back as far as 1821 with my Davey family. When they arrived in Jersey and where from I have yet to find out? This is what I have found out so far…
24 July 1821 – William Davy & Mary de France baptised their son Isaac William. The God parents are William Leto & Catherine de France. Catherine de France is very possibly Mary’s sister. (details from Baptism Book for St. Helier)
MY DAVEY ANCESTORS
John Davey – born circa 1760
***
William Davy – was born c.1790 in West Coker, Somerset, England. At some point he was working as a Carter. His wife was Mary de France. He died in Jersey. Their children were:
Rachel Mary Davey – 1813
Mary Ann Davey – b.1819
Isaac William Davey – b.1821
(William) George Davey – b.1826
*****
Isaac William Davey (1821) married Ann (Nancy) Le Breton. Their children were:
Isaac William Davey – b.1851
Cpt. William Davey – b.1852 (is this the Captain mentioned in the article above?)
Ann ‘Annie’ Elizabeth Davey – b.1855
Mary Frances Davey – b.1856
Esther Davey – b.1856
Celia Davey – b.1862
Matilda Davey – b.1863
Selina Davey – b.1869
Interesting note: The age gap was so big between the oldest child Isaac to his youngest sibling Selina, that at the age of 18, Isaac is recorded as being her godparent on the baptism records!
Isaac William Davey (1851) married Ellenora Goodge (Eleanore Goudge). Their children were:
Isaac Davey – b.1877
James Davey – b.1879
Elenora Davey – b.1881
George Perchard Davey – b.1885 (my great grandfather)
Violet May Davey – b.1893 (Violet married Willroy Bryant)
***
George Perchard Davey (1885) married twice. His first wife was Ada Margaret Barette. His second wife was Clara Lozuet (my great grandmother). George and Ada apparently had five children. I have only been able to find out about one of them:
George Davey – b.1911
George and Clara’s child was:
Kenneth George Davey – b.1924 (My grandfather)
***
Kenneth Davey married Grace Rabet. Their children are:
Susan Davey (my mother)
and 8 other children.
My Channel Island Ancestry 
Hi Mo you should have spelt Davy as you have put 2 Davey’
Yes, you are absolutely right, i will fix that. Thanks for checking it out for me. In fact in 1821 our ancestor’s surname is spelt without an ‘e – William Davy who married Mary De France.
Hi Romona,
You may know this by now, but thought I would post just in case.
Website the island wiki.org has Jersey wills which is helpful when searching Davey.
It states William Davey 58 David place St Helier 04/04/1913 bequeaths joint shares in the schooner “Rose” to
Matilda Davey, Sarah Ann Davey, Adelaide Louisa Davey, and Doris Matilda Le Boutillier.
Thanks Karen. In 1916, the search for the Schooner Rose was abandoned. Sadly, it went missing on it’s way to Newfoundland.
Elenora Davey married Henry Adolphus Beuchet 22/04/1900 Henry was a baker. They are my paternal grandmother’s parents. I believe Elenora died before second world war, my father remembers visiting her with his mother, on one of the last boats before the Nazis came. My grandmother was born 30/07/1900. She might have been Florence Elenora known as ‘Nora’.
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for visiting my family history blog https://channelislandancestry.com/.
Yes, Henry was a baker My details show Elenora was born in St. Helier, Jersey on 16th April 1881, then baptised 15th May. Elenora’s Davey’s death as 1908 Brentford, Middlesex. She was 27 years old. Which means her daughter (your granddaughter) Elenora Florence Beuchet AKA Nora was only about 7 years old when she lost her mother. Please do not hesitate to let me know if my details are incorrect. Kind regards, Ramona
We are looking for any family connections to Janet Davey born in the 1940’s and her daughter Salley-Ann, living in Guernsey in the 1960’s, any information would be greatly appreciated and treated with the utmost sensitivity, thank you
hi mo , if you need some pictures of pop’s i have a few. by the way it is the anniversary of his passing, today, 3rd jan.
ronnie
Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for your message, I have been up to the Jersey Crematorium with mum today and taken a photo of the message to pop (Ken) in the Book of Remembrance on the Anniversary of his death two years ago today.
Ramona
Hi Ramona
I am researching my own family and have a Davy in it! Marie Davy was married to my great great great great great grandfather Francois HELLO (1732-1787). I don’t have dates for Marie. The Hello family come from Ploeuc, Cote du Nord, Brittany, France. My grandfather Victor Francois Marie Hello (1883-1953) went across to Jersey in 1900 and met my grandmother Aline Marie Joseph Rabaste (1883-1962) there. She also went from the same area of Brittany to Jersey as a 19 year old. Both my parents were born in Jersey. Dad was Albert Georges Louis Guernier (1913-2005), Mum was Aline Victorine Hello (1910-2010). I’ve been researching for more than 25 years now and absolutely love it! Currently I’m creating a Family History book for my children and grandchildren which will include not only family trees, but information, photos and documents for both sides of their family (ie my husband and I), using our eight grandparents as a starting point and going in both directions. It’s quite a task, not made any easier by my not speaking French! My older brother and sister were born in Jersey, but I and my younger sister were born in England and then we emigrated to Africa in 1956. We now live in Australia – well travelled, as so many Jersey people have done for generations.
Best wishes, Annette
Hi Annette,
Thank you for stopping by My Channel Island Ancestry!
As far as I know My Davey’s were originally Davis and from Somerset, England. But I do know from my visits to Brittany, Cotes Du Nord that the name Davy is on the headstones in many of the cemeteries.
Your grandmother was Aline Rabaste went to Jersey at the age of 19 which wokrs out as 1902 – this was a time when many Breton workers travelled to Jersey for the farming season. Some stayed, some returned to France. Here is an interesting post about the Bretons and Jersey:
http://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org/collection/Details/archive/110077307?rank=5
The Jersey Archives have just advertised that some of their records are now available online to order and pay for. Here is a link of Aline as an example:
http://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org/collection/Details/archive/110077307?rank=5
As I am also based in Australia, I have recently ordered some for myself and they were such a wonderful resource, especially those with photos. You may already know about this. 🙂
I am so pleased you are researching your family tree and are enjoying it as do I.
I do wonder if my ancestors travelled over on the same boat as yours. It is very possible that they knew each other as they all came from the same town of Ploeuc.
Have you ever been to Jersey?
Do you know where your ancestors were buried because there is a very good Facebook page called Jersey Family Tree where one of the members has taken photos of most of the headstones in the cemeteries around Jersey. I could have a look for you or you could join.
Regards Ramona 🙂
Hi
I have just started to research my family tree and came across your site and I think we have the same tree. I am researching my late grandmothers family as I don’t know much about them. Her name was Margaret Rose Slous nee Davey. Her father was Clarence James Davey. She had siblings named Basil, Eunice, Jennifer, and Susan (who I think might be your mother)
If you have any more info on the family I would be really grateful
Hi Rachel,
We are on the same tree I am glad to say. Clarence James Davey b. 1910 was the cousin of my grandfather Kenneth George Davey b.1924. Clarence’s father Isaac (1877) was the older brother of Kenneth’s father George Perchard Davey (1885). 🙂
There is a photo of Clarence at the Jersey war Tunnels.
Ramona
Hi Ramona
Thanks for the info. I will try and find the photo of Clarence at the Jersey war Tunnels..would be great to put a face to the name!
Hi Mona, this. Probably isn’t very important, but when I was in Wales a while back , I went in a kilt shop cause Dennis being McIntyre, and the shop assistant told me that originally Davey was spelt Davy, but because years ago people couldn’t spell, over the years , a E was slipped in to Davey lol, love to family xx
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment. Davy without an ‘e’ is also the way the french spell our surname.
Hello. My name is James Davey and I am descended from a line of Daveys/Davys
who came from various villages in Somerset going back to the 1600’s . Don’t know if there is a connection but you may care to check out the ”my heritage” web site. good luck.
Hi I believe the name Davey comes form Norway and parts of Northen france possible Viking connections my Ancestors were from Exmouth Devon
Hi H. Davey,
This is interesting to know. I have only got as far back as Somerset, West Coker with my Davey family but I’ve been told we are possibly from Cornwall and that Davey is a Welsh surname meaning ‘friendly!’ 🙂
Hi Ramona I am not sure about the E being added as I live in Port Talbot south wales where there are family’s called Davey and Davy to this day .
Humphry Davy made the miners Lamp in 1815 .
Hi Howard,
I believe both spellings are still being used and there will be families that are connected but use different spellings.
Searching for my maternal grandfather’s family. His name was Tommy linsley Davey and he was born about the 1900’s. He was an engine train driver and worked in Nigeria in the railway cooperation. He left Nigeria during the 2nd world war
I only know aside from his name that he was from Plymouth, Devon, England
Anyone with useful information please contact me