Krueger Scottish?

**macwilkin** · 5th December 06, 08:37 AM

Gary,

A very interesting post, to be sure -- reminds me of my MIL's surname, Melancon, which is a French Acadien/Cajun surname which is believed to have originated in either Scotland or England as Melanson, Millanson, etc. In fact, Melanson is traditionally associated with Clan MacMillan.

And, one more thing to consider: many German surnames were "Americanized" during the First World War as a result of the anti-German hysteria that also changed sauerkraut into "liberty cabbage" and dachshunds into "liberty hounds" -- for example, the American "ace" Eddie Rickenbacker changed his name from the more German "Rickenbacher" in 1918.

Great thread!

Todd

**Robin** · 5th December 06, 09:52 AM

Genealogy can be fun...and a nightmare

It was a hobby of my father and grandfather, when my dad died I got the family archives (several cardboard boxes with over 2 meters of paperwork). Great stuff...some of it written on parchment in medieval Dutch. Lots of church records (birth, death, marriage), transfer of property acts, tax records...even a criminal punishment record (pillory and whip lashes).

Before the Napoleonic era (pre 1800) family names were not "fixed", so names changed or were altered often. People named themselves after their father, trade...whatever.
Examples: Johnson=son of John, Miller, Baker, Smith, etc, etc.

When someone moved to another village...his name was written down in the church records, but most couldn't write and read...not even their own name. The church bloke wrote down what he heard...more changes, more confusion:rolleyes:

My family name:
Laurie(1540), Laurey, Laureys, Loureis, Loureys, Laureis, Lauwers, Louwersz, Lauws, Laus, Lous(1805 onwards).

The Laurie guy settled in Veere, a Dutch harbor town with the exclusive trading rights with Scotland. It's not sure he came from Scotland, but it's very likely. Scottish traders had a permanent trading post in Veere (now a museum and gift shop)