About three years ago I did some research on the internet about the origins of the name Mcqueen and discovered this website, entirely dedicated to providing information on the McQueens. I do not recall the name of the website just now but a recently visited one is http://www.geocities.com/mcqueen_family/origins.html .
I gather that McQueen is of Scottish/Irish origins but we are scattered all over the globe now. I was a bit surprised to discover that most McQueens are whites and I have been trying to figure out how and when blacks got the name. I can only think that at some point in history, most likely during slavery, there was a white plantation owner who gave the name to his slaves ( I understand that this was a common practice then). I am still doing my research as as I want to find out specifically how we got to the Caribbean and when.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
McQueen
My surname is McQueen-Rowe. Pretty long, isn't it? And it does not not exactly trip off the tongue. It is what is referred to as a "double barrel" name and is therefore a combination of my maiden name and my married name. Why did I choose to keep my maiden name upon marrying? First, my father asked me to. In fact, on my wedding day after the signing of the certificates, he surreptitiously took me aside and whispered, "Did you do it?" and seemed very satisfied when I replied, "yes".
Later I learned that he had made the same request of my sister.
The second reason was that I had no intention of replacing my stately, uncommon family name for a boring sounding one such as ROWE. I was quite proud of my uncommon and unusual last name MCQUEEN and had got quite used to people always commenting on how nice and unusual it sounded, and will you please spell it? Is it Mcqueen as in Steve McQueen, the very famous movie star?
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is, I think that I do have a somewhat rare/uncommon maiden name (at least by Jamaican Standards). There are very few McQueens listed in our telephone directory and when I used to use it people were always asking me to spell it or telling me how lovely and stately it sounds, especially when I was required to write my entire name - JANET DAFFODIL MCQUEEN.
I am so in love with my surname that When I had my first son I briefly flirted with the idea of using my hyphenated surname as my child's surname. Guess who that would not go down well with?
Later I learned that he had made the same request of my sister.
The second reason was that I had no intention of replacing my stately, uncommon family name for a boring sounding one such as ROWE. I was quite proud of my uncommon and unusual last name MCQUEEN and had got quite used to people always commenting on how nice and unusual it sounded, and will you please spell it? Is it Mcqueen as in Steve McQueen, the very famous movie star?
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is, I think that I do have a somewhat rare/uncommon maiden name (at least by Jamaican Standards). There are very few McQueens listed in our telephone directory and when I used to use it people were always asking me to spell it or telling me how lovely and stately it sounds, especially when I was required to write my entire name - JANET DAFFODIL MCQUEEN.
I am so in love with my surname that When I had my first son I briefly flirted with the idea of using my hyphenated surname as my child's surname. Guess who that would not go down well with?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
How Do People Get Their Surnames?
It has been just over a year since I posted my first blog entry - but your island girl has been extremely busy, what with work and family! Plus bloggers' block! Yes! There is such a thing as bloggers block. Well, without further ado, let me get back to my subject of interest which I have been mulling over for some time now.
How do people get their last names? I have always been interested in how surnames originate - you know, the genealogical history behind them. I recollect vaguely reading somewhere some years ago, that some surnames were assumed because of the occupation of the individuals. So a man who was a tailor became a Mr. Taylor (the spelling changed over time) and he would give his offsprings that name.
Well, that sounds plausible, but how on earth do you explain the "colour names" Mr. White, Mr. Green, Mr. Brown, Mr Gray, and Mr Pink?
When did we start using surnames? And why exactly did it become necessary for us to start using them?
I have started to note what strikes me as really weird and unusual English sounding surnames.
These I will share with you in my upcoming posts.
Well, you may send to me the ones which you have encountered and do you have an unsual sounding name? Let me hear it and the history behind it!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Introduction
Hi Readers,
Finally, I have started my own blog!!! I have been wanting to do so for ages but just could not find the time.
My blog will mainly be about collecting, posting and exploring the origins of interesting English surnames names!!
I am sure that you have all heard a name that caused you to say, "now where did not name come from?" I will be sharing a list of interesting ones that I have collected over a period of time and I will be inviting all you readers out there to send me the ones you have noted and if you have an interesting name you may drop me a line and share its origin.
See you.
Finally, I have started my own blog!!! I have been wanting to do so for ages but just could not find the time.
My blog will mainly be about collecting, posting and exploring the origins of interesting English surnames names!!
I am sure that you have all heard a name that caused you to say, "now where did not name come from?" I will be sharing a list of interesting ones that I have collected over a period of time and I will be inviting all you readers out there to send me the ones you have noted and if you have an interesting name you may drop me a line and share its origin.
See you.
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