Hello everyone I am interested in getting information about the Joseph Marchand family that came from the A-L area. The family line I am interested in is from near Dwight Illinois. I can not seem to find his ancestors to save my life. I am a member of Ancestry.com. No avail. Checked Rootsweb. No avail. Can anyone help me? Respectfully Maria In a message dated 1/20/2008 3:59:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Etienne.Herrbach@wanadoo.fr writes: Hello Listers, the recent discussion about my first name was very amusing. Yes, Etienne is definitely a male name. I recall of some very funny situations in corresponding with non-French speakers... Thank you Giliane for your interesting post below. Some details though puzzled me, as they are not mentionned in the chapters 6 & 7 of the Acts of the Apostles. We'd better continue this discussion off list, Giliane. As usual with first names, Etienne has also given a great range of surnames: ESTIENNE, STEPHAN, STEPH, ESTEVE, ETIEVANT, ETIEMBLE, THENET, THEVENET, DEBENATH, etc. By the way, several list members (Lynda, Janice, Frank, Cari, and others) are awaiting a response from me. I'm currently very busy workwise. Sorry and thank you for your patience. Thank you to Lynda and others listers for your efforts to explain some colorful Americanisms to us, non-native English speakers. Have a nice Sunday, Etienne living in Alsace > Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:34:55 -0500 > From: "Giliane Bader-Wechseler" <gbw1@comcast.net> > > If we go to the root (etymology) of the name, Etienne is a French form of > Stephane, also found in France, originating from the Greek stephanos, "the > crown of leaves or metal". The deformation of Stephane into Etienne is late > (14th to 15th centuries) et was preceded by Estefan, Estephe, Esteve, etc. > But usage made of Etienne the translation in French of most of the foreign > or ancient versions (prior to the 13th century) of Stephane. > Etienne is, in France, a widespread first name and stable for 4 centuries; > its periods of disuse never last very long. Saint Etienne was the first > martyr of the Christian religion. This young Greek Jew, from Alexandria, > lived in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Converted at birth to the new > religion, he was designated by the Apostles not long after Pentecost to > become the Deacon in charge of the poor. Its popularity, along with his > handsomeness, displeased the priests of the Temple. They made him > incarcerated and condemned to death. ?tienne was stoned to death near the > gate of Damas, north Jerusalem. > > Stephanie is the French feminine form of Stephane, and therefore connects to > Etienne. > > Etienne is my father's name and that of many Alsatians ancestors on his > side. > > - Giliane -- Resources for Alsace-Lorraine list members: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~valorie/Alsace-Lorraine-L.htm ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ALSACE-LORRAINE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489