Monday 5th August brought another interesting session with BBC Radio Solent on the wonderful Lou Hannan Show. You can hear the show here Lou Hannan Show (I come on at about 1hr 23 mins)
DNA
We kicked off with Lou’s DNA Results, freshly back courtesy of Ancestry and my mate Brad Argent (@brad_argent on X).
Lou sounded just a little nervous on what the test may reveal, what would we find hidden in there? Perhaps a dash of Viking?
We also discussed some of the things like traits that show up with a greater or lesser degree of accuracy in the Nature vs Nurture blend that makes us what we are. Can you smell a weird smell after you’ve eaten Asparagus? Well that’s in your genes!
How can your DNA help you build your Family Tree? Will you find living relations? Can a man with a Cockney accent pronounce “Thrulines” (TM Ancestry) correctly?
Surnames
Always keen to put me on the spot we had a couple of completely unexpected surnames thrown on the table from listeners. Initially stumped by “Mothersole” other than it sounded Old English and probably associated with Staffordshire, subsequent digging shows the name was indeed derived from Middle English, from, effectively a bout of mild swearing, an oath:
“bi min moderes soule!” – “by my mother’s soul!”
With some association with Staffordshire and Norfolk, but perhaps originating in Yorkshire.
The next was another odd one, “Harrild” probably related to “Harold” was it a Danish name? The answer was that it may have been at one time, more likely in the UK to have come from Argyllshire in Western Scotland.
Stillborn Children
There was a poignant discussion around trying to trace the burial of Stillborn children, which can be a tough job to trace depending on when and where the child was born. If before the 1980s it can be difficult to find the records, either the hospital may not be able to find them, or the funeral Director used by the Hospital may not be in business anymore, so finding the right cemetery may be hard.
How Far Can You Go?
A caller was frustrated with records for the Taskers of Tyso, how do you get back beyond the 1500s? The answer may lie in Tithes and Wills.
China
Finally we had a mystery ancestor who disappeared in China sometime in the 1920s; how do you go about finding a death certificate for such a person?
We never have a lot of time in a Radio slot, but we managed to pack a lot in again.
The Whacky World of Local Radio!
As I left the studio I was replaced by a procession of young Rhythmic Gymnasts who trooped in, ready to perform with Lou on the Radio Solent Facebook page . As I drove away back to Hamble with top down on the car and Sun shining , I heard Lou on my car radio being told by the trainer of the young Gymnasts as they prepared to start jumping around with her that she had got a bit old for the floor work at the ripe old age of 25!!!! (I was happy to leave that session to Lou 🙂
Travelling Through Time to Trace Your Ancestors 