Genealogy - English emigration records?

Hi all,

I have been tracing my family history for several years now.  We were shocked to see my g-g-g-grandfather list on 2 different U.S. censuses that his place of birth was England.  We always thought that side of the family was 100% German.  I know nothing about what is available as far as English genealogy records.  Wondering if there is a British emigration index (like the huge Wuerttemberg Emigration Index for Germany)?

Here's what I have.  Hoping someone can perhaps point me in the right direction:

Name: Henry A. LEAMAN  (no idea what the "A" stands for)
Born:  About 1808, in England
Emigrated to New York sometime before 1846
Occupation in the US:  piano and organ maker

I guess England isn't like some other nations where you can tell what region a person is from by looking at their surname, right?

TIA,
Jeannie

Yes, roughly.  Search the 1881 census at

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp

If you search with exact spelling, you see a definite association with Devon.

Good luck in your research.

Jim

I guess England isn't like some other nations where you can tell what region a person is from by looking at their surname, right?

"By Tre, Pol, Rath, and Pen,
So ye shall know the Cornishmen."

"By Tre, Pol, Rath, and Pen,
So ye shall know the Cornishmen."

Ok Saf, I give up.  I have not the foggiest clue what that means.

It means that you *can* sometimes tell what region someone comes from by their surname!

It means that you *can* sometimes tell what region someone comes from by their surname!

Exactly.  Someone named, for example, Penreath, or Tregarth, most likely has Cornish ancestry.

Well, civil records did not begin in the UK until 1837, if memory serves me, so it will be even harder to find him if he was born in 1808. Before 1837, there were only parish records, and those were only kept by the Church of England, so if he was Jewish or Catholic, it will be even harder still to trace him.

If at all possible, dig around in the US to find out more detail about where in England he was born. Try the Mormons. They keep great records!

I guess England isn't like some other nations where you can tell what region a person is from by looking at their surname, right?

I'd be happy to email you the entry for "Leaman" in the British Surname Atlas - 1881.  I would put it in this post, but can't figure out how...  This is the only part that came out for cut & paste...


ID   County   Actual <   per 100,000
9   Devonshire   329   54
24   Middlesex   71   2
20   Kent   23   2
35   Surrey   22   2
45   Yorks W.Riding   21   1
43   Yorks E.Riding   21   7
13   Gloucestershire   19   3
93   Guernsey   12   38
21   Lancashire   11   0
38   Warwickshire   10   1
33   Suffolk   10   3
27   Norfolk   10   2
44   Yorks N.Riding   9   3
14   Hampshire   8   2
40   Wiltshire   7   3
34   Somerset   7   1
89   Monmouthshire   6   3
32   Shropshire   6   2
41   Worcestershire   5   1
36   Sussex   4   1
6   Cornwall   4   1
3   Berkshire   4   2
86   Glamorgan   3   1
94   Jersey   2   4
25   City of London   2   4
23   Lincolnshire   2   0
7   Cumberland   2   1
5   Cheshire   2   0
85   Flintshire   1   1
64   Midlothian   1   0
56   Dunbartonshire   1   1
18   Isle of Man   1   2
12   Essex   1   0
1   Bedfordshire   1   1

Thanks Garry!

I think I've reached a brick wall though.  None of the US records ever list the town of origin for foreign-born people.  It says simply "England" on all of his records. I understand that civil registries did not begin in England until long after the time of his birth (around 1808).  And unfortunately, "Leaman" isn't uncommon enough to effectively narrow down a parish. 
Thanks for checking though!

StuzGirl, have you thought of trying to find his death certificate?  Sometimes it lists the actual place of birth.  My great-grandfather was born in Carlinghow, York, which I only know from his death cert. (we always thought he was born in Scotland, but no, it was my great-great-grandfather and back from him.)

Good luck!

My grandfather did 15yrs of research and put it together for my family. It was his retirement project. I found and reread it the other day. I have significant English ancestory - in Manchester even!! I was quite impressed. Needless to say, I'm bringing it to share w/ Jmaster's family.

That's only one side though, maybe I should take up my other side

StuzGirl, have you thought of trying to find his death certificate?  Sometimes it lists the actual place of birth.  My great-grandfather was born in Carlinghow, York, which I only know from his death cert. (we always thought he was born in Scotland, but no, it was my great-great-grandfather and back from him.)

Tried that - everything everywhere seems to say just plain ol' "England."   

I really wish there was an emigration index like they had in Wurttemberg (Germany).  Oh well.
Thanks for the ideas!

In your searching have you found any information about his sibling's or wife's families?  Maybe you could use their names to help you narrow down the area.

If you're really stuck I could have my husband talk with one of his employees next week.  She's been doing genealogy for a long time, and has recently started her own business (we're her first customer!).  She might be able to give me some ideas of where to look.  I don't know if she's done any work with the UK, but it could be worth a shot.

Stuz-girl, I did a search on the FamilySearch Internet and found the below listing on IGI (International Genealogical Index)

HENRY LEAMAN     
     Male         
         
Event(s):
   Birth:     
01 SEP 1800      
   Christening:     
28 DEC 1806      Uffculme, Devon, England
   Death:
   Burial:
         
Parents:
     Father:     HENRY LEAMAN    Family
     Mother:     ANNE    
   
Messages:
   Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.
            
Source Information:
   Batch No.:     Dates:     Source Call No.:     Type:     Printout Call No.:     Type:
   C052041     1542 - 1837     0917548      Film     0883614      Film
   Sheet: 00

Any of the other names look familar?

Thanks for the great info Jennydee.  Unfortunately, I have no info on his parents; only on his descendents.  I think he's my brick wall.
He came to the USA as a single man in the early-1840s.  He met and married a woman named Lydia Waters from New Jersey.  They settled in Manhattan where he became an organ-maker.