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Carpal Tunnel
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Surprising that there aren't more Farmers than Smiths.
Not really, if you think about it. Family names derived from names that were added to distinguish one, e.g., John from another. You might have John the Smith to distinguish him from John the Miller, but John the Farmer to distinguish him from John the Other Farmer? That would be John the Black to distinguish him from John the Short because the one was exceptionally dark complected and the other only 4' 3".
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Joined: Jul 2000
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old hand
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old hand
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I think Davis is of Jewish origin.
Really? My dad always said that it was Welsh. The only coat of arms we could find were, I think, Welsh and South African. (Not totally sure.) And I think my dad's side of the family is all Methodist. Aren't there very strong Jewish rules to pass on the religion to the next generation?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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["Oooo, 'ullo, Jackie! Wot you doin' 'ere?" emoticon]
Well--I do come from a family of farmers...and a certain good friend of mine has a family history of tramping, but.
'Nuff said, I think.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Welsh Davis or Davies
Well, Jazz, thinking about that some more, it may be a lot more dangerous for me to generalise about the States, as orthogrphy may have made more liberal changes and switches, with the 'melting pot' effects of migration. It would be interesting to know more. I certainly know there was disproportionately high emigration from Wales relative to the population numbers - quite a lot from the port of Cardigan where I live now - and probably much like Ireland in that sense (depressed rural economy etc). If you get to know more, please share.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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generalise about the States, as orthography may have made more liberal changes and switches, with the 'melting pot' effects of migration.
I knew a fellow with the fine old German name Icenogle. We figured it was an Ellis Island clerk's rendition of Eisennagel
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Welsh emigration
As you are probably aware, immigrants tended to clump in certain areas on arrival in the US. The little community of Delta, Pennsylvania, which is right on the Pennsylvania-Maryland border not far from Baltimore, is almost entirely inhabited by descendants of Welsh immigrants who came to work in the slate quarries. Delta supplied a good part of the slate used in the mid-Atlantic states for roofs and other building purposes for many years, until slate was largely replaced by asphalt shingles. The Deltans (Deltites?) still seem to try to keep up ties to the mother country; a couple years ago I saw an announcement of a concert by a Welsh men's choir who had been brought to Baltimore by a club in Delta.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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veteran
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veteran
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common surnames
One of my favorite uncommon names was that of one of my professors in college: Dr. Adolph Katzenellenbogen. It's not only unusual, it's downright musical. Not Welsh, for sure. (for the benefit of other Awaders and ayleurs, "Katzenellenbogen" is German for "cat's elbow".
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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is almost entirely inhabited by descendants of Welsh immigrants who came to work in the slate quarries.
Amazing what people will do for fun, isn't it?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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old hand
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old hand
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> Katzenellenbogen
I've met a Jewish family before with the surname Hundegeburt (or dog's birth); was Herr Katzenellenbogen also Jewish per chance?.
A name that left me absolutely speechless was a bloke's called Axel Schweiss. The names on their own are relatively harmless and common too, but together they mean armpit sweat!
Down the road there's a 'Fleischmarkt Fuck' but it's pronounced differently. In a small town I onced passed though I did spy a Frau Fick though!
btw the most common surnames in Germany are to my knowledge Schmidt followed by Meyer (only this spelling) and Müller.
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Carpal Tunnel
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is almost entirely inhabited by descendants of Welsh immigrants who came to work in the slate quarries.
Amazing what people will do for fun, isn't it?
Reckon they did what they knew, right, mav?
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