This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: w7cjd Surnames: Dodson Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dodson/1689.1.2.1.1.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In 1965-6 Intellectual History of the United States course at University of Washington, Seattle, WA, I read the first synagogue in North America was near Charleston at the time of the first immigrants, which included my family Dodson. I am not saying our ethnicity isn't Old Caledonian (Scotland). I do know Jews arrived early in Ireland and Jews may have been in Scotland, because our family story includes an early history of finding brides in Ireland and Irish finding brides in Scotland and England. One early immigration may have been during the time of Joshua ben Nun. In the more recent past, I have friend whose ethnicity is a Lithuanian Jewish family who immigrated to Ireland. The reason I mention this is that ethnicity isn't so clear. I think DNA evidence would show there are no "blue-bloods" no matter how much we like to think our own family is best. I know I have felt my family is best. Of course, we are best. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.