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Archiver > ALT-GENEALOGY > 2000-08 > 0965259392


From: Robert Heiling <>
Subject: Re: on Genealogy Warning
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 16:36:32 -0700


borray wrote:

> >. There's no asurance that we are all related as
> >surnames are often polygenetic and have multiple origins.
>
> Do yo know anything how often names are polygenectic and is that in case of
> every name.

It varies considerably and from surname to surname. Take a very common
occupational surname, Weber (Weaver in English), and many many people who were
weavers in German-speaking countries took the name Weber as their surname when
surnames were required. It is no indication that they were related although
they shared a similar occupation. With very uncommon surnames, the people are
more likely to be related IMO.

> I will tell you why I ask that.
> I found and old formal document from the citycouncil in holland that proved
> the namechange
> from borray to borra in 1613.

Was there a reason for the namechange request? as it seems so inconsequential
to me today in 2000, but must have had greater significance back in 1613.

> I am in a direct line related to that "gang".

Can you prove that? and how?<vbg> and did you know that "lol" means "laughing
out loud"?

> But now on the net I also found that name in south-america and Israel.

I think you previously indicated that you had jewish ancestry and many jews saw
what was coming and left for South America back in the 1930's. That's not to
say that there wasn't emmigration to South America prior to that, but I don't
find it surprising at all that you have found your surname there.

> Now I am looking for relation between those names and for that reason my
> question
> about polygenetic.

You could write to those people! I'm not familiar with your surname in either
of its spellings, but does it possibly translate from Hebrew, Yiddish, or any
other language? Is borray/borra possibly an occupational surname? or is it the
name of a village? (in Turkey perhaps? or elsewhere) that they all came from
or?

I think you have some more research to do.

Bob

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