The Neaven Family Journey from 1800 to Present Day

I started my research about 4 years ago trying to trace the NEAVEN, PURVIS line, mainly out of curiosity to see if I had any rich/famous or infamous ancestors. To date I have not found either! What I have found are ancestors from nearly all regions of the United Kingdom, except Wales (at present)

The first NEAVEN I found was in the 1851 UK census, but the name was spelt NEVIN. The family were from Ireland but I do not know the location so I cannot trace them back any further at present.The first PURVIS I found was in the 1841 UK census.Although they were all from Northumberland in England, their respective parents were all from the Borders region of Scotland

Most of my family ancestors made their living from farming, some worked in factories in Lancashire when the woollen mills were in full swing and some came to England from Ireland during the potato famine and settled in Northumberland.

I have enjoyed finding out about them all, even if I did follow the wrong 'trail' a few times (lots of them gave the same first names to their children) which caused me a bit of confusion at times.

Through my research I have managed to get in touch with family members I had never met before, some of which are 'doing the family tree' as well. So it has been rewarding as well as satisfying. I will continue to build the family tree as we expand as a family.

Family Photos

• John Neaven & Mary Alice Whittle 1900 (36 KB)
  John & Mary are on the right as you look at their wedding photo
• Francis Purvis & Agnes Isabella Black (35 KB)
  C 1925 taken at Berwick. NBL.

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• InterneTree: All-in-One Tree of Robert PURVIS


• All-in-One Tree of Edward NEVIN (PDF Format)


• All-in-One Tree of Robert PURVIS (PDF Format)


• Report: Kinship of Robert PURVIS (View PDF)


• Report: Kinship of Edward NEVIN (View PDF)