A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Derbyshires
In the city directories 1940 · eleven people at five addresses
The directories print eleven people named Derbyshire at five addresses in 1940 in four of the city's neighbourhoods, with the close spelling Darbyshire. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: five Derbyshires at 1154 Pacific in 1940.
Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.
Where the Derbyshires lived
- 1
777 Burrard Street
West End, 1940
- A Derbyshire, a clerk at the BC Government 1940
- Norma P Derbyshire, a stenographer 1940
Next door in 1940: McLean, Rowles & Co hairdrsr's supp at 775 and Irwinton Gro at 779. The block, door by door
- 2
709 Dunsmuir Street
Downtown, 1940
- A Derbyshire, a caretaker at Tunstall Block 1940
Next door in 1940: Cosmetics Godissarts at 705 and Miss M K Brown at 711. The block, door by door
- 3
1154 Pacific Street
West End, 1940
- R W Derbyshire, a plumber 1940
- George F Derbyshire, a factory worker for Coca Cola 1940
- Harry Derbyshire, a mechanic at A W Barber 1940
- Mrs Nellie Derbyshire 1940
- Nellie M Derbyshire, a dressmaker 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs M M Carroll at 1152 and E Thumm at 1164. The block, door by door
- 4
1260 West 15th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- Mrs D G Darbyshire, widow of L C 1940
- Joan Darbyshire, a clerk at the Bank of Montreal 1940
Next door in 1940: H Seabrook at 1246. The block, door by door
- 5
1175 Woodland Drive
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- Thomas J Derbyshire, an announcer at Western Broadcasting 1940
Next door in 1940: W English at 1129 and R W Macfarlane at 1185. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for nine of the eleven: a clerk (2), an announcer, a caretaker, a dressmaker, a factory worker and a mechanic, among others. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in West End (2), Downtown, Fairview and Grandview-Woodland. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.
The story, address by address
In 1940 the directory lists A Derbyshire at 777 Burrard Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Alex Derbyshire there as the householder, a clerk at the BC Government, with Norma P Derbyshire, a stenographer. In 1940 the directory lists A Derbyshire at 709 Dunsmuir Street. The 1940 name section lists Albert Derbyshire there as the householder, a caretaker at Tunstall Block.
In 1940 the directory lists R W Derbyshire at 1154 Pacific Street; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section lists Richard W Derbyshire there as the householder, a plumber, with George F Derbyshire, a factory worker for Coca Cola, Harry Derbyshire, a mechanic at A W Barber, Mrs Nellie Derbyshire, and Nellie M Derbyshire, a dressmaker. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs D G Darbyshire at 1260 West 15th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Dorothy G Darbyshire there as the householder, widow of L C, with Joan Darbyshire, a clerk at the Bank of Montreal.
The 1940 name section lists Thomas J Derbyshire at 1175 Woodland Drive, an announcer at Western Broadcasting.
Today
777 Burrard still has its building from before 1946, dated 1912 by the City's record; the City no longer lists 709 Dunsmuir, 1154 Pacific, 1260 West 15th and 1175 Woodland Drive, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 15 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Derbyshire A777 Burrard, p. 22
- Derbyshire Alex clk BC Govt777 Burrard, p. 157
- Derbyshire Norma P sten777 Burrard, p. 157
- Derbyshire A709 Dunsmuir, p. 47
- Derbyshire Albt caretkr Tunstall Blk709 Dunsmuir, p. 157
- *Derbyshire R W1154 Pacific, p. 124
- Derbyshire Geo F fctywkr Coca Cola1154 Pacific, p. 157
- Derbyshire Harry mech A W Barber1154 Pacific, p. 157
- Derbyshire Mrs Nellie1154 Pacific, p. 157
- Derbyshire Nellie M drsmkr1154 Pacific, p. 157
- Derbyshire Richd W plmbr1154 Pacific, p. 157
- *Darbyshire Mrs D G1260 West 15th, p. 219
- Darbyshire Dorothy G wid L C1260 West 15th, p. 147
- Darbyshire Joan clk Bk of Mont1260 West 15th, p. 147
- Derbyshire Thos J announcer Western Broadcasting1175 Woodland Drive, p. 157
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Derbyshires
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Derbyshire name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.
We're opening orders soon. Join the list to be first in line; we expect about $29 a family.
Another name, or a house
Sources
Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under D. Want a name removed? Tell us.