Ewald, Thank you very much for your information and suggestions. I will start with the microfilms you listed. Bob From: "EWALD" <ewald.klein@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [A-L] The Abba name in France? Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:35:16 +0100 Bob, According to the site http://www.geopatronyme.com/ the name ABBA was present in Alsace & Lorraine between 1891-1915: -8 births in the department Moselle (Lorraine), in the town Walscheid -4 births in the department Meurthe-et-Moselle (Lorraine), in Cirey-sur-Vezouze and Bertrambois -1 birth in the department Vosges (Lorraine), in the town Val-d'Ajol At that time, the name ABBA was also present elsewhere in France than in Alsace & Lorraine. If you suspect that your ancestors originate in Moselle, than the first step would be to see the microfilms of Walscheid: -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1792-1820 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006968 Items 4-6 ] -Naissances (un autre filmage) 1793-1802 - FHL INTL Film [ 1895252 ] -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1821-1857 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006969 ] -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1858-1871 Naissances 1872-1889 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006970 ] -Naissances 1890-1892 Mariages, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1872-1892 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006971 Items 1-3 ] Hope this helps. Ewald (living in Alsace)