Hi there - some of my surnames are Ayres (Wiltshire), Bassett, Bray, Cox (Hampshire/Wiltshire/Dorset), Golding, Hibberd (Wiltshire), Hickman (Oxfordshire), Hiscock (Wiltshire), Loftus, Martin (Sussex), Peacock, Pearce (Surrey), Plunkett, Smith, Woodcock. Some of these names I've been able to trace back to Ireland and Lancashire.

I was emailing a Romany friend today about Romany surnames and ended up at the Romany & Traveller Family History Society; I found all of the above surnames as possibly Romany on the lists on their website. I have no knowledge of a Romany background; does anyone know how/if I can establish whether these names are Romany or not? Where I'm able to find Census entries, the occupations tend to be blacksmiths, agricultural labourers etc.

I'm adopted and while I've traced my family back, I have no contact with my birth family, so unfortunately I can't pick anyone's brain on this.

Many thanks - any suggestions gratefully received,
Jules
(London, UK