This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.families.aol.com/mbexec/msg/an/kRC.2ACE/600.495.2.1.3.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Mary, My other address is toneroq@hotmail.com Do you have any idea when these folks came over? The names listed like Suarez (Soares)/ Portuguese, La Pazza/Italian, Robin/French and Rodriguez/Spanish are obvious ones. These peoples passed through the Canary Islands at various times for several reasons. The Portuguese and Spanish were in competition during early conquests (1440's to 1480's) AND the kingdoms were united for a brief time in the latter part of the 16th century. A substantial part of present day Italy was Spanish. A Frenchman (A Normand), Jean de Bethancourt, claimed the Canary Islands for Enrique III (King of Castille), who made him Lord of the islands (only Fuerteventura, El Hierro and La Gomera at the time). Since becoming the overlord he encouraged Nornan farmers to settle there. The Spanish, along with some of the other groups were there for new opportunities or to flee persecution such as the conversos. The converso's names were typically the names of th! e towns that they came from. Your names that end in es/ez/iz are typically patronomical (son of), as in Hernandez son of Hernan, Ruiz son of Ruy. The 'es' is an older Spanish form, currently ez. Which indicates that those arrived early on. So your Canary/Spanish cousins currently use ez. Portuguese use 'es' as well. So without a clear trail or another name attached to those names it'll be tough if not impossible to trace. Some names are from trades, for example a berger is a shepard (French), molero a miller (Spanish). Serigne a village in Vendee, Pays de la Loire (the Loire Valley). Robin is from northern France from Breton, Lorraine to the Loire (Saint Bonnet des Quarts). Good luck!