Brave, Hardy, Strong ~ 12th great grandmother Margaret (nee Gerard) Lyman

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 24 (HARD TIMES)

I decided I didn't want to focus on hard times this week. 

To be honest I like to look on the sunnier side of life, and rarely focus on difficult/challenging things. 

Over the year I have heard folks say I view the world through rose coloured glasses. 

I'd like to believe I am resilient, and prefer focusing on the positive with an attitude of gratitude ... BUT there is a good chance that I am just not very aware of what is happening around me. 

I believe this is a trait I inherited from my mother. 

Mom was known to be sitting right in the middle of a family conflict, and have absolutely no idea what had happened as folks stormed off and left her sitting there completely bewildered.

It's not a bad trait to focus on the positive, and ignore things that don't fit. It makes living in my head a whole lot easier!

With that in mind I decided to research names that mean resilient or hardy who would be great to have around in HARD TIMES.

I discovered the name Gerard means

"English (chiefly Lancashire) and French (Gérard) : from the personal name Gerard, Gérard, introduced to Britain from France by the Normans; it is composed of the Germanic elements gār, gēr ‘spear’, ‘lance’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’."   1

My maternal 12th great grandmother was
Margaret Gerard
BIRTH 1518 • Beauchamp Roding, Essex, England
DEATH 20 AUG 1580 • Navestock, Essex, England

She married X12 great grandfather
John Lyman
BIRTH ABT. 1516 • Navestock, Essex, England
DEATH 1587 • Navestock, Essex, England

Margaret's parents (X13 great grandparents) were:

William Gerard

BIRTH 1502 • Trent, Somerset, England

DEATH 1562 • Beauchamp, Essex, England
&

Dorothy Paige

BIRTH 1490 • Sudbury Court, Beauchamp, Essex, England

DEATH 1560

I would like to believe the family name Gerard evolved due to the brave/hardy/strong ways of my ancestors.

"...Some surnames derive from personal traits..."  2

When your family descends from a long line of HARDY resilient folks!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Gerard. Family name origins & meanings. Baby Names. Family Education. Retrieved June 14th 2024 from
https://www.familyeducation.com/baby-names/name-meaning/gerard

2  History of Surnames. Historic UK. Retrieved June 14th 2024 from
https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Surnames/#:~:text=Some%20surnames%20derive%20from%20personal,York%2C%20Lancaster%2C%20London%20etc.

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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