Just as some surnames are pronounced differently by branches of the family in different areas, the subject of "Jervis or Jarvis" is regularly raised.

Jervis Bay was named in 1791 by Lt Richard Bowen after the British Admiral, Sir John Jervis (1735-1823) who is best known for being in command of the British Fleet at the Battle of St Vincent in 1797.

After that battle he was created an earl, to be known as Earl St Vincent, but earlier in his career he had served alongside Captain James Cook at the siege of Quebec in 1759.

During 1928, Mr Jervis Manton wrote the the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Sir Littleton Groom) about the growing inclination in Australia to mispronounce the name of Jervis Bay.

He claimed to be descended from the original Jervis, and asked the Speaker to do what he could to maintain the correct pronunciation, "Jervis".

When controversy raged on the subject during 1972, the State Member for South Coast Jack Beale (who was also Minister for Environment Control) sought to have it clarified by the Geographical Names Board of NSW.

While not giving a definitive answer, the GNB's response in January 1973 was that once a place name had been established in this State, its pronunciation would be determined "by popular usage" which it said was "Jarvis".

However during that month Shoalhaven Shire Council confirmed a previous resolution that the correct pronunciation was "Jervis".

In the meantime, developer Warren Halloran who was with his father before him had taken great interest in the history of Jervis Bay and perpetuated names from the Battle of St Vincent in Vincentia street names, decided to go to the source.

He contacted the then current Viscount St Vincent in England, Ronald George James Jervis was advised that the family had always pronounced the name as it was spelt, "Jervis".

Viscount St Vincent provided Mr Halloran with an extract from the family tree that showed the large overlap between generations which made it almost impossible for the pronunciation of the family name to change.

While working in England in 1998, former South Coast Register journalist Alex Arnold was corrected by a former Royal Navy man who was adamant that he should be saying "Jarvis" Bay.

Graham French, formerly of 2ST said he had been guided by former colleague, the late Greg Toohey, who he said had been "obsessed with it".

Toohey's research led him to believe it was Jervis Bay, and French followed suit, although he had occasionally been corrected by naval people.

Former ABC television newsreader, Richard Morecroft, who now lives in vicinity of Jervis Bay, agrees.

He said he had been guided by the Standing Committee on Spoken English (SCOSE), although he believed it to be the preferred pronunciation rather than mandatory.

Former Shoalhaven Tourism manager Tom Phillips also said that on April 6, 1992 at the declaration of the Jervis Bay National Park, the then Australian Environment Minister, Ros Kelly confirmed the pronunciation of Jervis Bay as it is spelt.

So, Jervis it is.