Thursday, November 27, 2014

Giving Thanks 2014

Thanksgiving 2014 www.desperatelyseekingsurnames.com

Today, and every day, I am thankful for family, friends and good health. For those I have lost, I am thankful of the time I spent with them and the memories I can look back on with a smile. I am thankful for a home to live in and food to eat. I am thankful I have the ability help others in various ways throughout the year.

I am thankful my country gives me the right to say what I want through the medium of my choice. Through this blog I am able to document and share stories and photos of my ancestors. Through social media I am able to share those stories far and wide and reach cousins I never knew I had.

I am thankful that Google Analytics tells me people are visiting this blog and sharing my content. Thank you to those who subscribe to my blog or follow in a reader. Thank you to those that comment, share, +1 or RT a post and help me share my stories.

For all of these little things and all of the big things the man upstairs allows to happen, I am thankful.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Wordless Wednesday Sally At MU


Sally Conlin University of Missouri



This is my Mother-In-Law her Freshman Year at The University of Missouri. MIZ!

Is that dress not to die for? Love it!

Monday, November 24, 2014

The DNA Puzzle - Excitement Followed By Confusion

My updated AncestryDNA Ethnicity Estimate lists Ireland - 18%. What?


I uploaded my raw AncestryDNA data to FTDNA. Those results state 39% British Isles - this cluster is typical of the British Isles especially Ireland. What?

I ran all the combinations of Ad Mixtures on GedMatch which resulted in an average of 15% Irish in those results. What??

DNA Puzzle Desperately Seeking Surnames

Am I doing this wrong?


I've been actively researching my family history for 13 years. I have not found even the tiniest hint of Irish ancestry. What am I missing? Have I been chasing the wrong families? Is my Irish ancestry way, way, wayyyyy back there and I'm probably not going to find the connection?

Don't get me wrong, it would tickle me pink (or green) if I found my Irish ancestors, but so far it's just not happening.



Friday, November 21, 2014

Surnames Resources Brimson

Surname Research Resources

When trying to understand the meaning, locations and depth of my surnames there are several online resources I utilize. These sources are filled with interesting and detailed information and data you will want to bookmark to reference again and again.

Unfortunately, the only detailed resource I have found for the Brimson surname is through the Guild Of One-Name Studies. If anyone can direct me additional sources, I would be most appreciative.


Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I'm researching.


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Not So Wordless Wednesday Brimson

Jane Buell Mallard Brimson Arney
b: 1810 England
d: 1890 St. Lawrence County New York

Jane Buell Mallard Brimson Arney St. Lawrence Cty, NY
Photo Courtesy Anne Cady Find A Grave Contributor.
Used with permission

Tombstone of my 3rd Great Grandmother. This tombstone is the only reference to the name Buell. At this time I am considering that is her middle name, possibly her mother's maiden name. I don't have any other documents that list Buell and at this time I do not know who Jane's parents were.


Monday, November 17, 2014

Surnames I Seek Brimson

Brimson - direct line on my maternal side.

Brimson Surname - Desperately Seeking Surnames

Locations of my Brimson family I have documented


  • Brimson
    • London, England -1838
    • Mere, Wiltshire, England - 1850
    • Saint Lawrence County, New York - 1860
    • Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas - 1900
    • Fort Scott, Kansas - 1908

Collateral Names:

  • Mallard
  • Merys

Brimson Surname Meaning:

The Brimson name origin is unknown at this time. It is possible the name is of Norman origin from an area Northwest of Paris.


Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I'm researching.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Surname Resources Baudermann


Baudermann Surname Klepsau Baden Germany




Surname Research Resources




When trying to understand the meaning, locations and depth of my surnames there are several online resources I utilize. These sources are filled with interesting and detailed information and data you will want to bookmark to reference again and again.




Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I'm researching.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Not So Wordless Wednesday Baudermann

This yearbook page is one of the most fascinating pieces of information I have found relating to my grandfather Joseph A.G. Baudermann.

"He is a socialist, an anarchist, reformer, free-thinker and woman hater."

I would love to know who the woman was that broke his heart. This is before my grandmother was in his life.

Joseph A.G. Baudermann NYU Yearbook 1906
NYU Yearbook, The Violet, 1906, 1.

Joseph was an avid runner, not only for the Irish-American Athletic Club (his father was born in Germany), but on the New York University Track Team as well.

Joseph A.G. Baudermann NYU Track Team 1905
NYU Track Team 1905, 2.

1. New York University , The Violet 1906 Yearbook, New York University Archives, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library.
2. 1905 NYU Men's Track Team, New York University Archives, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library.




Tuesday, November 11, 2014

My Veteran Ancestors on Veteran's Day 2014

Honoring my Veteran ancestors. 

The men noted on the graphic are those I have confirmed military service. I have many more ancestors that I have military draft documents, however, I have not found proof of actual service.

I hope to fill out this chart with many more names in the future.

Veteran Ancestors Veteran's Day 2014

I have a special Veteran's Day thank you for my Dad and his two brothers. All three served in World War II.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Surnames I Seek Baudermann

Baudermann - direct line on my paternal side.


Locations of my Baudermann family I have documented

  • Kelpsau, Krautheim, Baden-Wurtemburg, Germany - 1788
  • Essex County, NJ - 1852
  • New York, NY - 1905
  • Middlesex, NJ - 1920
  • Jackson County, MO - 1941
  • Somerset, NJ 1962
Wendelin Baudermann Klepsau Germany
This newspaper entry was my key to Klepsau. 1.

Collateral Names:

  • Evingham/Everingham
  • Hemmer
  • Lucking
  • Wolpert


Baudermann Surname Meaning:

Unknown at this time.


Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I Seek.


Pin this post for later using this image!


Surnames I Seek Baudermann of Klepsau Baden Germany








































Friday, November 7, 2014

Allen / Allan Surname Resources

Allen Allan Surname




Frequently referenced resources



When trying to understand the meaning, locations and depth of my surnames there are several online resources I utilize. These sources are filled with interesting and detailed information and data you will want to bookmark to reference again and again.


From the Guild Of One Name Studies:

"The Allan surname (spelled with an 'a') is associated primarily with the Scottish Clanranald of the McDonals Clan (i.e. Cland Donald). The Allen surname (spelled with an 'e') is considered an English surname."1

Visit my Surnames page to see all the surnames I seek.

1. Guild of One-Name Studies (http://one-name.org/Results), accessed 11/2/2014.







Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Not So Wordless Wednesday Allen

My grandfather Charles Scott Allen and his uncle Francis Simpson Allen.

Photo taken around 1920 possibly in Winchester Kentucky. They have very similar facial features and I love my Grandpa's hat! These two obviously had a great relationship.


Charles Scott Allen - Francis Simpson Allen


Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I seek.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Surnames I Seek Allen / Allan - Migration Route

Allen / Allan - Direct ancestral line on my maternal side.

 

Locations of my Allen / Allan family I have documented

 

  • Virginia - 1793
  • Clark County, Kentucky - 1844
  • Sumner, Tennessee - 1850
  • Winchester, Kentucky - 1876
  • Jefferson County, Kentucky -1900 
  • Jackson County, Missouri - 1926 
  • Summit County, Ohio - 1938  



Allen Family Migration Route - Desperately Seeking Surnames
Map created using Google Earth

 Collateral Names:

  • Ecton
  • Hart
  • Haggard
  • Merys
  • Schooler
  • Scott
  • Watts

Allan Surname Meaning:

Scottish and northern English: variant spelling of Allen. This is the more common spelling of the name in Scotland and northern England; in Scotland it is often found as an English form of the Gaelic name McAllen (see McAllan). 1.


Visit my Surnames page to see all the Surnames I'm researching.


1. Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press, Last Name Meaning and Origins (http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts accessed September 10, 2014)