Genetics, descent and Re: Mark Evans

[dj_bagshaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 86139

> Pip!Squeak:
> Thank you, I've read them. As for 'we've covered this topic' -
> if you can repeat your arguments, I can repeat mine [grin].  
> 
> Your theory is that Mark Evans is a distant cousin of Harry Potter. 
> There is *no*, NO canon evidence that Mark Evans is in any way 
> related to Harry Potter.  
> 
> Evan, for those who don't know, is the Welsh language form of John. 
> The spelling 'Evan' dates from about the 15th Century - 'Ifan' is 
an 
> alternate spelling.
> 
> To say that because two people have the surname 'Evans' they are 
> related is roughly as provable as arguing that two people 
> called 'Johnson' are related. They might be. But they might well 
> have no ancestry in common *at all* - the surname is derived from 
> the ancestor's given name. The 'Evan' who gave his name to Mark's 
> family line could well be a completely different person from 
> the 'Evan' who gave his name to Lily's family line.
<huge snip>


Now Kate:  

There may be no canon evidence that Mark Evans isn't Harry's 
relative, but there certainly isn't any evidence that he isn't, 
either.  The point is, JKR *rarely* puts information like this in her 
books just for it's own sake.  

Take book one for instance:  there is one very quick mention of old 
Mrs. Figg, and an even *briefer* mention later in book four...but 
neither of these were mistakes.  Mrs. Figg is turning into an 
important character in the series...I expect we'll see much more of 
her in the future.

I would also like to add (as I am sure people before me have) that 
JKR loves her names...and Mark Evans just seems like too common of a 
name for it to be just a coincidence.  Why would she re-use the Evans 
surname?  I have heard her say in interviews (sorry, don't have a 
reference...I believe it was 20/20) that when she hears a name she 
thinks is interesting she writes it in a notevook, and every time she 
writes a new character she consults her little book.  I'm sure the 
name "Mark Evans" wasn't in her little book of names...especially 
when the Evans name has already been used (sorry, no canon for 
this...but I don't believe there have been any other instances of 
reusing names in the Potter series unless a family relationship was 
present).

Reusing such a common surname just isn't like Rowling...she did it 
for a reason.  This is just too inconsistant with her past writing 
style to be a coincidence.  I believe JKR left us this hint on 
purpose...whether it was a red herring or not will remain to be 
seen.  

~Kate (who was unconvinced of a Mark-Harry relationship when it was 
first proposed, but becomes more and more convinced every time she 
hears it).