My Grandmother, Mary Withnell, born Mary Davies, is the source of my membership in Davidson Clan. Since Withnell is Welsh, and Davies is a very common Welsh name, I had always assumed she was also Welsh. Turns out from family stories and diaries, she came from "Up North" which from Lancaster, where she and Grandpa lived, would be Scotland. During my research, I found documents where her name is spelled three different ways - on the same document in her handwriting! Davies, Davys and Davis, all of which are recognized septs of Davidson. Spelling is just not a reliable way of distinguishing between the origin of similar names in different countries/languages.
Geoff Withnell
"My comrades, they did never yield, for courage knows no bounds."
No longer subject to reveille US Marine.
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