Roy, you are correct when speaking broadly and generally about such things. But, in this solitary case, BROYLES, there is no question. First of all, if the "old boy's" father stepped off the boat 40 or 50 years ago, his name wouldn't have been BROYLES! BROYLES was the Anglicization of the German surname BREHEL, BREYHEL, or BREUL (it was spelled several ways, even in the Church records in Germany, for the same person). I doubt that a German with one of those spellings coming to America in the past 50 years would automatically change the name to BROYLES. Why? You are also correct when you relate those "stories". But, again, no shoe fits all wearers. You asked about BROYLES; I gave an answer. Believe me, the BROYLES/BRILES family has been researched probably as much as any surname in America. Dr. Keith spent years in the early 1900's on this family, and if there had been another BROYLES emigrant, I believe he would have been found by now. I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think there are any "good old boys" out there who are descended from late-coming BROYLES emigrants. When one shows up, THEN I will backtrack and "eat crow". Fortunately for us genealogy researchers, BROYLES/BRILES (however it is/was spelled) is one of those surnames that is very, very uncommon. And, BROYLES/BRILES is really an artificial assumption. In this case, one has to have really gone deeply into the history of the family to understand why a recent emigrant (within the past 200 years, even) would NOT be a BROYLES. Yer Cuz, George At 05/14/2002 03:37 PM Tuesday, Roy Patton wrote: *********START OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE TEXT********* >At 02:08 05/14/2002 -0400, you wrote: > > So far every person descended from a BROYLES, BRILES, etc., has > >eventually been able to trace his/her ancestry back to the ONE > >emigrant, who arrived in America in 1717 from Germany. > > > >Your question flies in the face of all genealogy research done to > >date on this family. > > >George > > > > >George, > > Your reply makes sense if everyone is a conscientious > genealogist. >I was thinking about the old boy who doesn't give a flip about >genealogy >so he hasn't bothered to check in with us and tell us he's here. His >father >is named BROYLES and he came to this country about 40 or 50 years ago >and >our people didn't spot him as he stepped off the ship. It only takes >one >male to start a family name. > > I have another line where the story has always been that "all > ****** >in this country are descended from Andrew ***** who came to America >before >they split up into Colonies." That story has recently bit the dust >when some >******'s were found who came to New York, of all places. > > I have another line where the story has always been that "all > ^^^^^^ >in this country are descended from Jonathan ^^^^^ who came to >Baltimore." >That story recently bit the dust when some ^^^^^'s were found who had >never >heard of Baltimore. > >Roy Patton **********END OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE TEXT***********