I started this project in order to answer the little one's questions.

I also thought it would be relatively easy, as I have an unusual surname, and it originates from Aberdeenshire, in Scotland.

How wrong can you be?

With help, I traced my own family back from Aberdeen to Tyneside, North-East England. It was from there that William Fenwick Bavidge had originated and explained the Fenwick name in his Aberdeen ancestors.

Further tracing, to determine William's parents and siblings, showed that his ancestors had travelled to Tyneside from Hampshire, in the south of England, via Cornwall, having originated in Devon!

So, not only were my ancestors not Scottish, they were actually Cornish, and my name had evolved from Babbage.

So, with the only consolation that I was still a Celt, I tried to unravel the source of my so-called unique surname.

I found Bavidges, Babbages, Bavages, Babbidges, Baveges, Babages all around the world.

The Aberdeen side did not know of the Tyneside connection. The Tyneside family did not know of the Aberdeen and Cornwall connection.

The Hampshire Bavages did not know any of the others.

None of us knew of the Avery and Rodda connection.

So here we are, at the beginning of the search.

 In the following pages you will find my accrued data.

I have used it to complete previously unknown connections in my own family tree, and I hope you may find it useful in your own researches.

Valerie Bavidge-Richardson.