Hope some of this helps, Martha ------------------------------------------------------------- This site is a good one for the GOODMAN name & its country(ies) of origin: http://www.bcpl.net/~dmg/meaning.htm The Meaning of the name GOODMAN The surname GOODMAN appears to be patronymical and occupational in origin. Indications are that it can be associated with the English and Scots, meaning, "descendant of GODMANN (good man); the husband or head of the house; a landowner, however large his estate, who held his land not directly from the crown but from a feudal vassal of the King." The GOODMAN surname was also said to be used as a title, i.e., Sir, Esquire, etc., meaning "holder of land". In Germany, Goodman is "Guttmann" or literally, "good man." This name was applied to the mercantile class as "good man" was the equivalent of "gentleman." In Spain, "Guzman" was used by the Basque tribe meaning (good-man). The Basque were from the Iberian Peninsula at the foremost western boundary of Europe. These are but a few meanings of our proud name, and I'm sure there are more. If you come across others, please email me so that I may share them with others. Dave Goodman ======================================================= How to Trace the Origin of Your Surname Surnames, for the most part, drew their meanings from the lives of men in the Middle Ages, and their origins can be divided into four main categories: Patronymic Surnames Patronymics, last names derived from a father's name, were widely used in forming surnames, especially in the Scandinavian countries. Occasionally, the name of the mother contributed the surname, referred to as a matronymic surname. Such names were formed by adding a prefix or suffix denoting either "son of" or "daughter of." English and Scandinavian names ending in "son" are patronymic surnames, as are many names prefixed with the Gaelic "Mac," the Norman "Fitz," the Irish "O," and the Welsh "ap." Examples: The son of John (JOHNSON), son of Donald (MACDONALD), son of Patrick (FITZPATRICK), son of Brien (O'BRIEN), son of Howell (ap HOWELL). You can look on the site that provided this info. and it also deals with specific names of origin by country. http://genealogy.about.com/od/surnames/a/surname_meaning.htm -----Original Message----- From: Ceya [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 1:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: old country I guess it would depend on what nationality they were. My ancestors came from the "old county", which is the country before America. Their old country was Ireland. Yours may have been Germany or some other country. I think that "the old country" just means where they came from before America. Ceya [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 9:22 PM Subject: old country > anyone know what people refer to as the old country.i was told the > goodmans > come from the old country. >