Introduction

This one-name study has evolved from initial research into the Voysey family in and around the County of Devon. Early in the course of that study it became clear that the various name variants were virtually interchangeable within families and for individuals themselves. As a result data for all name variants was collected. From there it was a small step to broaden the research to a full one-name study although a considerable leap in terms of scale of commitment. Like most one-name studies, this was only conceivable for such a relatively unusual surname. ( e.g. In the 1861 UK Census there were 565 individuals, rising to 883 in the 1891 returns and according to the 2002 Database for National statistics 1367 for the four main name variants - it also interesting to note how the breakdown between the variants has changed over time (see Demography).

This project has been undertaken, on and off, over the last twenty years. For most of that time in isolation, although recently with a degree of collaboration of distant relatives. In recent years the advent of the web has demonstrated the huge interest generally in genealogy and in particular the surprisingly numerous requests for information and references to the family. The launch of this website, even in its infancy, has generated numerous contacts with far distant family members.

This website is intended, not only, to provide a forum for sharing information but also to act act as a common repository for all information relating to the VOISEY,VOIZEY,VOYSEY & VOYZEY families.

If you are interested in, or are already engaged in researching the name, or just wish to find out more about the VOISEY,VOIZEY,VOYSEY & VOYZEY families please use the links. All contributions to building this knowledge base are not only welcome but greatly appreciated.

The majority of the information (although not exclusively) collected so far relates to the UK and therefore further work is necessary to tie in the various family branches around the world. Within the UK all indications point to the family being firmly rooted in the Westcountry and in particular the County of Devon (see Demography)

This website was launched in April 2007. It will be some time before it contains more than just a fraction of the family information so far collected.