Red Hair, Weasleys and Evanses

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 95752

Ffred wrote:
Evans as a surname is Welsh, but it's not possible to be more specific
than that. It's a surname that comes from the old patronymic system
which was the way we named ourselves down to the 16th century, when
the English system was imposed on us. At that point, if your father
was named "Ifan", your name would have been "ab Ifan" or "Ifan's son"
(if you were Ifan's daughter of course you'd have been "ferch Ifan"),
 
This in turn became either "Evans" or "Bevan" under the English
system. But because there was lots of Ifanses all over the country,
"Evans" isnt
> geographically specific. "Rosier" by contrast originates from South
East Wales. <snip>

Carol:
Interesting that you mention Rosier here: His first name is Evan
(Ifan?). I hope it's coincidence (no connection with the Evanses).
Fortunately, he's dead, so maybe it doesn't matter.

BTW, Evan is yet another variant of John ("God is gracious")--not a
name you'd expect a Death Eater to have.

Carol