What's in a Name!

Lets face it people have trouble with our name. How many times do you have to repeat it? How often do you have to spell it? They get it wrong even then! I have been a Russian, a Rushton, but more regularly a Rushden.

It would appear it has always been like that but more understandable with the many county accents, probably a bit thicker than they are now.

At Ashen in the 15th century they were quite happy to spell it Rushen but in the 16th century in nearby Bulmer it was Russian. At the same time in Rivenhall it was Rushen and Russian, whilst on the River Crouch it was Rushing. As we move to the River Thames and Benfleet we get a terrible mix, Rushin, Rushen and Rushing.

Further North in the parish records of All Saints, Dilhorne, Staffordshire during the early seventeen hundreds there are entries for a John Rushen and his wife Mary who become Rushton's. In nearby Longdon by Lichfield in 1760 George is a Rushton, by 1762 he is a Rushen, 1764 a Rusher and from then on everybody is a Rushton.

In the village of Great Bedwyn Wiltshire in the 1700's we find the name Rishin. As you follow the branch it becomes Rushant & Rushent. The village is so close to Ramsbury and Ogbourne St. George where Rushen was common, is this another variation.

Maybe with the wonder of DNA we can find out if we all link or not?

Was Their Name Rushen?

Rushan
Joseph, son of Thomas and Mary was christened in 1799 at the Foleshill Independant Chapel for Dissenting Protestants, Foleshill.

Russian
Burials at St. Andrew Bulmer between 1731 and 1740, John, Guilelmas, Elizabeth, Susana,William and Isaac.
Hannah, daughter of Hannah Hariot, was christened at Rivenhall in 1799.

Rushin
Elizabeth was buried at Benfleet in 1770 and Judith in 1779.
Private Rushin served in the West Indies from 1795 but his name is also spelt Russian.

Rushing
Mary wife of John was buried at St. Mary the Virgin, Burnham on Crouch in 1702.
John was buried at St. Leonard, Southminster in 1707.
James, a widower, married Elizabeth Clark at South Benfleet in 1780.
Thomas was sentenced at the Marlborough Quarter Sessions in 1792.

Rushon
Elizabeth Rushon given as the wife of John, Bury St. Edmunds in 1690.
Patience was born to John and Mary in 1812.