The Diary of Queen Mothy |
Musings on Genealogy written @ 7:29 PM on November 24, 2002 I was updating my genealogy journal and organizing some records today when I realized how much I have changed since I started researching my family tree. So many things suddenly seem to make sense, so many things seem more personal and deeply rooted in my blood when you look at the obituary of your great-great-great grandmother, or read about the wedding of a great aunt. There is a sense of completion, like you really aren't just a soul floating about like a piece of parsley in the broth of the Melting Pot. I am now almost completely done with my mother's father's name, the Allards. My mother's mother's side is a little more complicated (they were from the Ukraine). I've learned recently that out of the 19 Allards that came to the New World between 1627 and 1888, only three have descendents in the modern age. One is my family. I can only imagine what things would have been like for me if my mother had not married my father. Interestingly enough, I think I might have Celtic blood in me (or so the romantic side of me envisions). As it turns out, Allard is actually derived from Adelhard, who was an actual person. Leader of a Gaulish army, he was sent to southern Germany to defend his country against Rome around 54 BC. His people became known as the Adelhards, as soldiers often adopted their leaders' namesakes as surnames. Most of these Adelhards, as the years went on, became settlers of the land of the Franks, or France. Around the 7th or 8th centuries AD, the name Allard first emerged. In the 1980s, it was given the meaning "Noble et Fort," or Noble and Strong. The early Allards were people of property, or perhaps held noble status. My cousin Lisa found our coat-of-arms. I wish my father's side has been as successful. I think it would make him happy to know why he is where he is and who he is. I think he's jealous maybe. He barely knew his own father, who did not even know himself. The rewards of my research have been great. Life and history have been thrown into a clear perspective for me. All I can say is talk to your relatives while you still can. *** So... let me get this straight, guys... don't buy presents? How can I not buy presents for you people? I cannot *not* buy presents! That's ridiculous. Lavishing you all with presents is the only way I feel better about myself as a person! Well, somebody better tell Katharine this because I think she already bought us presents... Dammit, I want to buy presents! (Actually, I really want to go shopping on Black Friday. Anyone up for it?)
A Bit of History ~ And Onward! L'Amour Toujours! - August 08, 2005 |
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